11 Excellent Day Trips from Milan to Plan for Your Next Italy Trip
If you’re looking for the best day trips from Milan, read on to discover our top picks!
Milan is a dynamic city known for being the center of fashion, business, and finance in Italy. And while there are some cool things to do in Milan, like seeing da Vinci’s iconic mural The Last Supper inside the Santa Maria delle Grazie or checking out the impressive Duomo di Milano, it’s not a city where you need more than a couple of days.
However, there are tons of great day trips you can take from Milan!
Since it’s a major Italian city, there are plenty of high-speed train connections to other destinations around Italy, as well as lots of day trips you can book, whether you want to visit lakes or mountains or other historic cities.
11 best Milan day trips
Here are the 11 best day trips from Milan, Italy that we recommend.
A note on our “getting there” tips: If you’ve rented a car for your trip, then obviously you can drive from Milan to all these destinations! We’re giving tips for using the train or booking guided tours, however, since that’s how the majority of visitors to Italy travel. But if you’d like to rent a car, check out the best rental car deals here.
Map of day trips from Milan
The map below contains all the day trips from Milan mentioned in this post to help you plan your travels. To save this map, click on the star ⭑ next to the map’s title. To use it, open Google Maps on your phone, click “Saved,” then click “Maps.”
1. Lake Como
Distance from Milan: 1 hour
Lake Como is one of the most popular day trips from Milan – and understandably so! This gorgeous alpine lake is known for being a vacation destination for the rich and famous; celebrities like George Clooney, Madonna, and Richard Branson are all known to have homes there.
The lake is dotted with colorful, quaint towns like Bellagio and Varenna, which are two of the prettiest towns to visit on a day trip. There are also many luxurious villas and gardens along the lake, some of which you can visit.
Some of the more popular villas to visit include Villa Monastero in Varenna, Villa Carlotta in Tremezzina, Villa Melzi d’Eril in Bellagio (for the gardens), and Villa del Balbianello in Lenno, which was used as a filming location for movies like Casino Royale and Star Wars.
How to get to Lake Como from Milan
You can take the train from Milano Centrale to Lake Como. The town of Como is about 40 minutes by train, while the town of Varenna is about 1 hour by train.
We’d recommend going to Varenna because it’s more picturesque and less crowded, and you can hop on a ferry from there over to the busier town of Bellagio. You can see train schedules here.
Guided tours of Lake Como:
- Lake Como and Bellagio Day Trip from Milan
- Italy and Switzerland Day Trip: Lake Como, Bellagio & Lugano from Milan
- Lake Como, Bellagio with Private Boat Cruise Included
2. Bergamo
Distance from Milan: 50 minutes
Not far from the hustle and bustle of Milan, you can discover Bergamo–a beautiful medieval city that’s perfect for anyone interested in history and/or architecture. The oldest part of the city, Città Alta, is located on a hill and surrounded by ancient walls.
When you arrive in Bergamo by train from Milan, you’ll need to take the 19th-century funicular up to Città Alta from Città Bassa (the lower part of the town.)
Once you’re up there, you can walk the historic city walls that encircle the city and stroll around to admire the beautiful churches and architecture. Bergamo is famous for polenta, too, so be sure to try this hearty dish before you leave!
How to get to Bergamo from Milan
Take the regional train from Milano Centrale to Bergamo. You can buy tickets right at the station and don’t need to worry about booking them in advance. You can see the train schedules here.
Guided tours of Bergamo:
3. Lugano, Switzerland
Distance from Milan: 1 hour and 20 minutes
If you want to visit an entirely different country on a day trip from Milan, head up north to Lugano, Switzerland. Located on the scenic shores of Lake Lugano, this town has a unique blend of Swiss and Italian culture (and it’s Italian-speaking!).
A day trip to Lugano will give you a taste of the Swiss Alps. There are lots of outdoorsy things to do in Lugano, from hiking to getting out on the water on a kayak or stand-up paddle board.
This is one of the coolest day trips you can take from Milan because it allows you to visit two countries in one day.
How to get to Lugano from Milan
Take the EuroCity train from Milano Centrale to Lugano. This is a journey where it’s a good idea to book your tickets in advance to get the best price. We recommend using Trainline to book train tickets throughout Europe.
