When you want to escape from the busy city streets and enjoy some natural beauty of Lombardy, consider hopping on the scenic Bernina Express train. Stroll along Lake Como, make a stop in the historic lakeshore village of Varenna and ascend the Alps on the UNESCO-listed train — it'll make a stop on top so you can take a short walk enjoying summit views. The iconic red train starts its journey from Tirano — a sleepy town close to the Swiss border, about 3 hours away from Milan. Some package tours include transportation from and back to Milano Centrale. The train journey itself takes about 4.5 hours from start to finish and runs through 55 tunnels, 196 bridges and viaducts.

The Hakata district is where you will find the bulk of small artisan shops in which you can purchase some fine handcrafted souvenirs. Your first port of call should be the Kawabata Shopping Arcade, in which there are a number of stalls selling all manner of goods.

Part of the eastern wall, Tha Phae Gate is a 700 year old red brick wall. It is recommended to take a walk around this magnificent wall, that used to be the only entrance to the city. Today, it is the site of many community activities, like the Chiang Mai Flower Festival in February, the Thai New Year of Songkran in April and the market stalls on Sundays which attracts flocks of tourists.

Marvel at the elegant beauty of the many shrines and temples dotting the city. Do not miss the Hakozaki Shrine, Kushida Shrine, Shofukuji Temple, and the Tochoji Temple.