Advice for Milan/Como/Bologna

[WatIsLove]

Hi everyone,

Apologies if this isn’t the right place to ask -- I'm looking for a bit of travel advice.

I'll be in Milan from early Saturday morning until Monday evening, so roughly three full days and two nights. My plan so far is to visit Lake Como on Day 1 (including places like Varenna and Bellagio). For Day 2, I’d like to explore Milan’s main attractions, and on Day 3, I’m considering a short trip to somewhere like Bergamo, Monza, or even Bologna. I’m open to suggestions for Days 2 and 3, only the Lake Como day is confirmed for now.

I also have a question about transportation. I’ll be staying near Milan Centrale for both nights, and I’ll rely on public transport (trains/buses) for getting around. Would it be more cost-effective to buy daily travel passes (if available) for unlimited travel between Milan and nearby towns like Como, or is it better to just purchase individual tickets for each journey?

Also, are there any apps or websites that offer cheaper train tickets, or are prices the same as at the station?

Thanks in advance!

 

[Ian Sutton]

Absolutely fine!

I love Bologna, but I will flag up that the centre is a good 30 min walk (or crowded bus, or taxi) away from the train station. On our 1st trip that sapped our energy a bit, so we struggled with the city initially, but now love it.

@GAC's posts here are incredibly useful for train tickets, bargains and the train system in general. well worth browsing her posts. I've by coincidence just looked up current offers and there seem to be ongoing 2 for 1, and Tue/Wed/Thu/Sat variable discounts https://www.trenitalia.com/it/offerte/frecciadays.html.
Booking in advance for specific trains always gets the best price (vs. turning up at the ticket desk on the day). Generally I find the prices very cheap, so rarely investigate travel passes.

I'll throw an under the radar option in as well - Novara. Architecturally interesting, with a lovely spacious centre to walk around, and fairly convenient to Milano.