Guided tours of Lugano:
- Italy and Switzerland Day Trip: Lake Como, Bellagio & Lugano from Milan
- From Milan: Lake Como, Swiss Alps & Lugano Small Group Tour
4. Bologna
Distance from Milan: 1 hour and 5 minutes
A great Italian city that you can easily visit from Milan is Bologna. Known for being one of the top foodie cities in Italy (its nickname is La Grassa, or “the fat one,” after all!), Bologna is a truly delicious day trip. You’ve probably heard of Bolognese sauce on pasta, which is one of the most famous foods from Bologna.
In addition to having yummy food, Bologna is also a very beautiful and historic city, home to the oldest university in Europe, which was founded in 1088.
It’s a stunning city to spend a day exploring, and you can’t miss the impressive Piazza Maggiore at the center of Bologna, or climbing one of the Two Towers (if you can handle the almost 500 steps!).
How to get to Bologna from Milan
Take the high-speed Frecciarossa train from Milano Centrale to Bologna. Since it’s a high-speed train, book tickets as early as possible to get the best price. Check out train schedules here.
Guided tours of Bologna:
5. Lake Maggiore
Distance from Milan: 1 hour and 5 minutes
Another lake you can visit on a day trip from Milan is Lake Maggiore. It has a similar vibe to Lake Como, but it’s not quite as crowded or touristy, making it a good alternative, especially if you don’t love crowds.
Lake Maggiore is more popular with Italian tourists than it is with foreign tourists, so this is a great place to go if you’ve already been to Lake Como or just want to go somewhere that is a little more off the beaten path.
Stresa is one of the prettiest towns to visit on Lake Maggiore, and it’s also the easiest to get to from Milan. One popular activity in Lake Maggiore is taking a boat trip to discover the scenery of the surrounding towns and mountains from the water.
How to get to Lake Maggiore from Milan
Take the regional train from Milan Centrale to Stresa, which takes a little over an hour. (You can see train schedules here.) This town is right on Lake Maggiore and a good base for exploring.
Guided tours of Lake Maggiore:
6. Parma
Distance from Milan: 45 minutes
Parma is another one of the best foodie cities in Italy! It’s home to both Parmesan cheese and Parma ham, and is the perfect place to go if you want to discover Italian cuisine from the Emilia-Romagna region.
A must-do activity in Parma is a food tour. You can learn more about the production of Parmesan cheese and Parma ham while sampling these local specialties (as well as other local food) yourself.
Aside from eating your way through the city, you shouldn’t miss strolling through the historic center and seeing the Cattedrale di Parma.
How to get to Parma from Milan
To get to Parma from Milan, you can take the high-speed Frecciarossa train, which is just a 45-minute journey. There’s also a slower regional train, which is cheaper and takes about an hour and a half. See train schedules here.
Guided tours of Parma:
Check out more Italy day trips here.
7. Verona
Distance from Milan: 1 hour and 15 minutes
Shakespeare fans will recognize Verona as the setting of Romeo and Juliet, but it’s also a real place! And this picturesque city along the Adige River in northern Italy is a great day trip from Milan.
The whole historic center of the city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In addition to being a beautiful medieval city, you can also discover some interesting Roman ruins, like the 1st-century Roman amphitheater.
You can also visit the so-called Juliet’s house–a 14th-century residence with a tiny balcony where you can imagine the events of Romeo and Juliet taking place. (Just note that it’s often very crowded.)
PRO TIP: Pick up a Verona Card to save on your sightseeing here + get free travel on public transportation.
How to get to Verona from Milan
Take the high-speed Frecciarossa train from Milano Centrale to Verona. Since it’s a high-speed train, you should book your tickets early to lock in the best price. You can find the train schedules here.
Guided tours of Verona:
- Verona and Lake Garda Day Trip from Milan
- From Milan: Verona, Sirmione and Lake Garda with Boat Cruise
8. Lake Garda
Distance from Milan: 50 minutes
Another one of the best day trips from Milan is to Lake Garda. This is another beautiful lake in northern Italy that’s not as crowded or touristy as Lake Como. However, it has similar scenery, with a backdrop of breathtaking mountains against the clear blue waters of the lake.
