Milan sits at the centre of one of Europe’s best rail networks, with the Alpine lakes, medieval hill towns and great Italian cities all within easy reach. Regional trains need no booking and cost little, while high-speed trains put Turin, Verona and even Venice within a day. Here are the best day trips, with typical journey times from Milan.

Lake Como

The most famous of the lakes is also the easiest. Direct trains from Milano Centrale reach Varenna-Esino in about 64 minutes for about €7.70, and from there ferries cross the central lake to Bellagio and Menaggio; a central-lake day pass costs about €17.50. For Como town and the funicular up to Brunate, trains take about 40 minutes from Milano Centrale to Como San Giovanni or about an hour from Milano Cadorna to Como Lago, both for about €5.40. Ferries run all year, but the winter timetable from 2 November 2026 to 14 March 2027 is reduced.

Bergamo

Bergamo’s walled upper town, the Città Alta, is one of the most beautiful old towns in Lombardy. Regional trains from Milano Centrale take about 50 minutes to an hour. From Bergamo station, a bus and a funicular climb to the Città Alta, where you can see the Piazza Vecchia, the Colleoni Chapel and the Venetian walls, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Bergamo is also home to Orio al Serio airport, used by many low-cost flights.

Lake Maggiore and the Borromean Islands

Trains from Milano Centrale reach Stresa in about an hour. From the lakefront, boats serve the Borromean Islands: Isola Bella, with its Baroque palace and terraced gardens, Isola Madre, with its botanical gardens, and Isola dei Pescatori, a fishing village. The palaces and gardens open from spring to autumn, so this is best from late March to October.

Verona and Lake Garda

High-speed trains reach Verona in about 1 hour 15 minutes. Its Roman Arena, Piazza delle Erbe and the house linked to Romeo and Juliet make a full day. Peschiera del Garda, on the southern shore of Lake Garda, is on the same line, about an hour from Milan, and boats link it with Sirmione and its castle.

Turin

High-speed trains reach Turin, the former royal capital, in about an hour. Its arcaded streets, the Egyptian Museum, the Mole Antonelliana and the National Cinema Museum, and its historic cafés serving bicerin, a layered chocolate and coffee drink, make it an elegant contrast to Milan. The Royal Palace and the other residences of the House of Savoy are listed by UNESCO.

The Bernina Express and St Moritz

For mountain scenery, take a train from Milano Centrale along Lake Como to Tirano, about 2 hours 30 minutes, and board the red trains of the Bernina line, a UNESCO-listed railway that climbs over the Alps to St Moritz in Switzerland. It is a long day, and many visitors choose a guided tour from Milan that combines a coach and the train. Bring your passport.

Monza

Just 15 to 20 minutes by train from Milano Centrale or Porta Garibaldi, Monza has a cathedral holding the Iron Crown of Lombardy, the neoclassical Villa Reale and one of Europe’s largest walled parks. Inside the park is the Autodromo Nazionale, home of the Italian Formula 1 Grand Prix, where track tours and driving experiences are offered on non-race days.

Other ideas

  • Pavia and the Certosa. A university town with a Renaissance charterhouse, about 30 minutes by train.
  • Cremona. The city of violins and Stradivari, about an hour by regional train.
  • Venice. High-speed trains take about 2 hours 30 minutes, possible as a long day trip.
  • Serravalle Designer Outlet. A large outlet village reached by shuttle buses from central Milan.

Tips for day trips

  • Regional trains are run by Trenord, from Milano Centrale, Porta Garibaldi or Cadorna; check which station your train uses.
  • Buy regional tickets before boarding, and validate paper tickets.
  • Book high-speed trains to Turin, Verona and Venice in advance for the best fares.
  • In winter, lake villas and island gardens close and ferry services are reduced.
  • Check the last train back, especially from the lakes, where final departures can be around 9.30pm to 10pm.