Day Trips to the Swiss Alps from Milan

An extended stay in the city of the Duomo will give you the opportunity to explore its surroundings. There is a lot to see and do in Milan but the region is not short on things to do.

You'll find large lakes, art cities, parks, aristocratic residences and vineyards as far as the eye can see. The border with Switzerland lies a few kilometers further north, a factor that makes 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 visit to St. Moritz

Explore the Swiss Alps with this full-day excursion aboard the Bernina Express train. You will cross this spectacular mountain range to reach the St Moritz resort.

From $160 at Hellotickets

Be amazed by this journey to over 2000 meters above sea level in 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 different villages declared World Heritage Sites by UNESCO, along a winding road with breathtaking views. The tour lasts approximately 13 hours and includes a second-class ticket on the Bernina Express, the region's most famous tourist train, as well as a round-trip transfer to Milan. Once you arrive in St. Moritz, you can explore it at your own pace, 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 worrying 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 will cross this spectacular mountain range to reach the St Moritz resort.

From $186 at Hellotickets

You will travel from Milan round trip 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, from where you can 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, do not hesitate to decide to live the experience.

Recommended if... you want to visit the Swiss Alps in a different way, since you will not only go by train but you can enjoy them from another perspective, in 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 kilometers 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 railroad 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 ride, 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.

The guide will explain the history of these valleys and the lush alpine nature. The tour concludes in Bern but you will get off first.

You will leave the train in Spiez, a picturesque seaside village known for its castle and Romanesque church. It is on the shores of Lake Thun, a mirror of crystalline waters where the mountains are reflected. 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 €.

Generally speaking, excursions to the Swiss Alps last 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.

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

The most advisable option is to book your Swiss Alps tour in advance online. This way you will secure a seat on the bus/train and avoid unpleasant surprises during your vacation. Keep in mind that these excursions are highly coveted as they pass through natural beauty spots. The Bernina Express is undoubtedly the most famous and most booked.

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

You can do it both online and in the tourist agencies of 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 towns that are worth a visit. The list below enumerates the most beautiful towns in the Swiss Alps:

• Zermatt, the vacation spot at the foot of the Matterhorn. If you love winter sports, you should consider spending at least one night here. The town has more than 350 km of slopes that are connected to the Italian ski resorts of Breuil-Cervinia and Valtournenche. The village is completely pedestrianized and its main attraction is the highest viewpoint in Europe (3883 meters) accessible by cable car.
• Davos, a peaceful village of 20,000 inhabitants known for the annual summit of the World Economic Forum. It is located in Canton Graubünden and has an extensive network of ski slopes. Among its other attractions we can mention the Church of St. John (Kirche St. Johann) and the Botanical Garden Alpinum Schatzalp, a nature trail dedicated to the writer Thomas Mann.
• Gstaad, a small alpine jewel at an altitude of 3,000 meters. 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 kilometers of ski slopes but also for the high annual number of sunny days (on average 322!) 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 locality located between the Lutschine River and the Eiger and Wetterhorn mountains. Its main attractions are the scenic First Cliff Walk by Tissot, its SPA and the red Jungfraujoch train that reaches the homonymous summit overcoming a drop of about 1,400 meters.

Milan is located a short distance from the Swiss border. To reach the border from the center takes about an hour. However, an organized 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 transportation (usually bus, train and boat) which are more expensive if purchased individually.
• The second factor is convenience. One could argue that a car is certainly more comfortable but it requires two things: getting up early in case you want to rent it the same day of the tour or adding a day's rental in case you rent it 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 - at 6:00 or so - the roads around Milan are usually 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 organized tours will you have at your disposal an expert guide able to speak more than one language. Thanks to his presence you will be able to know in depth the history of each place visited.

Of course there are! To breathe cleaner air and admire the mountains, you don't have to go all the way to Switzerland. 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 the most emblematic towns - Bellagio and Varenna - and include a route on 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 meters above sea level. In spring and summer, you can cruise its waters in a rowing boat or explore the trails that surround it.

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

• Excursion to Lake Maggiore, Italy's best kept secret. It is not as well known as Lake Como and yet it has nothing to envy. The jewel in the crown is Stresa, a charming village dotted with noble villas and luxury hotels. In its communal territory are three simply wonderful islands: Isola Bella, Isola Madre and Isola dei Pescatori. Most of the routes take you to this village where you can enjoy a stroll overlooking the waters and the Alps in the distance. Then 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 specialty 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 at most 8 hours.