Venice is one of the most-visited cities in Italy. It is not surprising with such a great number of historical and architectural monuments preserved here.
But Venice is also a magnificent gateway to explore different regions of Italy, be it northern areas full of natural attractions or the central part with a huge variety of ancient and medieval cities and towns. Read on to discover some of the best day trips from Venice, which definitely diversify your trip to the city.
Padua
Distance from Venice – 28 miles (45km)
Padua is a magnificent example of medieval architecture, which is why the city is always popular among travellers. High transport accessibility also allows Padua to be among the most visited cities in Northern Italy – it is just 45km from Venice.
The architecture of Padua is mostly a mixture of medieval styles, although here and there you can see some later architectural periods. The city has many cathedrals and churches, which speaks of its long and interesting history.
One of the most well-known examples of architecture here is the Basilica of Santa Giustina. Its style is a mixture of Renaissance and Byzantine. The basilica is decorated with huge domes and a bell tower.
No less interesting is the Basilica of St. Anthony of Padua. The construction of the cathedral dates back to the 11th and 12th centuries, and its facades reveal features of the Gothic and Romanesque styles.
You can explore outside Venice with Daytrip which offers private car transfers and sightseeing tours.
Scrovegni Chapel and the Padua Cathedral are also interesting. You can find a lot of palazzos in Padua too.
Another attractive site in the city is the Botanical Garden of Padua. The garden is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is generously decorated with fountains and statues.
The main attraction is the large collection of exotic plants and rare flowers.
How to get to Padua from Venice
You can get from Venice to Padua using public transport and there are direct trains running between the cities all day so it’s a great option for a day trip from Venice. The journey time is about 30-40 minutes. The trains depart from both Santa Lucia and Mestre train stations.
You can check the current timetable and purchase tickets online.
If you’re travelling by car, you need to follow the А4/Е70 road. The journey is approximately one hour.
Vicenza
Distance from Venice – 43.5 miles (70km)
Vicenza is a town located in the Veneto region of Northern Italy. Vicenza boasts some magnificent examples of Renaissance architecture with numerous palaces and villas, cathedrals and squares.
A great number of local attractions have been included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. Tourists most often begin their tour of the town from the Basilica Palladian, which is located in the heart of Vicenza.
Inside is the Palladian Museum, which displays models of the works of one of the main architects in Vicenza, Andrea Palladio. The neighbouring square, Piazza del Duomo, is home to the Vicenza Cathedral.
The cathedral was built in the 15th century, in the Gothic style, with facades finished in white and red marble. The Bishop’s Palace is also located here in the square.
Vicenza is also famous for its palaces. For example, Palazzo La Loggia has huge vaults and powerful columns that support the two upper floors, elegantly decorated with monograms and stucco.
Besides the palaces, another interesting place in Vicenza is the Teatro Olimpico. It was the first theatre in Europe to have a roof.
How to get to Vicenza from Venice
There are direct trains between Venice and Vicenza that take around one hour. You can check the current timetable and purchase tickets online.
If you prefer to travel by car, then go along the А4/Е70 road.
Ferrara
Distance from Venice – 69 miles (111km)
The town of Ferrara is a wonderful example of a harmonious mixture of architectural styles and forms. Here, elements of the Renaissance and the Middle Ages are skilfully intertwined, so if you want to escape from the bustle of the big city, then you will not find a better place than Ferrara.
The central composition of the town is the Cathedral of San Giorgio. On the facade of the cathedral, you can see a visible mixture of styles.
The lower tier of the cathedral was built in the 12th century, while the construction of the upper tier was completed later, in the 18th century. The facades of the cathedral clearly show features of the Gothic and Romanesque styles.
The Cathedral of San Giorgio is decorated with sculptures and bas-reliefs.
Not far from the cathedral, you can see another iconic landmark of the town called the Estense Castle. Construction of the castle began in the 13th century and was completed in the 16th century.
In the central part of the castle, you can see a watchtower, which was named the Lion Tower. In addition to the castle, there are also several palaces in the town.
Their construction also dates back to the 14th-15th centuries. The Palazzo dei Diamanti houses the National Art Gallery with a truly unique art collection of works by artists from the 12th-18th centuries.
How to get to Ferrara from Venice
There is a direct train connection between Venice and Ferrara that takes just over an hour. Trains run regularly once or twice an hour during the day.
