The 11 best day trips from Milan

Best for: beautiful scenery, elegant neoclassical architecture and fancy vibes

How to get there: a one-hour train from Milan

Its steep wooded shoreline and pristine sapphire water make Lake Como the most beautiful of the northern Italian lakes. The destination draws in visitors who are seduced by the ample opportunities for villa hopping, lavish lunches, and long boat rides – a jaunt in nature has arguably never been so luxurious. A day trip usually means either a day spent in the larger town of Como, located on the southern tip of the lake or a day that begins in smaller Varenna and involves hopping over to Bellagio on the ferry. 

🏨 Stay here: The NH Lecco Pontevecchio on the Lecco branch of the lake is a great four-star option that often has good deals.

📍 Here’s our full guide to day tripping from Milan to Lake Como

Best for: families, quaint villages and a bit of beach fun 

How to get there: a one-hour train from Milan

Lake Garda is the biggest and cleanest of the local lakes, and its crystalline water will make you forget that you’re not on a secluded beach in Sardinia. Lake Garda is not just for beach bums, though. Surrounding the lake are charming towns such as Bardolino, with its two Romanesque churches, Sirmione, home to oh-so-awesome Roman thermal baths dedicated to poet Catullus and Gardone Riviera, with its over-the-top gardens and villas. 

🏨 Stay here: For a hotel steeped in history, try Locanda San Vigilio, sitting right on the waterfront at Punta San Vigilio. 

📍 Discover our full local’s guide to Lake Garda

Best for: food, medieval history, and more food 

How to get there: a one-hour train from Milan

Bologna is one of Italy’s most underrated cities, so there’s no better time to give it a go than when you’ve just about had enough of Milan. Bologna is a cultural hotspot (and sometimes called the foodie capital of the world), and you’ll never get enough of its cobbled streets – make sure to check out the Basilica of San Petronio after a stroll through Piazza Maggiore. For dinner, head to All’Osteria Bottega, one of the last authentic ‘osterie’ standing in Bologna, and for an aperitivo, check out Boavista for cocktails and gin-based drinks. 

📍 Discover the most underrated destinations in Europe

Best for: small-town charm, history and UNESCO-listed city walls

How to get there: a 48-minute train from Milan to Bergamo  

Split into two parts – the historic Città Alta (Upper Town), and Città Bassa (Lower Town) – Bergamo has it all: medieval architecture and first-rate cultural institutions, stealth grandeur and an on-point food scene. Start with a walk along its gargantuan city walls, built when the Venetians ruled Bergamo in the 1400s and now a UNESCO World Heritage Site; then continue to Piazza Vecchia, home to several 12th century landmarks. The Accademia Carrara, Bergamo’s fine arts academy, is also worth a visit, as is the GaMeC, dedicated to modern and contemporary art. Stop for lunch at Il Circolino Citta Alta (once the site of an ancient monastery and later a prison); then get a coffee and a pastry at Cavour 1880. For wine, it’s Caffe del Tasso every time.

Stay here: Just outside the Città Alta, Hotel Le Funi features modern rooms and a great breakfast, served in a cellar in the winter and alfresco in the summer. 

Best for: a foodie romantic getaway 

How to get there: a one-hour-15-minute train from Milan

The stomping ground of star-crossed lovers Romeo and Juliet, Verona is so much more than the setting of a Renaissance ill-fated romance. It boasts quaint architectural wonders such as the Castelvecchio fortress, the quintessentially Italianate garden Giardino Giusti (a favourite of Mozart and Goethe), the second-century-AD arena and Piazza delle Erbe, with its town hall (complete with a tower, Torre dei Lamberti), its baroque masterpiece Palazzo Maffei and its baroque fountain, whose statue called Madonna Verona dates to the fourth century AD. 

🏨 Stay here: Eager to pair your downtime with wine tasting? Massimago Wine Suites offers just that.  

Best for: a relaxed escape to the Italian coast 

How to get there: a two-hour train from Milan to Camogli

The seaside town of Camogli is the perfect antidote to landlocked Milan. It offers trompe l'oeil palazzi, pine forests and azure water in spades. While nearby Portofino is a popular spot among luxury travellers, this equally pretty town retains a more working-class feel and doesn’t get quite as crowded, which is why in the summer it’s filled with well-heeled Milanese and Turinese who come on their annual holiday for some peace and quiet. For dinner, head to Da Laura in the tiny beachside hamlet of San Fruttuoso, and order whichever pesto pasta dish is on offer – Liguria is Italy’s most famous basil-growing region and the home of pesto. 

