I fell in love with Italy on this trip and vowed to go back to explore the rest of the country. You know that filter, the sepia tone one? The one that makes everything look warm, dreamy and like you’re in an old movie, well that is what being in Italy feels like.

The journey to Milan was super quick and easy with a direct train that takes you from the airport straight into the city centre. Once there you can grab a ticket for the subway to get to your hotel. The subway system was excellent, easy to navigate, cheap and one of the top ones I’ve used on my travels.

The trip was not a long one but unsurprisingly we still managed to see and do a fair amount. The main attraction in Milan would be the Cathedral Duomo, and it’s a sight to behold. It’s free admission to enter the cathedral however if you want to go up onto the rooftop you will need to purchase a ticket. The fee is worth it as the rooftop is a total must-see with the many spires, statues and gargoyles as well as the amazing views of Milan. Another great spot is the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele, this is Italy’s oldest active shopping mall and a major landmark. It’s also right by the Duomo so you can hit both places in one go!

All the neighbourhoods in Milan are charming but there’s something special about the Navigli area that makes it stand out. The architecture, canals, quaint shops and restaurants make it the perfect place to go for a stroll. Everywhere you go you will find gelato shops so feel free to indulge, as we did! We also popped into the Magnum store and each created a personalised ice cream which was a delicious novelty.

I’ve always wanted to visit Lake Como and impulsively we decided to use one of our days to take the train there. Best decision ever! It was a direct train and a short ferry ride to get to Bellagio; one of the most picturesque areas of Lake Como. We strolled the streets, took in the breath-taking views of the lake, shopped, enjoyed the waterfront promenade and much more. I now understand why it’s a celebrity favourite!

Milan is a convenient hub to easily visit other areas of Italy. The main station has regular trains to popular destinations such as Lake Como, Venice and Rome. As mentioned we only did Lake Como but if our trip was longer, I would have gone to at least one more.