You can check the current timetable and purchase tickets online.
If you travel by car, you need to follow the А13 route.
Verona
Distance from Venice – 74.5 miles (120km)
Verona is one of the most obvious travel destinations from Venice as both cities are located quite close to each other and have a lot of places of interest. Verona is famous as the setting for the Shakespeare play Romeo and Juliet.
You can find a lot of places devoted to Romeo and Juliet in the city including Juliet’s house, Juliet’s tomb, and Romeo’s house.
As well as the Romeo and Juliet tourist attractions, there are plenty of true historical monuments to visit, many of which are UNESCO World Heritage sites.
Places to visit include the Roman Arena, the Lamberti Tower, and the Castelvecchio Castle. The ancient Roman Arena was built in 30 CE and it is considered to be a unique example of architecture of those times.
The Lamberti Tower is a classic medieval building. The Castelvecchio Castle was built in 10th century and its style is early Gothic.
How to get to Verona from Venice
There is a direct train connection between the cities. You can reach Verona within 2.5 hours from Venice. The trains run hourly during the day.
You can check the current timetable and purchase tickets online.
It’s quicker to travel by car, taking about an hour and a half. The A4/E70 motorway leads to Verona from Venice.
Lake Garda
Distance from Venice – 93 miles (150km)
If you prefer natural landscapes, one of the best destinations from Venice is Lake Garda. It is quite a large lake with a lot of colourful towns scattered around it.
It’s a great place for a beach holiday as the local beaches are open for swimming during the summer time. You can also go sightseeing as the towns have lots of original architectural monuments such as churches, squares, fountains, villas, and landscaped gardens.
The towns of Desenzano del Garda and Peschiera del Garda are the most accessible as they both have their own train stations. Desenzano is full of historical sights as well as cafes, restaurants, and shops.
Peschiera is well-known due to Gardaland WaterPark located nearby. This is a famous amusement park which is perfect for a family day out.
If you prefer sightseeing, then towns like Malcesine, Riva del Garda, Sirmione, or Limone are worth a visit. These towns have both historical and natural attractions.
Sirmione is famous for Scaliger Castle and natural thermal springs while Riva del Garda is known for La Rocca fortress and its picturesque waterfalls.
How to get to Lake Garda from Venice
You can reach Desenzano and Peschiera by train from Venice which takes around three hours. You can check the current timetable and purchase tickets online.
If you want to visit other towns on the lake, you’ll need to take a local bus from Desenzano or Peschiera. By car, you can get to Lake Garda within 2-2.5 hours, depending on traffic. You need to follow the A4/E70 road.
Bologna
Distance from Venice – 96 miles (155km)
Bologna is another city that is frequented by tourists. It is located in the region of Emilia-Romagna and quite close to Venice.
Bologna is considered to be one of the best day trips from Venice. The city is full of historic attractions including squares, churches, and fountains.
Start your tour around Bologna from Neptuno and Maggiore squares. They boast attractions like the Neptuno fountain, palazzos, and two towers named Garisenda and Asinelli.
There are a lot of palazzos preserved in Bologna. You can visit palazzo Re Enzo with magnificent frescoes or palazzo Comunale with a museum devoted to G. Morandi. Palazzo Podesta and palazzo Mercanzia are also worth visitng.
How to get to Bologna from Venice
There are trains running between the cities during the day. They depart three to four times an hour, and the journey usually takes no more than an hour and a half. The distance is just perfect for a one-day trip.
You can check the current timetable and purchase tickets online.
By car, you need to follow the A13 via Ferrara.
Trento
Distance from Venice – 99.5 miles (160km)
When travelling from Venice, you can choose to go in two main directions – either to the north or to the centre of the country. If such towns as Padova, Ferrara, Bologna or Vicenza are located to the centre from Venice, then such towns as Verona, Trento, Trieste are located to the north.
Trento is one of the northern destinations. This charming town is full of attractions and it is also a gateway to the Dolomites region.
Visit the gorgeous Piazza Duomo with its basilica and fountain. The basilica was built in the 17th century in an elegant Baroque style.
The Palace of the Praetors, located nearby, is also of great interest. It was built in the 13th century and has early Gothic features. If you have enough time, you can visit the historical museum located inside the palace.
The Buonconsiglio Castle is a must-see attraction in Trento. It was a residence for bishops after it was built in the 13th century. The castle has features of Romanesque style and a museum inside.
