Day trips from Milan

[Frazzledmum239]

We are going to Italy in September and using Milan as a base. We will have 2 spare days to do day trips. We have chosen Lake como for one day and just wanted any tips on best way to get there. The must sees and any advice in general. For the other day we are undecided at the moment maybe Venice, would this be doable? Are there any companies that can be recommended for doing tours. The other trip we are considering is Bernina express. Let me have your tips. 😊

Milan to Venice is 2.5 hour train ride direct. Book on Trainline or Raileurope website.

Venice is quite far - depends on how keen you are!

Venice is doable.

I really like Bergamo… but Milan itself is rather gorgeous, too.

@Blubellz I loved Bergamo too, I had the best red wine risotto I've ever had at a restaurant halfway up a hill.

You could get the train to Verona, we stayed overnight but I don't remember the journey being that long. Verona is very pretty, Juliet's balcony and an amphitheatre.

Bergamo, Verona, Cremona are trips that I enjoyed from Milan

Venice is doable in a day but even on a direct train (the majority have one change) you're talking over 2 and a half hours.
Use the Trenitalia app- it's in English and brilliant- you check in onto the train so don't have to worry about validating tickets or anything. Buy asap as Italian long distance trains have ticketing similar to UK ones.
Milan to Lake Como is a bit of a faff with transport, your easiest would be train to Varenna or Como itself, then you can get the public ferry over to the more well known tourist destinations like Bellaggio, Menaggio etc.
You can do Lugano from Milan as well. Or, as others said Verona which is half way more or less between Milan and Venice.

Thank you all, plenty of ideas look into and plan.

Lugano in Switzerland is about an hour away from the central station. It is one of my favourite places. Wonderful Ticinese cuisine and walks. It provides a great contrast to Milan. I would not do Venice from there unless staying there for a few nights. I have done the journey on the fast train before.
You can also do the excursion into the mountains on the red train with panoramic views but I cannot recall the name. It is one of the great railway journeys of Italy with a dining car. I would also recommend Turin (Torino) for the great museums (Egyptian, Fiat Car Museum and Film Museum but you really need a night there). You could do an organised day trip to Cinque Terre for the beach and (of course!) great food!