🏨 Stay here: Housed in an impeccably restored 1907 palazzo, the Villa Rosmarino has a welcoming staff, an outdoor pool and great views above the historic centre of Camogli. 

Best for: quiet walks, fewer crowds and lots of nature

How to get there: a one-hour train will take you to Stresa, where you can catch a 20-minute ferry to the islands.

The main draw of Lake Maggiore is its three distinct islands: Isola Bella, Isola Madre and Isola Superiore. The centrepiece of Isola Bella is the baroque Palazzo Borromeo: while the interiors are sumptuous, the 10-tiered garden is a true masterpiece of Baroque garden design that has miraculously remained intact. Isola Madre is also home to a fabulous palace and gardens, while Isola Superiore harbours a quaint fishing village. Inevitably, then, the seafood is spectacular; try the scenic Restaurant Casabella for our favourite local seafood, and spend the rest of the time relaxing, possibly with a good book – the majesty of the lakes do the rest.  

🏨 Stay here: La Palma Hotel is a lakeside property with a Sky Barm panoramic spa and some serious views. 

📍 Discover the best islands to visit in Italy

Best for: art, culture and pastries you want to take photos of

How to get there: a 45-minute train from Milan

Despite being the fourth largest city in Italy, Turin flies under the radar. The historic centre contains clues to Turin’s royal past (it was a seat of the House of Savoy and the first capital of the Kingdom of Italy): radiating from Palazzo Reale, one of two splendid House of Savoy palaces situated on Piazza Castello, are long porticoed arcades, allegedly instituted by the monarchy to keep the royals dry. It is also home to a world-class soccer team – Juventus – and boasts a distinguished culinary scene due to its location in Piedmont, a region famed for food and wine. Check out historic cafés in the daytime, and for dinner head to Ristorante Consorzio, reminiscent of an old country house.

🏨 Stay here: The excellent staff at Tomato Backpackers Hotel gives this spot, which offers both dorms and private rooms, an inclusive and relaxed feel.

Best for: visiting Europe’s oldest university 

How to get there: a 43-minute train from Milan to Pavia. 

Milan can be a little hectic, and we’ve got just the antidote if it’s all getting a bit much. Peaceful Pavia, in Italy’s Lombardy region, is a goldmine of beautiful architecture, medieval towers and lots and lots of wine. The kind of place where you can pull up by its winding river and sit for hours, or people-watch from a café in the centre with an espresso. La Torre degli Aquila, in a medieval tower, is a good spot for modern takes on traditional Italian dishes, and there’s also an unexpected love for craft beer here; try Il Birratoio, which took over the space formerly occupied by a longstanding wine bar with a rotation of 10 taps. A selection of cold cuts, panini and piadine (a local variety of flatbreads) rounds out the beer menu.

🏨 Stay here: Revel in some old-time opulence by staying at the Arnaboldi Palace: the octagonal shape houses an inner courtyard topped with a glass dome, and the hotel also has a ballroom. 

Best for: pretty gardens and city walks 

How to get there: a one-hour train from Milan to Varese

Located 30 miles north of Milan, Varese is known as ‘Garden City’ given the plethora of public parks and gardens that dot the cityscape. This, coupled with a robust representation of Art Nouveau works and 18th-century villas, gives the town a countryside-like feel. If sightseeing is not on the menu, you can indulge in shopping. Baseblu, a multi-story boutique, has a vast selection of major and independent high-end fashion brands. Climb Sacro Monte, originally a ‘holy road’ dotted with chapels and sanctuaries that repentants had to climb during Lent to mirror Christ’s passion, but now a great way to take in the views. To eat, head to La Perla – you have to ring a bell to get into its sun-trapped inner courtyard. It’s a whole vibe. 

🏨 Stay here: Art Hotel is a refurbished 18th-century villa located close to the city centre. Its sprawling garden is the ideal location for a post-sightseeing or pre-dinner aperitivo.