If you decide to stay in Trento for longer than a day, you can visit the Dolomites region with its inspiring mountains, lakes, meadows and waterfalls. If you have to choose just one, then Lake Carezza or Lake Braies are two of the best.
How to get to Trento from Venice
There is a train connection between Venice and Trento with a change in Verona. The total travel time is about three hours each way.
You can check the current timetable and purchase tickets online.
By car, you need to follow the routes A4/E70 and A22/E45 routes. The journey time varies from two to three hours, depending on traffic.
Trieste
Distance from Venice – 99.5 miles (160km)
Trieste is a charming Italian city located on the gulf, bordering Slovenia. Trieste is geographically distant from other major cities in Italy, but is also close to the border with another country, so the mix of cultures is especially noticeable here.
Tourists come to Trieste to enjoy the exquisite architecture, see ancient Roman ruins and, of course, admire the sea. The Gulf of Trieste is huge, and the first place on your list should be the Old Port, Molo Audace.
The heart of the city is the Piazza della Italia located close to the old port. The square is surrounded by palaces on three sides, and its construction took place in the 18th century.
Trieste isn’t too similar to Venice but it does have its own artificially-built Grand Canal, which stretches through the city centre and goes to the port.
Around the port, you can see the Miramare fortress. The castle was built on the very edge of a rocky cliff, which makes it look especially majestic.
For history buffs, there are ruins of a Roman amphitheater in Trieste. The amphitheater was originally designed for an audience of 6,000 people and has been partially preserved.
How to get to Trieste from Venice
You can take one of the direct trains to Trieste from Venice, which run once or twice an hour during the day. The duration of the journey varies from two to three hours.
You can check the current timetable and purchase tickets online.
By car, you need to follow the E70 road and the journey takes approximately two hours.
The Dolomites
Distance from Venice – 99.5 miles (160km)
Besides lakes, tourists can also visit the mountains of Italy from Venice. The Dolomites region is full of inspiring views and picturesque landscapes.
It is often associated with ski resorts, but tourists can also travel to the Dolomites for hiking, sightseeing and other outdoor activities. The top three attractions of the region are Lake Braies, Lake Carezza and the Tre Cime di Lavaredo Mountain Range.
You’ll probably need to rent a car to explore these natural sites as they are quite remote. To explore the area, travellers can stay in one of the local resorts.
Cortina D`Ampezzo is conveniently located for discovering the surroundings and is quite close to Venice at the same time. Cortina is a great place for both relaxing and activities like hiking.
How to get to the Dolomites from Venice
There is no train station in the Dolomites but you can take a shuttle bus from Venice airport or a local regional bus from the city to get directly to the ski resort. The travel time is about 2.5 hours.
Another option is to rent a car which is a good idea if you plan to travel around the region. Venice and Cortina are connected by the A27 motorway. The duration of the journey is also about 2.5 hours.
Modena
Distance from Venice – 124 miles (200km)
If you are love interesting architecture then visit Modena. Its city centre is almost untouched and some of its landmarks are included in the UNESCO World Heritage list.
Start your tour around the city from the Modena Cathedral. It is the kind of building that definitely will impress you.
The mix of Romanesque and Gothic styles makes it a one-of-a-kind landmark. You’ll also find numerous palazzos in lush Baroque style in Modena and the city is famous for its museums and art galleries.
It is worth visiting the Estense Art Gallery, where you’ll find masterpieces exhibited. Travellers can also visit the Ferrari House Museum, where a vast collection of rare cars is house.
Modena is also a centre of Italian gastronomy. There are a lot of gastronomic tours which are held in Modena itself and its surroundings.
How to get to Modena from Venice
There is a train connection between the cities with a change in Bologna. The total travel time is about 2.5 hours each way.
You can check the current timetable and purchase tickets online.
By car, you can reach your travel destination along the A13 via Padua and Bologna. The travel time is approximately two hours.
There are plenty of options for day trips from Venice if you want to explore more than just the beautiful city itself. Travellers can choose between gorgeous natural landscapes and authentic historical cities and towns.
In most cases, Venice is connected to these destinations by railway and so it is quite easy to reach any of them. You can’t fail to be impressed with the diversity of attractions that the northern and central regions of Italy offer.
There’s something here for everyone.
