Top 5 Navigli Day Trips: Explore Canals & Hidden Gems
The Navigli district, so, it’s almost like Milan’s charming waterfront area, very popular with locals and tourists alike, has an awesome network of canals that just makes you want to explore what it offers. These waterways, once really important for trade and transport, are now places full of cute cafes, art studios, and quite exciting nightlife. You, like your visit is not complete without wandering away from the city center and through the best canals and hidden spots that create unforgettable stories. When the regular sites grow tired and you want that special slice of Italy, a day spent canal-side could be that travel experience.
1. A Stroll Along Naviglio Grande
Naviglio Grande, now that really is Milan’s main canal, arguably it could be where any visit to the Navigli should start. This old waterway very much gives a glimpse into Milan’s rich past. Back then, it played a really major part in transporting goods, and the canal banks, these days, that is where a lively present resides, packed with cool spots to check out. Consider starting with a relaxed wander right beside the canal, you’ll quickly pass boutique shops and cool art places galore. That said, you should watch out for some pretty popular photo spots, or take photos. The reflections off the water, that really is just lovely. So too it’s almost worth the trip alone.
As you’re very much walking, anyway as I was saying you should think about hopping on a boat. A tour by boat offers another outlook, it very much gives insight to old buildings and cool historic spots alongside the canal that can only come from the water. You might just want to schedule your stroll so it lines up with a market day because the Naviglio Grande kind of turns into one buzzing open-air fair! And talking about buzz, by the way you should visit some cafe to eat something and soak in everything the local area brings! Naviglio Grande Full Review and Details. See Prices, Availability & Reserve Now (boat tour on Naviglio Grande)
2. Discovering the Charms of Naviglio Pavese
Just a bit further away, a little from the hustle of Naviglio Grande is Naviglio Pavese, it’s sort of a canal oozing with just the right kind of Milanese vibe. The path near to Naviglio Pavese definitely has less going on, yet the spots on show make this location extra alluring. Take note if architecture draws you, because some super villas and just perfect bridges dot this canal, each with an old story ready to be uncovered. You can grab some great photos to remember! A bit into your wanderings anyway you will find yourself drawn by sounds from little stores and artisan stores down the sides of streets. And the canal offers so many great eating options. The charm lies in soaking up somewhere local.
Take your time trying somewhere and maybe sip wine or a cold aperitivo because very much it fits this canal area’s peaceful feel. You might want to carry on going southward; that’s if you like views, because it meets Milan’s farmland belt. When city meets country! Getting onto a cycling trip alongside Naviglio Pavese, you could say it might offer a unique way to discover. That said, getting further outside the city center to farmland might just get you a good look into a very undiscovered Milan! Naviglio Pavese Full Review and Details. See Prices, Availability & Reserve Now (cycle alongside Naviglio Pavese)
3. The Artistic Heart of Vicolo dei Lavandai
Tucked down away from Naviglio Grande is Vicolo dei Lavandai. In some respects it’s actually a very cute little alley, rich in its past. As I was saying once the location Milan’s washing spot, that location very much offers insights into local folk getting stuff done way back when. In those older periods washing here had significance due to the clean water, the canal providing it. So there’s even a old washing stone area. By the way keep your eye open for places nearby showing old stuff on Milan’s past, just so that the local customs are revealed.
It very much goes without saying that you should think of that small road’s name, which directly means “Washermen’s alley”, in a way you see their toil to carry on going with cleanliness shows Milan’s work character over time. Get ready to have the peaceful mood catch you. It definitely does make time travel occur! Oh yes, so it’s almost the ideal moment to be calm far from so much rush happening in a very huge town, Milan, and feel relaxed near such old bits. In this vein it acts to contrast sharply showing a fast life contrasted from relaxed. Vicolo dei Lavandai Full Review and Details. See Prices, Availability & Reserve Now (explore historic washermen alley)
4. A Visit to the Darsena
La Darsena, now that just might feel quite lively, stands at Milan’s junction from both Naviglio Grande alongside Naviglio Pavese. Once just a port that saw high shipping usage, you kind of get its energy showing what it’s been before! That location really has become ground zero these days to see local get-togethers alongside chill hangouts. A bit into sunset periods anyway La Darsena absolutely comes to its all through locals meeting to wander or savor aperitivos overlooking calm reflections around the water.
As you are checking it you will very quickly see there’s places serving food near all sides plus little shop opportunities and stands during market times. Keep time open while looking down the river and catching all activities near the area; the ambiance has an air always going! Maybe have time available in mind when catching festivals held around the Darsena since many things constantly get celebrated yearly getting many involved into fun. That offers not simply that visit alongside channels besides actually feeling how modern-day folk living Milan lives beside that canal front region nowadays! Darsena Full Review and Details. See Prices, Availability & Reserve Now (Darsena festivals)
5. Day Trip to Lake Como through Navigli
You just might have a extra urge beyond seeing everything found near Navigli alone, now this point goes outward quite a bit by suggesting thinking over travel through river channel which then extends fully near the wonderful lake environment beside Lake Como using a cruise service through Navigli channels initially, which might just open into a really memorable exploration starting distant from town through calm scenic perspectives beside natural charm right close to probably places within the Alpine perimeter!
Lake Como can really add additional elegance once doing canal discoveries from urban points over to spectacular aquatic regions inside Alps environments, that location’s worth consideration concerning expanded discovery programs.
Think over spending a lengthier timeframe including boat rides down entire Lake Como that might simply catch glimpses down magnificent buildings combined to hills terrains just perfectly ideal while relaxing near river sides combined plus feeling fresh mountain environments too so consider time allocation before starting near trips nearby! Very maybe the river’s waterway could bring remarkable times that ties up old urban bits over near breathtaking lake settings, basically allowing someone traveling various feelings near north parts around Italy.Lake Como Full Review and Details. See Prices, Availability & Reserve Now (boat rides down Lake Como)
