More about: 10 Best Tours and Day Trips from Milan Tours
Milan is the capital of fashion, an industrial and economic hub, and a cosmopolitan city. Its location makes it the perfect base for exploring other nearby areas, from magical Venice and Verona to Cinque Terre and beautiful Lake Como. Here are the best options for seeing Milan and its surroundings:
1. Guided group tour of Milan's main attractions
With these guided group tours of Milan's major attractions, you will take a stroll through the city accompanied by a guide who will explain its history and all the details of its main attractions, such as Piazza del Duomo with the Cathedral, Piazza della Scala and its theatre, and the dynamic Porta Garibaldi neighbourhood. In addition, this group will have a maximum of 14 people.
What this tour includes
- 1.5-hour tour of Milan (excluding entrance fees to attractions)
- Guide in Spanish and English
What you will see on this tour
- Chiusa Leonardesca, Leonardo da Vinci's great hydraulic work to connect the city through "i navigli": the canal locks.
- Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, the first 'shopping centre' in Italian history and one of the oldest in the world, renowned for its elegance.
- Castello Sforzesco, this fortress is one of the most important buildings in Milan, full of interesting museums inside.
2. Group night tour of Milan
Beautiful cities shine even brighter at night, and Milan is no exception. On this night tour of Milan, you'll see another side of the city while enjoying masterfully illuminated landmarks such as Piazza del Duomo and La Scala.
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 wander the courtyards of the Castello Sforzesco every night. There will be a maximum of 20 people in the group.
What's included in this tour
- 2-hour night tour of Milan (excluding entrance fees to attractions)
- Guide in Spanish and 4 other languages
What you will see on this tour
- Castello Sforzesco, Milan's impressive castle fortress.
- Teatro Alla Scala, Milan's opera house and one of the most famous in the world for having served as the stage for works by the greatest composers in history during its 200 years of existence.
- Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, a historic shopping centre that still houses some of the city's most exclusive shops.
- Piazza del Duomo, where you will find the Duomo, Milan's magnificent Gothic cathedral and its most iconic building.
3. Private and customisable tour of Milan
If group tours aren't your thing, but you want to soak up all the history of the city, this private and customisable tour of Milan offers you a private guide for you and your group. If you wish, they can also prepare a personalised day or night tour based on your interests (which you must specify at the time of booking), without leaving out essential sights such as the Duomo, La Scala Theatre or Sforzesco Castle.
What this tour includes
- Customisable night or day tour of Milan (3 hours)
- Private guide in your language, available in English and 4 other languages
What you will see on this tour
- Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II
- Milan Cathedral
- Teatro alla Scala
- Sforza Castle
4. Guided tour inside Milan Cathedral
Visiting Milan Cathedral is an unmissable experience in the city, and one that is greatly enhanced if you do so with 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 booking your guided tour of the interior of Milan Cathedral online.
Please note that this tour takes place inside the cathedral but does not include a visit to the roof.
What this tour includes
of the interior of the Duomo
- Fast-track entry to the interior of the Duomo for one hour (roof visit not included)
- Professional guide in Spanish and English
- Option to take the tour on weekdays or weekends
- Groups of up to 25 people
- Free cancellation if made 24 hours in advance
5. Guided tour of Milan's Teatro alla Scala
Whether you like opera or not, visiting the historic La Scala in Milan is one of the city's must-see attractions.
With this guided tour of La Scala Theatre in Milan, 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 displays costumes, instruments played by famous musicians and props used in famous performances.
What this tour includes
Inside Milan's Teatro alla Scala
- Guided tour of La Scala Theatre and its museum (1 hour)
- Professional guide in Spanish and 5 other languages
- Cancellation possible 24 hours in advance
6. Day trip to the Swiss Alps from Milan on the Bernina Express train
Since you're in Milan, if you have time and enjoy natural landscapes, don't miss a visit to the Swiss Alps, located 127 kilometres from the city. The best thing about the day trip to the Swiss Alps from Milan is the mode of transport: the curious mountain train that has been travelling for centuries along one of the most beautiful railway routes in the world, the Bernina Express, declared a World Heritage Site and offering spectacular views of the Alpine landscape and its glaciers.
