6 best day trips from Venice

Day trips compared

The day trips

120 km · About 1 hour 10 minutes by fast train

1.Verona

Verona has a near-complete Roman arena still used for summer opera, a medieval centre around Piazza delle Erbe, the Scaliger tombs and the courtyard said to be Juliet's house, all along a loop of the Adige river.

Getting there

High-speed or regional train from Santa Lucia

Best for

Couples, Culture, First-timers

40 km · About 25–30 minutes by train

2.Padua

Padua's highlight is Giotto's fresco cycle in the Scrovegni Chapel, a turning point in Western art. The city also has the Basilica of St Anthony, one of the oldest universities in Europe with an anatomical theatre, and lively market squares.

Getting there

Train from Santa Lucia or Mestre

Best for

Culture, Budget

70 km · About 45 minutes by train

3.Vicenza

Andrea Palladio shaped Vicenza with palaces, the Basilica Palladiana and the Teatro Olimpico, the oldest surviving indoor theatre with a permanent stage set. Villa La Rotonda stands on a hill just outside town.

Getting there

Train from Santa Lucia

Best for

Culture, Quiet stays

30 km · About 30 minutes by train

4.Treviso

A relaxed walled town of canals, frescoed houses and arcades, known as the birthplace of tiramisù and as a gateway to the Prosecco hills. Its fish market sits on an island in the river.

Getting there

Regional train from Santa Lucia or Mestre

Best for

Food lovers, Quiet stays, Couples

70 km · About 1 hour by train to Conegliano

5.Prosecco hills

The steep vineyard hills between Conegliano and Valdobbiadene are a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the home of Prosecco Superiore. Wineries along the wine road offer tastings, ideally with a driver or guided tour.

Getting there

Train to Conegliano, then a car, bike or wine tour

Best for

Food lovers, Couples

30 km · About 45 minutes by bus, or a full day by canal boat

6.Brenta Riviera

Venetian nobles built summer villas along the Brenta Canal between Venice and Padua. Villa Pisani at Stra, with its Tiepolo ceiling and garden maze, and Palladio's Villa Foscari are the highlights.

Getting there

Bus from Piazzale Roma, or a burchiello boat cruise

Best for

Families, Culture, Couples

Day-trip tips

• Leave early: most trips are more relaxed with a morning departure and a return before dinner.
• Buses link Piazzale Roma with the airport, Mestre and the mainland; the People Mover monorail runs between Piazzale Roma, the cruise terminal and Tronchetto car park.
• Trains cross the lagoon bridge from Venezia Mestre to Venezia Santa Lucia station on the Grand Canal in about 10 minutes, and continue to Padua, Verona and beyond.
• For trips over about 150 km, an overnight stay or an organised tour saves a lot of travelling.

Questions travellers ask