Franciacorta & Lago d'Iseo: Your Guide To Top Day Trips & Experiences From Milan
Go for the beverage that put Franciacorta on the map – or not. Whether you’re a wine expert or a complete teetotaler, this region has much to offer beyond the cellars. From tastings, to cycling and horseback riding, to wandering quiet villages or planning luxurious overnights, we couldn’t think of a better place to enjoy the last days of summer, and to welcome the crisp autumn weekends ahead.
Written by: Ché Maria Milani
If you’re looking for a novel way to enjoy the outdoors before winter’s arrival, then exploring the region of Franciacorta needs to be on your radar.
Surprisingly enough, day trips to this region aren’t always the first thing that comes to mind as Franciacorta competes with the hype of postcard-perfect Lake Como etc. But with the upcoming Festival Franciacorta in Cantina (18-20 September 2026), now is the perfect time for us to share our personally recommended highlights of this region.
Just an hour from Milan (up to 1.5 hours depending on your final destination), or 50 minutes - 2 hours by train (again, depending on your final destination), Franciacorta gives you Italy's answer to Champagne, a lake most people don’t think of, and plenty of opportunities to discover its history, nature, and culture.
Let’s start with what this region is most renowned for…
3 Top Wine Tasting Experiences in Franciacorta
Ca' del Bosco is the one to see, wine expert or not. What impressed us the most was the space’s dedication to contemporary art. Upon arrival, the first hint of this is the Cancello Solare, a monumental golden orb of a gate by Italian artist Arnaldo Pomodoro. The estate is home to works by other well-known sculptors such as Igor Mitoraj (you’ve surely already seen a couple of works in Milan and around Italy, even if you didn’t realise it!) and Mimmo Paladino.
When you get round to the wine side of things, there are 3 tastings to choose from (one of which includes a tour of the estate’s artworks) – as well as a fourth exclusive to the upcoming Festival. Through these tastings, discover Ca’ del Bosco’s unique approach to production – the "grape spa" that washes and dries the fruit, and a patented oxygen-free bottling process built to cut down on sulphites.
Personally recommended by the MWN Team.
Berlucchi is where it all began. And when we say ‘all’, that’s exactly what we mean. In the 1960’s, landowner Count Guido Berlucchi and his winemaker, Franco Ziliani, started to experiment with the idea of creating an Italian equivalent to French Champagne. And thus, the sparkling wine that put Franciacorta on the map was born.
For that sense of history, a visit to this estate is a great way to combine a wine-tasting experience with a visit to the noble Palazzo Lana (and a bit of wine shopping too).
If a fully certified organic winery is always top of your list, then you can add Barone Pizzini. They’ve been farming this way since 1997, in a cellar built on green-architecture principles. In addition to visiting during the Festival, their sound art project Polifonie is of particular interest, with artistically conceptualised ‘objects’ dotted around the cellar and estate that function as ‘sound devices’.
2 Beautiful Spots to Visit in Franciacorta
Going beyond the wine, Franciacorta has so much more to offer. These two stops are perfect add-ons to a day among the vineyards.
If your eyes are craving striking frescoes and your mind a sense of peace, then Monastero di San Pietro in Lamosa is worth a visit. It sits on a ridge with a view stretching over the wetlands below, and out to Lago d’Iseo.
These wetlands, that form part of the Torbiere del Sebino natural reserve, stretch out down below. An expansive 360-hectare area, it offers a genuinely different experience of this famed region. The walking loop starts from the monastery itself, and guides you along boardwalks, past birdwatching towers, and through a green space with over 400 plant species.
3 Quaint Hilltop Towns in Franciacorta
Erbusco, Bornato, and Provaglio d'Iseo are the three worth wandering without a fixed itinerary. Narrow streets and views over the vines from wherever the road happens to climb will show a more understated side to Franciacorta. None of these towns need more than an hour, which makes them the perfect pause between wineries or meals.
Here are the special highlights of each mini-stop, should you wish to explore more:
Erbusco: look for the old Romanesque Pieve di Santa Maria Maggiore for beautiful 15th-century frescoes, tucked into the medieval heart of the village.
Bornato: find the castle, where a Renaissance villa is unexpectedly hidden inside its medieval walls.
Provaglio d'Iseo: wander up to San Pietro in Lamosa, where a thousand-year-old monastery looks out over the lush vegetation and water of the Torbiere. Can you spot the 18th-century pilgrim graffiti?
4 Stops Along Lago d’Iseo Worth Seeing
If nothing so far as grabbed your attention, then consider the shores of the lake itself.
Lovere has the best historic centre on this side of Iseo with its own promenade, the Basilica di Santa Maria in Valvendra, and the Accademia Tadini with its 19th-century art collection. Costa Volpino is less polished and more ‘local’ – a worthwhile addition if you’re stopping in Lovere as they’re close to each other.
Riva di Solto is another great option for a lakeside walk, as well as the nearby Orrido del Bogn, claimed to be almost reminiscent of Thailand with crystal clear water and dramatic cliffs.
