Best Tours and Day Trips from Milan
Milan is surrounded by lakes, mountains and other fascinating Italian towns and villages: here are some of the best excursions from Milan.
Piazza del Duomo | ©George M. Groutas
Milan is a fashion capital, industrial and economic centre and cosmopolitan city. Its location makes it a perfect base for exploring other nearby areas, from magical Venice or Verona, to Cinque Terre or beautiful Lake Como. Here are the best options to see Milan and its surroundings:
1. Guided group tour of Milan's major points of interest
With this guided group tour of Milan's main points of interest you will take a walk through the city accompanied by a guide who will explain its history and all the details of its main points of interest, such as the Piazza del Duomo with the Cathedral, the Piazza della Scala and its theatre or the dynamic Porta Garibaldi neighbourhood. In addition, this group will be limited to a maximum of 14 people.
What is included in this tour
- 1.5 hour tour of Milan (without entrance fees to the attractions)
- English and Spanish speaking guide
What you will see on this tour
- Chiusa Leonardesca, Leonardo da Vinci's great hydraulic work to connect the city by means of "i navigli": the locks of the canals.
- Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, the first 'shopping mall' in the history of Italy and one of the oldest in the world of extreme elegance.
- Castello Sforzesco, this fortress is one of the most important buildings in Milan, full of curious museums inside.
2. Night group tour of Milan by night
Beautiful cities shine even brighter at night, and Milan is no exception. With this night tour of Milan, you will see another side of the city as you enjoy sites such as the Piazza del Duomo or La Scala masterfully illuminated.
In addition, your guide will reveal the hidden history of Milan, such as that of the noble families and their ghosts, who are said to roam the courtyards of the Castello Sforzesco every night. There will be a maximum of 20 people in the group.
What is included in this tour
- 2 hours night tour of Milan (without entrance fees to the attractions)
- Guide in English and 4 other languages
What you will see on this tour
- Castello Sforzesco, Milan's impressive fortress castle.
- Teatro Alla Scala, Milan's opera house and one of the most famous opera houses in the world for having served as a stage during its 200 years of life for works by the greatest composers in history.
- Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, a historic shopping centre that today still houses some of the city's most exclusive shops.
- Piazza del Duomo, where you will find the Duomo, Milan's marvellous Gothic cathedral and its most representative building.
3. Private and customisable tour of Milan
If a group tour is not your thing, but you want to soak up all the history of the city, this private and customisable tour of Milan offers a private guide for you and your group. Also, if you wish, they will prepare a personalised day or night tour according to your interests (to be specified at the time of booking) without leaving out must-see sights such as the Duomo, the Teatro alla Scala or the Sforzesco Castle.
What is included in this tour
- Customisable day or night tour of Milan (3 hours)
- Private guide in your language, available in English and 4 other languages.
What you will see on this tour
- Vittorio Emanuele II Gallery
- Duomo di Milano
- Alla Scala Theatre
- Castello Sforzesco
4. Guided tour inside the Duomo di Milano
Visiting the Duomo of Milan is an unmissable experience in the city that is greatly enhanced by a fast-track ticket to skip the long queues and accompanied by a guide who will reveal all the history and secrets of this imposing Gothic cathedral. I recommend you book online your guided tour inside the Duomo of Milan.
Please note, however, that this tour is inside the Duomo, but does not include a visit to its rooftop.
What is included in this tour
inside the Duomo
- Fast-track, skip-the-line entrance to the interior of the Duomo for one hour (rooftop visit not included).
- Professional guide in English and Spanish
- Possibility to take the tour on weekdays or weekends
- Groups of 25 people maximum
- Cancellation free of charge with 24 hours advance notice
5. Guided tour of the Teatro alla Scala Milan
Whether you like opera or not, a visit to Milan's historic Scala is one of the city's must-see attractions.
With this guided tour of Milan's Teatro alla Scala, you will learn about the history of opera and this theatre, as well as admire its beautiful 18th century auditorium, which has hosted the works of composers such as Verdi and Toscanini, and its museum, which exhibits costumes, instruments played by famous musicians and props used in famous performances.
What's included in this tour
inside the Teatro alla Scala in Milan
- Guided tour of the Teatro alla Scala and its museum (1 hour)
- Professional guide in English and 5 other languages
- Possibility of cancellation with 24 hours notice
6. Day trip to the Swiss Alps from Milan on the Bernina Express train
While you're in Milan, if you have time and love the great outdoors, don't miss a visit to the Swiss Alps, located 127 kilometres from the city. The best thing about a day trip to the Swiss Alps from Milan is the means of transport: the curious mountain train that for centuries has crossed one of the most beautiful railway routes in the world, the Bernina Express, declared a World Heritage Site and with spectacular views of the Alpine landscape and its glaciers.
This train will take you from Tirano to St. Moritz, an elegant and popular winter sports resort in the foothills of the Alps.
