The view over Lake Garda on a grey day. In good weather you can see the mountains around the lake.

Milano / Milan / Mailand to Desenzano del Garda by train

How to travel from Milan by train to the closest Lake Garda town

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.

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Routes

Option 1: the slower, cheaper and most frequent trains

Journey Summary

Travel Time
1hr 25min (approx)
Frequency
Daily
Travel Information

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.

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.

Tickets

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.

Where to book
Ticket Provider Approximate Cost
Trenitalia *

Trenitalia Guide

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:

  • Group Offers, provides for a discount of up to 50% when 3-5 Adults travel together.
  • Family Offer for when groups of 2 - 5 people are travelling together and at least one of the party is a aged 11 and under.
  • The Children Free Offer is available for journeys by Frecce trains, when groups of 2 - 5 people are travelling together and at least one of the party is a aged 15 and under.
    Those aged 15 and under travel for free, but the Adults will need to purchase full price 'Base' tickets.

On this journey

Journey Features

Scenic - NoNot High Speed
The view over Lake Garda on a grey day. In good weather you can see the mountains around the lake. The view over Lake Garda on a grey day. In good weather you can see the mountains around the lake.

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!

Option 2: taking the Frecce fast trains

Journey Summary

Travel Time
51 mins (approx)
Frequency
Daily
Travel Information

Final Destination: Venezia S.L. (or Trieste or Udine)

4 x trains per day

Tickets

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.

Where to book
Ticket Provider Approximate Cost
Italia rail from approx €14

Italia rail Guide

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.

Trenitalia from approx €14

Trenitalia Guide

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:

  • Group Offers, provides for a discount of up to 50% when 3-5 Adults travel together.
  • Family Offer for when groups of 2 - 5 people are travelling together and at least one of the party is a aged 11 and under.
  • The Children Free Offer is available for journeys by Frecce trains, when groups of 2 - 5 people are travelling together and at least one of the party is a aged 15 and under.
    Those aged 15 and under travel for free, but the Adults will need to purchase full price 'Base' tickets.
Save A Train from approx €14

Save A Train Guide

Omio from approx €14

Omio Guide

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

  • it offers prices in multiple currencies
  • it usually offers price comparison with other modes of travel including flights and buses
  • when visiting Europe, you can book journeys in multiple countries in one transaction.

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.

On this journey

Journey Features

Scenic - NoHigh Speed (partial journey)

Good to Know

The express train service between Milano and Desenzano del Grada-Sirmione station is split between these Frecce trains and alternative Italo trains.

The view over Lake Garda on a grey day! In good weather you can see the mountains surrounding the lake The view over Lake Garda on a grey day! In good weather you can see the mountains surrounding the lake

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!

Option 2: taking the Italo fast trains

Journey Summary

Travel Time
51 min (Italo)
Frequency
Daily
Travel Information

Final Destination: Venezia S.L. or Udine

Monday to Thursday: = 5 x trains per day
Friday to Sunday: = 4 x trains per day

Tickets

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.

Where to book
Ticket Provider Approximate Cost
Italo from €9 approx

Italo Guide

Trainline from €9 approx

Trainline Guide

Happy rail from €9 approx

Happy rail Guide

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 from €9 approx

Omio Guide

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

  • it offers prices in multiple currencies
  • it usually offers price comparison with other modes of travel including flights and buses
  • when visiting Europe, you can book journeys in multiple countries in one transaction.

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.

On this journey

Journey Features

Scenic - NoHigh Speed (partial journey)

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!

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