Best Day Trips from Milan

After you’ve been to the Duomo, seen the last supper, and shopped to your heart’s content in Milan, maybe you’re ready to see some other the regions other sites. If you’re wondering where to go, check out the cities below provide for some wonderful options for a great day trip from Milan.

Bergamo

Bergamo is one of the easiest day trips from Milan. Present-day Bergamo is a thriving, modern city. The main draw here, though it the città alta, of upper city. The città alta is the well-preserved medieval heart of Bergamo. The upper city is a delightful place to stroll the streets, wandering and out of small shops. A highlight in the medieval center of Bergamo is the Colleoni Chapel. While it looks immense from the outside, it is really the entrance to a small chapel, while the entrance to the main church (Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore) is around the corner. Additionally, if you climb to the top of the Campenone or Civic Tower, you can get a bird’s eye view of the chapel and the rest of Bergamo. Consider Bergamo as your day trips from Milano for that medieval hill town experience that is stereotypically Italian.

Getting there: There are several trains an hour from Milan, and the trip is under an hour. Upon arrival, take a bus (Line1) to the upper city.

Lake Como

What about Lake Garda and Maggiore? Yes, you can definitely head to these lakes as a day trip as well. However, you will spend more time getting there than actually seeing the lake or the lakeside towns. For that reason, Lake Como is the better choice for a day trip from Milan.

How to see Lake Como: There are options. You can take a regularly scheduled train from Milano Centrale to Como. Check out the town, then arrange a small boat tour hitting some of the highlight, like famous villas, and in summer you can jump for a brief swim. To arrange a boat trip in advance, click here.

Another option is to take the ferry boat around the lake. The options here are almost endless. Ferries are quick, efficient, and cost effective. You can get to some lakeside towns from Como relatively easily by ferry. Cernobbio is small and cute. It is also home to the spectacular villa(now hotel) of Villa d’Este. The gardens are beautifully manicured, and the home is beautiful. After a stroll through town and the hotel grounds, have a refreshment at the outdoor cafe while enjoying views of the lake.

If you have more time, the ferry can continue up the lake to Bellagio or Varenna. These two small towns are very picturesque. They both have beautiful gardens located along that lake that can be explored and offer excellent vistas of the lake. Once you have explored, have lunch in one of the town squares, and head back on the ferry.

It is also possible to take the train directly from Milano to Varenna. It takes a little over an hour. You can take a ferry to Bellagio from there if you would like to explore both towns. You can still enjoy a full day at the lake.

Lake Como is a great day from Milan because you enjoy the beautiful scenery and really feel like you’ve gotten out of the city.

Cernobbio, Lake Como

If you prefer to leave the logistics up to guides, sign up for a tour here, or contact me. I can help your arrange your day to Lake Como

Turin

While I whole-heartedly believed that Turin (Torino in Italian) is worth its own trip, it can also be a great day trip from Milan. When Italy was unified, Turin was its first capital, and it definitely has a regal feeling to it. As a former capital, there are numerous well-restored palaces that can be explored, like Palazzo Madama or Palazzo Reale. There are also wide streets and piazzas for strolling (or people watching).

One of the features of Turin its is cafe culture. There are many cafes around the center of the city. You should definitely pick a cafe and sample of the drink that Turin is famous for – the Biccerin. It is a mix of coffee and chocolate, and it is rich, decadent, delicious and not to be missed.

Architecturally, Turin is home to the Mole Antonelliana. It is visible form almost every vantage point and stands out and is an emblem of the city in the same way the Eiffel Tower is an emblem of Paris. It was built in 1863 as a synagogue, but was complete by the city and became a symbol of the Italian unification movement. Now it is the Cinema Museum with excellent exhibits.

There are many other choices as day trips from Milan, such as Parma, Pavia, or Genoa; but Turin, Como, and Bergamo will giver your trip the variety you crave.

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