5 Days in Milan: Northern Italy Day Trips
Five days adds a second lake to the spine: Lake Maggiore and the Borromean Islands, after Como, Bergamo, Verona and Turin. Day one is Lake Como, day two Bergamo, day three Verona, day four Turin, and day five is Stresa’s boat hopping day among the islands. Need a different length? The 2 day , 3 day and 4 day versions cover fewer of these, while the 6 day plan closes with Franciacorta.
Book these before you go:
- Hotel near Milano Centrale , the starting point for every train on this plan
- A guided Lake Como day tour if you would rather not manage the train and ferry yourself
- A Verona day tour from Milan bundling the Arena and an old town walk
- A Borromeo Palace and gardens ticket , since peak summer entry times fill before you reach the dock
Day 1: Lake Como, the trip to book first
Catch an early Trenord train from Milano Centrale to Varenna-Esino, about 65 minutes, roughly hourly, EUR 7.40 one way. From the station it is a 10 minute downhill walk to the ferry pier, then a 15 minute crossing to Bellagio, around EUR 5. Bellagio itself has no train station, so build the return around the same ferry then train route.
Day 2: Bergamo’s Città Alta, the easiest half day
A Trenord train covers Milano Centrale to Bergamo in about 50 minutes, as fast as 48 on the quickest service, departing close to hourly. An ATB bus or the funicular carries you up into Città Alta, the walled upper town above the modern Città Bassa below.
Day 3: Verona, the Roman Arena and Juliet’s tourist trap
Frecciarossa and Italo trains cover Milano Centrale to Verona Porta Nuova in about 70 to 75 minutes, with roughly 40 departures a day. The Roman Arena and a genuinely walkable historic core earn the trip on their own, even setting aside Juliet’s manufactured 20th century balcony. Verona’s official visitor information covers current Arena opening hours.
Day 4: Turin, the day trip everyone skips
High speed trains cover Milano Centrale to Turin Porta Nuova in about an hour on the fastest service, up to 1h15 on slower ones. The Egyptian Museum, one of the largest collections of its kind outside Cairo, and the Mole Antonelliana’s panoramic lift are worth a full day between them.
Day 5: Lake Maggiore and the Borromean Islands, your second lake day
EuroCity trains reach Stresa in about an hour, or regional trains in 80 to 90 minutes, with fares from roughly EUR 5 to 14 depending on the service. From Stresa station it is a 10 minute walk to the ferry landing, then public boats connect Isola Bella, Isola Madre and Isola dei Pescatori; a day ferry pass runs about EUR 16.90. The Borromeo Palace and its terraced gardens on Isola Bella need a separate ticket beyond the boat fare, worth booking ahead in peak summer if the palace interests you as much as the islands themselves.
| Day | Focus | Time from Milan |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lake Como (Varenna and Bellagio) | 65 min train + 15 min ferry |
| 2 | Bergamo Città Alta | About 50 min, as fast as 48 |
| 3 | Verona | About 70 to 75 min, high speed train |
| 4 | Turin | About 1 hour to 1h15, high speed train |
| 5 | Lake Maggiore (Stresa) | About 1 hour EuroCity, up to 90 min regional |
Is Lake Maggiore worth it if you already did Lake Como?
Yes, for a different reason. Como wins on lakeside village charm and speed; Maggiore wins on the Borromean Islands themselves, a genuinely different kind of day built around boat hopping and palace gardens rather than one town. Do both across a five day trip, and treat Maggiore as the more leisurely, boat centric of the two.
Which lake should you visit first, Como or Maggiore?
Como first, always, if you can only pick one for early in the trip. It is faster from Milan, simpler with one ferry crossing instead of island hopping, and delivers the more recognizable scenery for the time invested. Save Maggiore for later, when the extra transit time feels worth the day.
Book the Stresa ferry day pass at the dock rather than online, prices and routes are the same either way, and buying on arrival keeps your morning flexible if the first train runs late.