MILAN IS A CITY OF UNDENIABLE ENERGY. IT PULSES WITH FASHION, ART, AND AMBITION. YET, ITS GREATEST LUXURY MIGHT BE ITS LOCATION. MILAN SITS AT THE HEART OF NORTHERN ITALY. THIS MAKES IT THE PERFECT LAUNCHPAD FOR DISCOVERY. IMAGINE LEAVING THE CITY’S HUM FOR A DAY. YOU COULD BE GLIDING ACROSS A PRISTINE LAKE. OR PERHAPS WANDERING THROUGH A MEDIEVAL FORTRESS.
THESE DAY TRIPS OFFER MORE THAN JUST A CHANGE OF SCENERY. THEY ARE INVITATIONS TO EXPERIENCE ITALY’S DIVERSE SOUL. FROM THE ALPINE ELEGANCE OF THE LAKES TO THE CULINARY HEART OF EMILIA-ROMAGNA. EACH JOURNEY IS A SHORT TRAIN RIDE AWAY. EACH PROMISES A WORLD OF NEW MEMORIES. LET US GUIDE YOU BEYOND THE CITY LIMITS. DISCOVER THE TREASURES WAITING JUST OUTSIDE MILAN.
THE ALLURE OF LAKE COMO
LAKE COMO IS A VISION OF BLUES AND GREENS. IT HAS CAPTIVATED ARTISTS FOR CENTURIES. CELEBRITIES LIKE GEORGE CLOONEY HAVE FOUND REFUGE HERE. THE LAKE’S DRAMATIC, FJORD-LIKE BEAUTY IS SPELLBINDING. IT OFFERS A WELCOME RESPITE FROM MILAN’S URBAN PACE.
GETTING THERE IS SIMPLE. A TRAIN FROM MILAN WHISKS YOU TO THE LAKESIDE TOWN OF VARENNA IN ABOUT AN HOUR. FROM THERE, THE FERRY SYSTEM BECOMES YOUR CHARIOT. IT GRACEFULLY CONNECTS THE LAKE’S MOST ENCHANTING VILLAGES.
CENTRAL LAKE COMO HIGHLIGHTS
- VARENNA: THIS CHARMING FISHING VILLAGE IS YOUR IDEAL STARTING POINT. STROLL ALONG THE PASSEGGIATA DEGLI INNAMORATI (“LOVER’S WALK”). THIS ROMANTIC PATH CLINGS TO THE CLIFFSIDE. IT OFFERS BREATHTAKING VIEWS ACROSS THE WATER. EXPLORE THE BOTANICAL GARDENS OF VILLA MONASTERO. OR CLIMB TO CASTELLO DI VEZIO FOR A PANORAMIC VISTA.
- BELLAGIO: KNOWN AS THE “PEARL OF THE LAKE,” BELLAGIO SITS ON A PENINSULA. THE LAKE SURROUNDS IT ON THREE SIDES. ITS MAIN STREET, SALITA SERBELLONI, IS A PICTURESQUE CASCADE OF COLORFUL BUILDINGS. HERE YOU’LL FIND BOUTIQUE SHOPS AND ELEGANT GALLERIES. FOR LUNCH, FIND A LAKESIDE RESTAURANT. INDULGE IN THE LOCAL SPECIALTY: PERCH RISOTTO.
- TREMEZZO & LENNO: ACROSS THE WATER, YOU’LL FIND GRAND VILLAS. VILLA CARLOTTA IN TREMEZZO BOASTS A MAGNIFICENT ART COLLECTION. NEARBY IN LENNO, VILLA DEL BALBIANELLO IS A SHOWSTOPPER. ITS TERRACED GARDENS HAVE STARRED IN FILMS LIKE CASINO ROYALE.
THE TWO-FACED CHARM OF BERGAMO
BERGAMO IS ONE OF LOMBARDY’S MOST CAPTIVATING SECRETS. THE NEW YORK TIMES ONCE CALLED IT “THE UNDISCOVERED ITALIAN CITY.” IT’S A CITY OF TWO PARTS. THE MODERN, WEALTHY CITTÀ BASSA (LOWER CITY). AND THE ANCIENT, FORTIFIED CITTÀ ALTA (UPPER CITY). A FUNICULAR RAILWAY CONNECTS THE TWO, LIFTING YOU INTO ANOTHER ERA.
