Best Day Trips from Venice
Are you looking for the best day trips from Venice, Italy?
Venice is one of my favorite cities. Once you get away from the tourist crowds around St. Mark’s Square and Rialto Bridge, there are so many magical corners to discover in this city of canals and bridges.
I’d recommend spending at least two full days in Venice. But if you have additional time, you might consider spending one of your days taking a day trip from the city. Being located on an island in the middle of a lagoon, you might think that Venice isn’t the most convenient base for taking day trips.
However, with high-speed trains departing frequently from the Venice Santa Lucia train station, you can actually get to many other destinations back on the mainland very quickly. Some of these other day trips will allow you to explore different islands in the Venetian Lagoon, traveling by boat or vaporetto.
Where not to go: The beach! Venice is located in a lagoon bordering the Adriatic Sea, but it is not a beach destination. You’ll be disappointed if you’re expecting beaches like what you’d find further south. There is a beach (called Venice Lido) that you can get to by water bus, but it’s really not worth it.
Here’s a look at the best day trips from Venice:
⭐ Short on time? These are the top tours and activities I recommend. If you book directly through a link on this page, I may earn a small commission at no cost to you. Thank you for supporting Stay to Wander!
Best Day Trips from Venice:
- Half-day tour to Burano and Murano by private boat
- Burano, Murano, and Torcello tour from Venice
- Small-group day trip to the Dolomites
- Prosecco Hills wine tasting tour from Venice
Burano
If you only have time for one day trip from Venice, it should be Burano. The great thing about Burano is that it’s a small island very close to Venice, and combines perfectly with a visit to one or two other islands.
As you’re probably aware, Venice is an island (or more precisely, 118 islands linked by 438 bridges.) But there are other islands in the Venetian Lagoon too. Burano is one of them, known for its vibrant, colorful architecture and lace-making tradition. Just like Venice, it has canals and bridges. Unlike Venice, you probably won’t get lost here because the entire island can be crossed on foot in about ten minutes.
Burano is an amazing place to spend a few hours strolling around, taking photos of the brightly-colored houses, and enjoying lunch at one of the canal-side restaurants. You don’t need a full day here.
You can combine a visit to Burano with Murano, the next island on this list, and even the nearby island of Torcello if you’re feeling ambitious. You have a couple of options for getting to Burano.
One of those is by vaporetto, or water bus. You can buy an all-day ticket for this unique form of public transportation in Venice for €25 which is useful if you want to visit multiple islands. From Venice, it’s a 45-minute ride from the Fondamente Nove vaporetto station to get to the island of Burano.
Another option is taking a tour that includes transportation. This half-day guided tour includes a private boat trip to both Burano and Murano, with an hour and a half to explore each of the islands.
Murano
Like Burano, Murano is another small island in the Venetian Lagoon. This island is famous for its glass-blowing tradition, and Murano glass is considered to be some of the most beautiful in the world.
In the 13th century, glass-makers were forced to relocate from Venice to Murano to reduce the risk of fire in the city, since it wasn’t uncommon for the glass factories to catch fire. Today, you can still find many glass-blowers on the island of Murano. It’s also a charming little island, with canals and bridges.
If you want to visit Murano on your own, you can take the vaporetto from Fondamente Nove in Venice. It’s a 25-minute journey. There are vaporettos linking Murano and Burano (which is further out in the lagoon) so you can visit Murano first and then head to Burano, or vice versa — just check the timetables.
An easier option is taking a tour, like this half-day tour that goes to both Burano and Murano. While in Murano, you’ll visit a traditional glass workshop and see artisanal glass-blowers in action.
Torcello
Finally, one more island close to Venice that is worth a visit is Torcello. This island is very different from Burano and Murano because it’s a nature preserve and only around 60 people live there.
However, this sparsely-populated island was once an ancient trade city, with a population as high as 20,000 people. Gradually, people moved to Venice as the canals of Torcello started filling with dirt, making boat travel impossible. Nowadays, there’s not much here except for a beautiful old church and a tiny town.
Once again, this is not a destination where you need a full day. A couple of hours will suffice. From Venice, it’s a 45-minute vaporetto ride from the Fondamente Nove station. You can also visit Burano and Murano, but you’ll want to research the schedule in advance to make sure the timing works out.
Rather than taking the vaporetto, an easier option to visit all three islands is a full-day tour like this one. You’ll travel by private boat to Burano, Murano, and Torcello, with free time in each place.
Verona
If you’re looking for great day trips near Venice that will offer a totally different experience than canals and bridges, head over to Verona. This beautiful city is one hour and 15 minutes from Venice by fast train.
It’s famous for being the setting of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, and you can even visit Juliet’s House, a Gothic-style house from the 1300s with a balcony that will transport you to the world of this play. Visiting the ancient Arena di Verona, which looks like a smaller version of Rome’s Colosseum, is another must-do.
If you’re in the mood for a museum, the Castelvecchio Museum is a great one to check out with an impressive art collection inside a restored palace. Otherwise, Verona is the perfect walkable city to stroll around for a few hours before grabbing lunch at one of the many local restaurants dotting the streets.
Bologna
Another great city that you can easily visit on a day trip from Venice is Bologna. This city is the capital of the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy, and it’s known for being a foodie paradise.
Tagliatelle al ragù, also known as spaghetti Bolognese, is the must-try dish here. Tortellini pasta is also from Bologna. You can also sample Parmesan cheese and Parma ham from nearby Parma while you’re here. For a unique experience, book a food tour or a cooking class for your day in Bologna.
