The Best 5 Hikes Just One Hour From Milan By Train
Autumn and winter won’t stop us from getting outside. For the weekends where you need a break from city-living and want to be surrounded by nature, thankfully you don’t have to venture far. Our favourite hiking guide, Anna, shares her top 5 trails that are easily accessible from Milan by train.
Written by: Anna Marchesi (professional hiking guide)
Have you noticed how every local living in Milan disappears during the weekend? We love and crave the big city Monday to Friday, but we can’t stand to stay whenever work doesn’t force us to. And where do we go? Historical cities, countryside, lakes, European destinations, seaside, you name it: anywhere with less noise, traffic or pollution.
Since 2020 though lots of citizens have chosen a specific destination: many felt the need to reconnect to the wilderness and nature, and decided to head to the mountains. It makes sense really, because Milan is close both to the Alps and the prealpi and there are literally thousands of magical natural wonders all around. Trust me, I know: I’m a hiking guide and I keep discovering new gems every week!
The problem with the wilderness is that it’s well… wild. So getting there, especially without a car, can be a real challenge. You’ve probably noticed by now that travelling by public transport in the city or outside the city are two very different experiences, and reaching remote areas and valleys by bus is often out of the question, unless you have a whole week to spare.
Luckily, some trails start from hamlets that have a railway station, so I’ve gathered for you a few great destinations that you can reach from Milan by train in just one hour.
All the hikes are pretty easy, anyone used to walking at Milanese speed can tackle them, but please bear in mind that a trail is no concrete sidewalk, and as such there are a few safety issues you need to be aware of.
° make sure you’re fully equipped to spend a few hours in nature
° hiking boots are essential° a backpack with plenty of water and snacks, and a fully charged phone with a GPS app (Komoot, AllTrails, Outdooractive, Wikiloc) are important
° and a spare fleece or sweater are all the bare minimum.
Most of these trails are very popular, so a weekend hike is not exactly a solitary experience. Still, if you decide to go without a guide, tell somebody you trust where you’re headed and when you’re supposed to be back.
So without further ado, let’s discover 5 of the best hikes, from flatter to steeper. Ready to go?
Anna Marchesi Professional Hiking Guide . All photos are from the personal archives. All Rights Reserved
5 Hikes Just 1 Hour From Milan:
Parco di Montevecchia e del Curone
Province: Lecco
Train: S8, direct train, Milano Greco Pirelli > Cernusco-Merate, 30 minutes
Coffee break: Binario Vivo, Cernusco Lombardone
Walking time: 4 hours
Technical details: 300 m elevation gain, 10 km
Destination
This huge park lies at the very heart of Brianza. It’s not a natural park, but a so-called forest and agricultural park, as several villages, cultivated fields and farms lay within its borders. Its soft hills are the first high ground you encounter travelling northward from Milan. The historical village of Montevecchia can be reached by car as well, and many leave the city in warmer seasons to enjoy a legendary sunset from the top of the hills.
Hike
There are dozens of trails within the park, all of them identified by a specific number. My favourite is a loop trail that takes you directly to the higher village of Montevecchia starting from Cernusco Merate station. After a few hundred meters on concrete streets, you start hiking through the woods and the fields of Montevecchia, with a view on the Vergine del Carmelo Sanctuary at the top of the main hill and the vineyards surrounding the slopes. Once you get to Montevecchia, enjoy the marvellous landscape: the plains on the southside, where even Milan’s skyscrapers are visible on clear days and on the northside the first mountains in the area of Como and Lecco: Corni di Canzo, Resegone and Grigne. From here, you can follow the trails to Ca’ Soldato, enjoy the woods and get to Cascina Bagaggera, where you’ll find an adorable shop to fill your backpack with local delicacies.
Tips and tricks
The park is perfect to be explored by bike as well and the café at the station Binario Vivo offers support, a bike rental and guided tours.
Rosemary is a notable local produce of Montevecchia. If you decide to stay in the area for dinner, treat yourself to the famous rosemary risotto.
Experienced hikers
There are no proper peaks in the area, as the hills are not very high. However, a much larger loop trail can be built to enjoy up to 30 km in the park.
Castello dell’Innominato
Province: Lecco
Train: S8, direct train, Milano Porta Garibaldi > Lecco Maggianico, 56 minutes
Coffee break: Boomerang, Vercurago
Walking time: 3 hours
Technical details: 450 m elevation gain, 8,5 km
Destination
The city of Lecco is in itself a jewel on Lake Como and that is probably why Alessandro Manzoni, one of our most famous novelists, chose this area as a setting for his masterpiece I Promessi Sposi, The Betrothed. Manzoni was inspired by the Castello dell’Innominato, a medieval fortification on the top of a rocky peak above Vercurago, to create the fictional castle of one of the most complex characters in the book, the Unnamed. And ever since, the remains of the castle are known as the Castle of the Unnamed.
Hike
For a nice and pleasant hike, you can reach Vercurago from Lecco Maggianico on the lakeside promenade, a proper sidewalk with no ups and downs. Once in Vercurago, the road becomes steeper, as the old paved path will take you very directly to the castle. Once you are done enjoying the view and you have visited the ruins of the castle, the real trail begins. Following the Rotary trail back towards Lecco, you’ll have a chance to experience the silence and peace of the woods and exercise before lunch. A rich and rustic menu will be waiting for you at the Camposecco hut, open on weekends in every season.
Tips and tricks
You can hike the trail in reverse as well. Start with a merenda at the hut and get to the Castle to enjoy the sunset over the lake. Then walk back on the lakeside promenade at night, when all the lights of the city reflect on the lake.
