The glass-roofed Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II in Milan

Lombardy · Art, design & rail journeys

Milan holidays,
with more of Italy within reach

Art, design and restaurant evenings from a central hotel, followed by a lake stay, another Italian city or a rail journey across the Alps.

Hotel Spadari al DuomoLakes by railTwin-city holidays

Northern Italy: lakes, mountains & art cities

Give Milan three nights and there is time for its great sights and everyday pleasures: the Duomo, Brera, design collections and an evening aperitivo. Its rail connections also make the city a natural opening or finale to a longer holiday.

Interiors at Hotel Spadari al Duomo in Milan

01 · Accommodation · Our pick

Our pick: Hotel Spadari al Duomo

A small central hotel with art and design at its heart, close to the Duomo and well placed for exploring on foot. Divide the day between galleries, shops, lunch and a return to the hotel before dinner.

Spadari works equally well for a dedicated city break or the opening and closing nights of a wider Italian holiday. We help you choose the room category and outlook.
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02 · Multi-centre holidays

Milan & the Italian lakes

Three suggested pairings, each with a direct rail gateway from Milan. Give the lake the longer stay, then choose a hotel whose local connections suit the days you want to enjoy.

Lake Como and its lakeside villages

Milan 3 nights · Lake Como 5–7 nights

Milan & Lake Como

Follow Milan’s galleries with lakefront walks, villa gardens and boats between villages. Direct trains from Milano Centrale to Varenna-Esino put the eastern shore within reach, with your station-to-hotel arrival arranged.
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Lake Maggiore with mountains beyond

Milan 3 nights · Stresa 5–7 nights

Milan & Lake Maggiore

Pair Milan with Stresa for the Borromean Islands, lakeside gardens and leisurely boat outings. Direct trains from Milano Centrale reach Stresa; we arrange the final journey to your hotel.
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Lake Garda waterfront

Milan 3 nights · Lake Garda 5–7 nights

Milan & Lake Garda

Choose Garda for waterfront walks and boat trips. Direct trains from Milano Centrale reach Peschiera del Garda on the southern shore; we choose the onward transfer around your hotel and lake town.
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Red Bernina railway train curving across a stone viaduct

14 nights · Scenic rail

Swiss Alps, Lake Como & Milan

Four nights in Zermatt, four at Muottas Muragl, four in Varenna and two in Milan. The Glacier Express and Bernina Express make the journeys part of the holiday.

From £4,850 per person

Guide for two sharing, including breakfast and rail from Geneva to Milan. International travel is additional.
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Read more about the Bernina railway and the Glacier Express, or explore Varenna without a car.

Villa Necchi Campiglio: Milan’s most elegant secret

03 · Our insights

Enjoy the city between the sights

A short city stay works best when the major visits leave space for streets, cafés and discoveries of your own.

  • The great sights: Pair the Duomo and its terraces with Brera or another major collection. Tell us early if the Last Supper is a priority.
  • Between visits: Enjoy Brera’s streets, the Navigli and a leisurely evening aperitivo.
  • A more personal Milan: Explore design, modern art or a house museum such as Villa Necchi Campiglio.

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04 · Smart add-ons

Two cities, two different experiences

Direct Frecciarossa services link Milan with Venice, Turin, Rome and Naples. Choose the cultural contrast that appeals; we reserve the trains and plan the arrival at each hotel.

The Grand Canal in Venice

Milan 3 nights · Venice 4

Milan & Venice

From Milan’s art, design and grand shopping arcades to Venice’s canals, palaces and lagoon. Two very different cities, with time for neighbourhood walks and restaurant evenings in each.
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Turin and its historic architecture

Milan 3 nights · Turin 3–4

Milan & Turin

An excellent pairing for travellers drawn to architecture, major collections and food. Follow Milan with Turin’s royal squares, Egyptian Museum, historic cafés and Piedmontese cooking.
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Rome cityscape

Milan 3 nights · Rome 4–5

Milan & Rome

Combine Milan’s Leonardo, Brera and contemporary design with Rome’s ancient sites, churches and neighbourhood life. Give Rome the longer stay, so the major visits do not fill every hour.
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The Bay of Naples

Milan 3 nights · Naples 4–5

Milan & Naples

A strong north–south contrast: Milan’s galleries and aperitivo, then Naples for its historic centre, archaeology, food and the bay. Allow a full transfer day and enough nights to enjoy Naples properly.
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Plan with ExpertoItaly

Tell us what you have in mind

Tell us whether Milan is the focus of your holiday or the start of something longer. We will bring together central hotels, reserved rail journeys, private transfers and the experiences you would most enjoy.
Start planning your holiday