Explore Franciacorta By Bike And On Horseback
Franciacorta is not only for wine-enthusiasts, but also for those who love a day of fresh air. Cycle the vineyard paths, or join a horseback outing in the hills.
Scuderia Crazy Horse in Erbusco has been family-run since 1980. Rides start from the stable itself, and meander for an hour through vines and hills. This experience is for everyone, from total beginners to experienced riders. And starting in May until October they host moonlight rides, with a stop for bruschette along the way.
Personally recommended by the MWN Team.
From Iseo: hire a bike / e-bike and set off on the 30 km Franciacorta Satèn route, an easy circular itinerary that starts and finishes right here. The route takes around 2.5 hours and has just 210 metres of elevation gain, with a mixture of paved and gravel roads. It begins along the lake and the Torbiere del Sebino wetlands before heading through the lakeside village of Clusane, then into the vineyards around Colombaro, Nigoline and Adro, and looping back towards Iseo.
Easily rent bikes in Iseo from Iseo Rent Bike. For all rates, check out their website. They also provide helmets, locks and puncture-repair kits, and their site has downloadable cycling routes via Komoot.
But if you have your own bicycle, you have another option available to you starting from the train station of Bornato-Calino (from Milan). Travel towards Rovato, then connect with the R9 service towards Iseo and get off at Bornato-Calino. The station is directly on the Franciacorta cycling network, making it a surprisingly convenient starting point for exploring the vineyards without a car.
The official Franciacorta route is a 30 km circular “Small Ring”, taking around 2 hours 10 minutes, with 300 metres of elevation gain and has approximately 20% unpaved roads. It winds through the rolling vineyard-covered hills, with views of Lake Iseo.
Please note: you can take a non-folding bicycle on Trenord trains, but not on every service. When planning the journey, check the individual train in the Trenord timetable or app for the bicycle symbol. Bicycle transport is currently free on Trenord journeys within Lombardy. (The conductor can restrict bicycles if the train is crowded, so it's worth avoiding peak commuter times where possible). If you're travelling as a group of three or more with bikes, Trenord asks you to notify them at least five working days in advance. Further rules and regulations are here.
The Absolute Gem of Lago d’Iseo
Ticking just a couple of the above activities will get you up close and personal with a region rich in history, culture and nature. But for us, the cherry on the cake is undoubtedly a day spent on the lake itself, exploring Monte Isola.
Classified as the largest lake island in Europe, it’s blissfully car-free and easily reached by a short ferry ride. Once alighted, walk from Peschiera Maraglio toward Sensole along the water, or climb up to the Santuario della Madonna della Ceriola for a view over the whole lake.
But if the first thought that came to mind when you read ‘car-free’ was to bring your own bike over…renting one on the island is simpler, as outside bikes are restricted on weekends and holidays from March through September, and every day in August.
For lunch, Trattoria al Campel in Peschiera Maraglio does lake fish and island salami with a view of the water that makes the wait for a table totally worth it.
Personally recommended by the MWN Team.
Where To Eat In Franciacorta
Due Colombe, in Borgonato di Corte Franca, is our Michelin-starred pick characterised by recipes passed down from one generation to the next. And what would a restaurant in this region be without an extensive wine list running past 900 labels?
Dispensa, in Torbiato, is the casual yet still sleek counterpart. Expect a cosy atmosphere with wine bottles from floor to ceiling, a menu built entirely around the territory’s produce, and thankfully none of the three-week booking window Due Colombe demands.
Where To Spend A Night Or Two In Franciacorta
If the Festival gives you an excuse to linger, or you simply found the wealth of activities and beauty of this region too hard to resist, why not consider staying over?
L'Albereta in Erbusco is a firm favourite. It's a Relais & Châteaux property set directly in the hills of the Bellavista wine estate with views of Lake Iseo. You can arrange cellar visits around taking advantage of the spa, pool and garden. If you’re looking to plan a romantic autumn getaway, then this is it.
Personally recommended by the MWN Team.
Alternatively, Villa Biondelli offers a completely different atmosphere. The winery is beautiful, but what will surely make an impression on you is the charm of the 17th-century, 11-roomed villa itself. With such elegance, and beautiful surroundings, time seems to stop there.
Personally recommended by the MWN Team.
Katia Kokoreva MWN Founder at L'Albereta Relais & Châteaux , March 2026
Franciacorta may be best known for what’s in its cellars, but as we’ve discovered, there’s plenty more to keep you busy over and above the many wine tastings on offer.
With just a little bit of curiosity, it’s a region that never disappoints no matter the focus, whether it’s elegant weekends away, fine food, exploring landscapes and breathing fresh air, or discovering the little details that add charm to unassuming villages.
It’s a part of Italy that makes for a compelling escape from Milan – that perfect ‘somewhere’ to squeeze the most out of these last warm days.
We at Milan Women Network can’t wait to explore more of Franciacorta as we take our Core members on a specially organised experience (in collaboration with Consorzio Franciacorta). This is one of many events hosted for our ladies who make our MWN community a place of friendship, connection, and a way to make Milan feel like home.
To experience our community for yourself, join us at one of our upcoming events.
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