A TRAIN FROM MILAN CENTRALE REACHES BERGAMO IN ABOUT AN HOUR. IT’S A JOURNEY BACK IN TIME. THE CITTÀ ALTA SITS PROUDLY ON A HILL. IT IS A PERFECTLY PRESERVED MEDIEVAL WORLD.
EXPLORING THE CITTÀ ALTA
- PIAZZA VECCHIA: THIS IS THE HEART OF THE OLD CITY. IT’S A STUNNING SQUARE WHERE LIFE UNFOLDS. MAJESTIC BUILDINGS SURROUND IT. THE CAMPANONE BELL TOWER STANDS TALL. AT 10 PM EACH NIGHT, ITS BELLS RING 100 TIMES. THIS TRADITION ONCE SIGNALED THE CLOSING OF THE CITY GATES.
- MERIDIANA SUNDIAL: IN THE PORTICO OF THE PALAZZO DELLA RAGIONE, LOOK DOWN. YOU’LL SEE A MARBLE LINE SET INTO THE STONE FLOOR. THIS IS A 1790S SUNDIAL. A SMALL HOLE IN THE CEILING PROJECTS A RAY OF SUNLIGHT. AT NOON, IT STRIKES THE LINE, MARKING THE DATE AND TIME.
- TWISTING ALLEYS: THE BEST PART OF BERGAMO IS SIMPLY GETTING LOST. ITS NARROW, COBBLED STREETS TWIST AND TURN. THEY REVEAL HIDDEN COURTYARDS, ARTISAN SHOPS, AND COZY RESTAURANTS.
THE ROMANCE OF VERONA
VERONA IS A CITY STEEPED IN LEGEND. SHAKESPEARE CHOSE IT AS THE SETTING FOR ROMEO AND JULIET. BUT ITS ROMANCE GOES FAR BEYOND FICTION. IT IS A CITY OF ROMAN RUINS AND RENAISSANCE SPLENDOR. EVERY CORNER TELLS A STORY.
GETTING TO VERONA IS EFFORTLESS. HIGH-SPEED FRECCIAROSSA TRAINS FROM MILAN TAKE JUST OVER AN HOUR. SLOWER REGIONAL TRAINS OFFER A MORE LEISURELY TWO-HOUR JOURNEY.
VERONA’S TIMELESS SIGHTS
- ARENA DI VERONA: THIS 1ST-CENTURY ROMAN AMPHITHEATER DOMINATES PIAZZA BRA. IT IS REMARKABLY WELL-PRESERVED. IN SUMMER, IT HOSTS A WORLD-FAMOUS OUTDOOR OPERA FESTIVAL. SEEING A PERFORMANCE HERE IS AN UNFORGETTABLE EXPERIENCE.
- CASA DI GIULIETTA: TOURISTS FLOCK TO SEE JULIET’S BALCONY. THE 13TH-CENTURY BUILDING BELONGED TO THE CAPPELLO FAMILY. THEY ARE THOUGHT TO BE THE INSPIRATION FOR THE CAPULETS. VISITING THE COURTYARD IS FREE. LEAVE A NOTE FOR YOUR LOVER AMONG THE THOUSANDS ON THE WALLS.
- PONTE PIETRA & CASTEL SAN PIETRO: WALK ACROSS THE ANCIENT ROMAN STONE BRIDGE, PONTE PIETRA. THEN, TAKE THE FUNICULAR UP TO CASTEL SAN PIETRO. FROM HERE, YOU CAN ENJOY A SPECTACULAR SUNSET VIEW OVER THE CITY’S RED-TILED ROOFS.
