9 Unmissable Day Trips From Milan
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I have to admit, I am that annoying person who, when traveling to a new country, wants to check out every nook and corner and also looks for ways to bring it up in conversations. Today, I am doing the same (indirectly) with this quick guide to Milan day trips.
Milan is known for its fashion culture, art, and architecture. It is one of the prettiest cities to visit in Italy. Apart from fashion shows that happen twice a year, Milan always has tourists visiting throughout the year. It is a fantastic destination for a break from the everyday hustles.
You can easily spend several days here exploring, and it is equally viable to consider it as a base for Milan day trips.
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1. Bergamo
Bergamo is 52 km northeast of Milan and is known for its medieval atmosphere and culturally rich Italian experiences. Bergamo is also known for its historical buildings and museums. There are many tours available to visit Bergamo. You can have a private tour, a whole-day tour, or a half-day tour at your convenience and time.
Starting your tour from the Santa Maria Basilica which is frescoed with colorful and golden paintings all around it. Take a tour of medieval history by walking on the Venetian walls that surround the medieval fortress. Apart from the Santa Maria Cathedral, there is Bergamo Cathedral which would also interest you because of its design and architecture.
The other historical sites of Bergamo include Capella Colleoni, Mura Venete, Rocca di Bergamo, Palazzo Della Ragione, and Piazza Vecchia.
I reached Bergamo from Milan city center by taking this convenient bus transfer service. Once I was there, I joined a private walking tour to see the best of the city in less time.
2. Lake Como
Lake Como needs no introduction. The beauty of this Italian paradise has been in the Italian vogue, and travel magazines. It has also been among the top 5 most scenic places to visit in Italy. It has been a favorite destination for the elites, millionaires, and billionaires.
You can explore Lake Como to its best even if you are in a time crunch. Apart from the picturesque surroundings as it is located in the lap of mountains, there are a lot of historical sites, buildings, parks, and recreational areas where you can take a deep sigh and gaze at the beauty of Lake Como.
Some architectural buildings to explore here are Villa del Balbianello, Villa Carlotta, Villa Monastero, Villa Olmo, and Menaggio. Some gorgeous churches include the Basilica di Sant’Abbondio and the Cathedral of Como.
You can also visit the lush parks including Lu Punta Spartivento and Parco di Villa Serbelloni. Visiting the Faro volcano would directly transport you to nature heaven as you will witness the meeting of the blue waters with the skies.
I traveled to Lake Como through this excursion. The scenic views throughout the trip are a treat. It is inclusive of luxury coach transportation, a 1-hour lake cruise and a fantastic ride on the Bernina red train. This is a high-selling tour, so make sure you pre-book it in advance.
3. Lugano and Bellagio
The places that you would love to visit in Lugano are Lake Lugano, Gandria, Monte Bre, and Parco San Grato to enjoy the city’s enchanting beauty.
You can also spend a relaxing time in Parco Ciani. It is a lakefront park having mesmerizing views. The Cathedral of Saint Lawrence and Eglise Santa Maria are historic churches in Lugano.
For adventure seekers, Monte San Salvatore has scenic lake views where you can go hiking and enjoy the ride of cable cars.
If you are a history buff, you can spend more time in Bellagio than in Lugano because of the history and Renaissance architecture that you are going to find here. Make a visit to Villa Carlotta and Villa Monastero.
For a little lakeside renaissance and sightseeing, you shall visit Villa del Balbianello. Last but not least, the Basilica of St. Giacomo is the most soulful place in the town. It’s a church with a lake on the side. You would fall in love with the architecture of the place.
A day trip to Lake Como, Lugano, and Bellagio is possible from Milan through an organized coach tour like this one.
4. Verona
Remember the flick starring Amanda Seyfried’s “Letters to Juliet”, it revolved around the beauty of Verona and for all the right reasons.
Verona is an Italian place that is filled with beauty and love. There are a lot of historical places and monuments in this city. It is filled with lip-smacking Italian food and culture.
As you have seen in the movie, you first need to visit Juliet’s house where you would see the balcony. The Roman Era theatre would be next on the list as Verona Arena.
You would be surprised by the architecture of this old structure. Piazza Delle Erbe is the perfect place to click pictures and spend evenings.
