April 29, 2025
Ever wondered if Milan is worth visiting, or if it’s just a pit stop between Rome and Venice? I totally get it. It feels like Milan is the forgotten stepchild of Italy sometimes. People think it’s all fashion, business, or soccer and never any fun. But hear me out…as someone that’s been visiting family in Milan since they were little. One of the best things about visiting or staying in Milan is how easy it is to explore nearby Italian towns and cities. That’s right, I’m talking about just how easy it is to take incredible day trips from Milan.
Thanks to its killer location in northern Italy, Milan is basically a launchpad for adventure. Want to sip world-class wine in the mountains of Barolo or on the shores of Lake Como? Easy ✅ Thinking about a quick trip to Verona or even skipping over to Switzerland? Consider it done. There are so many amazing day trips from Milan that you could spend a whole week there and never run out of options.
In this post, I’ll show you the top 6 best day trips from Milan whether you’ve got one spare day or a couple. There are definitely plenty more day trips from Milan out there, but I think these five strike the perfect balance of wine tasting (of course), culture, and stunning scenery. They’re also the ones my family and I keep coming back to which is I’m really excited to share them with you! So let’s get into it 👇
Ps. If you’re hanging around Milan and looking for plans, this 3-day Milan itinerary should have you covered.
Read more on Italy 🇮🇹
This site contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you make a purchase through them (which will likely go towards overpriced airport wine or buying my dog more unnecessary toys). However, none of that impacts the integrity of my reviews. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Planning for day trips from Milan but haven’t booked your hotel yet? Don’t worry I gotchu! Here are my top picks for the best boutique hotels in Milan for your stay:
Look, I get it…”top day trips from Milan” blog posts are a dime a dozen on the internet. Everyone and their mom has a list. Funny enough, my actual mom and I do in fact have a list. But hear me out: I’ve been traveling to Milan annually for over 10+ years to visit family, so while my go-to Milan city recs might be kind of basic (because all I do is eat and chill with my relatives) — my day trips from Milan game is on point. Why? Because my family is always eager for a good day trip out of the city. So if you’re looking for a solid mix of classic favorites and some lesser-known day trips from Milan, keep scrolling. You’re in for a treat.
You all know I looooove my wine so it’s only natural that I’m recommending a Northern Italy wine country destination for a day trip from Milan! Piedmont (or Piemonte) is one of the best wine producing regions in Italy. Known particularly for its Nebbiolo red, a day trip to this region opens up a world of wine tastings and vineyard tours, all within easy reach of Milan. If you’re a fan of wine or simply looking to escape to the countryside, then a visit to Piedmont is one of the top day trips from Milan.
For Milan day trips, the best way to explore Piedmont is by car, as its quite a rural area and the various villages, vineyards and wineries are spread out over a large area. The villages of Barolo and La Morra are just under 2 hours away by car. If hiring a car and driving isn’t an option for you, then the easiest way to explore the region is to take a train from Milan to Turin, the gateway to Piedmont. The journey takes between an hour and an hour and a half and from here you can get a taxi. While getting a taxi is possible, I’d definitely recommend just booking yourself onto a tour, since there’s a bunch of wine tour options from Milan to Barolo and elsewhere.
Okay, let’s knock this one out of the way asap because you can find Lake Como on basically every list of recommendations already. So feel free to skip if this is your 89th time reading about a day trip to Lake Como from Milan. I promise I list better ones below!
Arguably the most famous of the Italian Lakes, it’s easy to visit Lake Como and the beautiful town of Bellagio from Milan! As well as being one of the most beautiful spots in Italy, Como offers a change of pace, a far cry from the hustle and bustle of the busy city. Here’s how to plan the best Lake Como day trip from Milan!
The easiest way to get to Como is by train, making it one of the most popular day trips from Milan. Trains leave Milan Central Station about every 30 minutes and it’s only an hour or so to Como Lago station in Como town. Located right by the lake, you can choose to stay in Como or make use of the ferry services to visit Bellagio and other towns around the lake, like Varenna. Trains back to Milan run until at least 21:00, so there’s no rush to get back. If you’ve got a hire car, it’s a ~47 mile drive, taking about an hour and a half to get to Bellagio from Milan.
Another of my favorite day trips from Milan by train is Verona. Verona is one of those places that you’re not going to book a whole trip to, it’s too small and there are bigger and better places to visit. But this doesn’t mean it isn’t a beautiful little city to visit, which is why a day trip from Milan to Verona makes so much sense!