THE CULINARY CAPITAL: BOLOGNA
BOLOGNA IS ITALY’S GASTRONOMIC HEART. IT’S NICKNAMED LA GRASSA (THE FAT ONE) FOR A REASON. THIS IS THE HOME OF BOLOGNESE SAUCE, MORTADELLA, AND TORTELLINI. BUT IT’S ALSO A CITY OF GREAT INTELLECT AND BEAUTY. IT HOSTS THE OLDEST UNIVERSITY IN THE WESTERN WORLD.
A HIGH-SPEED TRAIN FROM MILAN WILL GET YOU TO BOLOGNA IN JUST OVER AN HOUR. ARRIVE WITH AN APPETITE.
A TASTE OF BOLOGNA
- FOOD SCENE: EXPLORE THE QUADRILATERO. THIS MEDIEVAL MARKET AREA IS A FOOD LOVER’S PARADISE. ITS NARROW LANES OVERFLOW WITH DELIS, BAKERIES, AND PASTA SHOPS. SAMPLE PROSCIUTTO, PARMESAN CHEESE, AND BALSAMIC VINEGAR.
- ARCHITECTURE: BOLOGNA IS FAMOUS FOR ITS PORTICOES. THESE COVERED WALKWAYS STRETCH FOR NEARLY 40 KILOMETERS. THEY PROVIDE SHELTER FROM SUN AND RAIN. CLIMB THE ASINELLI TOWER FOR A STUNNING VIEW OF THE RED CITY.
- UNIVERSITY QUARTER: WANDER THROUGH THE HISTORIC UNIVERSITY DISTRICT. FEEL THE YOUTHFUL ENERGY THAT HAS DEFINED THIS CITY FOR CENTURIES.
THE VINEYARDS OF PIEDMONT
PIEDMONT IS A LAND OF ROLLING HILLS AND NOBLE WINES. THIS IS ONE OF ITALY’S MOST PRESTIGIOUS WINE REGIONS. IT’S FAMOUS FOR THE POWERFUL BAROLO AND BARBARESCO WINES, MADE FROM THE NEBBIOLO GRAPE. IT’S ALSO THE LAND OF THE PRIZED WHITE TRUFFLE.
EXPLORING PIEDMONT IS BEST DONE BY CAR. THIS GIVES YOU THE FREEDOM TO VISIT RURAL VINEYARDS. THE DRIVE TO THE TOWN OF BAROLO TAKES JUST UNDER TWO HOURS. ALTERNATIVELY, TAKE A TRAIN TO TURIN AND EXPLORE FROM THERE.
EXPLORING WINE COUNTRY
- WINE TASTING IN BAROLO: BAROLO IS THE EPICENTER OF THE REGION’S WINE SCENE. MANY HISTORIC WINERIES OFFER TOURS AND TASTINGS BY APPOINTMENT. VISIT CELLARS THAT ARE HUNDREDS OF YEARS OLD. SAMPLE WORLD-CLASS WINES RIGHT AT THE SOURCE. TOP WINERIES INCLUDE MARCHESI DI BAROLO AND ETTORE GERMANO.
- TRUFFLE HUNTING IN ALBA: FROM OCTOBER TO DECEMBER, ALBA IS THE WORLD CAPITAL OF WHITE TRUFFLES. YOU CAN BOOK AN EXCURSION WITH A LOCAL TRIFOLAU (TRUFFLE HUNTER) AND HIS DOG. SEARCH FOR THIS “WHITE GOLD” IN THE NEARBY FORESTS. IT’S A TRULY UNIQUE EXPERIENCE.
A SWISS SOJOURN: LUGANO
FOR A DAY TRIP WITH AN INTERNATIONAL TWIST, HEAD TO LUGANO, SWITZERLAND. THE JOURNEY FROM MILAN TAKES ABOUT AN HOUR BY TRAIN. YOU’LL FIND YOURSELF IN A DIFFERENT COUNTRY, SURROUNDED BY STUNNING ALPINE SCENERY. LUGANO SITS ON THE SHORES OF ITS NAMESAKE LAKE. IT’S A WEALTHY, SOPHISTICATED CITY WITH AN ITALIAN SOUL. IT’S LOCATED IN TICINO, THE ITALIAN-SPEAKING CANTON OF SWITZERLAND.