Verona Cathedral along with Basilica di San Zeno Maggiore are the perfect places for your spiritual quest whose Romanesque style would leave you spellbound.
The old medieval castle Castelvecchio has been turned into a museum filled with art and weaponry. Ponte Scaligero and Ponte Pietra are Romanesque bridges you would love to witness.
Verona is just 2 hours away from Milan by road. I wanted my day trip to be hassle-free, so I traveled to Verona through this tour.
5. Lake Garda
It is situated at the edge of the Dolomites, about halfway between Brescia and Verona and between Venice and Milan. Garda is the largest lake in Italy. And thus, it offers some of the most panoramic views around here.
Apart from the edge of a huge mountain and lake as far as your eyes can go under the clear blue skies, there are other places that you would love to visit here that are guaranteed to take your breath away.
For adventurous pursuits, you must head over to Malcesine as it would offer you paragliding, windsurfing and the gorgeous sights of the lake. For knowing the history of the place, you can head over to Peschiera del Garda.
It has Verona port and Palazzina Storica Museum. Scaligero Castle and Desenzano del Garda are other places where you can explore the fort, Roman Villa as well as the castle.
6. Cinque Terre
People often wonder which part of Cinque Terre is best to explore. If I were to answer this, every part of the town is equally beautiful and lively. The culture is filled with history, and the community is filled with love. For an exploration of the area and a little adventurous fun, head over to Manarola, Monterosso al Mare, and Riomaggiore.
Visit Corniglia for some vineyard exploration. Vernazza is another place filled with scenic beauty and a church. To learn about the town, visit the Church of St. Margaret of Antioch and the Ruins of Doria Tower.
If you are visiting during the Christmas holiday season the most gorgeous event hosted in Manarola that you can catch is Presepe di Manarola.
To see the best of Cinque Terre in a day’s time you must book an easygoing tour such as this one. It is inclusive of all the transportation plus a scenic boat ride.
7. Venice
Venice has been a part of many movies and shows. They say that the beauty of Venice has not been like before. But the spirit of the city and the romantic element is still consistent. Rialto Bridge and Bridge of Sighs are the places that dreams are made of.
At St. Mark’s Square and Saint Mark’s Basilica you can see the wonders of Italian architecture and design that have been standing through centuries.
Visiting Doge’s Palace would also give you marvelous Insta-worthy pictures. Basilica di Santa Maria Della Salute has been an iconic Venice symbol since the 1600s. Attend an artistic evening at the opera house known as Teatro La Fenice.
I visited Venice on this tour from Milan. It covers all the major attractions and a boat trip on the Venice lagoon.
8. Franciacorta
If you need an Italian countryside vacation, Franciacorta would be your ideal pick from all the possible day trips from Milan.
The region filled with acres of vineyards, food, and wineries and Lake Iseo flowing on the side of the city would refresh you.
If you are interested in winemaking and its art, visit Guido Berlucchi, where you can learn more about different kinds of wine and their preservation.
To explore the history of the area and the Roman culture, you can visit the Roman Ruins. You will find the history of Rome as well as a Roman temple that has been left behind since 74AD. You can also go horseback riding around the vineyards.
Franciacorta organic food is the best in class around this region. You can enjoy many regional dishes here. As well as, a spa day or evening at Spa Chenot Espace. For gorgeous views, you can hike through Torbiere del Sebino.
Franciacorta is best explored through traditional food and wine indulgence. Check out this unique experience and plan a memorable trip.
9. Turin
Turin is the capital of Italy’s Piedmont region. It is as ancient as time. So, you can imagine the historical importance of the place. It has a range of monuments, galleries, and high-end museums.
For history, you can explore the Egyptian museum, and for antique and applied arts, you can always go to Palazzo Madama. If you are interested in knowing about the history of the automobile industry, you can visit Nazionale dell’Automobile.
Piazza San Carlo and Parco del Valentino are the best places to explore history and nature at this place. The Royal Palace of Turin should be at the top of your itinerary and the Basilica of Superga’s architecture would make you wonder about its incredible design.
Did we miss any of your favorite Day Trips from Milan? Let us know in the comments!