This train will take you from Tirano to St. Moritz, an elegant enclave very popular for winter sports and located at the foot of the Alps.
What's included in this excursion
- Day trip to the Swiss Alps aboard the Bernina Express (13 hours in total)
- Bus from Milan to Tirano to catch the train
- Professional guide on the journey in Spanish and 2 other languages
- Free time in St. Moritz, where you will visit an exclusive tourist 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 in the Valtellina region
7. Day trip to Lake Como from Milan
Lake Como is probably one of the most famous lakes in the world. And undoubtedly one of the most beautiful. It is an hour and a half's drive from Milan, so if you have time during your trip, this day trip to Lake Como from Milan is well worth it. It includes a walking tour of the elegant city of Como and its historic centre and a cruise on its beautiful lake, surrounded by snow-capped mountains and luxurious villas.
Depending on the time of year you travel, summer or winter, you will visit the charming village of Bellagio or take a funicular ride to Brunate to enjoy spectacular views of the lake.
What's included in this getaway
- Day trip to Lake Como from Milan (9 hours in total)
- Guide in Spanish and 2 other languages
- Air-conditioned vehicle
- Boat trip on Lake Como
- Cable car to Brunate (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 could be your big chance to discover some of these treasures, such as the incomparable Venice, about a 3-hour drive away.
With this day trip to Venice from Milan, you'll have that opportunity as you walk through 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 enjoy a legendary gondola ride through the labyrinth of canals in this dream city.
What's included in this excursion
- Day trip to Venice from Milan with walking tour of the city (14 hours in total)
- Guide in Spanish and English
What places will you 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 art treasures 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 prison during the Republic, and is one of the symbols of the city's glory and power.
- Rialto Bridge, the oldest and most famous bridge in Venice, was for years the economic centre of the city and is now one of its most visited sites.
- Option of a 30-minute gondola ride (not included in the price).
9. Day trip to Cinque Terre from Milan
Another of the wonders that northern Italy has to offer is the Cinque Terre region, a World Heritage Site made up of five charming villages with colourful houses perched on cliffs.
Cinque Terre is about 3 hours from Milan, making this day trip to Cinque Terre ideal for immersing yourself in some of the villages in this fairytale region. You will visit the fishing village of Manarola and its vineyards, as well as Monterosso al Mare, the largest village, where you will enjoy a pleasant boat trip.
What's included in this excursion
- Day trip to Cinque Terre from Milan (12 hours in total)
- Guide in Spanish and English
- 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
It has always been and will always be the setting that witnessed the birth and death of the love between the two most famous lovers in history. Verona is a charming city in northern Italy that can be visited from Milan in a day. With this guided day tour of Verona and Lake Garda, you will take a walking tour of the city, passing through landmarks such as Piazza delle Erbe, the Roman Arena and, of course, the house of Shakespeare's famous Juliet.
You will also discover the natural beauty of Lake Garda, a former summer resort for the Romans, where you can take a cruise or stroll through the ruins of a Roman villa in the area. You will also discover the medieval village of Sirmione, with its famous castle and moat, Rocca Scaligera.
What this excursion includes
- 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 such as
- The Roman Arena, the popular amphitheatre where concerts and operas are still held in summer.
- Juliet's House, where you can look out from the balcony from which Juliet called to her Romeo. This house is where Shakespeare set the beginning of the greatest love story of all time, 'Romeo and Juliet'.
- Rocca Scaligera, the impressive castle with a medieval moat preserved in the peaceful village of Sirmione, next to beautiful Lake Garda.
Other interesting activities in Milan
If you enjoyed this post about the 10 best excursions to discover Milan and its surroundings, you may also find other articles about the city useful, such as Last Supper by Da Vinci in Milan Tickets and Tours and Milan Duomo Tickets and Tours