Milan is one of the best-placed cities in Italy for day trips by train. Bergamo, Lake Como, Pavia, Oltrepò Pavese, Verona and Switzerland — all without a hire car.
Last verified: April 2026. Train times and prices change regularly. Always check official sources before travelling.
Within an hour of Milano Centrale you can be walking the medieval lanes of Bergamo's upper city, standing on the shore of Lake Como, or tasting wine poured from a steel vat in the hills of Oltrepò Pavese. Within an hour and 15 minutes you're in Verona. In under three, you're crossing the Alps into Switzerland on one of the most spectacular railway lines in the world. No hire car. No motorway. Just the train.
This guide covers six of the best day trips from Milan by train — the ones worth your time, with honest advice on how long each takes, what to expect, and how to combine them.
At a Glance
| Destination | Journey Time | Best For | Book in Advance? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bergamo | 50 mins | Medieval upper city, views, airport | No |
| Lake Como | 40 mins | Scenery, villas, ferry circuit | No |
| Pavia | 25 mins | Hidden history, Certosa monastery | No |
| Oltrepò Pavese | 40 mins | Wine, vineyards, local life | No |
| Verona | 1h 15m | Arena, opera, Shakespeare | Yes — fast train |
| Switzerland (Bernina) | 2h 30m + | UNESCO railway, St Moritz, Alps | Yes |
1. Bergamo — An Hour from Milan
Bergamo is 50 minutes from Milano Centrale and one of the most underrated cities in Lombardy. Most people know it only as the location of Milan's second airport — which is a shame, because the upper city, the Città Alta, is one of the finest medieval walled cities in Italy.
Take the funicular from the lower city and you step into a network of Venetian-built walls, narrow lanes, Romanesque churches and a piazza that feels untouched by mass tourism. The views over the Po Plain from the walls are extraordinary, particularly in the morning before the clouds gather.
The food scene is also exceptional — Bergamo is the home of polenta e osei, casoncelli pasta and some of the finest salumi in northern Italy. Allow a full day rather than a half.
The Bergamo airport connection: If you're flying in or out of BGY, arriving early or leaving late gives you the ideal excuse to spend time in the upper city. The airport bus to the train station takes 15 minutes, and the train to Milan is direct.
→ Full guide: Bergamo by Train from Milan
2. Lake Como — Scenery, Villas and the Ferry Circuit
Lake Como is 40 minutes from Milano Centrale to Como San Giovanni, or 1 hour to Varenna, and the journey itself — as the lake appears below — is a good start to the day.
The most satisfying approach is the circular route: train to Varenna, ferry to Bellagio, second ferry south to Como, train back to Milan. It covers three completely different characters of the lake — Varenna's quiet lanes and Lovers' Walk, Bellagio's polished elegance, and Como's urban lakeside scale — without retracing a single step.
The villas are best seen from the water. Villa del Balbianello at Lenno, Villa Carlotta at Tremezzo, and George Clooney's Villa Oleandra at Laglio are all visible from the standard public ferry. A private boat tour gives you a closer look with commentary, but the regular ferry is free with your ticket and covers the same ground.
Lake Como also works beautifully as a first stop on the way to Switzerland — the train from Milan to Tirano for the Bernina Express passes along the lake's eastern shore.
→ Full guide: Lake Como by Train from Milan
3. Pavia — The Day Trip Most Milan Visitors Miss
Pavia is 25 minutes from Milano Centrale — the closest and, for most visitors, the most surprising day trip on this list. It was the capital of the Lombard kingdom when Rome was in decline. It has one of the oldest universities in the world, medieval towers rising from a square named after Leonardo da Vinci, a covered bridge over the Ticino, and a cathedral dome ranked among the largest in Italy.
Most visitors to Milan never come here. That's precisely its appeal.
The Certosa di Pavia, one of the finest monasteries in the country, is a short separate train hop from the city — a few minutes on the same Milan line, with a 20-minute walk from the station to the monastery. Allow a full day to combine both the city and the Certosa comfortably.
→ Full guide: Pavia by Train from Milan
4. Oltrepò Pavese — Italy's Best-Kept Wine Secret
Forty minutes south of Milan, the Po Plain gives way to rolling Apennine foothills thick with vines. This is Oltrepò Pavese — the world's third largest producer of Pinot Nero, Lombardy's most prolific wine region, and somewhere that almost no international visitor has heard of.
The wines — Bonarda, Buttafuoco, Riesling, Barbera, Moscato — are more varied than Tuscany's, the vineyards far less visited, and the prices a fraction of what you'd pay further south. The Cantina Sociale in Casteggio sells directly from steel vats at €2–3 a litre.
The best way to experience it by train is with a guided tour — WingsItaly, run by Claire Dymond, collects you from Voghera station and takes you through the vineyards, cellars and local villages. Since you're travelling by train, everyone in the group can taste freely without anyone watching the clock. Book your car-free vineyard tour here.
Oltrepò pairs naturally with Pavia — the two are 20 minutes apart on the same line, making a full day of wine country in the morning and medieval history in the afternoon an easy combination.
→ Full guide: Oltrepò Pavese by Train from Milan
5. Verona — Opera, the Arena and Shakespeare's City
Verona is 1 hour 15 minutes from Milano Centrale on the Frecciarossa — a fast train that needs booking in advance with Trenitalia or Trainline. It's also easily reached from Venice and Bologna, making it one of the most accessible cities in northern Italy from almost any direction.
