Lombardy in 15 experiences
This list is a selection, not a ranking. Entries 1 to 4 are on the middle part of Lake Como around Bellagio and Varenna. Entries 5 and 6 are two lakeside villas, and entries 7 and 8 belong to the town of Como. Entries 9 and 10 are in Bergamo, 11 is on Lake Iseo and 12 is in Franciacorta. Entries 13 to 15 cover Mantua and Cremona.
Prices are for adults in 2026 and can change. Opening hours shift in autumn: several sites shorten their days in late October and November, so check the hours before you set out. Lake Garda and Sirmione have their own guides and are not covered here.
The middle of Lake Como (1 to 4)
Boats, a garden, a villa and a castle around Bellagio and Varenna.
1. Cross the lake by public boat
Boats link Bellagio, Varenna and Menaggio. Direct crossings in this triangle take about 15 minutes, a few connections with a detour about 30. Fares since 1 April 2026 start at €3, and fare step 3 costs €5.50 one way or €17.50 for a day ticket. The autumn timetable is listed until 1 November 2026.
Lake Como ferry guide →2. Walk the gardens of Villa Melzi
The gardens in Bellagio cost €10, and children up to 11 enter free. The ticket covers the garden, a chapel and a museum, but not the private villa. Hours are 10 a.m. to 6.30 p.m. from 12 to 24 October and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. from 25 October, with a closing date of 1 November. Dogs on a lead are allowed, drones are not.
Bellagio guide →3. Visit Villa Monastero in Varenna
Garden and Casa Museo (the house museum) cost €15, or €11 over 65, €9 for ages 15 to 25, and free up to 14. In October the garden opens daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and the museum closes on Tuesdays. In November the hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with Tuesday and Wednesday closed.
Varenna guide →4. Climb to Castello di Vezio
The castle above Varenna costs €7, or €4 for over 65s, ages 6 to 17 and groups of more than 12. In October it opens 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays and to 6 p.m. at weekends. In November it opens 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and closes when it rains. The falconry shows have ended for good, so do not plan around them.
Varenna guide →Our picks: things to do
On the water at Lake Como, through Bergamo and to a winery in Franciacorta.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in euros (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Franciacorta winery visit with lunch from Bergamo
A winery visit with a sommelier, two wines and a three-course lunch with wine. Minivan with an English-speaking driver, plus a drive around Franciacorta and Lake Iseo.
Check availability →
Lake Como boat tour past the villas with prosecco
A boat trip with a local guide, prosecco and soft drinks. Hotel transfer is not included.
Check availability →
Private walking tour of Bergamo with a local guide
A customisable walking tour with help booking tickets. Entry fees, food, drinks, tips and local transport costs are extra.
Check availability →Lombardy tours and day trips
Lake Como boat trips, villa visits, wine tastings and city tours, with live prices and availability.
Two villas and the town of Como (5 to 8)
Lake Como's best-known villas and the lake's southern town.
5. See Villa del Balbianello
The villa sits on a headland near Lenno. Park entry is €15, and villa plus park is €25. You must reserve. Rooms inside are open on guided visits of 50 minutes only. You walk up from Lenno (1 km, about 25 minutes uphill) or take a separate taxi boat from Lido di Lenno, which also needs a booking.
Villa del Balbianello guide →6. Tour Villa Carlotta in Tremezzo
Entry is €17.50 in 2026, €15 over 65, €12 for students aged 19 to 25 and €7 for ages 6 to 18. Until 8 November the hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., with the ticket office closing at 5 p.m. Extra weekend openings follow in November. Bus C110 stops at Tremezzo, Villa Carlotta.
Lake Como guide →7. Visit the cathedral of Como
Without a ticket you can walk a set route through the side aisles. The integrated ticket adds areas such as the transept, the wooden choir, the sacristies and upper passages. Tourist hours are 10.30 a.m. to 5.30 p.m. from Monday to Friday and 10.45 a.m. to 4.30 p.m. on Saturday. Services can limit the route.
Como guide →8. Ride the funicular to Brunate
The funicular (Standseilbahn) from Como to Brunate takes 7 minutes and runs from 6 a.m. to midnight. Fares changed on 1 September 2026. The older table shows €3.60 single and €7.20 return, and a secondary source gives €3.70 and €7.40 for the new one. Check the price at the station.
