10+ Amazing Day Trips from Venice

Last Updated on 26th June 2025 by Sophie Nadeau

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Although Venice can be rightfully considered a destination all on its own, where time seems to fly by with all there is to see and do, it is also possible that once you feel you’ve already checked it all, you will want to explore more of the wider region. These day trips from Venice are all magical in their own right and all the places listed are well worth checking out…

Maybe you are eager to discover a less tourist spot to get away from the crowds and be able to learn about Italy’s unique traditions and lifestyle.

Taking a day trip from Venice (or two) can offer an excellent opportunity to visit some original places and live a little bit like a local when venturing into magnificent towns and villages in the rest of the country.

Therefore, what about discovering the best of Italy with these fantastic day trips from Venice? Ready? Let’s go! If you’re planning on exploring Venice itself, be sure to check out our guide to the best things to do in Venice and how to spend 1 day in Venice.

Day trips from Venice

Stay Nearby: Murano, Burano, and Torcello

If you don’t want to travel too far, then the islands of Murano, Burano, and Torcello are all worth checking out. These three little but incredibly famous islands near the main attractions of Venice deserve a whole day for you to discover everything they have to offer.

Start with a trip to Murano, in order to learn more about the ancient glass-making craft that has made Venice famous all over the world. When visiting the island, make sure that you spend some time visiting a glass factory to witness live the impressive technic and skills behind hand blowing Murano glass.

Alternatively, Burano, is a completely different destination from Murano. It is one of the most photographed places in the Venice area thanks to the picturesque and colorful houses that populate the island.

The place is also famous for unique crafts that include lace-making and embroidery as well as for serving some of the most delicious seafood all over the region.

Finally, don’t miss the picturesque Torcello, the place that’s famous for being the most important island in the Venetian Lagoon, and has the biggest population. They say that the island is the area in Venice that has been populated the longest, at least since the Hun invaded the northern regions of Italy.

The easiest (and probably the most cost effective) way to get from Venice to the surrounding islands is to buy a Waterbus and Mainland Bus Pass. Find more details about buying the pass here.

The Lido

You don’t really need to travel that far to get away from the crowds when in Venice. Visiting its wonderful Lido can be a great and budget day trip idea when spending time in the famous city of the gondolas.

Venice’s Lido is a perfect, close-by destination for a relaxing day out of town, enjoying the gorgeous vistas of the Adriatic Sea, some soft sand on your toes, and the pleasant warmth of the sun at the Italian riviera.

You can get to the Lido of Venice simply by boarding a ferry, the 15-minute ride will take you a world away from Venice’s aristocratic palazzi, churches, and bridges to catapult you on one of the liveliest beaches in Italy.

Wondering what to do at Venice’s Lido? Well. exactly what Italians do! Lazily lounging under the sun, sipping cold granita or cocktails, swimming, sunbathing, seeing and being seen… because that is wall what beach life in Italy is about!

If you’re curious about the Lido, but beach life is not your thing, you can explore the area on foot or even ride a rental bike to visit the lagoon area, discover the impressive summer mansions, the churches and the convents, as well as the imposing Murazzi Fortress, a typical example of defensive architecture dating back to the eighteenth century.

Trieste

Just a short train ride north of Venice, the important city of Trieste is a great day trip destination if you want to spend some time in a peaceful and traditional town. The city, which during history was conquered and ruled by different European countries, is one of the richest towns in the country.

After all, Trieste boasts a cosmopolitan yet very elegant atmosphere visible in different buildings in town, including a gorgeous selection of churches, luxurious mansions, and a fantastic white fortress, Miramare Castle that dominates the landscape of the nearby countryside and it is probably the most popular spot in town for sunset.

Back in the center, grab a cup of Italian espresso at one of the cafeterias close to Trieste’s main square to feel like a local, explore its waterfront promenade, and even go shopping in the commercial district. 

In the heart of town, you can also check Trieste’s Grand Canal, a curious feature of the city. The channel is a small waterway mostly used in the past for boats to arrive directly in the heart of the city for them to unload their goods in a more convenient area than the port. Three different bridges cross the channel and they offer top photography spots in the city.

Lake Garda

Together with Lake Como and Lake Maggiore, Lake Garde is one of the most popular day trip destinations not just from Venice, but also from Milan and other important towns in the north of the peninsula. 

