Exploring Northern Italy Without a Car
If you’re looking for the best day trips from Milan by train, you’re in the right place. Milan is one of those cities that surprises you. Yes, there’s the Duomo, the Last Supper, the fashion week energy, but what I find myself telling people more and more is that Milan is one of the best bases in Italy for day trips. Mountains, lakes, medieval villages, botanical gardens, floating castles, it’s all within two hours by train, and most of it is dramatically underrated.
Northern Italy rewards the curious traveler in a way that few regions in the world can match. In a single week based in Milan you can have breakfast overlooking a lake in Switzerland, lunch in a medieval walled city on a hill, aperitivo on a baroque island palace terrace, and dinner in a city where Shakespeare set his most famous love story. Without a car. Without a flight. Just trains, ferries, and the extraordinary variety of this corner of Europe. No car needed for any of these. I’ll keep adding to it as I explore more, but these are the ones I’d start with.
1. Lake Maggiore
Lake Maggiore is the day trip I recommend most to people visiting Milan for the first time, and it’s also the one that surprises them the most. In just over an hour by train from Milano Centrale you reach Stresa, and from there the whole lake opens up. The options are so good that I’ve written a full guide covering all of them, but here’s a quick overview.
- The Borromean Islands are the classic starting point: three islands, each completely different. Isola Madre is a lush botanical garden with peacocks roaming freely. Isola dei Pescatori is the only inhabited island, rustic and perfect for lunch. Isola Bella is the crown jewel, with its 17th-century baroque palace, ten terraced gardens rising from the lake, and white peacocks strutting through it all. If you only have time for one island, Isola Bella. No debate.
- Isola Bella as a standalone visit also works beautifully if you only have a half-day. The Discovera pack includes the round-trip train, ferry, and skip-the-line entrance to the palace and gardens all in one email, which makes it genuinely effortless.
- The Castelli di Cannero near Luino are one of the most atmospheric places I’ve ever visited: two medieval fortress ruins rising from the lake on tiny rocky islets, just reopened in 2025 after a decade-long restoration. You get there by private charter boat from Luino port. Combine with a walk along Via Felice Cavallotti (one of the most charming streets I’ve stumbled upon in Northern Italy), breakfast at historic Caffè Clerici on the waterfront, and lunch at Al Cantinone, a restaurant that has been serving Lombard food since 1848.
- Villa Taranto in Verbania Pallanza is one of the most spectacular botanical gardens in Italy, created by Scottish captain Neil Boyd McEacharn in 1931 and filled with over 20,000 exotic species. Come in spring for the tulips. The Discovera pack bundles your train, ferry, and entrance.
- The Laveno cable car (Funivia di Laveno) is something else entirely: open-air bucket cabins climbing to 1,100 meters with views across the Alps, followed by a panoramic aperitivo at the top. One of those experiences that is hard to describe but very easy to love.
For the full breakdown of every destination, train times, ferry connections, where to eat, and how to plan your day, read my complete Lake Maggiore day trip guide from Milan.
🎟️ Book all your Lake Maggiore train and ferry packages on Discovera.it. Use code DISCOVERA-WHERETOGOIN5 for €5 off your first order.
2. Lake Como: Varenna, Bellagio, and the Villas
Lake Como is one of the most beautiful places on Earth. I know everyone says that, but standing on the ferry with the Alps rising behind the water and the pastel-colored villages on the shore, you understand why George Clooney bought a house here and never left. It’s also one of the easiest day trips from Milan by train.
The best approach is the direct regional train from Milano Centrale to Varenna-Esino (about 1 hour), arriving in one of the loveliest and least crowded towns on the lake. Varenna is all narrow lanes, cascading flowers, and lakefront terraces. Start here, walk the Passeggiata degli Innamorati along the shore, and visit Villa Monastero, a former monastery turned aristocratic residence with one of the most beautiful gardens on the lake.
From Varenna, take the ferry across to Bellagio, the Pearl of Lake Como, perched on the promontory where the three arms of the lake converge. Yes, it’s touristy. Yes, it’s still completely worth it. The cobblestone alleys, the bougainvillea-draped staircases, the views in every direction. Have lunch and take your time.
For villas, you have two main choices. From Bellagio, continue by ferry to Tremezzo for Villa Carlotta, one of the most celebrated villas on Lake Como, with extraordinary botanical gardens and a remarkable 19th-century sculpture collection. Alternatively, from Varenna take the ferry to Lenno for Villa del Balbianello, the impossibly romantic villa on a wooded headland that appeared in both Star Wars Episode II and Casino Royale. You can only comfortably visit one villa in a day trip, so choose based on what draws you more: botanical gardens and sculpture, or cinematic views and architecture.
How to get there from Milan: Train from Milano Centrale to Varenna-Esino (approx. 1 hour). From Varenna, Navigazione Laghi ferries connect to Bellagio, Tremezzo, and Lenno throughout the day.
