From Milano Centrale station, you can catch a train on the National Railway system, Trenitalia, to Lake Como (35 minutes), Lecco (40 minutes), Stresa (55 minutes), Desenzano del Garda-Sirmione (about an hour), and Varese (65 minutes). Trains run about every 30 minutes from early morning until the evening.

Reaching the Italian Lakes (Como, Garda, and Maggiore) from Milan in 2026 is most efficiently done by regional rail (Trenord) or high-speed trains. For Lake Como, trains depart frequently from Milan Centrale or Cadorna stations, arriving in Como city or Varenna in 40 to 60 minutes for under €10. Lake Garda is best accessed via the high-speed Frecciarossa line to Desenzano or Peschiera del Garda, a journey of roughly 50 to 90 minutes. For Lake Maggiore, the train to Stresa takes about an hour from Milan Centrale. Once at the lake-side stations, you typically transfer to a public ferry (Navigazione Laghi) to reach specific towns like Bellagio or Sirmione. In 2026, the new "Lakes Express" shuttle bus service also runs directly from Malpensa Airport (MXP) to major lake hubs, which is a popular choice for tourists wanting to bypass the city center. Contactless "Tap & Go" is now universal on these trains and buses, making physical tickets largely unnecessary for the savvy traveler.