Day Trips
Lake Como is less than an hour from Milan by train — beautiful in any weather, and one of the easiest escapes from the city. This guide covers the circular Varenna–Bellagio–Como route, the villas worth seeing from the water, and whether a day trip is enough.
Day Trips
Less than two hours from Milan, the Bernina railway crosses into Switzerland and climbs to 2,253 metres through glaciers, frozen lakes and the high Alps. A UNESCO World Heritage line, and one of the most spectacular train journeys in the world.
Day Trips
Just outside Milan by train, Oltrepò Pavese is Italy's largest wine-producing area in Lombardy — and one of its least visited. Rolling hills, medieval castles, native grape varieties you won't find anywhere else, and wines at a fraction of Tuscany's prices.
Day Trips
Less than an hour from Milan by train — or 15 minutes from Orio al Serio airport by bus — Bergamo's medieval Città Alta is one of the most rewarding day trips in northern Italy. Cobbled lanes, Venetian walls, extraordinary food, and views to the Alps.
Day Trips
Just 25 minutes from Milano Centrale, Pavia is one of northern Italy's most rewarding train trips — medieval towers, a covered bridge over the Ticino, a university older than the Renaissance, and one of the finest monasteries in the country.
Florence
Beyond Florence’s headline sights lies a quieter, more intriguing city, where a short detour reveals hidden corners, overlooked masterpieces, and a far richer sense of place.
Day Trips
An hour from Rome by train, Orvieto rises from the Umbrian plain on a plug of volcanic rock. Here's how to get there, how the funicular works, what to see — and whether the Carta Unica is actually worth buying.
Planning
Two operators, five train types, city transport in every major city, and ferries to the islands — the complete reference guide to Italy's train network.
Planning
Cinque Terre
The Cinque Terre Express runs every 20 minutes between La Spezia and Levanto, connecting all five villages in minutes. Single tickets cost €5–€10 depending on season — here's how the train works, what the Cinque Terre Card covers and whether it's worth buying.
Cinque Terre
La Spezia is the gateway to Cinque Terre — and it's closer than most people realise. From Florence, Pisa, or Genoa, all five villages are reachable by train without a hire car, a cliff road or a change of hotel.
Day Trips
The best day trips from Florence by train include Siena, Lucca, Arezzo, San Miniato, Pisa, Bologna and even Rome — all reachable without changing hotels, repacking your suitcase or hiring a car.