3. Monte Isola, Lake Iseo
Ask me for the most beautiful village in Italy that nobody talks about, and this is my answer every time. Monte Isola on Lake Iseo is one of those places where you arrive and genuinely wonder why it isn’t more famous.
It’s the largest inhabited lake island in Europe, entirely car-free, accessible only by ferry, and home to a few hundred residents who still live at a pace that feels like it belongs to another era. The island sits in the middle of Lake Iseo, which is tucked between Lake Como and Lake Garda but receives a fraction of the tourists of either. Think cobblestone alleys, fishing boats bobbing in the harbor, trattorias serving fresh lake fish, and views that make you stop mid-step just to take them in.
The most common ferry route is from Sulzano, a short walk from the train station, to Peschiera Maraglio, the main fishing village on Monte Isola. From there, a circular path loops around the entire island (about 9 km), passing through olive groves, sleepy hamlets, and leading up to the Sanctuary of the Madonna della Ceriola at the island’s highest point, where the views sweep all the way to the Alps. Most people take around 2 to 2.5 hours at a leisurely pace, though with lunch stops it easily turns into a full day. Have the sardine risotto. Non-negotiable.
One last fun fact: Monte Isola is famous for its handmade fishing nets, a tradition dating back to the year 1000. Its nets have been used at multiple football World Cups, including Germany 2006.
How to get there from Milan: Train from Milano Centrale to Brescia (approx. 40 minutes), then change to a regional train to Sulzano (approx. 30 minutes). From Sulzano station it’s a short walk to the ferry dock. Ferries run every 20 minutes throughout the day.
🎟️ You can purchase everything on Discovera.
4. Bergamo: The Walled City on the Hill
Bergamo is one of those places that quietly gets under your skin. Just under an hour from Milan by train, it is divided into two completely different cities: the modern lower town that most visitors glance at from the train window, and the Città Alta, the medieval upper town enclosed within 16th-century Venetian walls, where everything changes. The streets narrow, the stone underfoot shifts to cobblestones, and the pace drops to something close to a stroll.
The heart of Città Alta is Piazza Vecchia, one of the finest medieval squares in Northern Italy, flanked by the Palazzo della Ragione, the civic library, and the Torre del Campanone. Nearby, the Cappella Colleoni is a Renaissance jewel with a polychrome marble facade that makes it one of the most ornate small chapels in Italy. The views from the walls across the Lombard plain, stretching all the way to Milan on a clear day, are extraordinary.
Food is also a serious reason to come. Bergamo is the home of casoncelli (stuffed pasta with butter, sage, and pancetta), polenta taragna, and torta donizetti, a rich cake named after the city’s most famous son, the opera composer Gaetano Donizetti. The Accademia Carrara houses one of the finest Renaissance and Baroque art collections in Northern Italy and is another strong reason to visit.
From Bergamo station, take bus 1 toward Città Alta to reach the lower funicular station, then ride up into the old town. Go early: by late morning, Piazza Vecchia fills up.
How to get there from Milan: Train from Milano Centrale to Bergamo (approx. 50 minutes to 1 hour, frequent departures, about €5.50). From Bergamo station, bus 1 to the funicular, then up to Città Alta.
5. Verona: Shakespeare, the Arena, and a UNESCO City
Verona is one of the great day trips from Milan by train, and it works beautifully even if you’ve never read a word of Shakespeare. The city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, its medieval and Renaissance architecture preserved to an extraordinary degree, and it has a buzzing energy that feels distinctly different from anything in Lombardy.
The unmissable first stop is Piazza Bra and the Arena di Verona, a Roman amphitheater built in 30 AD, predating Rome’s Colosseum by several decades and in near-perfect condition. Every summer it hosts the legendary Verona Opera Festival, one of the most atmospheric concert experiences in Europe. Walk its ancient stone steps and look out over the city.
From Piazza Bra, stroll up Via Mazzini to the charming Piazza delle Erbe, the old Roman forum and heart of medieval Verona, ringed by frescoed palaces and filled with market stalls. Continue to Juliet’s House on Via Cappello for the famous balcony and the tradition of touching the bronze Juliet statue for luck in love. More serious sights include the Scaligeri Tombs (extraordinary Gothic funerary monuments of Verona’s ruling family), the Roman bridge Ponte Pietra, and the Castelvecchio Museum, a restored medieval castle with a superb art collection.
End the day with an aperitivo in Piazza delle Erbe and take an evening train back feeling very much like you’ve lived inside a painting. Read my full Verona travel guide for all my tips.
How to get there from Milan: Take the Frecciarossa or Italo high-speed train from Milano Centrale to Verona Porta Nuova (approx. 1 hour to 1 hour 15 minutes). The historic center is a 20-minute walk from the station.