The train is once again your best bet when it comes to day trips from Milan to Verona. Trains depart the central station every 30 minutes or so and the journey time to Verona’s Porta Nuova station is about an hour and quarter. Costs vary depending on the season and how early you book your tickets, but you’re looking at something like 15€ – 35€ for a return ticket. It’s about a 20 minute walk from the station in Verona to the city center, or you can hop in a taxi. To be honest, even if you’ve hired a car for your Milan day trips, I’d still take the train to Verona – the drive is about 2 hours each way and you’ll need to pay at least €10 in tolls, so it’s not worth it IMO. Parking in Verona can be tricky too, as it really isn’t that big.
Now this day trip from Milan might be a bit of a stretch but is still totally doable! Just prepare yourself for a long day. The five coastal village of Cinque Terre are one of the highlights of visiting Italy, so it’s well worth the effort to make this day trip happen. Although you’re welcome to do it on your own, I’d probably recommend booking a tour of Cinque Terre from Milan, which is going to be far easier to organize and run more efficiently than if you try to plan this day trip yourself.
Staying in Cinque Terre longer than a day? Then check out my first-timer’s guide to spending 2 days in Cinque Terre.
If you’re not visiting through a guided tour, then the best way to get to Cinque Terre is, surprise surprise, by train. From Milan, it’s 3 hours each way to La Spezia, from where you can take regional trains to all five villages. Buy a Cinque Terre card as soon as you arrive, as this allows you to travel on all of the trains connecting the villages for a single price (and to use the hiking trails in the area). You do the math, 6 hours+ of travel doesn’t leave you loads of time, so get on the first train out of Milan to arrive in Cinque Terre by mid-morning.
The driving distance from Milan is about ~150 miles and takes roughly 3 hours. But it’s important to know that cars aren’t allowed in the villages of Cinque Terre and parking is a nightmare unless you’re on a licensed tour – so really don’t bother with this option.
Five villages, one day – sounds difficult? You’ll struggle to visit all five on a day trip, especially if you want to spend long enough in each one to get a feel for it. So here are my three favorites.
The last of my recommended Italian day trips from Milan is a biggie. Florence is the Renaissance capital and one of the world’s most cultural cities. Home to iconic artwork like Michelangelo’s David and architecture like the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, it’s well worth visiting on a day trip from Milan if you have the time.
Once more, the train is your friend, the Italian rail network being efficient and quick. It takes just under 2 hours to get to Florence from Milan by train, with regular departures every half hour or even more frequently at peak times. As always, book early for lower fares, you’re looking at anything from €20–60 for return tickets. Driving isn’t really a viable option for a day trip from Milan to Florence, as the ~196 mile journey is going to take you around 3.5 hours each way, leaving very little time for exploring.
I will admit, you really want more than one day in Florence, as there is just so much to see and do. But if you’re planning one of these day trips from Milan, let’s make it count aka try to start early and hop on the first train you can to squeeze the most out of your time in the Renaissance capital.
My final recommended Milan day trips aren’t to another Italian city, but across the border into neighboring Switzerland. Milan is approximately ~155 miles from the Swiss border, and there are several great options for visiting this alpine nation from Italy, and ticking another European country off your list as part of your Milan trip.
Sorry if I sound like a broken record, but you’ll want to take the train to Switzerland too. From Milan central station, it’s possible to reach Swiss destinations including Lucerne and Lugano, on the shore of Lake Lugano. Driving is also a viable option and gives you more flexibility to visit smaller alpine towns and villages in the Swiss Alps or near the border. American travelers don’t need a visa for a day trip to Switzerland, which is in the Schengen Area, but if driving then you may need a Swiss motorway vignette toll sticker, which you can purchase online.
If you’re spending time in Milan and you’ve already taken in the Duomo, seen an opera show at La Scala and admired Leonardo da Vinci’s The Last Supper at the Santa Maria delle Grazie church, then Milan day trips can be a great way to explore more of Italy or neighboring Switzerland.
Milan’s location is absolutely prime for day trips, with many options reachable in 2 hours or less on Italy’s efficient train network. Top day trips from Milan by train include exploring the Uffizi Gallery in Florence strolling along the shoreline of Lake Como or popping into Switzerland aboard the Bernina Express. But there are plenty of Milan day trip options if you’ve got time to spare on your visit to northern Italy.
Did you get a chance to check out any of these day trips from Milan? Let me know in the comments below!
Check out my other travel guides on Italy here.