If you decide you need an easy day, you can also get a train back to Lecco from Vercurago railway station.
Experienced hikers
You have two options here: instead of getting to the castle along the lake, you can follow the Rotary Trail from its start in Versasio, a neighbourhood of Lecco, and walk for a few kilometres in the woods up to the castle in Vercurago.
Or, if you are really into big hikes, from Lecco Maggianico you can reach the top of Mount Magnodeno (1.241 m). The trail is quite steep, in fact it’s a vertical kilometre, but the view from the top is amazing.
San Pietro al Monte Abbey
Province: Lecco
Train: RE+S7, 1 change, Milano Centrale > Lecco > Civate, 55 minutes
Coffee break: Crotto del Capraio, Civate
Walking time: 3 hours
Technical details: 400 m elevation gain, 7 km
Destination
The abbey of San Pietro al Monte is a wonderful example of Romanesque architecture on a breathtaking natural terrace over the Brianza lakes. It is composed of three different buildings, the abbey, now uninhabited, a church and an oratory. Every Sunday and most Saturdays, some volunteers offer guided tours inside the church, otherwise closed, where you can see some masterful frescos dating back to the XII century.
Hike
Civate station is located a bit outside the city, but it’s not too long a walk to the beginning of the trail. You just have to walk up a huge overpass and then it’s all narrow streets and alleys. Once you get to via del Rii, the street becomes a pedestrian path, leading you directly to the Abbey in about an hour. Take the same path on the way back.
Tips and tricks
The path can be unbelievably slippery when wet, so be sure not to choose this hike if it’s raining or it has rained overnight.
The Crotto del Capraio is not just a bar but a proper restaurant. I love their rustic menu and I definitely recommend stopping for lunch, but they are often fully booked, so make a reservation a few days in advance.
Experienced hikers
From the Abbey you can hike to several other destinations: Marisa Consigliere hut, Mount Cornizzolo, Mount Corno Birone. The trails are not excessively technical, though often rocky and slippery, and some elevation gains can be challenging. Check out the details on your preferred hiking app.
Agriturismo Terz’Alpe
Province: Como
Train: REG, direct train, Milano Affori > Canzo, 66 minutes
Coffee break: Pasticceria Citterio, Canzo
Walking time: 3 hours 30 minutes
Technical details: 400 m elevation gain, 6 km
Destination
Terz’Alpe is a proper mountain hut: a remote antique farm with stone walls surrounded by the smell of wood fire and with a great view of Mounts Corni di Canzo. Visitors can reach it only on foot, hiking a beautiful trail along a stream, and enjoy silence, nature and their hearty home-cooked food for lunch.
Hike
Once you reach the station, you’ll have to walk through the village of Canzo to get to the trailhead, at the Gajum spring. Here you will find different trails leading to the hut. I recommend walking along the geological path on your way up: a very wide paved path winding through the woods where a series of posters (only in Italian, ouch) explain why this valley, val Ravella, is nothing short of a geological wonder. Halfway through, the path becomes a proper trail and a final staircase will take you to the hut.
You can hike back to Gajum on the same trail or take the Spirito del Bosco trail, an alternate route along evocative wood carved statues and structures dating back to the 1970’s.
Tips and tricks
This hike is very enjoyable in every season: not too cold in winter, as it's at a fairly low altitude, marvellously colorful both in autumn and spring and definitely cool and shady in summer.
Val Ravella can be chilly in the morning as it doesn’t get much direct sunlight; do bring an extra layer regardless of the season.
Experienced hikers
From Terz’Alpe you can hike to several other destinations: Colma di val Ravella, Sasso di Malascarpa, Corni di Canzo or SEV hut. If you are into fossils, I recommend the Sasso di Malascarpa, where you can see fossils of bivalve molluscs of the triassic period. Check out the trails on your preferred hiking app.
Cenghen waterfall
Province: Lecco
Train: RE+REG, 1 change, Milano Centrale > Lecco > Abbadia Lariana, 62 minutes
Coffee break: Bi-Lake, Abbadia Lariana
Walking time: 3 hours 30 minutes
Technical details: 400 m elevation gain, 6 km
Destination
The waterfall is a proper hidden gem set between the south-eastern shores of Lake Como and Mount Grigna, one of the highest peaks in the area with an elevation of 2400 m. The stream that creates the waterfall, Zerbo creek, flows directly from the belly of the mountain, that’s what makes its water so crystal clear and cold. The flow rate of the waterfall varies in different seasons, but its 50-metre drop never fails to awe visitors.
Hike
Follow the signs for the Sentiero del Viandante and after about 20 minutes of walking turn right, following the signs to the waterfall. The hike should take about one hour but while the trail itself is rather short in terms of distance, some parts are pretty steep and will test your fitness, especially in the first half. You won’t see or hear the waterfall until it’s right in front of you, which makes its discovery even more wow. Take the same trail back to the station.
Experienced hikers
If you plan a whole day of hiking, the waterfall can be reached as a detour from the Sentiero del Viandante, the outstanding trail running along the eastern coast of Lake Como from Lecco to Colico. This leg of the Viandante, from Abbadia Lariana to Lierna, is about 12 km long but the elevation gain is minimal (about 350 m) so adding a visit to the waterfall is definitely doable. The whole sentiero del Viandante is accessible by train… but that’s a topic for another different article!
If you need any further information about trails, destinations and mountains in the area of Lecco, check out my profile: I am a professional hiking guide and I’d be happy to help you, your friends, family or coworkers discover the beauties of the natural side of Lombardy.
We also have an upcoming guided hike with Anna on November 15th a beautiful day outdoors together, just outside Milan.
Proofread & Edited By: Ché Maria Milani
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