Milano, Italy, is the wealthiest, most stylish city where urban steel meets old-world romance.
This city has a lot to see and do, with its chic, high-end shops, myriad winding streets to explore, and large, beautiful buildings to admire.
Climb up to view the city from the roof of Milan’s Duomo, sample a rainbow of flavors from one of the many gelato vendors around the town, and snatch a peek at Leonardo Da Vinci’s The Last Supper.
Milan’s position in Western Lombardy puts it within easy rich of several tourist destinations. Lake Como is an hour away, the Alps are so close that you can see them from the roof of the Duomo, and there are a few cities nearby with grand churches and cathedrals. Because Milano is the rail hub of northern Italy, all of these places are easily accessible. High-speed trains can take you on a day trip to Venice or even Cinque Terre.
This makes Milan the perfect base to explore, whether for day trips or continuing your travels.
Pro tip: I’ve been using the TrainLine app to purchase all my train tickets around Europe. Train Line is an official distributor of hundreds of operators, and it compares the cheapest prices for trains and the shortest trips.
Here is a list of 10 destinations perfect for day trips from Milan, Italy.
15 Day Trips from Milan Italy
Lake Como
*one-hour train from Milan
Head to Italy’s third-largest lake, Lake Como. The destination draws in visitors seduced by the ample opportunities for villa hopping, lavish lunches, and long boat rides.
Admire the stunning alpine scenery from a luxurious boat tour. You’ll also get a sneak peek at the beautiful waterside properties. Add a tour of Como City, whose historic center will charm you. Spend a couple hours wandering its pretty streets before returning to Milano.
Varenna
*one-hour train from Milan
Another option for exploring Lake Como is visiting Varenna, one of the most picturesque cities in the world. This romantic town on Lake Como has a pretty walkway looping throughout town, a harbor flanked by kayaks and restaurants, and charming medieval lanes. And it’s only an hour’s train ride from Milan.
Bellagio
*one-hour train from Milan + boat
A 15-minute ferry ride will take you from Varenna to Bellagio, often called the “pearl of Lake Como.” Bellagio is the most famous town on Lake Como and a perfect getaway destination. Enjoy your time window browsing, visit the Giardini di Villa Melzi, or go kayaking.
Bernina Express to St. Moritz
*two-hour train to Tirano + two-and-half-hours to St. Moritz
It’s a long day, but you can taste the magnificent Alpine scenery north of Milan by taking the two-hour train ride to Tirano and boarding the scenic Bernina Express. In two and a half hours, you’ll cross 196 bridges, go through 55 tunnels, and cross breathtaking gorges as you climb the Bernina Pass and descend into Switzerland.
The “Little Red Train” has expansive vista windows for stunning views and good photography from every seat. The Bernina Express ends in the legendary Swiss ski resort of St. Moritz, overlooking a lake and the Engadin Alps. The train runs year-round, and the views are equally good in summer or winter.
On this day trip from Milan, you have enough time to explore the chic St. Moritz.
Turin (Torino)
*one hour train from Milan
A high-speed train will take you to Turin in 55 minutes. Italy’s first capital is most famous for its shroud depicting the face of Jesus. However, there’s more to it than a length of cloth.
This elegant city of broad avenues and piazzas lined by arcades is a pleasure to stroll around. Still, there is plenty of sightseeing. Visit the sumptuous Royal Palace and ride the glass elevator to the top of The Mole for views of the snowcapped Savoy. Also, visit the Egyptian Museum, one of the world’s most significant collections of Egyptian antiquities.
Venice
*two-and-half-hours from Milan
Venice is only 2.5 hours from Milan, and it would be a shame to visit northern Italy without seeing one of the most popular places to go in all of Italy. On a day trip from Milan, you can easily see the highlights – St. Mark’s Square and the Basilica, the Grand Canal, the Bridge of Sighs, the Doge’s Palace, and the Rialto Bridge. There is also plenty of time to wander in the maze of streets and along the colorful canals.
Cinque Terre
*three-hour train from Milan
A day trip from Milan to Cinque Terre is one of the most enjoyable experiences in Italy. The five tiny towns of this UNESCO-listed region are separated by steep cliffs and connected by a narrow and often precipitous walking trail and a train line that tunnels through the rocky headlands between cities.
Exploring Cinque Terre in one day on your own is complicated. The best way to see the highlights of this beautiful coast is to book a tour, which is usually available from April to October.
Lake Garda
*one-hour-20-minute train from Milan
Milano’s rail network can also take you to Italy’s largest lake, Lake Garda. At the tip of a peninsula that extends into the lake, the well-kept town of Sirmione is worth a trip for its moated castle and the extensive remains of Grotte di Catullo, a Roman villa and spa.
Lake Maggiore & the Borromean Islands
*one-hour train to Stresa + 20-minute ferry to the islands
A short train ride from Milano can take you to Lake Maggiore. The best way to see the lake is island-hopping among the three islands near Stresa. Before returning to Milano, there is plenty of time to visit all three islands, their gardens, and palaces and have time for a lakeside dinner in Stresa.
Verona
*one-hour-15-minute train from Milan
A unique blend of Roman antiquities, medieval streetscapes, and the romance of Shakespeare’s tragic heroine, Juliet, puts Verona near the top of everyone’s bucket list for Italy. Here, you can visit one of Italy’s best-preserved Roman arenas, the site of a significant summer opera festival. The riverside castle has been brilliantly repurposed into an art museum, with fine views of the castellated bridge. At least four of the city’s churches are landmarks of Italian architecture and decorative art.
Florence
*two-hours train from Milan
Because of Italy’s high-speed trains, the Renaissance city of Florence is just 2 hours away, leaving plenty of time for sightseeing.
Several top tourist attractions are an easy walk from the train station: Piazza del Duomo, Santa Maria Novella; Michelangelo’s magnificent Medici tombs in San Lorenzo; Piazza Della Signoria, and Palazzo Vecchio.
Bergamo
*40-minutes train from Milan
A direct train line from Milano can also take you to Bergamo. The city’s historic wall stretches five kilometers and encircles the old town. There is plentiful medieval architecture to look at and spend a whole day at.
Ride the funicular and look at Bergamo’s significant monuments, such as the St. Maria Maggiore Cathedral and the Colleoni Chapel.
Take a moment to appreciate the city’s incredible surroundings, with hills stretching for miles to Lake Como.
Bologna
*one-hour train from Milan
Bologna is one of Italy’s most underrated cities, so there’s no better time to visit than when you’ve just about had enough of Milan. Though it gets overshadowed by the likes of Venice, Rome, and Florence, Bologna is a cultural hotspot (sometimes called the world’s foodie capital!). Come for the pasta, and stay for the cobbled streets and medieval architecture.
Pavia
43-minute train from Milan
Milan can be hectic, and we’ve got just the antidote if it’s all getting a bit much. In Italy’s Lombardy region, peaceful Pavia is a goldmine of beautiful architecture, medieval towers, and wine. It’s the kind of place where you can pull up by its winding river and sit for hours or people-watch from a café in the center with an espresso.
Varese
*one-hour train from Milan
Located 30 miles north of Milan, Varese is known as “Garden City,” given the plethora of public parks and gardens that dot the cityscape. This, coupled with a robust representation of Art Nouveau works and 18th-century villas gives the town a countryside-like feel. If sightseeing is not on the menu, you can indulge in shopping. Baseblu is a multi-story boutique with many prominent and independent high-end fashion brands.
Have you been to any of these places? Which one is your favourite? Share with us in the comments below.
