Please advice.
Next june I and my wife il be at milan just for a weekend.
We'Il reach Malpensa around 16:30 on the 26th (Friday) and return on the 29 (Monday) early. So I've only 2 days, and a few hours in Italy. Apart from Milan i want to see something more. I´m asking for suggestions because I am with many doubts. My friends told me about Bergamo, Verona and even Vernazza. To visit ONE of these, what you suggest and which is the best way to do it?
Direct from the Milan Malpensa to one of these and then go to Milan, or first milan and then take a day trip?
In Milan what i can't miss ?And where is the best place (area) to stay (but not too expensive!).
Any other suggestions ?
Thanks in advance

I would also consider Lake Como - direct bus there from the airport without going into Milan - to Como boat docks where you can take a boat to Bellagio - i like Como itself - a neat lakeside city

Buses from airport also go to Stresa and Lake Maggiore i believe - where you have the famous 3 Borromean islands.

Vernazza and the Cinque Terre would be great for a few days - walk between the five ancient villages or take trains or boats between them - only about 3 hours by train from Milan.

Lake Garda could be a great base for that lake and nearby Verona - a neat city with lots of Roman ruins and a plethora of ancient churches, etc.

Bergamo is a short train ride from Lake Garda too - i don't think Bergamo is the nicest town you have in your list however - far from it IMO - worth a short look at best with limited time.

In Milan itself the don't miss sight is the Cathedral and i suppose the Last Supper painting if you can book a spot.

With that short of time I'd rent a car at Malpensa(rent ahead of time) and take a short, very easy drive up Lake Como to the Grand Tremezzo Hotel. In the 2 days there take the boats to Bellagio, Varenna, Mennagio, etc.

The hotel is wonderful with a great restaurant on a terrace overlooking the lake.The next night I'd have dinner at "Al Veluu"(about a 5-10 min. drive) on a terrace overlooking the lake. One of our most memorable dinners in all of Europe.

If you're leaving early in the morning, I'd stay the last night at the hotel near Malpensa(can't remember the name, but I could look it up).

This was one of our best vacations. The Lake and it's towns are all memorable.

If you're a city person,Bergamo is good for maybe a day. Como wasn't our favorite. Milan could be interesting for that shortperiod of time.

Good Luck!

Thanks for both.
But TPAYT the Grand Tremezzo Hotel is really expensive for me (the best price i've found is about 280 Euros night),

So sorry, we were there 3 yrs. ago and it wasn't that much. We took the cheapest room on the back of the hotel overlooking the gardens and we loved it. We liked it so much that we'd probably pay that much to return for 2 nights, but not any more--it would break the vacation budget.

You could try the hotels in Mennagio. It was just a couple of miles further than Tremezzo. It was a very cute town with many different priced hotels.

Good Luck!

The bus service from Malpensa to Lake Como was discontinued more than a year ago. You can train from Malpensa to the town of Como or to Laveno Mombello on Lake Maggiore.

http://www.lenord.it/en/

Because you arrive relatively late on Friday, you only have two days, and you have an early departure on Monday, I'd recommend Lake Como. Take the Malpensa shuttle bus to Milano Centrale and then the train to Varenna Esino. You could be there in time for dinner. I don't know what your budget is, but I can recommend the Albergo du Lac in Varenna:

http://www.albergodulac.com/english.html

A car is nice for getting to places not directly served by public trans, but the renting/return processes take time (which you don't have a lot of). Your late afternoon Friday arrival (in summer) means you'll be sharing the road with locals going to the lakes for the weekend.

How early is your flight out of Malpensa on Monday?

P.S. I wouldn't wait any longer to book accommodations on any of the lakes for a weekend in June.

The city of Milano and the airport of Malpensa are well-connected to many of Italy's most wonderful destinations.

If you are a city person, you can take a bus directly from Malpensa to either Torino -- with all its fun museums of movies, art, cars, history and Egyptology -- and some of the very best food in Italy, or you can just as easily go to Bologna, by bus or train, which has its own great food and fascinations, including the nearby cities of Ferrara and Ravenna (do a google search).

And, of course, city people can always enjoy a weekend in Milano itself. There is plenty of information online and in guidebooks about all the city has to offer -- but mind you, the city (and its accommodations) are not cheap.

if you are not a city person, you are spoiled for choice when it comes to lakes:

There are several ways to get to Lago di Como, with its gorgeous views.

It's a simple train ride to the southern towns of Lago di Garda, with its fun mix of entertainment, historic towns and outdoor activities (and wine and art, in Bardolino).

If you just want to chill, you can get transportation from Malpensa to Lago d'Orta, and live the misty dream for 48 hours.

If you want a city with charm, history, great food, a great castle, a Roman arena and a marvelous art museum -- plus lots of nice shopping, etc., Verona is a terrific destination, quite a gem.

Likewise, check out Mantova, an easy train once you take the hour-long bus from Malpensa to Milano Centrale.

have fun!

PS: Do a google search for Bergamo and Pavia if you think those attractions would interest you more.

PPS: If you stay in Milano, what shouldn't you miss?

The Duomo, its roof and its charming museum
the food of Milano
The Pinoteca Ambrosiana
Da Vinci's Last Supper (if you can get tix)
An appertivo along the via Brera or any of Milan's swank cocktail bars. Check your guidebook,

Other delights include window shopping in the San Babila district (along the via Montenapoleone) and indulging in pastries in that area

The Galleria near the Duomo

Touring La Scala if you like opera

Michaelangelo at the Castello (check your guidebook)

www.stresa.org is awesome close to MXP and Milan

Isola Bella is a must see for me...

Actually, I would pick Isola Madre over Isola Bella, and if you go to Isola Bella, the palazzo is a bit more tasteful than the gardens.

I've been out for a couple of days, so just today i've seen your comments that i've apreciated. I'm thinking in friday night and saturday MILAN, and then go to Lake Como and have a 2 nights there, but i must be at Malpensa on Monday at 8 morning, is it possible ?
At Milan is the area of Milano centrale safe, to book a room?
If i choose Verona how long is the trip ?

Be aware that while Lago di Como is lovely even in a misty rain, it might be a disappointment for you if for such a short weekend you were locked into rainy days on the lakes.

Any chance you can be flexible about this, and go for a daytrip to Bellagio when you are sure the weather is nice, but otherwise be elsewhere?

Milano can often be an expensive place to base, but perhaps it would be worth it. I would book the 3 nights in Milano and at the first sign of sunshine, take the train to Como and the ferry to Bellagio for lunch and spend the day on the lake. If you get a second day of sun and would prefer to be out of the city, try either Stresa or Lago di Garda.

If you find yourself facing rain, Verona is 90 minute train ride, and Milano itself is interesting. Again, Torino is also only 90 minutes. And these places are fine in the sun, too.

Some hotels in Milan that might work for your budget and have nice locations are the Gran Duca di York, Palazzo delle Stelline, Antico Locanda Leonardo and sometimes I see good prices on a website called Holiday City. Be careful going too low on prices unless you can find very good reviews for a hotel.

The area around the train station is not unsafe, but it is not convenient to restaurants or sites in Milan (although the subways will take you quickly to such places). The train station area can look seedy, not as glamorous as other parts of Milano.