Milan Day Trips in 6 Days on a Budget (With Costs)
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Six days, adding Lake Maggiore, the pricier second lake at EUR 22 to 31 versus Como’s EUR 12.40, after the free Milan morning, Lake Como, Bergamo, Verona and Turin from the 5 day plan . This closes out all six of Milan’s regular-train day trips before the 7 day plan adds a single splurge day on top.
Book these before you go:
- The Last Supper skip-line ticket , EUR 15 plus a booking fee, released quarterly and gone within days
- Duomo rooftop ticket , EUR 16 by the 251 stairs or EUR 18 by lift
- Book a small-group Bergamo day trip if you would rather have that transfer handled
- Check hotel rates near Milano Centrale , the platform this whole plan starts from
The 6-day budget plan
| Day | Focus | Travel time from Milan | Approx cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Milan orientation: Duomo exterior, Galleria, rooftop | none | EUR 16 to 26 |
| Day 2 | Lake Como (Varenna + Bellagio) | ~65 min train, ~15 min ferry | ~EUR 12.40 |
| Day 3 | Bergamo Citta Alta | ~48 to 50 min train | ~EUR 5.50 to 6 |
| Day 4 | Verona | ~1h50 regionale veloce | ~EUR 12 to 13 |
| Day 5 | Turin | ~47 min to 1h13 high-speed | from ~EUR 4, booked early |
| Day 6 | Lake Maggiore (Stresa) | ~60 to 90 min train | ~EUR 22 to 31 with ferry pass |
Day 1: The free core, plus one paid rooftop
Start at Piazza del Duomo before 9am, then walk the free Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II toward La Scala before climbing the Duomo rooftop, EUR 16 by the stairs or EUR 18 by lift. Stay near Milano Centrale; every day trip in this plan starts from that platform.
Day 2: Lake Como, the EUR 12 day trip
An early Trenord train reaches Varenna-Esino in about 65 minutes for roughly EUR 7.40. Bellagio has no station of its own; Varenna is the rail gateway, a short walk from the ferry pier, and the crossing to Bellagio takes about 15 minutes for roughly EUR 5. lakecomo.is has current timetables for both towns.
Day 3: Bergamo Citta Alta, the cheapest day trip here
Trenord runs Milano Centrale to Bergamo in about 48 to 50 minutes, roughly EUR 5.50 to 6 one way. The funicular or an ATB bus carries you up into Citta Alta, where the walled core and views cost nothing to walk. in-lombardia.it covers current funicular hours.
Day 4: Verona on the slower, cheaper train
The regionale veloce takes about 1 hour 50 minutes for roughly EUR 12 to 13, against a Frecciarossa fare that climbs past EUR 27 once early tickets sell out. The Roman Arena and the walkable historic core are worth it past Casa di Giulietta’s manufactured balcony. comune.verona.it has current Arena hours.
Day 5: Turin, cheapest when booked ahead
High-speed trains cover Milan to Turin in roughly 47 minutes to 1 hour 13 minutes. Booked a few weeks out, fares start from about EUR 4; the Egyptian Museum and the Mole Antonelliana fill the day for less than either lake trip.
Day 6: Lake Maggiore, the pricier second lake
EuroCity trains reach Stresa in about an hour; regional trains take 80 to 90 minutes, fares roughly EUR 5 to 14. A day ferry pass between Isola Bella, Isola Madre and Isola dei Pescatori runs about EUR 16.90, before a separate Borromeo Palace and gardens ticket, roughly EUR 40 for a two-island combo, if the palace is the draw. A full Maggiore day runs EUR 22 to 31 before food, noticeably more than Como.
Is 6 days enough to cover all of Milan’s budget day trips?
Yes, all six regular-train options: Lake Como, Bergamo, Verona, Turin and Lake Maggiore, plus the free Milan morning. Only the splurge-priced Bernina Express or a Franciacorta wine tour is left out, which the 7 day plan adds as a single extra day.
Lake Como or Lake Maggiore, which costs less for one lake day?
Lake Como, by a wide margin, at about EUR 12.40 against EUR 22 to 31 for Maggiore’s train and ferry pass, before any palace ticket. This plan does both because six days allows it, but if only one lake fits your trip, Como is still the cheaper and faster pick.
Is the Borromeo Palace ticket worth adding to a Lake Maggiore day?
Only if palace interiors and gardens matter to you beyond the boat ride itself. The roughly EUR 40 two-island combo doubles the day’s cost on top of the ferry pass, so a budget traveler happy with island-hopping and the views can skip it and keep the day closer to EUR 22.
Six days closes out every regular-train day trip Milan offers without repeating one. The 7 day plan is the only way to add more, and it does that with a single splurge day rather than a seventh regional-train trip.