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Best Place to Visit traveling from Milan Malpensa Airport?

Hi fellow travelers.

I just visited Rome five months ago and loved it, but now I'm already eager to see more of the more of the rustic north! I'm 23 years old and would be flying standby to Milan International Airport. Besides the Milan Cathedral and the Last Supper there doesn't seem to be much to do in Milan otherwise that sparks my interest. I would come in through another airport, but because of the standby thing Milan is my only option.

I'd like to ask if anyone knows a destination by train that is easy with transfers and less than 3 hours from the airport. I'm open to suggestions. I'm thinking of visiting this April if possible so I guess Cinque Terre would be too cold?

Thank you for any suggestions

Posted by
11247 posts

Lake Como is easy to get to by train from Milan. April is the start of the season in the Cinque Terre, and I think it is better there when it is not too hot.

Posted by
1054 posts

With less then 3 hours you have practically all of Northern Italy at your disposal.

You are about an hour a from Bologna on the high speed train from Milan. You can explore the Emiglia Romagna region around Bologna, Parma, Modena (take out a ferrari for a test ride)

You can reach Florence in about an hour 40 minutes. From there you have tuscany at your disposal to explore

You are about 2 hrs 35 minutes from Venice on the direct high speed train.

At the max of your time is Rome. You are 2 hr 55 min from Rome on the high speed trains from Milan.

The country is at your disposal where ever you want to go.

Posted by
12 posts

I'd vote either Venice or Lake Como if its a short stay. If you do Lake Como: from airport take the train to Milano Centrale then get a ticket to Varenna. You can walk from the station to the waterfront in Varenna (mostly downhill) in 10-15 min and stay there pretty cheap. The ferries leave from here to explore all over the lake. And the best silk scarf store & tiny cafes are in Varenna, but don't forget to walk around Bellagio while you are there.

Posted by
11613 posts

Bergamo is an hour from Milano by train. Bologna, Verona or Padova might be good bases, but are not rustic. There are some nice smaller towns in the Veneto region, but if you haven't been to Venezia, you may want a few nights there.