Desenzano del Garda is the closest town on the lake to Milan, and it’s a great place to start your day trip. From there you can easily visit beautiful Sirmione, a colorful village on the lake that has a fairytale-like medieval castle. It’s just a 20-minute bus ride away.
How to get to Lake Garda from Milan
You can take the high-speed Frecciarossa train from Milano Centrale to Desenzano del Garda in just 50 minutes. Another option is taking the slower and cheaper regional train, which takes about 1 hour and 25 minutes. See your train options here.
Guided tours:
- Verona and Lake Garda Day Trip from Milan
- From Milan: Verona, Sirmione and Lake Garda with Boat Cruise
9. Cinque Terre
Distance from Milan: 3 hours
Cinque Terre is one of my favorite places in Italy. Meaning “Five Lands,” Cinque Terre is a string of five colorful fishing villages along the Ligurian Coast.
It’s best if you have a few days to spend here, but if you’re short on time and can only spare one day to visit Cinque Terre, it is doable as a day trip from Milan. Just be aware that it will be a very long day and you’ll want to get an early start so you have time to see it all.
Coming from Milan, you’ll start in Monterosso al Mare, which is the largest of the towns and the only one with a proper beach.
You can take the local train to the other villages (each one is a 5-minute train ride to the next), including Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, and Riomaggiore. With limited time on a day trip, I’d skip Corniglia, because it’s not as picturesque as the others and not located on the waterfront. All the other villages are worth a visit.
How to get to Cinque Terre from Milan
Take the InterCity train from Milan Centrale to Monterosso al Mare. This is the largest of the five villages. From here, you can take the regional train to the other villages: Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, and Riomaggiore. You can find train schedules here.
Guided tours of Cinque Terre:
10. Portofino
Distance from Milan: 2 hours and 45 minutes
Portofino is a charming and colorful fishing village on the Ligurian Coast in the Italian Riviera that you’ve likely seen on your Instagram feed. It’s another long day trip from Milan, but it might still be worth it if you want to see one of the most picturesque villages in Italy.
One thing to note is that Portofino can get very crowded during the peak summer months, especially when there are cruise ships in port. I’d personally check the port schedule to see if cruise ships will be there when you’re planning a day trip and see what time the ships are leaving so you can come a bit later and avoid the crowds.
There’s not a ton to “do” in Portofino because it’s actually a pretty tiny village, but it does have a wonderful ambiance and is a quintessential Italian Riviera destination.
How to get to Portofino from Milan
Take the InterCity train from Milano Centrale to Santa Margherita Ligure. (See train schedules here.) This is a charming seaside town in itself, but to get to Portofino, you’ll need to take a 20-minute bus ride since the village is not accessible by train.
Guided tours of Portofino:
11. Turin
Distance from Milan: 1 hour
Turin (known in Italy as Torino) is Italy’s 4th largest city just behind Naples. It’s Italy’s third richest city and actually used to be the country’s capital at one point. At just an hour away, Turin makes an easy day trip from Milan.
While here, you can visit the stunning royal palace, one of the world’s largest Egyptian museums, the quirky but interesting National Museum of Cinema, and much more.
And, being the birthplace of Nutella, you can enjoy some of the most decadent desserts and drinks in Italy. (Head to one of the city’s historic cafés and order a bicerin. You can thank us later.) Get the lowdown on everything to see and do in Turin here.
PRO TIP: Pick up a 24-hour Torino City Card here to save big on all your sightseeing.
How to get to Turin from Milan
You can take either the Frecciarossa or the Italo high speed trains and get from Milan to Turin in just one hour with no train changes. Trains run pretty frequently; check out the train schedules here.
Guided tours of Turin:
More resources for your day trips from Milan
- Looking to stay overnight somewhere? Find great places to stay at any of these destinations here on Booking.com. (Hotels.com and Expedia are worth checking too.)
- Rental cars: Check out the best local rental car deals here.
- Tours & activities: Check out the best local options here on Viator and Get Your Guide.
Like this post? Have more questions about taking day trips from Milan? Let us know in the comments below. Have fun in Italy!
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