Beyond the lake
Milan: the back story
The back story
Photo Credit
Image courtesy of © Steffen Schmitz · CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia CommonsAbout Milan: the back story
Milan is about an hour from Como and Varenna by Trenord. The ULTIMATE Milan City Guide covers the Duomo and its terraces, Leonardo’s Last Supper, La Scala, Brera and the Fondazione Prada, the grand hotels and every MICHELIN-starred table of 2026.
Getting there
By Trenord from Como Lago to Milano Cadorna, from Como San Giovanni to Milano Centrale, or from Varenna-Esino to Milano Centrale in about 64 minutes; check trenord.it.
The ULTIMATE Milan guide
Book the Last Supper months ahead on its official site; everything else is in our Milan guide.
Trenord trains run from Como and Varenna to Milan in about an hour.
Our advice: make Milan a day of its own, not an afternoon.
Why it's on our list
- Getting there
- The ULTIMATE Milan guide
Opening hours, prices and seasonal openings change, so please check with Milan: the back story before you go.
What’s nearby
Distances from Milan: the back story are approximate, measured in a straight line (as the crow flies). Times are approximate too: walking at about 80 metres a minute, cycling at about 14 km/h and driving at typical city-traffic speeds. Traffic and routes vary.
Key sights
- Linate Airport7.2 kmCycle 31 minCar or taxi 19 min
- Como Cathedral40 kmCar or taxi 84 min
- Brunate funicular40 kmCar or taxi 85 min
- Malpensa Airport41 kmCar or taxi 86 min
- Villa del Balbianello56 kmCar or taxi 116 min
- Villa Melzi gardens57 kmCar or taxi 120 min
- Villa Carlotta58 kmCar or taxi 121 min
Main railway stations
- Como San Giovanni39 kmCar or taxi 84 min
- Como Lago40 kmCar or taxi 85 min
- Lecco46 kmCar or taxi 98 min