Day Trips to the Swiss Alps from Milan

An extended stay in the city of the Duomo will give you the opportunity to explore the surrounding area. There's plenty to see and do in Milan, but the surrounding region is not to be outdone.

You'll find large lakes, art cities, parks, aristocratic residences and vineyards as far as the eye can see. The Swiss border lies a few kilometres further north, making day trips to the Swiss Alps possible.

The most direct option

Swiss Alps Day Trip from Milan

A train ride through the middle of the Alps and a visit to St. Moritz

Explore the Swiss Alps with this full-day excursion aboard the Bernina Express train. You'll travel through this spectacular mountain range to the St Moritz resort.

From £123 at Hellotickets

Be amazed by this journey over 2,000 metres into the Swiss Alps. Together with an expert guide you will enjoy the best views and a visit to the Saint Moritz resort.

This spectacular tour will take you through several UNESCO World Heritage villages along a winding road with breathtaking views. The tour, which lasts approximately 13 hours, includes a second-class ticket on the Bernina Express, the region's most famous tourist train, as well as transfer to and from Milan. Once you arrive in St. Moritz, you can wander around at your leisure, take the best photos and eat some delicious Swiss chocolates.

Recommended if... you want to visit the Swiss Alps while enjoying a unique train ride in the area, without having to worry about hiring transfers and guides.

The most complete option

Interlaken Day Trip from Milan by Swiss Alps Green Train

Visit Interlaken, admire the alpine villages and sail on Lake Thun.

Explore the Swiss Alps with this full-day excursion aboard the Bernina Express train. You'll travel through this spectacular mountain range to the St Moritz resort.

From £115 at Hellotickets

You will travel from Milan and back all-inclusive to the town of Interlaken. You will enjoy a walk through different villages and admire the wonderful views of the Swiss Alps. Then you will have the opportunity to sail on Lake Thun to Spiez and see the alpine villages from the water, where you will be able to take unique pictures. In Spiez, you will have free time to relax and explore the views at your leisure.

Always accompanied by an expert guide, this 13-hour tour will take you through one of the most famous regions of Europe, so don't hesitate to decide to live the experience.

Recommended if... you feel like exploring the Swiss Alps in a different way, as you will not only go by train but you will be able to enjoy them from a different perspective, on an unforgettable boat trip.

If you stay three or four days in Milan I recommend exploring the surrounding area. The Alps and the Swiss border are just a few kilometres to the north, a factor that makes Italy's economic capital the ideal starting point for exploring Europe's most beautiful mountains.

The main highlight of this tour is the Bernina Express, a scenic train that connects the Italian town of Tirano with Coira, Switzerland's oldest town.

Before arriving, the railway crosses bridges, escarpments and an iconic spiral viaduct. As you rest in your seat you' ll see green forests, streams and perennial glacier-covered peaks.

As usual, you'll have plenty of time to explore the alpine village. After the walk, a bus will take you back to Milan.

• Means of transport: bus and train
• Duration: about 13 hours
• Price: between 130 € and 150 €.

These tours start in the morning at Milan Central Station. From here you will take a high-speed train to Domodossola, the main hub of the Ossola Valley. On most tours, the first train is also included in the total price.

Here you will change trains to take the Trenino Verde delle Alpi, a train that climbs the mountains to reach the Galleria del Sempione, a tunnel that has connected Italy and Switzerland since 1906.

Your guide will explain the history of these valleys and the lush Alpine nature. The tour ends in Bern, but you will get off the train first.

You will leave the train in Spiez, a picturesque seaside village known for its castle and Romanesque church. It's on the shores of Lake Thun, a mirror of crystal-clear water reflecting the mountains. It is a fairytale landscape dotted with beaches and beach bars.

• Means of transport: bus, boat and train
• Duration: about 13 hours
• Price: between 130 € and 150 €.

Excursions to the Swiss Alps generally take a full day. Although Switzerland is only a short distance from Milan, visiting the mountains in half a day is almost impossible, especially if you stop at several locations.

These tours usually leave early in the morning - between 6:00 and 7:00 - and return to the city of the Duomo around 20:00.

The best option is to book your trip to the Swiss Alps in advance online. This way you can secure a seat on the bus/train and avoid unpleasant surprises during your holiday. Be aware that these excursions are highly sought-after as they pass through natural beauty spots. The Bernina Express is by far the most famous and most booked.