Como guide →Bergamo, Lake Iseo and Franciacorta (9 to 12)
A hill town, an art museum, a lake island and a wine region.
9. Walk the walls of Bergamo
The Città Alta (upper town) is enclosed by Venetian walls. They belong to a UNESCO World Heritage listing of Venetian defensive works from 2017. Local transport tickets from ATB work on buses, the funiculars and tram T1, depending on the zone. The airport bus runs about every 20 minutes.
Bergamo guide →10. Go to the Accademia Carrara
The art museum in Bergamo costs €10, or €8 reduced and €5 for ages 18 to 25. Under 18s enter free. It opens on Monday and from Wednesday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 5.30 p.m., at weekends from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and it is closed on Tuesday. The last entry is 45 minutes before closing.
Bergamo guide →11. Spend a day on Monte Isola
The island in Lake Iseo is reached by boat from Sulzano or Sale Marasino. The winter timetable runs from 12 October 2026 to 21 March 2027. A single fare is €2.60 to €6.30 depending on the zones, plus a landing fee of €1.50 per person and day. The island is not entirely car-free, but private tourist cars are not allowed.
Lake Iseo guide →12. Taste sparkling wine in Franciacorta
The Berlucchi cellar in Borgonato di Corte Franca offers booked visits with a tasting. I Classici costs €33 for 1.5 hours and is for adults only. Gli Iconici costs €44 and admits minors. The Berlucchi Experience costs €70 and takes 2 hours. Opening hours of the shop are not tour times.
Franciacorta guide →Mantua and Cremona (13 to 15)
Two palaces and a violin museum in the south of Lombardy.
13. See the Camera degli Sposi in Mantua
The Palazzo Ducale costs €18 with the Castello di San Giorgio, the painted Camera degli Sposi (the bridal chamber) and the archaeological museum. Without the castle and the room it costs €11. Entry is free on the first Sunday of the month. Book ahead on holidays and first Sundays.
Mantua guide →14. Walk through Palazzo Te
The palace costs €18, and one cooperation page still shows an older €15. Reduced entry is €13, and ages 12 to 18 and university students pay €8. It opens from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. except Tuesday, when it opens at 1 p.m. The ticket office closes at 6 p.m.
Mantua guide →15. Hear a violin in Cremona
The Museo del Violino costs €14, or €11 reduced, and children under 11 enter free. It opens Tuesday to Friday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and at weekends from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The 30-minute audition on historic instruments is a separate ticket at €12, or €6 for children up to 10.
Cremona guide →How to combine them
Which entries fit together.
Entries 1 to 4 fit into one or two days around Bellagio and Varenna if you use the boats. Villas 5 and 6 lie on the western shore, so plan them as a separate day and check each opening day first. Como (7 and 8) works well as a stop on the way to or from Milan. Bergamo, Mantua and Cremona each need a day of their own. For more ideas from Milan, see the day trips page.
Autumn changes the plan: Villa Carlotta closes earlier from 19 October, and Lake Iseo is on its winter timetable. The best time to visit page explains the seasons, and where to stay compares bases.
Things to do in Lombardy: frequently asked questions
What are the best things to do in Lombardy?
That depends on your time. For a first visit, many people combine a boat crossing on Lake Como, one lakeside villa and a day in Bergamo or Mantua. The list here is an editorial selection, not a ranking.
How many days do I need for Lombardy?
Three days cover Lake Como and one city. Seven days allow Bergamo, Lake Iseo, Franciacorta and Mantua as well. Distances between the places are large enough that you should not plan more than one main stop per day.
Can I do all of this without a car?
For the Lake Como entries, yes: trains reach Como and Varenna, and boats link the shores. Bergamo has a rail link from Milan Centrale of about 50 minutes. For wineries in Franciacorta, check how you will cover the last kilometres.
Do I need to book in advance?
Yes for Villa del Balbianello, where a reservation is required, and for the Franciacorta cellar visits. For the Palazzo Ducale, buying ahead is recommended on holidays and first Sundays. Villa Melzi sells tickets at the entrance on the day.
Are there combined tickets?
Mantua and Sabbioneta have a 72-hour card for €48. The Palazzo Ducale charges an extra €7 for the Camera degli Sposi on that card. Boat lines and villas sell their own tickets.