7 best day trips from Milan

Day trips compared

The day trips

50 km · About 40 minutes to 1 hour by train

1.Lake Como

Steep green mountains frame Lake Como's villas and villages. From Como town, ferries and the funicular to Brunate start the day; from Varenna, ferries cross to Bellagio and the gardens of Villa Carlotta and Villa del Balbianello.

Getting there

Train to Como or Varenna, then ferries

Best for

Couples, First-timers, Luxury

50 km · About 50 minutes by train

2.Bergamo

A funicular climbs to the Città Alta, Bergamo's walled hilltop town with Venetian ramparts listed by UNESCO, the Piazza Vecchia and the Cappella Colleoni. Try polenta and casoncelli pasta in its old taverns.

Getting there

Regional train from Centrale or Garibaldi, then funicular

Best for

Culture, Couples, Food lovers

90 km · About 1 hour by train to Stresa

3.Lake Maggiore and the Borromean Islands

From Stresa, boats visit Isola Bella with its baroque palace and terraced gardens, the fishing village of Isola dei Pescatori and the botanical gardens of Isola Madre.

Getting there

Train to Stresa, then boat to the islands

Best for

Couples, Families, Quiet stays

160 km · About 1 hour 15 minutes by high-speed train

4.Verona

A Roman arena still used for summer opera, Piazza delle Erbe and the medieval Castelvecchio make Verona a full day trip; the 'Juliet's balcony' courtyard is crowded but famous.

Getting there

Frecciarossa or Italo from Centrale

Best for

Couples, Culture, First-timers

140 km · About 1 hour by high-speed train

5.Turin

The former royal capital has elegant arcaded streets, the Egyptian Museum with one of the world's largest collections of Egyptian antiquities, the Mole Antonelliana with the National Cinema Museum, and historic cafés serving bicerin coffee.

Getting there

Frecciarossa or Italo from Centrale

Best for

Culture, Food lovers

35 km · About 30 minutes by train

6.Pavia and the Certosa di Pavia

Pavia is a university town with a covered medieval bridge over the Ticino and Romanesque churches. Nearby, the Certosa di Pavia is a monumental Renaissance monastery with an ornate marble facade.

Getting there

Regional train from Centrale or Rogoredo

Best for

Culture, Quiet stays

130 km · About 1 hour 15 minutes by train and bus

7.Sirmione on Lake Garda

A narrow peninsula reaching into Lake Garda holds the moated Scaliger Castle, Roman villa ruins known as the Grottoes of Catullus and thermal spas.

Getting there

Train to Desenzano del Garda, then bus or boat

Best for

Couples, Families

Day-trip tips

• Leave early: most trips are more relaxed with a morning departure and a return before dinner.
• Suburban and regional trains run from Centrale, Garibaldi and Cadorna to Malpensa, Como, Bergamo and the lakes.
• For trips over about 150 km, an overnight stay or an organised tour saves a lot of travelling.

Questions travellers ask