Venice is such a great tourist attraction in itself that many visitors venture no further. Or, mistakenly, they are led to believe that there is no point in staying more than a couple of nights or seeing more than the main sights in the city. In fact, there is a lot to see in this region of Italy, the Veneto, and several of its most interesting destinations are within easy reach of Venice, which makes a good base for a wide range of excursions.
Around the Venetian lagoon
Firstly, and nearest to Venice, there are the lagoon islands. Heading northwards to Mazzorbo, Burano and Torcello makes at least a half-day trip and is more enjoyable if you take your time. On the Lido (Lido di Venezia) travellers can enjoy beach time, take a long walk on the sands or through dunes, or cycle past canals and Art Nouveau villas. Reading my lagoon islands travel advice should help give you an idea of how to combine islands into enjoyable full-day tours using public transport.
Out in the north-eastern fringes of the lagoon, rural hamlet Lio Piccolo sits among farms and water, and is a popular destination for a cycling excursion. Read my blog about taking the ferry from Venice then hiring a bike to explore this part of the lagoon: Lio Piccolo by bike.
Chioggia, a fishing town at the southern end of the lagoon – technically another lagoon island – makes an interesting outing as the journey by bus and ferry is so scenic. Again, Chioggia can be visited in half a day, but allowing more time will give you a chance to wander and perhaps to appreciate the town’s famous fish market and seafood restaurants. Alternatively you can break your journey and explore either the Lido and/or the fishing island of Pellestrina. Read about travelling to Chioggia.
The mainland Veneto
Venice may be stuck out in the lagoon, but its rail links are good, with trains heading over the railway bridge towards the mainland every few minutes. Frequent bus services also run from Piazzale Roma, some covering long distances. Both bus and train prices are quite cheap in Italy so making excursions into the Veneto shouldn’t make much of a hole in your budget.
Treviso is often overlooked by tourists, despite having its own budget airport. Just half an hour from Venice by train, Treviso is a calm, prosperous town with a network of quiet canals, some interesting churches and good art. Like many mainland towns, you can enjoy life at a slower pace without the crowds of Venice, and also eat well for less. I like it as a day trip destination as there is enough to do and see without being overwhelming.
Padua, a supremely fine art and university city, is also just half an hour away by train from Venice. There’s lots to do and see as well as shopping and food to enjoy; this is one of my top days out from Venice. You won’t be able to see all of Padua’s attractions in a day, but you can fill your time with varied experiences (note that if you want to see Giotto’s famous paintings in the Cappella degli Scrovegni, you should make plans and book ahead).
Another of my favourite days out, though a longer one, is to Vicenza, an hour away by train. This handsome town has famously fine architecture and a mellow atmosphere. Visitors can enjoy a pleasant walk between countryside villas and viewpoints.
There are many lovely and famous historic villas dotting the countryside of the Veneto, and some of these can be appreciated by taking an enjoyable – and expensive – boat excursion up the Brenta Canal from Venice to Padua. If you’d prefer to save money, several of the same villas can be reached by taking public bus services from Piazzale Roma. The grandest villa is on the bus route, and has the advantage of large gardens and a historic maze: the Villa Pisani, Strà.
For a very different, and less cultural, experience, beach-lovers could take a day trip to one of the Veneto’s seaside resorts, such as Lido di Jesolo, north of the lagoon. Further north still you come to the Friuli-Venezia Giulia region; some of the region’s sites, including the ruins of Roman Aquileia, can be visited as a day trip from Venice though the train journey will take a couple of hours.
To enjoy an unusual day trip off the beaten track, I recommend to one of the quieter, smaller towns of the Veneto region, like the fortified towns Castelfranco Veneto and Cittadella. Monselice is a picturesque little town with a castle and a fortress on a hill, and the nearby Euganean hills offer pleasant views and footpaths. I’ve also enjoyed a couple of excellent days out, coinciding with art exhibitions, to Conegliano, birthplace of the Renaissance artist Cima da Conegliano. Another favourite off-the-beaten-track destination is pretty Portogruaro, which can be combined with Roman ruins in Concordia Sagittaria.
Browsing the Veneto region section of Italy Heaven will give you some ideas of the many destinations which can be reached from Venice, along with travel information.
Organised tours
If you’d prefer to go on a guided tour with someone else to make all the arrangements, it’s worth investigating organised trips. Tours organised through international agencies or by local firms using online platforms include mountain trips to Dolomites, wine tours and longer-distance excursions. If you have limited time in Italy and don’t mind a long travel day, this could be an efficient and comfortable way to visit the mountains or Lake Garda. Vineyard tours with tastings dedicated to Amarone or Prosecco are the kind of excursion that it can be difficult or expensive to plan independently.
You may see more or travel further than if you were planning independent trips by public transport, though obviously you won’t have the same leisure to wander. You can read reviews to see what other travellers have thought of their different excursions. These are affiliate links, so if you book through them you’ll be supporting Italy Heaven: thank you.
- Get Your Guide – experiences include day trips to the Dolomites, boat trips and Prosecco vineyard tours
- Viator – popular excursions include the Dolomites and Cortina d’Ampezzi for mountain scenery