When heading to this beautiful town on the shore of Lake Garda travellers have a choice between taking:
1: the Regional trains, they're more frequent and generally cheaper (they will be when booking last minute at the station)
However, they're also the slowest option and seats can't be reserved; though modern, smart double-decked trains are now used on most departures.
2: the express trains, which are faster and seats assigned when booking, but the speed comes at a price because they tend to be more expensive.
Fastest of all are the Frecce trains operated by Trenitalia and the rival Italo trains, as they whizz down the high speed line between Milano and Brescia.
When travelling between most cities by train there is only one logical option, though on other journeys there is a choice between different trains or alternative routes. If different options are available you can use the info to decide which is best for you.
1hr 25min (approx)
Daily
15 - 16 x trains per day
This service of Regionale trains is usually comprised of 1 x train per hour, but on Mondays to Fridays there are no departures between 08:25 and 11:25.
On weekends there are no departures between 09:25 and 11:25.
Trenitlalia is the national rail operator in Italy and in addition to its cheaper types of ticket; it also typically offers other discounts available to non-Italians, which include:
When taking a train journey from Milano to Brescia, you can reach your destination twice as fast, by taking the alternative high speed trains.
However, if you'll be booking tickets last minute at the station, you'll save more than €10 by taking these Regionale trains.
And if you will be travelling with a Eurail or InterRail Pass, you can avoid the €10 rail pass reservation fees payable on those journeys by Frecce trains
Final Destination: Verona P.N.
The train service is operated by Trenord and not Trenitalia.
If your seat is on the left of the train, look out for when the train slows down to make the station call at Desenzano.
On a clear day you can see a fantastic view over Lake Garda!
Book early and save: No
Tickets will cost the same price if purchased at the station immediately before departure.
These Regionale trains are always cheaper than the faster Frecciarossa trains, you can save a minimum of €5.
They'll be more than €10 cheaper, if you'll be booking last minute at the station.
This train service is operated by Trenord and not Trenitalia, but InterRail and Eurail Passes CAN be used on Trenord's trains.
Rail Pass Users should take these trains and avoid the rail pass reservation fees on the Frecce trains.
51 mins (approx)
Daily
4 x trains per day
Italiarail lives up to its name by selling tickets for rail journeys within Italy and the core feature of its service is that it is primarily designed to be used by international visitors to Italy.
So the English translations of place names are used when looking up journeys and the terms and conditions for using each type of ticket are clearly explained.
It also clearly points out the additional costs of upgrading to other classes and types of tickets while spelling out the additional benefits of doing so.
Though Italiarail will charge a booking fee, typically of around €3.
The Early Bird service
Italiarail has launched an 'early bird' pre-booking service for journeys by Frecce trains.
Tickets can be booked up to a year ahead of travel at a flat-rate price per route, before the tickets have been released for sale by Trenitalia.
If when they are placed on sale, the price is cheaper than what you have already paid to Italiarail, it will automatically refund the price difference.
Conversely, if the price is more expensive, you won't be charged the price difference.
You can also have the peace of mind of securing your seat(s) on the Frecce train(s) when you are first planning a trip.
If before the tickets are placed on sale, you decide to change your plans, you can request a refund; but once the tickets are released for sale, you will then be bound by the terms and conditions of the ticket(s) you have booked.
Trenitlalia is the national rail operator in Italy and in addition to its cheaper types of ticket; it also typically offers other discounts available to non-Italians, which include:
Omio is an online ticket agency which offers tickets for rail journeys in France, Germany, Great Britain, Italy and Spain.
The three key advantages of using Omio are
The disadvantage of booking with Omio is that it often adds a booking fee to the final price; therefore when it does so without offering a price advantage, SMTJ doesn't tend to offer Omio as a booking option.
Final Destination: Venezia S.L. (or Trieste or Udine)
The express train service between Milano and Desenzano del Grada-Sirmione station is split between these Frecce trains and alternative Italo trains.
If your seat is on the left of the train, look out for when the train slows down to make the station call at Desenzano.
On a clear day you can see a fantastic view over Lake Garda!
Book early and save: Yes
Online bookings usually open: up to 6 months ahead of the travel date; though the booking period will be typically be shorter when looking up journeys for travel after the second Sunday in December.
The faster (AV) train service between and Milano and Desenzano is provided by
(1) these Frecce trains operated by Trenitalia and
(2) alternative Italo trains
Tickets for the Trenitalia Frecce trains are placed up to 6 months in advance, but the Italo train tickets are typically made available around 3 to 4 months ahead.
Trenitalia does not sell tickets for the Italo trains - and Italo does not sell tickets for the Trenitalia trains.
If you're booking no more than 4 months ahead and have no particular preference for the train that you will be taking, the price and departure times of the Frecce and Italo trains can be directly compared on with Trainline or Omio, though look out for the fact that both of these services will charge a booking fee.
Rail Pass Users:
You can avoid the rail pass reservation fees charged on these trains by taking the alternative non high-speed trains.
51 min (Italo)
Daily
Monday to Thursday: = 5 x trains per day
Friday to Sunday: = 4 x trains per day
ShowMeTheJourney earns a small commission on Trainline ticket sales. It can be a particularly good option for: Comparing different train services; Booking international journeys with connections; Travelling between the UK to destinations beyond Amsterdam, Brussels and Paris - and for international travellers who don't reside in western Europe.
Italo trains compete with the Frecce services, provided by the national rail operator, Trenitalia, on the high speed routes which link major cities in Italy.
The Italo booking site only sells tickets for journeys by its trains.
Happy Rail is a Netherlands rail ticket agency which sells tickets for both national and international journeys within a range of countries including Belgium France, Germany, Sweden, Switzerland.
HappyRail doesn't charge booking fees in the conventional sense, but if you're not Dutch you can expect to pay additional transaction fees, which will be added to the total cost.
That's because the most common form of online payment used in The Netherlands is 'iDEAL' and HappyRail doesn't charge a transaction fee for 'iDEAL' payments, but only Dutch residents can sign up to 'iDEAL'.
Other forms of payment include Visa debit cards will incur a fee.
Omio is an online ticket agency which offers tickets for rail journeys in France, Germany, Great Britain, Italy and Spain.
The three key advantages of using Omio are
The disadvantage of booking with Omio is that it often adds a booking fee to the final price; therefore when it does so without offering a price advantage, SMTJ doesn't tend to offer Omio as a booking option.
Final Destination: Venezia S.L. or Udine
If your seat is on the left of the train, look out for when the train slows down to make the station call at Desenzano.
On a clear day you can see a fantastic view over Lake Garda!
Book early and save: Yes
**Online bookings open: around 3 months ahead of the travel date
The express train service between Milano and Desenzano is provided by:
(1) these Italo trains
(2) alternative Frecce trains operated by Trenitalia
Tickets for the Trenitalia Frecce trains are placed on sale around 6 months in advance, but the Italo train tickets are made available around 3 to 4 months ahead.
Trenitalia does not sell tickets for the Italo trains - and Italo does not sell tickets for the Trenitalia trains.
If you're booking no more than 4 months ahead and have no particular preference for the train that you will be taking, the price and departure times of the Frecce and Italo trains can be directly compared on with Trainline or Omio, though look out for the fact that both of these services will charge a booking fee.
Trains departing at different times can be cheaper than others leaving on the same day, so you may need to look through the day's departures to find the cheapest fares.
Eurail and InterRail passes can't be used on Italo trains.
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