Day trip from Milan to Lake Como and Bergamo

Yes and yes.

Go to trenitalia.com/en.html. Enter your travel date and rail station. There are multiple possible stations, so you will need to select the one best for your interests.

For self-guided tours of Lake Como, I used the RS Milano and the Lakes book which covered travel from Milan, suggestions about planning your time, self-guided walks in Varenna and Bellagio, and a self-guided ferry tour. I stayed in Varenna, did the walks, took the ferry to Bellagio, but not the longer RS ferry tour. Even in mid-October, I was lucky to get a seat on the train from Milan to Varenna. I understand that in summer, doing a daytrip by train, and getting ferry tickets while you are there may be more difficult due to crowds.

Thanks everyone!

Bergamo is very easy from Milan Centrale by train. I think it was 45 minutes or less. Be sure to go up to the Bergamo Citta Alta portion of the city. I’ve stayed there twice; it has beautiful architecture and the Venetian walls to stroll.

Take a taxi, or take the bus to the ground funicular up to that area.