I am tagging along on my DH's business trip to Milan end of July. We plan to go somewhere else for 4 nights after leaving Milan but wondering about day trips I could take from Milan while my DH's working. Any ideas would be welcome...we've never been to Italy.

I'm not usre that you would run out of things of interest in Milan, but some possibi;ities include:

Bergamo
(by train, about 60 minutes each way)

Como
(by train, about 60-90 minutes each way, depending on if you go to Como versus midlake Varenna)

Pavia
(by train, about 30 minutes each way)

Torino
(by fastest train, about 90 minutes each way)

Verona is another great day trip. You could take a cab or bus from the station to the historical city center. The arena is quite interesting (I don't know the opera season, but when I was there the stage was set for Aida - quite spectacular); there is a lovely pedestrian shopping area near the arena; and lots of wine bars to sample the good local wines.

Lago Maggiore, especially Isola Bella.

http://www.lagomaggiore.net/old/uk/citta/I-Bella.asp

The distance from Milan center is 89km, a little more than an hour by car. You can also take a tour bus.

You can also get to Lago Maggiore (at Stresa, the most convenient place to catch the ferry to visit Isola Bella and the other islands) via train. It's about an hour (or a bit more, depending on the train) and it's a very pleasant ride as you leave the flats around Milan and climb into the hills of the Piedmont. When you arrive in Stresa you'll exit the station on the lake side, and from there just walk down the hill. You'll end up on the lakefront, which is a nice walk. The ferry landing will be a couple of blocks to your right (south along the lake).

The other options given above are also all great. Bergamo, with its two "cities" (high and low) is particularly cool, I think.

Author: mamamia66
Date: 06/11/2008, 02:30 pm
I should have asked specifically, what town or city is close enough to day trip it alone via train?
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Author: TuckH ([email protected])
Date: 06/11/2008, 02:47 pm
Bergamo - specifically Bergamo Alta.

Thanks you all for the good suggestions. I need to do more research & narrow down all of the fantastic places!!

Don't forget to save some time for Milan itself too.

Lugano, about 1.5 hrs by train, but not on a Sunday or Monday AM when everything is closed.

PS, I hope you make it to La Scala