Day Trips to Switzerland out of Milan

Lugano is a great day trip. We actually left from Bellagio, but the train from Milan Central Station to Varena takes less than a half hour. We crossed Lake Como by ferry to Menaggio. From the pier in Menaggio, we walked in to town to the bus stop, where the bus goes directly to Lugano. Once in Lugano, we started our day by taking the little tourist train with a stop not far from the bus stop and the lake, around the small city to get our bearings. The train stops at the funicular rides that go up the hills for great views, then you can get back on the train and continue your tour. We stopped in the town square and had lunch at a cute sandwich/ pastry shop. At the end of the day we took the bus back to Menaggio, then over to Bellagio. You would need to check train schedules back to the Milan Central Station from Varenna.

"but the train from Milan Central Station to Varena takes less than a half hour."

Actually the trip from Milano Centrale to Varenna-Esino takes a minimum of 1H:03M (unless they've added a jet engine to the train, which I highly doubt).

Lugano is a fairly easy day trip by train also. You'd have to take the train back to Milan (1H:03M) and then connect to the train to Lugano (aobut 1H). When you arrive in Lugano, the station is up the hill from town, but there's a Funicular that goes down the hill (or you could walk). If you want to visit Mt. San Salvatore, it's an easy walk to Paradiso, which is next to Lugano and you'll see the Funicular when you get there. There's a small café at the top if you want some lunch or a coffee. There's an old Church above that, and the view from the roof provides spectacular views.

Ken may have lost track of your statement that you're starting from Milan. The direct Milan-Lugano trains take 1h:07 altogether, passing Como town at the end of that lake (but not the mid-lake towns and run every two hours.

Laura,

Thanks for catching that. The first part of my reply was responding to the travel time from Milan to Varenna, according to the quotation from the first reply. I got sidetracked on the second part. In any case, the OP now has the required information.

We took the Wilhem Tel trip ftrom Lucerne to Lugano. We stayed in Lugano for a few nights and did day trips to Milan, Lake Como and Lake Maggiore. When we got off the train in Lugano, we immediately took the extremely short funicular to the bottom. We exited and stayed at the Htel Dante Center. We really enjoyed our stay at that hotel. Lugano is very small, but fun to walk around. Then we left Lugano and ended in Zurich by enjoying the Bernina Express through the Alps.