Lake Garda perfectly depicts the magnificence of Italy’s gold years of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. The area spreading along the lake, from Desenzano del Garda to Sirmione displays a collection of magnificent settlements which used to be a favorite summer retreat for the aristocratic families of Milan and Venice.

The area around Lake Garda is a perfect destination if you want to enjoy tranquil boat rides, and discover charming lakeside towns, such as Lazise, a small but picturesque medieval settlement with narrow alleys, beautiful squares, and an original harbor located right in the center of the town.

If you’re young at heart, instead, escape and visit the most popular theme park in the country, Gardaland, a multi-park complex featuring even a hotel of its own. In the area, there are other interesting theme parks as well that grew under the shadows of Gardaland.

This includes an interesting Canava World, a movie-themed park with attractions based on popular films, Aqua Paradise Parks, an incredibly beautiful area for a fun day among palm trees, waterslides, lazy rivers, and white sand beaches. All in all, Lake Garda is one of the most romantic places in Italy and is particularly popular for honeymoons.

Verona

If you’ve made it to Lake Garda and want to continue discovering, the city Verona can be a great day trip from Venice. The city, located less than ninety minutes from Venice, is a popular destination and well-known all over the world as the city of Romeo and Juliet. 

However, Verona has more to offer other than Juliet’s house and balcony (of doubtful origin given Juliet was a character in Shakespeare’s tragedy). In town, don’t miss the populous Piazza delle Erbe, the place where the local farmer’s market takes place and where it is possible to buy unique gastronomic souvenirs.

You can also pay a visit to the Arena. The Verona Arena is an imposing Roman Amphiteathre located in the heart of Bra Square, in the centre of Verona. It dates back to the year 30 BC and it is one of the best-preserved Roman monuments in Europe.

The theater is a well-known place in the country where every year, different concerts and music festivals attract visitors from all over the country as well as overseas. Finally, to get a more complete glimpse of the local landscape, stroll around the city centre.

Marvel at the ancient mansions and piazzas, or simply walk along the Adige River and marvel at the stunning medieval stone bridges that take you from one side of the city to the other opposite side. For more inspiration, be sure to check out our guide to the best of Verona and how to spend one day in Verona.

Vicenza

Probably the best place to visit if you are not keen on touristic spots and yet eager to be enchanted by the traditional vistas and amazing buildings in northern Italy, Vicenza is a paradise for those who enjoy traditional architecture and mind-blowing constructions. It is located about an hour from Venice and it can be easily reached both by car or train.

Known as the city of Palladio, Vicenza is famous for housing a selection of outstanding buildings designed by the famous architect Andrea Palladio who completely changed the landscape in town back in the sixteenth century.

There are different tours that you can join in order to have a complete panoramic view of Palladio’s work. Alternatively, you can head to the Teatro Olimpico, the Basilica Palladiana, and Villa La Rotunda, the three most impressive and representative works of the architect.

Padua

An important Italian settlement since the Middle Ages, Padua can be an excellent day trip from Venice that you can easily reach with a short train ride that can last from 45 minutes to an hour. For an extra special trip to Padua, you can book this Venice to Padua Full-Day Brenta Riviera Boat Cruise.

Modest and yet elegant, Padua concentrates all the traditional scenes and perks that have made the north of Italy worth visiting, amazing mansions and aristocratic buildings, 

delicious gastronomy, and wide city squares, such as Piazza dei Signori, the place where locals and visitors alike mingle at the aperitivo hour.

The square, with its gorgeous Renaissance clock tower, dates back to the fourteenth century, it also features plenty of shops, cafeterias, and restaurants often perfect to sit and watch everyday life go by. Padua will conquer you with a unique, low-key flair and timeless charm.

Padua is mostly known for its gorgeous cathedral, the Basilica di Sant’Antonio,  dedicated to the patron saint of the city, Saint Anthony. Padua is also home to an ancient Jewish district, which in turn is home to an imposing Synagogue that is the only active one in town.

Valpolicella Valley

Also known as Amarone, the region of Valpolicella extends from Lake garda almost to reach the city of Verona. This is a perfect day trip from Venice for those into wine tasting and gastronomy. 