LAKESIDE LUXURY IN LUGANO
- LAKE LUGANO: THE LAKE IS SURROUNDED BY LUSH MOUNTAINS. TAKE A BOAT TRIP TO EXPLORE ITS BEAUTY. THE SMALL, CAR-FREE VILLAGE OF GANDRIA IS A MUST-SEE. ITS OLD STONE HOUSES CLING TO THE MOUNTAINSIDE. ENJOY LUNCH ON A LAKESIDE TERRACE AT A RESTAURANT LIKE LOCANDA GANDRIESE.
- CITY OF LUGANO: THE CITY ITSELF IS A BLEND OF SWISS EFFICIENCY AND ITALIAN STYLE. STROLL ALONG THE ELEGANT WATERFRONT PROMENADE. EXPLORE THE HIGH-END SHOPS ON VIA NASSA. RELAX IN THE BEAUTIFUL PARCO CIANI.
TRAVEL TIPS FOR YOUR TRIP
- VALIDATE YOUR TICKET: FOR REGIONAL TRAINS, YOU MUST VALIDATE YOUR PAPER TICKET. USE THE SMALL GREEN OR YELLOW MACHINES ON THE PLATFORM BEFORE BOARDING.
- TRAIN TYPES: ITALY HAS REGIONAL TRAINS (REGIONALE) AND HIGH-SPEED TRAINS (FRECCIAROSSA, ITALO). REGIONAL TRAINS ARE CHEAPER BUT SLOWER. HIGH-SPEED TRAINS ARE FASTER AND MORE COMFORTABLE. BOOK HIGH-SPEED TICKETS IN ADVANCE FOR THE BEST PRICES.
- DEPARTURE BOARDS: WHEN CHECKING THE “PARTENZE” (DEPARTURES) BOARD, FIND YOUR TRAIN BY ITS DEPARTURE TIME AND TRAIN NUMBER, NOT JUST THE FINAL DESTINATION.
BEGIN YOUR NEXT ADVENTURE
MILAN IS MORE THAN A DESTINATION. IT IS A GATEWAY. THESE DAY TRIPS ARE JUST A GLIMPSE OF THE RICHNESS THAT SURROUNDS THE CITY. EACH JOURNEY OFFERS A UNIQUE STORY AND A NEW PERSPECTIVE ON ITALIAN LIFE. LET THESE IDEAS INSPIRE YOU. YOUR PERFECT DAY IS JUST A TRAIN RIDE AWAY.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTION’S
DO I NEED TO BOOK TRAIN TICKETS IN ADVANCE FOR DAY TRIPS FROM MILAN?
WHILE NOT ALWAYS NECESSARY, BOOKING TICKETS IN ADVANCE IS RECOMMENDED TO SECURE BETTER PRICES AND AVOID LAST-MINUTE AVAILABILITY ISSUES.
ARE THESE DAY TRIPS SUITABLE FOR FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN?
YES, MANY OF THESE DAY TRIPS OFFER FAMILY-FRIENDLY ACTIVITIES, ENSURING AN ENJOYABLE EXPERIENCE FOR TRAVELERS OF ALL AGES.
WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO FIND MY TRAIN AT THE STATION?
CHECK THE “PARTENZE” (DEPARTURES) BOARD BY LOOKING FOR YOUR TRAIN’S DEPARTURE TIME AND NUMBER INSTEAD OF FOCUSING SOLELY ON THE FINAL DESTINATION.
CAN I VISIT MORE THAN ONE DESTINATION IN A SINGLE DAY TRIP?
DEPENDING ON PROXIMITY AND YOUR SCHEDULE, SOME DESTINATIONS CAN BE COMBINED FOR A FULLER ITINERARY, BUT PLAN CAREFULLY TO MAXIMIZE YOUR TIME.
WHAT SHOULD I PACK FOR A DAY TRIP?
PACK LIGHTLY, INCLUDING ESSENTIALS LIKE A WATER BOTTLE, COMFORTABLE SHOES, AND WEATHER-APPROPRIATE CLOTHING TO ENSURE A COMFORTABLE EXCURSION.