What's included in this tour
- Day trip to the Swiss Alps on board the Bernina Epxress (13 hours total)
- Bus from Milan to Tirano to catch the train
- Professional guide on the way in English and 2 other languages
- Free time in St. Moritz, where you will visit an exclusive resort and the best chocolate shop in Switzerland.
- Free time in Tirano, where you can see the church of the Madonna of Tirano, one of the most beautiful churches in the Valtellina region.
Milan is a city you can visit in a weekend, but if you can, travel more days and take the opportunity to visit nearby wonders such as Venice, Verona, Cinque Terre or Lake Como.
7. A day trip to Lake Como from Milan
Lake Como is probably one of the most famous lakes in the world. And one of the most beautiful, no doubt. It is an hour and a half drive from Milan so, if you have time in your trip, this day trip to Lake Como from Milan is well worth it. It includes a walking tour of the elegant town of Como and its historic centre and a cruise on the beautiful lake, amidst a landscape of snow-capped mountains and luxurious villas.
Depending on the time of year, summer or winter, you'll visit the charming village of Bellagio or take a funicular ride to Brunate for spectacular views of the lake.
What's included in this break
- Day trip to Lake Como from Milan (9 hours in total)
- English speaking guide and 2 other languages
- Air-conditioned vehicle
- Boat trip on Lake Como
- Cable car to Brunate (from November to March)
- Visit to Bellagio (from April to October)
8. Day trip to Venice from Milan
Northern Italy is home to some of the country's most famous and beautiful cities. Travelling to Milan can be your chance to see some of these treasures, such as the incomparable Venice, about 3 hours' drive away.
With this day trip to Venice from Milan you will have that opportunity as you will walk around the most important sites of 'La Serenissima', such as St. Mark's Square and Basilica, the Rialto Bridge and the Doge's Palace. You will also take part in a glass-making workshop and have the chance to include a mythical gondola ride through the labyrinth of canals of this dream city.
What's included in this tour
- Day trip to Venice from Milan with walking tour of the city (14 hours total duration)
- English and Spanish speaking guide
What places you will discover on this tour
- St. Mark's Basilica, the most important religious temple in Venice and one of the most beautiful and famous in the world, houses authentic jewels of art inside.
- Doge's Palace, this magnificent gothic style building located in St. Mark's Square has been the residence of the Doges of Venice and a symbol of the glory and power of the city, from the residence of the Doges to the prison during the Republic.
- Rialto Bridge, the oldest and most famous bridge in Venice, was for years the economic centre of the city and is today one of its most visited sites.
- Possibility of a 30 minutes gondola ride (not included in the price).
9. Day trip from Milan to Cinque Terre
Another of northern Italy's wonders is the Cinque Terre region, a World Heritage Site made up of five charming villages of colourful houses perched on cliffs.
Cinque Terre is about 3 hours from Milan so this day trip to Cinque Terre is ideal for immersing yourself in some of the villages of this fairytale region. You'll see the fishing village of Manarola and its vineyards, as well as Monterosso al Mare, its largest village, where you'll take a pleasant boat ride.
What is included in this excursion
- Day trip to Cinque Terre from Milan (12 hours in total)
- English and Spanish speaking guide
- Air-conditioned vehicle
- Train journey from Manarola to Monterosso
- Boat trip from Monterosso to La Spezia
10. Day trip to Verona and Lake Garda from Milan
Verona has always been and always will be the scene of the birth and death of the love between the two most famous lovers in history. Verona is an enchanting city in northern Italy that is possible to visit from Milan in a day trip. With this guided day tour of Verona and Lake Garda, you will take a walking tour of the city passing by sites such as the Piazza delle Erbe, the Roman Arena and, of course, the home of Shakespeare's famous Juliet.
You will also get to know the natural landscape of the area at Lake Garda, an ancient summer resort for the Romans, where you will have the chance to go on board a cruise to explore it or take a walk through the ruins of a Roman villa in the area. You will also discover the medieval village on its banks, Sirmione, with its famous castle and moat of Rocca Scaligera.
What is included in this excursion
- Guided day trip to Verona and Lake Garda from Milan (12 hours in total)
- 2-hour guided walking tour of Verona and visit to Lake Garda
- Professional guide
You will discover places like
- Roman Arena, the popular amphitheatre where concerts and operas are still held in summer.
- Juliet's House, where you can look out onto the balcony from which Juliet called out to her Romeo. This house is the place where Shakespeare set the beginning of the greatest love story of all time, 'Romeo and Juliet'.
- Rocca Scaligera, the impressive medieval moat castle preserved in the peaceful village of Sirmione, by the beautiful Lake Garda.
11. Other interesting activities in Milan
If you liked this post about the 10 best excursions to discover Milan and its surroundings, you may also find other articles about the city very useful such as Da Vinci’s The Last Supper Tickets and Tours in Milan y Milan Duomo Tickets and Tours: how to buy and prices.