April 29, 2025
Ever wondered if Milan is worth visiting, or if it’s just a pit stop between Rome and Venice? I totally get it. It feels like Milan is the forgotten stepchild of Italy sometimes. People think it’s all fashion, business, or soccer and never any fun. But hear me out…as someone that’s been visiting family in Milan since they were little. One of the best things about visiting or staying in Milan is how easy it is to explore nearby Italian towns and cities. That’s right, I’m talking about just how easy it is to take incredible day trips from Milan.
Thanks to its killer location in northern Italy, Milan is basically a launchpad for adventure. Want to sip world-class wine in the mountains of Barolo or on the shores of Lake Como? Easy ✅ Thinking about a quick trip to Verona or even skipping over to Switzerland? Consider it done. There are so many amazing day trips from Milan that you could spend a whole week there and never run out of options.
In this post, I’ll show you the top 6 best day trips from Milan whether you’ve got one spare day or a couple. There are definitely plenty more day trips from Milan out there, but I think these five strike the perfect balance of wine tasting (of course), culture, and stunning scenery. They’re also the ones my family and I keep coming back to which is I’m really excited to share them with you! So let’s get into it 👇
Ps. If you’re hanging around Milan and looking for plans, this 3-day Milan itinerary should have you covered.
Read more on Italy 🇮🇹
This site contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you make a purchase through them (which will likely go towards overpriced airport wine or buying my dog more unnecessary toys). However, none of that impacts the integrity of my reviews. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Planning for day trips from Milan but haven’t booked your hotel yet? Don’t worry I gotchu! Here are my top picks for the best boutique hotels in Milan for your stay:
Look, I get it…”top day trips from Milan” blog posts are a dime a dozen on the internet. Everyone and their mom has a list. Funny enough, my actual mom and I do in fact have a list. But hear me out: I’ve been traveling to Milan annually for over 10+ years to visit family, so while my go-to Milan city recs might be kind of basic (because all I do is eat and chill with my relatives) — my day trips from Milan game is on point. Why? Because my family is always eager for a good day trip out of the city. So if you’re looking for a solid mix of classic favorites and some lesser-known day trips from Milan, keep scrolling. You’re in for a treat.
You all know I looooove my wine so it’s only natural that I’m recommending a Northern Italy wine country destination for a day trip from Milan! Piedmont (or Piemonte) is one of the best wine producing regions in Italy. Known particularly for its Nebbiolo red, a day trip to this region opens up a world of wine tastings and vineyard tours, all within easy reach of Milan. If you’re a fan of wine or simply looking to escape to the countryside, then a visit to Piedmont is one of the top day trips from Milan.
For Milan day trips, the best way to explore Piedmont is by car, as its quite a rural area and the various villages, vineyards and wineries are spread out over a large area. The villages of Barolo and La Morra are just under 2 hours away by car. If hiring a car and driving isn’t an option for you, then the easiest way to explore the region is to take a train from Milan to Turin, the gateway to Piedmont. The journey takes between an hour and an hour and a half and from here you can get a taxi. While getting a taxi is possible, I’d definitely recommend just booking yourself onto a tour, since there’s a bunch of wine tour options from Milan to Barolo and elsewhere.
Okay, let’s knock this one out of the way asap because you can find Lake Como on basically every list of recommendations already. So feel free to skip if this is your 89th time reading about a day trip to Lake Como from Milan. I promise I list better ones below!
Arguably the most famous of the Italian Lakes, it’s easy to visit Lake Como and the beautiful town of Bellagio from Milan! As well as being one of the most beautiful spots in Italy, Como offers a change of pace, a far cry from the hustle and bustle of the busy city. Here’s how to plan the best Lake Como day trip from Milan!
The easiest way to get to Como is by train, making it one of the most popular day trips from Milan. Trains leave Milan Central Station about every 30 minutes and it’s only an hour or so to Como Lago station in Como town. Located right by the lake, you can choose to stay in Como or make use of the ferry services to visit Bellagio and other towns around the lake, like Varenna. Trains back to Milan run until at least 21:00, so there’s no rush to get back. If you’ve got a hire car, it’s a ~47 mile drive, taking about an hour and a half to get to Bellagio from Milan.
Another of my favorite day trips from Milan by train is Verona. Verona is one of those places that you’re not going to book a whole trip to, it’s too small and there are bigger and better places to visit. But this doesn’t mean it isn’t a beautiful little city to visit, which is why a day trip from Milan to Verona makes so much sense!
