Rome may be the heart of Italy, but it’s far from the country’s only nexus.

Milano Centrale is your matchmaker in Northern Italy, instantly allowing you to ride the rails to the canals of Venice, the shores of Lake Como, the coast of Cinque Terre, and much, much more.

The best day trips from Milan aren’t just sideshows, but rather, an opportunity to turn a week-long trip to Italy’s fashion capital into an easy exploration of Italy’s fantastic northern cities.

We’re not telling you to run away from the runway, but these day trips are so close to the catwalk that you can easily fit one into your Italian itinerary.

Image Credit: Getty Images, Roberto Moiola. Image Location: Bellagio, Lake Como, Italy

Lake Como

Arrival station: Como San Giovanni

Journey time: ~40 minutes

A Milan to Lake Como day trip is commonplace when visiting Italy’s fashion capital. Multiple trains run between the stations each day, which means you can sleep in, sip your cappuccino without haste, and still enjoy a long day in one of Italy’s popular filming locations.

Admiring the dramatic coastal backdrops is priority number one, and one that you can easily accomplish with a swim in the summer, a hike in the autumn, or from the window of a spa hotel in the winter.

Image Credit: Getty Images, Sanga Park. Image Location: Manarola, Cinque Terre, Italy

Cinque Terre

Arrival station: La Spezia Centrale

Journey time: ~3 hours

This one is for the train lovers as much as it is for the beachgoers. The five towns of Cinque Terre may take a bit longer to get to than Lake Como, but the journey from start to finish is enjoyable even from the seat of a train. Buy a Cinque Terre Express ticket for only €5 for travel through all five towns once you arrive at La Spezia Centrale.

Choosing a favorite of Cinque Terre’s towns is like asking someone to name their favorite child, pet, or houseplant. Dress in a swimsuit for Monterosso and for the sunset in Vernazza. Explore the national park from Corniglia and the wine bars in Manarola. Riomaggiore is the postcard town with its colorful coastal homes, no doubt where you’ll want to do your souvenir shopping.

Venice

Arrival station: Venezia Santa Lucia

Journey time: ~2.5 hours

We don’t need to convince you to visit Venice, do we? A direct train averaging 3 hours is effortless so use it to your advantage. Trains out of Venice end as late as 10:47PM, which means you can spend a little time exploring the canals once the cruise ships have left for the day.

Image Credit: Getty Images, mikolajn. Image Location: Lugano, Switzerland

Switzerland

Whether you’re a country counter or want to see the Alps without spending an overnight in the Dolomites, a Milan to Switzerland day trip is a short and rewarding endeavor. But first, you need to pick a destination.

Chiasso is the southernmost town in Switzerland and so close to Lake Como that you could practically skip a rock from the border to George Clooney’s house. Chiasso is less than an hour by train from Milan, so it’s one of those “say you did it” destinations if you’re making a half-day trip.

Take the extra few minutes to travel to Balerna next door and you’ll find a raclette restaurant, hiking trails, and a cool abandoned cement factory turned into an urban museum and nature park.

Lugano is another hour-ish day trip from Milan to Switzerland. It’s a dreamy lakeside city with a colorful palazzi, a delicious mix of Swiss and Italian cultures, and has a lovely mountainous backdrop that makes the view alone worth the trip.

Other day trips from Milan by train

Iconic Italian cities are at your fingertips when taking a day trip from Milan by train. Roam around the wonders of Rome, hunt for the coveted white truffle around Turin, immerse yourself in the Renaissance of Florence, or write a letter to Shakespeare’s Juliet for help in your own love life.

Arrive in style

Don’t be fashionably late on your Italian vacation. Download the Trainline app and purchase cheap tickets for a day trip from Milan before you even reach the station.

Header Image Credit: Getty Images, JaCZhou 2015. Image Location: St Mark's Square, Venice, Italy

Ready to book your tickets?