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Best Day Trips from Venice: Islands, Padua, Verona and the Dolomites (2026)
The best day trips from Venice by boat, train or tour: Murano and Burano, Padua, Verona, Bologna, the Dolomites and the Prosecco hills, checked September 2026.
The best day trips from Venice go in three directions: out into the lagoon, west to the art cities of the Veneto, and north to the mountains and the Prosecco hills. This guide compares them by travel time and by what you actually do there, then tells you when a guide is worth it.
The short answer: for a first visit, spend a half day on Murano and Burano, then take the train to Padua (about 15 minutes) for Giotto’s frescoes or to Verona (about 1 hour). For landscapes, book a guided day in the Dolomites or the Prosecco hills, which are hard to reach by public transport. Train times and prices were checked in September 2026.
Last updated: September 25, 2026
Day trips from Venice at a glance
| Destination | From Venice | Best for | Guided option |
|---|---|---|---|
| Murano and Burano | Vaporetto across the lagoon | Glassmaking and colored houses | From about $209 |
| Padua | About 15 min, 18 Italo trains a day | Giotto’s Scrovegni Chapel | Easy on your own |
| Verona | About 1 h 1 min, 7 Italo trains a day | The Roman Arena and the old town | Easy on your own |
| Bologna | About 1 h 19 min by Italo | Food, porticoes and towers | Easy on your own |
| The Dolomites | Best with a tour | Alpine lakes and peaks | From about $208 |
| The Prosecco hills | Best with a tour | Wineries between Conegliano and Valdobbiadene | From about $197 |
Train times from the Italo route pages; tour prices read on Viator, per person, in September 2026. Prices change, so each linked page shows the live figures.
Murano and Burano: the lagoon islands
The islands are the easiest escape from the crowds at St. Mark’s. Murano is the island of glassmaking, while Burano, further out, is known for lace and its brightly painted houses. The ACTV vaporetto (water bus) reaches both, and a travel card is the simplest way to pay: €25 for one day, according to the city’s Venezia Unica site (checked September 2026). Alternatively, the St. Mark’s and lagoon tours combine the islands with the basilica and the Doge’s Palace.
If you prefer a guide and a boat to the vaporetto, our Murano and Burano tour page compares a guided trip rated 4.7 from 9,389 reviews, from about $51, with a half-day tour rated 4.8, from about $29 (checked September 2026).
Padua: Giotto in 15 minutes by train
Padua is the closest of the day trips from Venice by train: about 15 minutes, with 18 Italo trains a day (checked September 2026). The reason to go is the Scrovegni Chapel, covered in Giotto’s frescoes. According to the official ticket page, booking is mandatory, visits last 15 minutes, and the ticket for the chapel and the civic museums costs €16; the chapel opens daily from 9 am to 7 pm (checked September 2026). Consequently, book your slot first and plan the rest of the day around it.
Verona and Bologna by fast train
Verona is about 1 hour away on Italo, with 7 trains a day (checked September 2026). Its Roman Arena, the old town and the view from Castel San Pietro fill a day easily; in summer, check the Arena di Verona Opera Festival. Bologna, about 1 hour 19 minutes away, is the choice for food, with its porticoes, markets and fresh pasta.
The Dolomites: a mountain day from Venice
The Dolomites are the most dramatic of the day trips from Venice, but also the hardest to do alone, because the lakes and passes are spread out and poorly served by public transport. A guided day is the practical choice: our Dolomites day trip page compares two options by van, from about $208 (checked September 2026). Expect a long day, of 8 hours or more.
The Prosecco hills: a wine day
Between Conegliano and Valdobbiadene, the steep hills of Prosecco Superiore are a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Tastings mean you should not drive, so our Prosecco hills page compares a tour with two winery visits and lunch, from about $197, with one that includes the train from Venice (checked September 2026). For more wine regions, see our wine tours by region.
How to plan day trips from Venice
- Leave from Santa Lucia. Venice’s main station sits on the Grand Canal, so you can walk or take the vaporetto to your train.
- Book the Scrovegni Chapel before the train. Its timed slots decide your day in Padua.
- Check the access fee status. The city’s 2026 trial of the day-tripper fee ended on July 27, 2026, and no 2027 dates had been announced when we checked. Guests staying overnight in Venice were exempt in any case.
- Stay the night in Venice. Our best tours in Venice plan the city itself, and the northern Italy itinerary links it with Verona, Lake Garda and Milan.
Day trips from Venice: frequently asked questions
What is the best day trip from Venice?
For a first visit, Murano and Burano by vaporetto. By train, Padua is only about 15 minutes away and Verona about 1 hour, checked September 2026.
Can you visit the Dolomites in a day from Venice?
Yes, but it is a long day, and public transport is limited, so a guided tour by van is the practical choice.
Do you need to book the Scrovegni Chapel in Padua?
Yes. Booking is mandatory, visits last 15 minutes, and the ticket for the chapel and the civic museums costs €16, checked September 2026.
How long is the train from Venice to Verona?
About 1 hour on Italo, with 7 trains a day in each direction, checked September 2026.
Can you visit the Prosecco hills without a car?
Partly, but the wineries are spread across the hills and tastings involve alcohol, so a guided tour with transport is easier.
Plan your Venice days
Book the mountain or wine day first
Compare every Venice tour and day trip side by side, with ratings and conditions read on Viator.
Book it: experiences for this trip
Matched to this article by place and interest, then ordered by Viator rating and number of reviews (checked September 2026). Prices and availability are shown live on Viator.
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