Milan has some very nice parks all close to the city center and really easy to reach with public transportation (more info here). As some of you are frequently asking: it’s perfectly ok to have a pic nic and drink alcool in the parks as far as you are not littering around and disturbing other people.
- Giardini INDO MONTANELLI: Exact position here : M1 Porta Venezia – Palestro, M3 Turati. The closest to the city center, home to Civico Planetario Ulrico Hoepli, Natural History Museum, GAM (Modern Art Gallery), PAC (Contemporary Art Gallery) and Palazzo Dugnani (with some Tiepolo paintings). Just grab a bite, explore and relax!
- PARCO SEMPIONE: Exact position here: M1 Cairoli, M3 Lanza. This park is huge and just past Castello Sforzesco (read more here) when coming from Duomo. Home to Triennale Art Center, Milan Acquarium, Arco della Pace (Peace Arch), lots of ducks and turtles. Really close to many nice areas for nightlife, have a read here. Read the nice story of Ponte delle Sirenette, inside the park, here.
- GIARDINI DELLA GUASTALLA : Exact position here. Nice small park really close to the city center, perfect for some relax and a pic-nic.
- PARCO TRE TORRI: exact position here, M5 Tre Torri . Brand new park right around the 3 new towers. Shopping center, cinemas and some nice architecture in the middle of it.
There are some much bigger parks but far away from the center, like Parco Nord (M5 Bignami) or Parco Forlanini close to Linate Airport.
Going to Como Lake from Milan is really easy: jump on any regional train leaving from Cadorna Station (M1-M2 Cadorna FN) and after 50 minutes you’ll find yourself on the shore (get off in “Como Lago”). Tickets are really cheap, around 10 euros return or less. Just keep an eye on timetable, as the last train back from Como to Cadorna station is around 11 pm. If you miss than one, you’d better start searching a place to sleep there. You can check the timetable here (from Milano any station to “Como Lago (lake)” and back).
Personal suggestion: Como itself is nice but the small villages like Bellagio, Comacina Island, Cernobbio or Menaggio are stunning. So, you’de better leave Milan early in the morning to visit Como and then move, for example, to Bellagio for lunch by boat. You can check the timetable here. A little bit of planning required but worth the experience!
