Pavia & the Certosa
Private Day Trip from Milan
The Certosa di Pavia, one of the great Renaissance monasteries of Italy, and the old university town on the Ticino, under an hour south of Milan. Door-to-door by private Mercedes, 8 hours, fixed price from €600 per car.
Book this day trip
Pavia & Certosa di Pavia · private and tailor-made
Book this day trip
See the price for your car now, then send the request: we confirm the driver and send a secure payment link. The itinerary is yours to change: tell us your stops in the notes.
- CarsMercedes E-Class up to 2 guests, V-Class up to 6
- Pick-upYour hotel in Milan, or Malpensa, Linate, Bergamo (+€60)
- PaymentNothing now: we confirm, then send a secure link
Pavia and the Certosa, an easy day from Milan
The Certosa di Pavia was founded in 1396 by Gian Galeazzo Visconti, Duke of Milan, as a Carthusian monastery and family mausoleum. Its carved marble façade, frescoed church and Great Cloister lined with the monks’ cells make it one of the most remarkable buildings in Lombardy. Pavia itself, a few kilometres further south, was the capital of the Lombard kingdom and has one of Europe’s oldest universities. Both are about 35 km from Milan, which makes this one of the most relaxed day trips from Milan.
Since January 2026 the Certosa has been managed directly by the Italian Ministry of Culture, after the Cistercian monks who looked after it left, and entry is now by paid ticket. With a car you go door-to-door to the monastery, then on to the Covered Bridge and the old centre, with time left for Vigevano or the Abbey of Morimondo. The price is per vehicle, not per person: from €600 with an E-Class for two, from €680 with a V-Class for up to six.
Pavia Day at a Glance
Pavia Day Trip Itinerary
A gentle 8-hour day: the Certosa in the morning, the old town of Pavia after lunch.
Tailor-made, always. This itinerary is our suggestion only: every MilanobyCar day trip is tailor-made. Change the stops, the order and the timing as you like, or tell us your own plan in the booking notes.
Your driver, your local insider. Our chauffeurs are not licensed tour guides and do not guide you inside museums or sites, but they know these places well from years on the road: ask them for the best viewpoints, where to eat, where to stroll and how to avoid the busiest spots. If you would like a licensed guide, we can book one for you.
Pick-up at your hotel in Milan
Your driver meets you in the lobby. The road south follows the Naviglio Pavese canal through rice fields and farmland; the Certosa is about 40 minutes away.
The Certosa di Pavia
The church holds the tombs of Gian Galeazzo Visconti and of Ludovico il Moro with Beatrice d’Este, frescoes by Bergognone and an inlaid wooden choir. Then the Small and Great Cloisters, a monk’s cell with its own garden, and the refectory.
Zuppa alla pavese and risotto
Pavia is rice country: try a risotto, or the local zuppa alla pavese, a broth poured over bread and a raw egg. Your driver can suggest a trattoria in town or in the countryside and book a table.
The university and San Michele Maggiore
The arcaded courtyards of the University of Pavia, founded in 1361, are open to walk through. Nearby is San Michele Maggiore, the Romanesque basilica where Frederick Barbarossa was crowned King of Italy in 1155.
The Covered Bridge and Borgo Ticino
The Ponte Coperto crosses the Ticino to the old boatmen’s quarter of Borgo Ticino. The bridge you walk on was rebuilt after the Second World War on the model of the 14th-century original. The Visconti Castle, now the civic museums, is a short walk north.
Back to your hotel in Milan
Door-to-door return in about 45 minutes, or drop-off at Linate or Malpensa.
Pavia Day Trip Prices — 8-Hour Private Car
Prices are per vehicle for the whole 8-hour day with 150 km included, whatever the number of passengers. Saturdays and Sundays +20%, major holidays +50%, airport pick-up +€60. Extra hours €75 with the E-Class, €85 with the V-Class, bookable in the form below.
- •Door-to-door from your Milan hotel
- •English-speaking chauffeur
- •8 hours · 150 km included
- •Door-to-door from your Milan hotel
- •English-speaking chauffeur
- •8 hours · 150 km included
- •Executive luxury sedan
- •English-speaking chauffeur
Included in the price
- ✓Private Mercedes and English-speaking chauffeur for the whole day
- ✓Door-to-door pick-up and return in Milan
- ✓Fuel, motorway tolls and parking for the car
- ✓Bottled water on board
- ✓Child seats on request, free of charge
- ✓Driver waiting while you visit
Not included — paid separately
- ✕Certosa di Pavia entry ticket
- ✕Castello Visconteo civic museums
- ✕Meals and drinks
- ✕Licensed local guide (bookable on request)
Milan to Pavia: The Route
About 35 km south of Milan, 40 to 50 minutes along the Naviglio Pavese corridor. The Certosa lies a few kilometres before Pavia, so both fit easily into one day.
Pavia Day Trip from Milan — FAQ
Pavia by private car or by train?
Regional trains from Milan reach Pavia in about half an hour, but the Certosa is a separate trip: its station is outside the village and the walk to the monastery adds time each way. With a car you see both in one smooth loop and can add Vigevano or an abbey that has no easy train connection.
What to know about the Certosa
The Certosa is a consecrated church as well as a monument, so dress respectfully, with shoulders and knees covered. Plan about two hours for the church, the cloisters and the museum, and buy your ticket online before you go.
How much is a Pavia day trip?
MilanobyCar charges a fixed price per car: from €600 for two passengers in a Mercedes E-Class and from €680 for up to six in a V-Class, for 8 hours with 150 km included, including driver, fuel, tolls and parking. It is one of our most affordable day trips, and there is room to add Vigevano or an abbey within the 150 km. The exact price for your date appears in the booking form.
Book Your Pavia Day Trip — Private Mercedes from Milan
8 hours, English-speaking driver, door-to-door. The Certosa in the morning, Pavia after lunch.
or call +39 335 821 0912