The extensive, verdant valley offers beautiful and relaxing drives as well as the possibility to discover some of the best wineries in Italy. You can venture on your own and learn with local producers about winemaking in Italy or join a wine tasting tour to discover all the amazing labels that are produced in the region. 

Many of these tours offer also dining experiences or cheese sampling and wine pairing in their packages and are a perfect option to avoid drinking and driving as well. Find out more tour details here.

Prosecco Valley

Even more famous than Valpolicella, the Prosecco region is located about one hour from Venice by car and it is a perfect excursion to explore the famous sparkling wine produced in the area. Alternatively, if you don’t want to rent a car, you can book a Veneto Prosecco wine tour from Venice like this one.

There are different wineries that are perfect not only to taste top quality brands of the renowned drink but also to learn about the cultivation of grapes, their pressing and fermentation process as well as everything about the bottling, labelling and even storing of this unique wine that Italians often enjoy in Christmas time and other important celebrations.

Bergamo

One fantastic day trip that you can take from Venice is the one that takes you to explore the enchanting medieval settlement of Upper Bergamo. The city of Bergamo, which is located about 2 hours from Venice, is a unique Italian town split into two different levels.

The modern town, located down the hill, is known as Lower Bergamo or CIttà Bassa and Bergamo Città Alta or Upper Bergamo, on the top of the hill. They are both connected via a cable car.

A short but pleasant ride up the funicular takes you to the ancient fairy-tale settlement, home to a beautiful Cathedral, enchanting cobble-stoned alleys, and medieval fountains.

Around the city, you can also discover  picturesque bookstores and stop for a break under the sun in one of the many cafeterias al fresco. 

Important landmarks in this old town include the walls surrounding the city, the fantastic Piazza Vecchia, the twelfth century Palazzo Della Ragione, and the Palazzo Del Podesta, a fourteenth-century palace with impressive frescoes that was built by the Venetian Republic which once ruled in the area.

Bologna

Located just under 2 hours by car from Venice, Bologna is a unique university city in Italy home to impressive cultural landmarks and certainly a destination not to miss. Alternatively, you can reach Bologna by train in around an hour and a half from Venice (which will also save the need for renting a car).

The most important trait of the town of Bologna is its incredible and ancient university, which gained the town the nickname of Bologna La Dotta (translating into Bologna the well-educated). The best part is that much of Bologna can be visited over a single day.

The University of Bologna is arguably the most prestigious in Italy, and certainly, the oldest university in the western world founded back in 1088. Bologna is also famous for its fantastic gastronomy.

In fact, another nickname that the city proudly boasts is Bologna la Grassa (which means the fat one). Located in the heart of the Emilia Romagna region, Bologna is home to unique staples of Italian cuisine, including the delicious Parmesan cheese and ham, mortadella, and the renowned balsamic vinegar. 

No wonder why the area offers plenty of different gastronomic tours around the region. Wine is also another important product around Bologna, and choosing a local winery to visit is probably another superb way to spend your time in town. Check out how to book a food tour here.

Grotte Del Caglieron

One of the more off the beaten path locations when it comes to day trips from Venice is Grotte del Caglieron, which is known for its grottos, waterfalls, and even cheese! The main way to get to the caves is by driving and so you’ll have to rent a car.

Grotte del Caglieron is a set of caves which lies alongside he Cagileron river. Highlights of the grotto include a stone carved relief of St. Anthony the Great, the chapel of Grotta della Madonna, and the old mills (mills have existed on the site in some form or another since the 16th-century).

Fee to visit Venice

At some point in 2023 (the start date keeps getting pushed back), it is expected that the city of Venice will implement a daily tourist fee just for visiting the city in a bid to combat over-tourism. As of March 2023, there is still no fee.

It’s expected that tickets will cost between €3 and €10 per day per visitor depending on how busy Venice is expected to be that day and will have to been booked online ahead of the visit to Venice.

The exact amount will change depending on how popular a particular day is. There will be a number of exceptions, including for those visiting family, overnight guests, homeowners, and children under six, among others. Details about how the payment and booking will take place are set to be released in the coming months.

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Gabi Ancarola is a journalist and travel writer who has lived over 20 years in Italy, and has been living in Crete for the last five years. She hosts culinary tours, translates and writes for her Crete travel blog The Tiny Book. She’s written for Greek Reporter and published several travel guides about Greece.