2bermuda

We are visiting Milan for several days. We have 1 day free for a day trip from Milan. We have been to Bergamo, which we loved. Thinking about Stresa or Lugano but open to any places about an hour by train.

RonZ

Stresa and Varenna are both about and hour away.

bvlenci

Lugano is a nice little lakeside town, Italian with a Swiss twist.

If you like cycling, there are lots of cycle paths along the canals in the Park of the Ticino. Most are also good for walking.

PalenQ

I'll vote for Stresa - as the train takes you right to Lake Como in this suave lakeside town - but key is just offshore are the three Borromean Islands, each with a different surprise on it - short boat rides from Stresa make for everything in a nutshell.

Como and Lake Como is about the same time - an hour or less but then the attractions around the lake, though also easily accessible by boat, are farther-flung and IMO not quite as spectacular as the three Stresa islands.

https://www.google.com/search?q=borr...w=1745&bih=868

Lugano is a spic-and-span Swiss town on a lovely lake - nice boat rides and postal buses into the hills around town - stayed there for several days once - OK place but IMO just another nice city.

Turin is a big city but a great one - very off the radar for some reason - really sweet town center with monumental edifices galore.

PalenQ

BTW most of those nearby places are also served by Regional trains that do not require reservations and have a dirt-cheap flat fee per km I believe. Eschew the IC and faster trains on those routes that charge more and are not really much faster to these places. Check www.trenitalia.com for schedules and fares - and for general info on Italian trains check www.ricksteves.com; www.seat61.com and www.budgeteuropetravel.com - check the latter's free online European Planning & Rail Guide's Italy chapter for lots of places near Milan reachable by train.

Genoa is another gem of a large town - its ancient warren of alleys near the old port is amazing and it also has all the trappings of a nice large city center- grandiose architecture, cathedrals and churches galore, etc. I really liked Genoa - so for lakes Stresa or Como and cities Genoa or Turin are tops in my mind though smaller gems like Parma and Mantua especially are neat too.

His_Dudeness

We have family and friends in Torino and have spent plenty of time there. We were just there 2 weeks ago. It is a beautiful city and has some of the best pedestrian streets and piazzas in Italy. In addition there are great museums like the Mole Antonelliana which is the museum of cinema. It's very easy to navigate around the city by bus, trolley and subway. It also has the largest market in Europe called Porta Palazzo right in the heart of the city. It has some 800 vendors which includes food and produce along with dry goods.

I can't say enough about Torino and can't wait to get back there.

2bermuda

Thank you all for the great suggestions!