The 6 best day trips from Venice

Venice is a treasure unto itself: a romantic world of narrow waterways; exquisite marble palaces; fizzy prosecco on Europe’s finest square. But for those wishing to explore the surrounding Veneto region, there are even more delights on offer from artistic treasures to gastronomic treats. These are the best day trips from Venice.

All of our favourite getaways from the city are within two hours by public transport or car.

Editor's note: during COVID-19 there are restrictions on travel. Check the latest guidance before departure, and always follow local health advice.

1. Verona

Best day trip for romantics

‘Fair Verona’ is so much more than Romeo and Juliet. With treasures ranging from Roman architecture to contemporary art, not to mention vineyards on its fertile hillsides and fabulous restaurants in the city, you could easily extend your day trip in Verona to an overnight stay.

Don't miss the magnificent Romanesque Basilica di San Zeno Maggiore, which contains the shrine to the city’s patron saint. Although visitors are rightly drawn to Juliet’s house, the city’s real treasure is its magnificent Roman Arena. Opera performances and concerts are staged here, but you can also simply visit and enact your Gladiator fantasies. Nearby on the banks of the Adige river, the impressive 14th-century Museo del Castelvecchio houses works by Renaissance and contemporary artists. Across the Ponte Nuovo is the enchanting Giardino Giusti, where you can relax in verdant surroundings before heading home.

How to get to Verona: Take the regionale veloce train from Stazione Santa Lucia to Verona Porta Nuova. The city centre is a short walk from the station. The journey takes 90 minutes.

2. Padua

Best day trip for art lovers

Padua is said to be the oldest city in northern Italy and boasts Roman archaeological remains to prove its pedigree. It also houses artistic treasures and Galileo’s alma mater, all within strolling distance of one another. The jewel in Padua’s crown is the Cappella degli Scrovegni (Scrovegni Chapel). The humble exterior belies Giotto’s dazzling frescoes inside. Depictions include the story of Christ and a particularly graphic depiction of hell. Advance booking is essential.

Nearby is the Palazzo del Bò, home to Padua University. Guided tours in English include the anatomy theatre and a lectern belonging to the great astronomer Galileo. The Basilica di Sant'Antonio houses the patron saint’s relics, while the university’s Botanical Garden, which once produced medicinal herbs, is a renowned research centre.

How to get to Padua: Take the train from Stazione Santa Lucia to Padua (Padova). The regionali veloci (regional fast trains) cost a fraction of the Frecce high-speed trains and take just 26 minutes.

3. Treviso

Best day trip for escaping the crowds

With its pretty canals, Renaissance buildings and frescoed churches, the medieval walled town of Treviso is something of a mini Venice, minus the tourist hordes. It also offers excellent shopping opportunities.

Artistic treasures include an Annunciation by Titian in the Duomo, while frescoes by the 14th-century artist Tommaso da Modena can be found in churches dotted around town. One fresco, in the chapterhouse of the Chiesa di San Nicolò, shows the earliest depiction of glasses in art. 

Don't leave without trying some traditional Trevisan fare, including dishes made with the famous magenta radicchio di Treviso (a local red lettuce). Ristorante Toni del Spin is a good place to start.

How to get to Treviso: The train from Stazione Santa Lucia to Treviso Centrale takes 30-40 minutes.

4. Vicenza

Best day trip for history buffs

Vicenza is the adopted hometown of the great Renaissance architect Andrea Palladio and his influence can be seen everywhere. It was also known as the city of gold and has a dazzling array of goldsmiths to prove it. 

Palladio’s most prominent achievement is the Teatro Olimpico, Europe’s oldest surviving indoor theatre. Although the structure looks like marble, most of it is built in wood and plaster. The Renaissance stage set is still used today for theatre performances. Other Palladian treasures in the centre include the Museo Civico, which contains works by Montagna, and the Loggia del Capitaniato. 

But it’s not all about Palladio in Vicenza: there’s the pretty Chiesa di San Lorenzo, with its tranquil cloister, and the Chiesa di Santa Corona, which contains the Baptism of Christ painting by Giovanni Bellini.

How to get to Vicenza: Take the train from Stazione Santa Lucia to Vicenza. The regionale veloce train takes 45 minutes while the standard local train takes a leisurely 85 minutes.

5. The Euganean Hills

Best day trip for families

If you’ve overindulged in art and want to escape the bustling calli (streets) in Venice, head for the Euganean Hills for some R&R. Visitors to these fertile hills have enjoyed the volcanic hot springs since Roman times. Plus, it’s a great place for kids to let off steam. 

For all things bucolic, take a walk in the hills or visit Montegrotto’s Roman archaeology. Alternatively, visit the Butterfly Arc and Fairy Wood in Montegrotto, a great place for those travelling with children. For a bit of culture, pop to the charming Casa di Petrarca where the great Renaissance poet Petrarch lived.

Montegrotto hotels and spas offer everything from the luxurious to purely medicinal treatments. The Hotel Mioni Royal San has half-day packages from €35, with a multitude of treatments from mud baths to aerosol therapy on the menu.

How to get to The Euganean Hills: You can reach Montegrotto by train in 37 minutes from Stazione Santa Lucia. Alight at Terme Euganee-Abano-Montegrotto where a handful of buses go to Arquà Petrarca. However, the easiest solution is to explore by car. The drive from Venice takes around 45 minutes.

6. Ferrara 

Best day trip for foodies

Ferrara was home to the d’Este noble dynasty, which left an indelible mark on the city with an impressive castle and remarkable monuments. However, if you’re a devotee of traditional central Italian cooking, Ferrara is a mecca with its homemade tortellini stores and superlative restaurants.  

The imposing 14th-century Castello Estense towers over the centre. The site of executions, its dungeons recall the d’Este family’s fearsome power. For a less blood-curdling visit, see the Romanesque-gothic Duomo with its stunning facade. The fascinating Museo della Cattedrale is housed across the road in a deconsecrated church. The Palazzo dei Diamanti houses a mix of contemporary and Renaissance art.

It’s difficult to eat badly in Ferrara. It positively bulges with restaurants and food emporiums. Big Night, Ristorante da Giovanni is worthy of your dime, though. It serves excellent local dishes with views of the castle. 

How to get to Ferrara: The regionale veloce rapid regional trains run from Stazione Santa Lucia to Ferrara hourly and take 90 minutes.

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This article was first published in March 2019, and last updated by Daniel Fahey in February 2021.

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