While in Bologna, you also can’t miss strolling through the lively Piazza Maggiore or climbing one of the Two Towers for an epic view of the city. Another thing that Bologna is known for is being home to the University of Bologna — the oldest university in the world, and the most prestigious in Italy.
From Venice, the best way to get to Bologna is by fast train, which takes about 1.5 hours
Dolomites
On a clear day, you can see all the way to the Dolomites from Venice. This impressive mountain range in northern Italy is part of the Alps, and it makes for a great day trip if you want to get out and enjoy nature.
If you have more time, you can easily spend several days exploring the Dolomites, especially if you’re into hiking (in the warmer months) or skiing (in the winter.) However, if you only have one day to spend in the Dolomites, you can still get a taste of this beautiful mountainous region on a day trip from Venice.
The best way to visit the Dolomites on a day trip from Venice is by driving. Since public transportation isn’t really a thing in the small towns of the mountains, you will either want to rent a car or take a tour.
If you don’t want to worry about the logistics of driving yourself, a tour is a great option. This full-day small-group tour includes round-trip transportation by van from Venice, a guide, and stops in the town of Cortina, Lake Misurina, Lake Antorno, and the Three Peaks of Lavuredo viewpoint.
Prosecco Hills
Bubbly prosecco is produced in the Veneto and Friuli Venezia Giulia regions north of Venice. Collectively, this region is known as the Prosecco Hills, and it makes for a great day trip from Venice!
The best way to visit the Prosecco Hills on a day trip is definitely with an organized tour. Most of the small towns and vineyards aren’t reachable by public transportation, and while you could theoretically rent a car and drive yourself, it’s not a good idea if you plan to sample prosecco at any of the local wineries.
This small-group Prosecco Hills tour is a great option. You’ll have private transportation by van from Venice to the Prosecco Hills, where you’ll visit two local wineries and enjoy the scenery along the way. You’ll learn more about how prosecco is made and the tradition of producing this bubbly, sparkling wine.
The tour includes two wine tastings as well as a light lunch.
Padua
Padua claims to be the oldest city in the Veneto region of northern Italy, supposedly founded in 1183 BC. This ancient city is easily reachable by train from Venice, making it an excellent day trip.
The fastest trains take just 25 minutes from Santa Lucia station in Venice. Some of the most popular things to do in Padua include visiting the Scrovegni Chapel and the Basilica of St. Anthony. The lively twin squares of Piazza delle Erbe and Piazza della Frutta are also a must-visit, filled with market stalls.
If you’re looking for a really unique experience, you can take a full-day river cruise from Venice to Padua. You’ll exit the Venetian Lagoon and travel by boat towards Padua along the narrow Brenta River, passing by historic opulent villas along the way and stopping at some of them for a guided tour.
You’ll finish in Padua in the evening, where you can enjoy dinner before taking the train back to Venice. Padua is a great place to go if you want to escape the crowds of Venice and see something new.
Vicenza
Another underrated city that’s not far from Venice by train is Vicenza. The fast train from Santa Lucia station takes just over 45 minutes to reach this attractive, historic riverfront city surrounded by hills.
Nicknamed the City of Palladio, Vicenza is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that is famous for its architecture designed by Renaissance architect Andrea Palladio. He’s responsible for more than 20 beautiful Renaissance buildings around the city, including the Teatro Olimpico and the Palazzo Chiericati.
If you’re looking to get somewhat off the beaten path and explore a city that many tourists in Italy have never even heard of, Vicenza is a great destination to visit that’s easily reachable from Venice.
Lake Garda
Located between Venice and Milan, Lake Garda is the largest lake in Italy. It makes for a great day trip from Venice if you want to get away from the city and enjoy some breathtaking natural scenery.
The best way to get to Lake Garda is by train. From Venice, it takes a little over 1.5 hours by fast train to get to the town of Desenzano del Garda. From here, you can stroll along the waterfront promenade, take a boat ride, and then take a 25-minute bus ride to the town of Sirmione, one of the jewels of the lake.
This small town is home to the fairytale-like Scaligero Castle.
Chioggia
Finally, a unique and underrated destination that you can visit from Venice is Chioggia. This destination takes us back to the Venetian Lagoon, but it’s located much further south than Venice itself.
Very few tourists know about Chioggia, making it a true hidden gem. If you like to get off the beaten path, this is a great place to go. Now I wouldn’t necessarily recommend Chioggia if you’re looking for a destination that will really make your jaw drop, but it’s perfect for escaping the crowds of Venice.
Chioggia is essentially like a smaller version of Venice without all the tourists. It’s not as flashy, but it has beautiful canals and bridges like Venice. What you won’t find are tons of tour groups, souvenir shops, or overpriced restaurants. It’s a good place to go if you want to get a taste of local life instead.
The best way to reach Chioggia is by bus. From the Piazalle Roma bus station in Venice, it takes about an hour and 15 minutes. The journey is worth it to discover this lesser-known destination.
Best Day Trips from Venice
This guide showed you the best day trips from Venice, Italy.
If you only have time for one day trip, I think a combined visit to Burano and Murano is best. With close proximity to Venice, these two islands are a great way to discover more of the Venetian Lagoon.
I’d also recommend Verona if you want to explore a beautiful, historic city or Padua if you’re looking for a more underrated but equally amazing city that is easily accessible by train from Venice.
Enjoy your trip to Italy!
Related Guides:
