You’re in Venice and want to explore the region? Here are our 15 recommended day trips from Venice!
When you visit the Serenissima, you love to lose yourself in its narrow streets, discover its centuries-old treasures and enjoy the spectacle of the gondolas on the city’s canals. For most travelers, that’s enough. However, if you’d like to explore the surrounding area, there are plenty of day trips to be made from Venice. Very interesting escapades, not to be missed!
Some are in Venice itself, on islands or lagoons that are not very touristy. Interested? Then take a look at the 15 day trips from Venice we’ve selected for you!
1. The islands of Venice: Torcello, Burano and Murano
Photo credit: Shutterstock – Olga Gavrilova
📍 Venice itself
🛥️ By boat: The best place to start is Torcello, the furthest away, 1h30 from the main station. Take river line 5.2 to F.te Nove, then line 12 to Burano and finally line 9 to Torcello. Then take the reverse route, stopping off at Murano on line 12.
📷 What to see / What to do: Byzantine church and museum in Torcello, colorful houses and stroll in Burano, numerous churches, lighthouse and glassworks in Murano.
You can’t visit the Serenissima without discovering its islands! So it’s important to be able to devote a day trip to them from Venice. Three of them are of particular interest to us: Torcello, Burano and Murano.
Torcello is the furthest away. Little known, it boasts Byzantine architectural treasures that are unique in the region.
Right next door, Burano is famous for its colorful houses, which can be explored on foot or from the terrace of a café. Finally, Murano, just off the main island, is world-famous for its glass art. A museum is dedicated to this art. There’s also a lighthouse dating from 1934.
2. Venice Lido
Photo credit: Shutterstock – Jaro68
📍 Venice itself
🛥️ By boat: take river lines 5.1 and 5.2 from Central Station to Lido SME.
📷Sightseeing and activities: villas and promenade, the beach
Here’s a real day trip from Venice without leaving the city! The Lido forms an astonishing 11-kilometre-long line. Here you’ll discover beautiful villas and hotels.
The Lido is certainly the ideal place to relax on sunny days, since it’s quite simply the beach of Venice!
3. Padua
Photo credit: Shutterstock – Catarina Belova
📍 47 kilometers
🚗 By car (from the mainland district of Porto Marghera): 45 minutes
🚆 By train: regular trains from Venezia Santa Lucia in 28 minutes
📷Sightseeing: Prato della Valle, Scrovegni Chapel, Basilica of St. Anthony, old town, Eremitani museums
This is another classic day trip from Venice. Padua is a magnificent immersion in the Italian art of living. The architecture is sublime and, on fine days, the sunlight illuminates buildings, squares and terraces.
The main attraction is the Prato della Valle, where statues and bridges span the canal. The 14th-century Basilica of St. Anthony is also worth a visit. A stroll through the narrow streets of the old town reveals a number of treasures here and there.
4. Treviso
Photo credit: Shutterstock – Velishchuk Yevhen
📍 40 kilometers
🚗 By car: 40 minutes
🚆 By train: reachable by regional train from Venezia Santa Lucia in 50 minutes
📷Sightseeing/activities: Piazza dei Signori and old town, ramparts, Fontana delle Tette, canal walk
Treviso is a pleasant excursion from Venice. The city is one of the few with well-preserved ramparts, which can be admired from many points. The old town and its canal are reminiscent of Venice!
On sunny days, Treviso is a pleasant place to relax on one of the many terraces. Last but not least, the most astonishing work is the Fontana delle Tette. As its name suggests, the fountain’s water flows from the statue’s breasts!
5. Lake Garda
Photo credit: Shutterstock – Minnikova Mariia
📍 153 kilometers
🚗 By car: 1h40
📷Sightseeing / activities: lakeside villages, Catullus Cave, Gardaland, Scaligero Castle, Garda Island, swimming and water sports
A traditional excursion from Venice, Lake Garda offers a wide range of activities. Near Sirmione, to the south of the lake, you can visit an ancient Roman town, now known as Catullus’ Grotto, and Scaligero Castle. Further north, you can visit the island of Garda or enjoy a summer swim.
There are also a number of theme parks, the best known of which is Gardaland. Lake Garda is all about fabulous scenery, a blend of water and nearby peaks, and unique colors.
6. Prosecco Tour
Photo credit: Shutterstock – StevanZZ
🚗 By car: all places to visit are about 1 hour from Venice
📷 Things to see/do: visit the wineries, Prosecco tasting. Agencies organize the tour, but it’s possible to do it on your own
You may not have known it, but Veneto is the home of Prosecco! So why not take a day trip from Venice?
Great idea, but where exactly to go? The Prosecco name isn’t as protected as its famous French cousin, Champagne, so you need to know where to go.
Near Trieste, if there’s a town called Prosecco, you’ll only go there if you have time, because it’s not the best. Instead, head for Treviso, around Conegliano and Valdobiaddene. Lots of vineyards, beautiful scenery: if you like Prosecco, then go for it… but in moderation!
7. Euganean Mountains and Montegrotto
Photo credit: Shutterstock – Marcoss
📍 59 kilometers
🚗 By car: 45 minutes
🚆 By train: from Venezia Santa Lucia to Terme Euganee – Abano – Montegrotto (the Euganean Mountains are 15km from Montenegrotto Terme)
📷 Things to see/do: mountains, thermal baths, Roman ruins, hiking
Montenegrotto Terme is, as its name suggests, a spa town. Here you can discover the ruins of a huge Roman complex. Today, we go there to relax for a day in the modern complex and enjoy the hot springs.
This excursion from Venice continues to the Euganean Mountains. Hills of volcanic origin, they offer the perfect terrain for beautiful hikes. The views are superb.
8. Trieste
Photo credit: Shutterstock – Mario Savoia
📍 159 kilometers
🚗 By car: 1h40
🚆 By train: 2 hours by train from Venezia Santa Lucia
📷Sightseeing: Piazza Unità d’Italia, Molo Audace, Roman ruins, local atmosphere
Here’s an original day trip from Venice! Close to Slovenia, often torn between several countries, Trieste benefits from this mix of cultures. The city boasts beautiful Roman ruins, as well as typical Italian landmarks such as the Piazza Unità d’Italia.
The Molo Audace is a popular seaside walk for locals and holidaymakers alike. Finally, as a little-visited town, its inhabitants are very welcoming to tourists, which is not always the case in Italy!
9. Dolomites National Park
Photo credit: Shutterstock – Tanja_G
📍 107 kilometers (Belluno)
🚗 By car: 1h10
📷 Things to see/do: hiking, skiing, biking, landscapes
The Dolomites National Park is for those in need of nature. Summer or winter, this excursion from Venice is an ideal playground for a breath of fresh air.
In summer, there are many hiking trails to choose from, and the rewards are magnificent landscapes. In winter, if the hikes are more challenging, you can strap on your skis and take to the slopes!
10. Verona
Photo credit: Shutterstock – Kanuman
📍 112 kilometers
🚗 By car: 1h05
📷Sightseeing / activities: Juliet’s house, amphitheatre and Piazza Bra, old town, Castelvecchio Bridge, Piazza Delle Erbe
Ah Verona! Was the city made famous by Shakespeare? To some, Verona is a day trip from Venice just to see Juliet’s house and balcony. While it’s nice to find your soulmate on the walls of the house, there’s so much more to see!
Verona is a little gem of an old-fashioned city, full of hidden treasures. Piazza Bra and its superb amphitheatre dominate the city. Other squares, such as Piazza Delle Erbe, are also worth a visit, as are numerous bridges, culminating in Castelvecchio.
11. Bolzano
Bolzano, capital of the province – Photo credit: Shutterstock – saiko3p
📍 220 kilometers
🚗 By car: 2h20
📷Sightseeing / Attractions: South Tyrol Archaeological Museum, cathedral and old town, Roncolo Castle, Colle cable car
Fancy a few hours in the mountains? Bolzano is an ideal excursion from Venice. Like Bergamo, Bolzano boasts a pleasant town center and a number of famous monuments. Among them, the Roncolo castle.
Bolzano’s main attraction, however, is its Colle cableway, which takes you up to the heights. The peaks are regularly covered in snow in winter, offering breathtaking views over the city.
12. Bologna
Photo credit: Shutterstock – cge2010
📍 155 kilometers
🚗 By car: 1h40
🚆 By train: 1h30 from Venezia Santa Lucia
📷Sightseeing: Piazza Maggiore, Due Torri, old town, charcuterie tasting, university, Madonna di San Luca sanctuary
A city too often overlooked, Bologna is a must-see day trip from Venice. Symbolized by the Piazza Maggiore, the old town is one of the most beautiful in Italy. It boasts a rich history, including the oldest university in the world.
The great advantage of Bologna is that all the main attractions are within easy reach. So everything can be done on foot. Of course, charcuterie lovers will be delighted, as Bologna is the birthplace of mortadella!
Finally, sports enthusiasts can combine their visit in two. Bologna is also famous for its arcades. From the city center, walk beneath them towards the exit. At the end? Monte Guardia, dominated by the splendid Sanctuary of Madonna di San Luca! As well as visiting a magnificent place of worship and passing under the arcades, you’ll discover a majestic panorama of the city of Bologna.
Ah, and a little detail that adds a touch of cachet to this final stage: to get up to the sanctuary, you’ll have to pass under… 666 arches.
13. Ferrara (Ferrara)
Photo credit: Shutterstock – Catarina Belova
📍 112 kilometers
🚗 By car: 1h10
🚆 By train: 1h30 from Venezia Santa Lucia
📷Sightseeing: Este Castle and old town, Etruscan Archaeological Museum
This excursion from Venice has a special feature all of its own. The town of Ferrara more or less belonged to one family, the d’Este. Almost all of the town’s remarkable buildings are the legacy of this great local family.
The most famous of these is the Castello d’Este, which stands in the middle of the old town like a trophy, given its remarkable state of preservation. Ferrara is also a cultural city, with a comprehensive archaeological museum. Last but not least, the narrow streets of the old town are very pleasant, and there are some excellent restaurants to be discovered!
14. Vicenza (Vicenza)
Photo credit: Shutterstock – Aliaksandr Antanovich
📍 75 kilometers
🚗 By car: 1h05
🚆 By train: 45 minutes from Venezia Santa Lucia
📷Sightseeing / Activities: Piazza dei Seignori, Basilica Palladiana, villas, old town and shopping streets, Olympic theater
Officially known as Vicenza in French, Vicenza is the forgotten city of the Veneto region. It’s worth noting that the city is surrounded by far more famous attractions, and few make it a day trip from Venice.
Yet the city has many points of interest. The most famous are the main square and its Basilica Palladiana. A Unesco World Heritage Site, it is a superb example of Venetian Renaissance villas. The old town is easy to visit, with many local stores and cafés to relax in a less crowded city.
15. Bergamo
Photo credit: Shutterstock / leoks
📍 225 kilometers
🚗 By car: 2h10
📷 Things to see/do: Città Alta, Piazza Vecchia, Chapelle Colleoni, Orto Botanico
A day trip from Venice for travelers with time on their hands, Bergamo is nevertheless an excellent choice. A little-known town close to Lakes Como and Garda, Bergamo is often overlooked by tourists.
Yet the town boasts one of the best-preserved Venetian fortifications in the region. Its old town bears witness to a rich past and a city of passage. A must-see at any of the cafés on Piazza Vecchia!