Hi all

Will be in Milan for 5.5 days this Fall. I've visited Milan twice in the past and will likely devote at least 2.5 days to just being in Milan. For Day Trips I'm pretty sold on Bergamo and bellagio/varenna if weather cooperates. What else do people love? I was also planning on Turin but after considering the fact that the palaces and museums don't necessarily thrill me (not into egyptology and have heard some bad things lately about cinema museum) I feel it may be a bit of a waste. These above places would be day trips. Other places I've been contemplating are Brescia Varese and Lugano or some other accessible lake destination or town (doesn't have to be on a lake). Probably wouldn't devote more than 3 days to Day Trips without a compelling reason. Would love recommendations and any tips including how many hours needed in each place if only going for the day! Will only be using trains and/or buses. Thanks so much!

Turin, the former capital of Italy, is much more than the Museo Egizio and the Cinema Museum. But it's up to you.
Bergamo is fine,
Among Varese, Brescia and Lugano, the last one is the most interesting place.
Other charming small towns are Pavia (and it's Certosa, just between MI and PV), Cremona, Mantova, Parma......
Some people like the prehistoric rock carvings in Val Camonica
others go to the sanctuaries of Madonna del Sasso, Varallo, Re....
to the glaciers of Macugnaga
or to the 3 medieval castles of Bellinzona

I appreciate your reply and assume you have visited all the places you're mentioning. Mantua will be too far I think from both venice and Milan (staying at both as bases) but I had given it quite a bit of thought. Will also be in mestre for 7 nights including arrival day as my base and am currently looking at padua vicenza verona as day trips. I'd like to keep each leg of a trip to as close to 1 hour as possible but your rankings of these, impressions, alternate suggestions given importance of reasonable travel time, would also be greatly appreciated. Thanks and be well!