The Arena di Verona is a 2,000-year-old Roman amphitheatre that still hosts opera every summer. Book tickets directly at arena.it as early as possible. Attending an opera here on a warm summer evening, on ancient stone tiers, is one of those experiences that repays the journey entirely.
Beyond the Arena, Verona has medieval piazzas, Juliet's House, Castelvecchio, a Roman bridge built in 100 BC and a hilltop viewpoint at Castel San Pietro that gives you the best panorama in the city. It's a full day's walking without feeling rushed.
One practical note: if you're attending the opera in the evening, it's best to plan to stay overnight in Verona. The opera starts at 9pm in summer and can run for three hours.
→ Full guide: Verona by Train
6. Switzerland — The Bernina Express from Milan
This is the longest day trip on the list and the most spectacular. From Milano Centrale, a regional Trenord train reaches Tirano in around 2 hours 30 minutes. From Tirano, the Bernina railway — a UNESCO World Heritage line — climbs to 2,253 metres at the Bernina Pass, crosses glaciers and frozen lakes, and descends into St Moritz in around 2 hours 15 minutes.
In my opinion the journey works best on the standard regional train rather than the official red Bernina Express: the windows open, the photographs are better, and no seat reservation is required. Sit on either side — the views are spectacular from both.
St Moritz in winter is extraordinary. Lake St Moritz freezes solid enough to walk across. The town has excellent chocolate shops, a good station café with outdoor lake views, and the kind of Alpine light that only exists above 1,800 metres on a clear day.
For a less tiring day (although still long), consider a guided tour that drives you one way by bus along Lake Como to Tirano, puts you on the train for the Bernina journey, and collects you in St Moritz for the drive home. This means you do the scenic railway once rather than twice and arrive back in Milan earlier.
Don't forget your passport — Switzerland is Schengen but border checks do occasionally occur on this route.
→ Full guide: The Bernina Express from Milan
How to Choose
The right choice depends entirely on what kind of day you're after.
For a relaxed half day: Pavia — 25 minutes each way, everything walkable from the station, back in Milan for dinner.
For scenery: Lake Como — the circular ferry route is one of the finest half-days in northern Italy.
For something completely different: Oltrepò Pavese — wine, local life and a landscape most visitors never reach.
For history and medieval atmosphere: Bergamo — the upper city is the most rewarding hour from Milan.
For a special occasion or cultural highlight: Verona in summer with opera at the Arena.
For a once-in-a-lifetime day: The Bernina Express — plan it on a clear day and allow the full day.
Practical Information
Booking trains: Bergamo, Lake Como, Pavia and Oltrepò Pavese are all served by regional trains — no advance booking required. Buy tickets at Milano Centrale machines or via Trenitalia or Trainline on the day. Remember to validate paper tickets at the green machines before boarding.
Verona and Bernina (Tirano - St Moritz): These require fast trains or specific services — book in advance. Prices for Verona rise significantly closer to departure. Although the Bernina train between Tirano and St Moritz requires pre-booking, tickets from Milan to Tirano on the regional train can be purchased on the day.
Combining destinations: Pavia and Oltrepò Pavese pair naturally on the same line. Lake Como and Bernina pair naturally — Como is on the route to Tirano.
Getting around Milan: Milano Centrale station is a good central departure point. It's well connected to the rest of the city by metro.
For a full guide to how Italian trains work — tickets, validation, train types and booking — see our Italy train network guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best day trip from Milan by train?
Bergamo is rewarding for a relatively relaxed day — medieval upper city, excellent food and easy to reach in 50 minutes. Lake Como is the best for scenery. Oltrepò Pavese is the best for getting genuinely off the tourist trail. The Bernina Express is the most spectacular if you have a full day and clear weather.
Do I need to book trains for day trips from Milan in advance?
For regional trains to Bergamo, Lake Como, Pavia and Oltrepò Pavese — no, buy on the day. For fast Frecciarossa services to Verona — yes, book in advance. Prices rise significantly closer to departure and trains can sell out in peak season.
Can I do multiple day trips from Milan in one day?
Pavia and Oltrepò Pavese work well together — both are on the same line and 20 minutes apart. Lake Como and the Bernina Express combine naturally. Most other combinations make for a long, rushed day — better to choose one and do it properly.
How do I get to Bergamo from Milan by train?
Direct regional trains run from Milano Centrale to Bergamo station in around 50 minutes. No booking required. From Bergamo station, take the local bus or funicular to the Città Alta. See our full Bergamo guide for details.
Is Lake Como worth visiting as a day trip from Milan?
Yes — particularly if you do the circular Varenna–Bellagio–Como route using the ferry network. It's one of the most satisfying day trips in northern Italy and covers three distinct sections of the lake without retracing your steps. See our Lake Como guide for the full route.
What is Oltrepò Pavese and why should I visit?
Oltrepò Pavese is Lombardy's main wine region — 40 minutes south of Milan by train, largely unknown to international visitors, and producing wines that rival Tuscany in quality at a fraction of the price. See our full Oltrepò Pavese guide.
Also on The Unseen Italy: How Italy's train network works · Plan your Italy by train itinerary · 12 days in Italy by train
