Cremona day trip from Milan or Mantua or Parma
A day trip to Cremona from Milan, Mantua or Parma: the cathedral, the baptistery and the Torrazzo on Piazza del Comune with the Loggia dei Militi, the violins of Stradivari and the Amati in the Museo del Violino, then the frescoed church of San Sigismondo outside the walls. Every stop has a typical visit length.
How long do you have?
Map: 1 days
Cremona in 1 day
Day 1
Cremona Cathedral
Romanesque and Gothic cathedral with a white marble front and an interior covered in Renaissance frescoes of the life of Christ.
Cremona Baptistery
Octagonal brick baptistery of the twelfth century beside the cathedral, plain and lofty inside, with a marble font.
Torrazzo of Cremona
The cathedral's brick bell tower, among the tallest in Europe, with an astronomical clock and a long climb to wide views over the plain.
Loggia dei Militi and Palazzo Comunale
The town hall and the thirteenth-century loggia of the citizen militia, facing the cathedral across Piazza del Comune.
Museo del Violino
Modern museum of Cremona's violin making, from the Amati to Stradivari and Guarneri, with historic instruments and a concert auditorium.
San Sigismondo, Cremona
Renaissance church outside the walls where Francesco Sforza married Bianca Maria Visconti, its interior entirely frescoed by Cremona painters.
Getting there
Trains reach Cremona in about an hour to an hour and a quarter from Milan, about an hour from Mantua and about an hour from Parma, some with a change. The station is a walk of about 15 minutes from Piazza del Comune. San Sigismondo is about 2.5 km east of the centre, by local bus, taxi or bike.
Staying in Milan or Mantua or Parma? This day fits into those city plans, and in the Trip Builder it is one click under each of them.
When to go to Cremona
Spring and autumn are the most pleasant times; summers on the Po plain are hot and humid, and winter often brings fog. The Festa del Torrone fills the centre with nougat stalls in November. Violin events and concerts run through the year, with more in autumn.
Plan the rest of your trip
- Where to stay: hotels in Cremona on Booking.com or Trip.com
- Skip-the-line tickets: museums and sights in Cremona on Tiqets
- Tours and day trips: things to do in Cremona on GetYourGuide
- Data on arrival: an eSIM for Italy from Airalo
Some of these are affiliate links: we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Tips for Cremona
- The Museo del Violino is closed on Mondays; check its calendar for the days when a musician plays one of the historic instruments in the auditorium.
- The Torrazzo climb is about 500 steps with no lift: take it early, before the day warms up.
- Buy torrone, Cremona's nougat, and mostarda, the spicy candied fruit, in the shops of the old town.
- Many violin makers still work in Cremona's workshops; some open to visitors by appointment.
- Most of the centre is flat and compact, good on foot or by bike; save a bus or taxi for San Sigismondo.
Make it your own
Open the guide in Andiamo Places to see every stop on a map with walking directions, move places between days, check opening hours for your dates, and add your own finds. After the trip, your photos become a journal and, if you like, a printed photo book.
Guides are made with the help of AI and public sources such as Wikipedia, and may contain errors. Opening hours and prices change, so check before you go. Spotted a wrong photo, a pin in the wrong place, a missing stop or a better one? Write to andiamotravelapp@gmail.com: the e-mail opens with this guide filled in.
Photo credits
- Cremona Baptistery: sailko, CC BY 2.5
- Cremona Cathedral: unknown author, Public domain
- Loggia dei Militi and Palazzo Comunale: AquiFoto, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Museo del Violino: Bimbacami, CC BY-SA 4.0
- San Sigismondo, Cremona: Camillo Boccaccino, Public domain
- Torrazzo of Cremona: sedoglia, CC BY 2.0
Opening hours change; check before you go. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