6. Lugano, Switzerland
Here’s something most people don’t realize: you can be in Switzerland in under two hours from Milan by train, and Lugano is one of the most unexpectedly wonderful places you can arrive in. Elegantly Swiss in its orderliness but entirely Italian in its warmth, palm trees lining the lakefront, espresso bars on every corner, and the southern Alps rising directly behind the town.
Lugano sits on its own lake, smaller and quieter than Como but extraordinarily beautiful. The old town is compact and walkable, with the frescoed Chiesa di Santa Maria degli Angioli (one of the most significant Renaissance fresco cycles in Switzerland), the boutique-lined Via Nassa, and lovely waterfront promenades. Take the funicular up to Monte San Salvatore for one of the most spectacular panoramic views in the Italian-speaking Alps.
Because most tourists don’t think of Switzerland when planning a day trip from Milan, Lugano stays considerably less crowded than Como or Bellagio in peak season. It also combines naturally with a visit to Morcote (see below) on the same day.
How to get there from Milan: Direct train from Milano Centrale to Lugano (approx. 1 hour 15 minutes). You will need your passport as you are crossing into Switzerland.
🎟️ To make things easier, you can get everything on Discovera.
7. Morcote, Switzerland
If Lugano is the elegant Swiss city, Morcote is the dreamlike village. Located 10 kilometers south of Lugano on the shores of the same lake, Morcote was once the largest harbor on Lake Lugano and an important goods transit point for the Milanese dukes during the Middle Ages. Today it is one of the most beautiful villages in Switzerland, with arcaded buildings along the shore, manor houses dating from the 16th to 18th centuries, and the medieval church of Santa Maria del Sasso perched on the hill above.
The main draw is Parco Scherrer, and it is genuinely one of the most extraordinary gardens I’ve come across anywhere. Created in the 1930s by Arthur Scherrer, a textile magnate who wanted to recreate his travels around the world in one place, the park is a botanical garden and a world of architectural follies in one: Greek temples, Indian palaces, an Egyptian chamber with a replica of the bust of Nefertiti, a Siamese pavilion, bamboo groves, and subtropical vegetation unparalleled in Switzerland. The whole thing sits on terraced hillsides overlooking Lake Lugano with views at every turn. Entrance is free, it opens from mid-March to early November, and a visit takes about an hour.
The most beautiful way to arrive from Lugano is by ferry across the lake.
How to get there from Milan: Train from Milano Centrale to Lugano (approx. 1 hour 15 minutes), then ferry or bus from Lugano to Morcote (approx. 20 to 30 minutes). Passport required.
🎟️ You can get everything on Discovera.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best day trip from Milan by train?
The Borromean Islands on Lake Maggiore are one of the best day trips from Milan by train. You can reach Stresa in just over an hour from Milano Centrale, then hop on a ferry to explore three stunning islands: Isola Bella, Isola Madre, and Isola dei Pescatori. For something more off the beaten track, Bergamo’s medieval Città Alta and Monte Isola on Lake Iseo are two of the most underrated day trips in Northern Italy.
How far is Lake Maggiore from Milan by train?
Lake Maggiore is approximately 1 hour from Milan by train. Take the Trenord regional train from Milano Centrale to Stresa, where you can board ferries to the Borromean Islands. The easiest way to book the combined train and ferry ticket is through Discovera.it.
How far is Lake Como from Milan by train?
Lake Como is approximately 1 hour from Milan by train. The fastest and most scenic option is the direct regional train from Milano Centrale to Varenna-Esino, from where you can catch ferries to Bellagio, Tremezzo, and the main villas.
Can you go to Switzerland on a day trip from Milan by train?
Yes. Lugano is reachable in about 1 hour 15 minutes by direct train from Milano Centrale, and from Lugano you can reach the beautiful village of Morcote in about 20 to 30 minutes by ferry or bus. For a longer adventure, the Bernina Express to St. Moritz departs from Tirano, about 2.5 hours from Milan. Passport required for all Swiss destinations.
How do I book day trips from Milan by train?
For Lake Maggiore day trips, Discovera.it bundles your round-trip Trenord train with ferries and activity tickets in one booking. Use code DISCOVERA-WHERETOGOIN5 for €5 off your first order. For Lake Como, the public Navigazione Laghi ferries are easy and inexpensive, or book a private boat tour for a more special experience. For Verona, Lake Garda, and Swiss destinations, book on Trenitalia or Italo directly.
Are day trips from Milan by train worth it?
Absolutely. Milan is one of the best bases in Italy for train travel, with lakes, medieval cities, botanical gardens, UNESCO-listed train routes, Roman amphitheaters, Swiss Alpine villages, and wine country all within two hours. Whether you want baroque island palaces, Lugana wine tastings, a Shakespeare city, the most spectacular train crossing in the Alps, or a free botanical garden in one of Switzerland’s most beautiful villages, you can do it all without a car.
