6 day trip ideas from Milan

Milan is known as the fashion capital of the world, being one of the largest cities in Italy. The city is filled with history, culture, and fashion, but did you know that around Milan there are several charming little towns worth a quick visit? Keeping that in mind, I’ve put together this post with 6 ideas for day trips from Milan!

First of all, it’s important to consider how many days to allocate for Milan. Despite being a large city, with almost 1.5 million inhabitants today, you won’t need many days to explore it. I’d say 3 days is enough to see the basics (at a leisurely pace). If the purpose of your trip is to attend a fashion event, you might want to add extra days to enjoy the event and do some sightseeing.

Day trips from Milan

Before I share my suggestions for day trips from Milan, it's important to emphasize that the travel time should not be too long since you’ll want enough time to enjoy the destination. My advice is to choose cities that are at most 2 hours and 30 minutes away from Milan.

Another point to consider is the size of the city you plan to visit on the day trip. If it’s a big city, it might be a good idea to spend the night there to enjoy it without rushing.

Therefore, it's NOT worth doing a day trip to Florence, which, although it’s less than 2 hours by train from Milan, is a city full of tourist attractions and deserves more time! Similarly, another day trip not advisable from Milan is to Venice, as this city also deserves at least one overnight stay.

Verona

Verona is a small but charming city. It’s known for being the setting of Shakespeare's most famous play, Romeo and Juliet. The city even has Juliet’s house and a statue of her.

Distance from Milan: 155 km from the city center. If you go by car, it takes about 2 hours, and by train, it takes about 70 minutes. If you drive, be aware that there are certain areas where cars are not allowed, so make sure to check beforehand to avoid fines. By train, you can get off at Porta Nova station.

What to do: Piazza Bra; Juliet’s House; Verona Arena (mini Colosseum); Castel San Pietro; Piazza delle Erbe; Castel Vecchio, and more.

Sirmione

Lake Garda, the largest lake in Italy.

Distance from Milan: 130 km separate the two cities. By car, it takes about 2 hours, and by train, it takes about the same time, but you’ll have less freedom to move around. Therefore, I recommend driving.

What to do: Visit the Scaligero Castle; see the Grottoes of Catullus; stroll around Lake Garda.

Bellagio

The third suggestion for a day trip from Milan is located on the shores of another famous lake, Lake Como (the third-largest lake in Italy and one of the deepest in Europe).

Distance from Milan: just 70 km, making it the closest option on the list. Whether by car or train, it takes about 90 minutes. Just like I suggested for Lake Garda, it’s better to go by car here too.

What to do: Visit the Gardens of Villa Melzi; visit the Basilica of San Giacomo; enjoy a nice meal while taking in the view of Lake Como.

Genoa

Genoa is a port city located in the Liguria region.

Distance from Milan: about 150 km from the city center, easily accessible by car (2 hours) or by train (a little more than 90 minutes).

What to do: Walk through the historic center and visit the Cathedral of San Lorenzo; explore the Old Port; visit the Palazzo Reale Museum; go up the Bigo (panoramic elevator).

Bologna

It’s not a destination that’s frequently visited by Brazilians, who tend to prefer Florence, Milan, Rome, and Venice, but it’s a great choice for those who enjoy gastronomic tourism and want to visit a medieval city.

Distance from Milan: although it’s the farthest day trip from Milan on this list, with 215 km separating the two cities, it’s worth it if you go by train. In this case, it takes 75 minutes, while by car it would take almost 3 hours.

What to do: Visit the Basilica of San Petronio and the Tower of Bologna; explore Piazza Maggiore and the Fountain of Neptune; if time allows, take a cooking class or visit a vineyard.

Parma

To close the list of day trips from Milan, we have the delicious Parma. Delicious because it’s famous for Parmesan cheese and Parma ham.

Parmesan cheese in a Parma farm.

Distance from Milan: 125 km between the two cities, with the fastest option being the train (about 90 minutes). If you drive, it will take nearly 2 hours.

What to do: Visit Parma Cathedral and explore the surroundings; enjoy a meal with lots of Parmesan cheese or, if you have a big budget, take a gastronomic tour.

I hope you enjoyed my suggestions for day trips from Milan and that you get to experience at least one of them! Still have questions? Leave your comment below! Cheers, and see you next time!