If you prefer to wait, you can book your tour once in Milan. This allows you to choose the day with the best weather or the day that best suits your plans (as you know, unforeseen circumstances can always change your plans).

You can do this both online and at tourist agencies in the Lombard capital. However, you know it 's a risk and you might find that your dream tour is sold out.

Whether you choose a guided tour or explore the mountains on your own, there are a few villages that are well worth a visit. The list below lists the most beautiful towns in the Swiss Alps:

• Zermatt, the holiday resort at the foot of the Matterhorn. If you love winter sports, you should consider spending at least one night here. The village has more than 350 km of slopes which are connected to the Italian ski resorts of Breuil-Cervinia and Valtournenche. The village is entirely pedestrianised and its main attraction is Europe's highest viewpoint (3883m) accessible by cable car.
• Davos, a peaceful village of 20,000 inhabitants, is known for the annual summit of the World Economic Forum. It is located in Canton Graubünden and has an extensive network of ski slopes. Other attractions include the Church of St. John (Kirche St. Johann) and the Alpinum Schatzalp Botanical Garden, a nature trail dedicated to the writer Thomas Mann.
• Gstaad, a small alpine gem at an altitude of 3,000 metres. Thanks to its altitude , skiing is also possible during the summer. Alternatively, wealthy guests often opt for hiking, mountain biking, paragliding, golf or kayaking on the Saane river.
• Sankt Moritz, the pearl of the Swiss Alps. It is not only known for its kilometres of ski slopes, but also for the high number of sunny days per year (322 on average!) and luxury spas and thermal baths. In this elegant destination you can practice all kinds of sports, from windsurfing to horseback riding.
• Grindelwald, a splendid town nestled between the Lutschine River and the Eiger and Wetterhorn mountains. Its main attractions are the scenic First Cliff Walk by Tissot, its spas and the red Jungfraujoch train that takes you to the summit of the same name over a drop of 1,400 metres.

Milan is only a short distance from the Swiss border. It takes about an hour to reach the border from the city centre. However, an organised excursion is often the most advisable option for several reasons:

• The first reason is economic in nature. Tours of the Helvetic mountains often include several modes of transport (usually bus, train and boat) which are more expensive if bought individually.
• The second factor is convenience. One could argue that a car is certainly more convenient, but it requires two things: getting up early if you want to rent a car on the day of the tour, or adding a day's rental if you rent a car the night before. In this case you will also have to add the price of a parking space if it is not included in your hotel or rental house.
• The third element is traffic. Although the excursions leave very early - around 6:00 - the roads around Milan are often very busy. It is certainly more pleasant to doze off in the bus than to continually put the clutch pedal up and down.
• The fourth and final factor is the guide. Only on organised tours will you have at your disposal an expert guide who can speak more than one language. Thanks to his or her presence, you will be able to get to know the history of each place you visit in depth.

Of course there are! You don't have to go all the way to Switzerland to get a breath of fresh air and admire the mountains. If you can't find a place on a specific day, you can opt for one of the following options:

• Excursion to Lake Como, Bellagio and Varenna from Milan, a classic that never goes out of fashion. Buses leave Milan in the morning and arrive at the destination in about an hour. The routes usually touch on the most emblematic towns - Bellagio and Varenna - and include a mini-cruise on the lake.
• Day tour to Lake Braies, the emerald oasis of the Dolomites. It is nestled between mountains and forests at almost 1,500 metres above sea level. In spring and summer, you can take a trip on a rowing boat or explore the trails around the lake.

surrounding it. Excursions usually leave early in the morning and arrive at the lake around midday.

• Excursion to Lake Maggiore, Italy's best-kept secret. It is not as well known as Lake Como, yet it has nothing to envy. The jewel in the crown is Stresa, a charming village dotted with noble villas and luxury hotels. Its communal territory is home to three simply marvellous islands: Isola Bella, Isola Madre and Isola dei Pescatori. Most routes take you to this village where you can enjoy a stroll overlooking the waters and the Alps in the distance. Afterwards you will take the ferry to visit the Isola Bella palace and its wonderful terraced gardens.
• Gastronomic tour of the Valtellina, a mountainous region known as "the heart of the Alps". Its landscapes are breathtaking: high peaks, streams and alpine lakes of rare beauty. The excursion will take you to restaurants where you will taste the local food. The speciality of the area is bresaola, a cold meat similar to jerky obtained from the tip of the hip, the thinnest cut of the bovine thigh. You will also taste local cheeses and wines. These tours usually last a maximum of 8 hours.