The train is once again your best bet when it comes to day trips from Milan to Verona. Trains depart the central station every 30 minutes or so and the journey time to Verona’s Porta Nuova station is about an hour and quarter. Costs vary depending on the season and how early you book your tickets, but you’re looking at something like 15€ – 35€ for a return ticket. It’s about a 20 minute walk from the station in Verona to the city center, or you can hop in a taxi. To be honest, even if you’ve hired a car for your Milan day trips, I’d still take the train to Verona – the drive is about 2 hours each way and you’ll need to pay at least €10 in tolls, so it’s not worth it IMO. Parking in Verona can be tricky too, as it really isn’t that big.
Now this day trip from Milan might be a bit of a stretch but is still totally doable! Just prepare yourself for a long day. The five coastal village of Cinque Terre are one of the highlights of visiting Italy, so it’s well worth the effort to make this day trip happen. Although you’re welcome to do it on your own, I’d probably recommend booking a tour of Cinque Terre from Milan, which is going to be far easier to organize and run more efficiently than if you try to plan this day trip yourself.
Staying in Cinque Terre longer than a day? Then check out my first-timer’s guide to spending 2 days in Cinque Terre.
If you’re not visiting through a guided tour, then the best way to get to Cinque Terre is, surprise surprise, by train. From Milan, it’s 3 hours each way to La Spezia, from where you can take regional trains to all five villages. Buy a Cinque Terre card as soon as you arrive, as this allows you to travel on all of the trains connecting the villages for a single price (and to use the hiking trails in the area). You do the math, 6 hours+ of travel doesn’t leave you loads of time, so get on the first train out of Milan to arrive in Cinque Terre by mid-morning.
The driving distance from Milan is about ~150 miles and takes roughly 3 hours. But it’s important to know that cars aren’t allowed in the villages of Cinque Terre and parking is a nightmare unless you’re on a licensed tour – so really don’t bother with this option.
Five villages, one day – sounds difficult? You’ll struggle to visit all five on a day trip, especially if you want to spend long enough in each one to get a feel for it. So here are my three favorites.
The last of my recommended Italian day trips from Milan is a biggie. Florence is the Renaissance capital and one of the world’s most cultural cities. Home to iconic artwork like Michelangelo’s David and architecture like the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, it’s well worth visiting on a day trip from Milan if you have the time.
Once more, the train is your friend, the Italian rail network being efficient and quick. It takes just under 2 hours to get to Florence from Milan by train, with regular departures every half hour or even more frequently at peak times. As always, book early for lower fares, you’re looking at anything from €20–60 for return tickets. Driving isn’t really a viable option for a day trip from Milan to Florence, as the ~196 mile journey is going to take you around 3.5 hours each way, leaving very little time for exploring.
I will admit, you really want more than one day in Florence, as there is just so much to see and do. But if you’re planning one of these day trips from Milan, let’s make it count aka try to start early and hop on the first train you can to squeeze the most out of your time in the Renaissance capital.
My final recommended Milan day trips aren’t to another Italian city, but across the border into neighboring Switzerland. Milan is approximately ~155 miles from the Swiss border, and there are several great options for visiting this alpine nation from Italy, and ticking another European country off your list as part of your Milan trip.
Sorry if I sound like a broken record, but you’ll want to take the train to Switzerland too. From Milan central station, it’s possible to reach Swiss destinations including Lucerne and Lugano, on the shore of Lake Lugano. Driving is also a viable option and gives you more flexibility to visit smaller alpine towns and villages in the Swiss Alps or near the border. American travelers don’t need a visa for a day trip to Switzerland, which is in the Schengen Area, but if driving then you may need a Swiss motorway vignette toll sticker, which you can purchase online.
If you’re spending time in Milan and you’ve already taken in the Duomo, seen an opera show at La Scala and admired Leonardo da Vinci’s The Last Supper at the Santa Maria delle Grazie church, then Milan day trips can be a great way to explore more of Italy or neighboring Switzerland.
Milan’s location is absolutely prime for day trips, with many options reachable in 2 hours or less on Italy’s efficient train network. Top day trips from Milan by train include exploring the Uffizi Gallery in Florence strolling along the shoreline of Lake Como or popping into Switzerland aboard the Bernina Express. But there are plenty of Milan day trip options if you’ve got time to spare on your visit to northern Italy.
Did you get a chance to check out any of these day trips from Milan? Let me know in the comments below!
Check out my other travel guides on Italy here.
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