Find yourself with extended time when visiting Milan and not sure what to do? Lucky for you Milan is the perfect place to base while still being able to reach so many incredible places for day trips.

Lake Como 

Lake Como is the perfect break to get out of a busy city. Lake Como consists of many towns and villages surrounding all sides of the lake, as well as the city of Como.

There’s so much to do in Lake Como that you won’t be able to go everywhere in a day, but you will still have plenty to see and experience.

There are two ways you can get to Lake Como by train from Milan and the route you chose will dictate your schedule for the day.

Option 1: Get the train from Milan Centrale to Varenna, Lake Como. From here you can take the ferry from Varenna to Bellagio, explore Bellagio, and then make your way over to Varenna and explore Varenna before making your way back to the train station. If you find yourself with extra time, the town of Menaggio is also convenient to visit along with Bellagio and Varenna – but this might make you rushed for time in each town.

Option 2: Get the train from Milan Centrale to Como Camerlata Station.

From here you can either do a quick change to Como Lago Station to reach the lake side, or get off at Como Camerlata and walk towards the lakeside. It’s about an hour walk, but gives you chance to see plenty of Como along the way. Explore Como and the areas by the lakeside, if you feel that you have enough time then you can venture out to other villages and towns surrounding Lake Como. However, the ferry from Como can take 1-3 hours to reach many of the other smaller towns and villages surrounding the lake.

Personally, I would recommend option 1 if you’re only going for a day trip to Lake Como. The train from Milan Centrale to Varenna takes approximately 54 minutes. You will likely be hanging round in a ferry queue in order to board the boat to Bellagio/ Menaggio for a little while so it’s best to leave early.

I would recommend getting the 8:20am train from Milan Centrale to Varenna, but you should still have time to see plenty in Bellagio and Varenna if you get the 9:20am train. Keep in mind if set off a bit later the trains and ferry queues will be busier.

Ferries run until 10pm so make sure you check times in advance. Both train and ferry schedules are subject to change and sometimes run less frequently on a Sunday or during Italian public holidays. Check train timetables and purchase tickets in advance on Trainline. Check ferry timetables and purchase tickets in advance on Navigazione.

Lake Lugano, Switzerland

Fancy ticking another country off your list during your trip to Italy? Lake Lugano in Switzerland is the perfect choice for you!

Board the train at Milan Centrale station and arrive at Lugano station after enjoying the scenic views as the train passes through Lake Como, dropping you in the centre of the Swiss city of Lugano. From the station getting to Lugano Lake is quick and easy, it’s only a short walk away.

The route is only slightly longer than the route to Lake Como, with the train journey taking approximately 1 hour 15 minutes to reach Lugano.

Lake Lugano tends to be a lot quieter than Lake Como, so can be a great option for you if you want to avoid the crowds but still soak in the beautiful views and enjoy your day by the lakeside.  

With great hiking trials, beautiful views across the lake into Switzerland, and the city of Lugano to explore, Lake Lugano makes the perfect day trip from Milan.

Verona

Want your glimpse of one of the most famous Shakespearean novels? Then Verona is the day trip destination for you, famously known as the setting of Shakespeare’s ‘Romeo and Juliet’, this city has plenty to offer for your day trip from Milan.

To get here, you want to board the train at Milan Centrale, which will take you to your destination of Verona Porta Nuova in approximately 1 hour 15 minutes – perfectly accessible for a day trip!

From here you can enjoy your day exploring the streets, many of Verona’s attractions are close together which gives you the perfect chance to see so much of the city in just one day.  Visit Juliet’s House, check out Arena di Verona (Verona Arena), admire the architecture of Verona Cathedral and grab a bite to eat at Piazza Bra.

Lake Garda

Another scenic lake destination to step out of the busy city for the day, Lake Garda offers the perfect opportunity for a day trip from Milan.  

Lake Garda is the perfect option if you want an active day of sailing, windsurfing, hiking and swimming. Lake Garda is also known for the large number of amusement parks and waterparks!  

There’s several options when it comes to getting from Milan to Lake Garda via train. A direct train from Milan to Peschiera del Garda takes 57 minutes and operates between 06:15 and 23:30. You can also get the direct service from Milan to Desenzano del Garda, which takes anywhere between 51 minutes to 1 hour 25 minutes. Check train timetables and book in advance on Trainline.

Which are you adding to your list?

So here are four great places perfect for a day trip from Milan! If your trip to Milan is three days or more then you should definitely have time to do at least one of these day trips! Let me know which one you’re thinking of for your next visit, or if you’ve been to any of these places before!