Day Trips from Milan: Lake Como, Bergamo, Lake Maggiore & More
Day Trips from Milan: The Best Escapes Within 2.5 Hours
Milan's position in northern Italy makes it one of Europe's best bases for day trips. Lakes, mountains, medieval cities, monasteries — all reachable by train without a car.
This guide covers what's actually worth the trip, how to get there, and what it costs.
Lake Como — 45 Minutes by Train
The reality: Lake Como is expensive, crowded in summer, and beautiful year-round. Go anyway.
Getting There
Train from Milano Centrale or Milano Porta Garibaldi to Como San Giovanni station.
- Cost: €5–6 one way
- Time: 40–50 minutes
- Frequency: Every 30–60 minutes
What to Do in Como
The town of Como itself:
- Walk the historic center (free)
- Villa Olmo gardens (free, lakeside)
- Como Cathedral — Gothic/Renaissance façade (free)
- Funicular up to Brunate village (€3.50 up, €3.50 down) — panoramic views
The real Como: get on a ferry
- Como → Bellagio: €15.20 one way (regular ferry), €5 hydrofoil
- Bellagio is the postcard village — narrow lanes, flowers, lake views
- Walk up to the Villa Serbelloni gardens (€10 entry, guided tours only)
Varenna: Quieter than Bellagio, equally beautiful, easier parking.
- Ferry from Como: €9.80
- Yellow house on the water = the famous Instagram photo
Practical Tips for Lake Como
- Go on a weekday — summer weekends are packed
- Book ferries online or buy at pier (no pre-booking usually needed for regular ferries)
- Eat in Como town — lakefront restaurants in Bellagio are tourist-priced (€30+ main course)
- Best season: May–June (flowers, no peak crowds) and September–October (warm, emptying out)
Bergamo — Old City on a Hill
What it is: Medieval walled city on a hilltop, 50 minutes from Milan. Lower city is modern. Upper city (Città Alta) is medieval and spectacular.
Getting There
Train from Milano Centrale to Bergamo.
- Cost: €6–7 one way
- Time: 47–55 minutes
- Frequency: Frequent (every 30 min or less)
What to Do
Funicular to the Upper City:
- Cost: €1.40 each way (or walk up in 20 min)
- Top of the funicular = you're inside the medieval walls
The Upper City (Città Alta):
- Piazza Vecchia — the main square, surrounded by medieval buildings
- Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore — ornate Romanesque church, free
- Cappella Colleoni — Renaissance chapel, elaborate decoration, free to view exterior
- Venetian Walls (UNESCO) — walk the perimeter (free, 2–3 km loop, 1 hour)
Eat in Bergamo:
- Polenta taragna (local dish: polenta with cheese and butter)
- Casoncelli (local filled pasta)
- Budget: €12–18 for lunch at a trattoria in Città Alta
Practical Tips for Bergamo
- Half-day is enough for Città Alta
- Full day: combine with lower city (art museum, modern neighborhoods)
- Bergamo airport is here — arrive/depart via Bergamo saves money vs. Malpensa
Lake Maggiore — Stresa and Borromean Islands
What it is: Larger than Como, less crowded, more grand hotels. Famous for the Borromean Islands — three small islands with palaces and gardens.
Getting There
Train from Milano Centrale to Stresa.
- Cost: €9–11 one way
- Time: 1 hour
- Frequency: Hourly
Borromean Islands
Ferry from Stresa pier (purchase at the pier):
- Day pass for all 3 islands: €16–18
- Isola Bella: Baroque palace + terraced gardens (€17 entry)
- Isola dei Pescatori: Tiny fishing village, no cars, restaurants, atmosphere
- Isola Madre: Botanical garden, peacocks, quiet (€13 entry)
Tip: Isola Bella is the showpiece. Isola dei Pescatori for lunch (trattoria, €15–20). Skip Isola Madre if short on time.
Stresa Town
- Nice lakefront promenade
- Overpriced restaurants (eat on the islands or in town away from the waterfront)
- Grand hotels worth admiring from outside
Pavia — Certosa Monastery
What it is: Renaissance monastery 35 km south of Milan. One of the most ornate buildings in Italy — marble façade, elaborate interior, monks still live there.
Getting There
Train from Milano Porta Genova to Pavia.
- Cost: €4–5 one way
- Time: 30–35 minutes
Certosa di Pavia
- Bus or taxi from Pavia station (8 km, €15 taxi each way)
- Entry: Free (donations welcome)
- Hours: Tuesday–Sunday, closes 11:30 AM for lunch, reopens 2:30 PM
- Guided tour: Free with monks (in Italian, 30–45 min)
Worth it? Yes, if you care about Renaissance architecture and have a half-day.
Cinque Terre — Possible but Long
Reality check: Cinque Terre from Milan is 2.5–3 hours each way by train. It's doable as a day trip but exhausting.
- Train to La Spezia (change in Genoa usually): €20–35 one way
- Cinque Terre train pass: €18 (day pass, all 5 villages)
- Leave Milan 7 AM, return by 9 PM minimum
Better option: Stay overnight in Cinque Terre, use Milan as a base for 2 nights.
Discover Day Trips with Trevurs
Download Trevurs before leaving Milan. Listen to audio guides that explain the history of where you're heading — why Bergamo's walls matter, what the Borromean family built, why Como attracted writers and artists for centuries. Better context makes even a day trip feel like real travel.