Day Trips to the Swiss Alps from Milan

A long 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 its region is not far behind.

You will find large lakes, cities of art, parks, aristocratic residences, and vineyards as far as the eye can see. The Swiss border is just a few kilometers to the north, making day trips to the Swiss Alps possible.

The most direct option

Dubai Aquaventure Waterpark Tickets with Dolphin Encounter

A train journey through the Alps and a 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 until you reach the St. Moritz resort.

From $239 at Hellotickets

Marvel at this journey through the Swiss Alps at an altitude of over 2,000 meters. Accompanied by 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 excursion lasts approximately 13 hours and includes a second-class ticket on the Bernina Express, the region's most famous tourist train, as well as round-trip transportation to Milan. Once you arrive in St. Moritz, you can explore 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 comprehensive 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 until you reach the St. Moritz resort.

From $131 at Hellotickets

You will travel from Milan to Interlaken and back with everything included. You will enjoy a tour of different villages and admire the wonderful views offered by the Swiss Alps. Then you will have the opportunity to sail across Lake Thun to Spiez and see the alpine villages from the water, where you can take unique photos. In Spiez, you will have free time to relax and explore the sights at your leisure.

Accompanied by an expert guide, this 13-hour tour will take you through one of the most famous regions in Europe. Don't hesitate to choose this experience.

Recommended if... you want to explore the Swiss Alps in a different way, as you will not only travel by train but also enjoy them from a different perspective on an unforgettable boat trip.

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

The highlight of this tour is the Bernina Express, a panoramic train that connects the Italian town of Tirano with Chur, Switzerland's oldest city.

Before arriving, the railway crosses bridges, cliffs, and an iconic spiral viaduct. As you relax in your seat , you will see green forests, streams, and peaks covered by perennial glaciers.

You will usually have enough time to explore the alpine village. After the tour, a bus will take you back to Milan.

• Means of transportation: bus and train
• Duration: approximately 13 hours
• Price: between €130 and €150

These excursions 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 excursions, 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 journey ends in Bern, but you will get off earlier.

You will leave the train in Spiez, a picturesque coastal village known for its castle and Romanesque church. It is located on the shores of Lake Thun, a mirror of crystal clear 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: around 13 hours
• Price: between €130 and €150

In general, excursions to the Swiss Alps last a whole day. Although Switzerland is not far 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 a.m.—and return to the city of the Duomo around 8:00 p.m.

The best option is to book your excursion to the Swiss Alps online in advance. This way, you can secure a seat on the bus/train and avoid any unpleasant surprises during your vacation. Keep in mind that these excursions are very popular as they pass through areas of great natural beauty. The Bernina Express is undoubtedly the most famous and most booked.

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

You can do this either online or at tourist agencies in the Lombard capital. However, you know that this is a risk and you may find that the tour of your dreams is sold out.

Whether you choose a guided tour or explore the mountains on your own, there are some villages that are well worth a visit. The list below lists the most beautiful villages 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 connect 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 (3,883 meters), accessible by cable car.
• Davos, a peaceful village of 20,000 inhabitants known for the annual World Economic Forum summit. It is located in the canton of 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 meters. Thanks to its altitude, you can also ski here during the summer. As an alternative, wealthy guests often opt for hiking, mountain biking, paragliding, golf, or kayaking down the Saane River
• Sankt Moritz, the pearl of the Swiss Alps. It is not only known for its miles of ski slopes but also for its high number of sunny days per year (322 on average!) and its luxury thermal baths and spas. In this elegant destination, you can practice all kinds of sports, from windsurfing to horse riding
• Grindelwald, a splendid town located between the Lutschine River and the Eiger and Wetterhorn mountains. Its main attractions are the First Cliff Walk by Tissot, its spas, and the red Jungfraujoch train that reaches the summit of the same name, climbing a height difference of about 1,400 meters.

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

• The first reason is financial. Tours of the Swiss mountains usually include several modes of transport (usually bus, train, and boat), which are more expensive if purchased individually.
• The second factor is convenience. It could be argued that a car is certainly more comfortable, but it requires two things: getting up early if you want to rent it on the day of the excursion, or adding an extra day's rental if you do 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 accommodation.
• The third factor is traffic. Although the excursions leave very early—around 6:00 a.m.—the roads around Milan are usually very busy. It is certainly more pleasant to doze off on the bus than to constantly press the clutch pedal.
• The fourth and final factor is the guide. Only on organized excursions will you have an expert guide at your disposal who can speak more than one language. Thanks to their presence, you will be able to learn in depth about the history of each place you visit.

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

• Excursion to Lake Como, Bellagio, and Varenna from Milan, a classic that never goes out of style. Buses leave Milan in the morning and arrive at their destination in about an hour. The routes usually visit the most emblematic towns—Bellagio and Varenna— and include a mini-cruise on the lake.
• Day trip 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 row across its waters or explore the trails that surround it.

surround 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, but it has nothing to envy it. The jewel in the crown is Stresa, a charming village dotted with noble villas and luxury hotels. Within its municipal boundaries are three simply wonderful islands: Isola Bella, Isola Madre, and Isola dei Pescatori. Most routes take you to this village where you can enjoy a stroll with views of the water and the Alps in the distance. Then you'll take the ferry to visit the palace on Isola Bella and its wonderful terraced gardens.
• Gastronomic route through 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 can sample the local cuisine. The specialty of the area is bresaola, a cured meat similar to jerky made from the tip of the hip, the finest cut of beef thigh. You will also taste local cheeses and wines. These tours usually last a maximum of 8 hours.