Venice Day Trips: 7 Great Trips from the City of Canals

“Go beyond the canals and cathedrals of Venice with a day trip into northern Italy. While it’s great to base yourself in a Venice hotel, the city’s surrounds are packed with charming islands, romantic towns and architectural wonders, all easily reached by car or public transport. Here are the best day trips to take from Venice.

Cruise between the Lagoon Islands
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A short boat ride away from the city, the three islands of Murano, Burano and Torcello make for one of Venice’s most popular trips. All three are easily done in a day.

Each has its own distinctive character and charm. Watch the famous glass blowers of Murano craft intricate ornaments and wares; snap away at the candy-coloured fisherman’s homes of pretty Burano; and stroll quietly among the peaceful lanes and Byzantine churches of Torcello.

The islands are to the north of Venice’s lagoon and can be reached by vaporetto, the city’s water taxis. Make your lunch stop at Burano – it’s known for its super fresh seafood.

### Travel time

Vaporetto: Approximately 45 minutes to one hour (depending on the island)

Make Time for a Miniature Venice
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Venice in miniature, Treviso is a less hectic and lesser visited version of The Floating City. Of course, it’s not exactly the same, but the similarities – the placid canals, the pretty piazzas, the traditional family-run trattorias – make it well worth a visit.

Treviso’s answer to Piazza San Marco is Piazza dei Signori, a pleasant square of alfresco cafes and former palaces – the most striking of which is Palazzo del Podestà, with its imposing clock tower.

One thing Treviso has that Venice doesn’t: walls. The old town is surrounded by 15th-century battlements, with the gates of Porta San Tommaso, Porta Santi Quaranta, and Porta Altinia marking the way into the old city.

### Travel time

Car: Approximately 35 minutes Train: Approximately 30 minutes

Visit an Italian Masterpiece in Padua
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The Scrovegni Chapel is the star of the show in this historic Italian city. A masterpiece of artistic expression, the interior frescoes, painted by Giotto between 1303-05, depict the life and times of Christ in a uniquely human way – something unheard of at the time.

Besides the chapel (advanced booking is essential, by the way), Padua’s medieval core makes for a relaxing break away from the crowded streets of Venice. Visit the grand, domed Basilica of Saint Anthony, notable for its blend of byzantine and romanesque influences, and Prato della Valle, a vast, oval piazza said to be the largest square in Italy.

### Travel time

Car: Approximately 45 minutes Train: Approximately 30 minutes

Enjoy the Beach Bliss of Lido
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Many tourists miss out on Lido, opting for art and architecture over a day on the beach, but during the summer it’s a great way to escape the sometimes-oppressive heat of Venice. Even during the peak months, the pace is much slower on Lido.

Rent bikes and cycle down to Alberoni, a peaceful, pine-shaded nature reserve that inspired Byron, or stroll through the ancient monuments and tombs of the Jewish cemetery. With the Adriatic on one side and Venice on the other, the island has some of the best views in the lagoon, too.

### Travel time

Vaporetto: Approximately 20 minutes

Fall for Verona
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A place of star-crossed lovers, ancient Roman ruins and picturesque piazzas, Verona is one of Italy’s most alluring cities. Most flock here to fawn over the balcony at Casa di Giulietta, but the real attraction is Verona Arena, a spectacular Roman amphitheatre.

Built in the first century, this immense cultural cauldron has since traded bloodshed for Bocelli, hosting Verona’s legendary summer opera festival. Beyond Romeo and Romans, the unofficial city of “R’s” is also an important centre of renaissance art and architecture – the landscaped lawns of the Giardino Giusti and the 15^th-century Loggia del Consiglio are a must.

### Travel time

Car: Approximately 90 minutes Train: Approximately one hour 15 minutes

Sample Ferrara’s Legendary Local Pasta
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Ferrara’s chefs have had plenty of time to perfect cappellacci di zucca, the town’s melt-in-your-mouth signature pasta – historic records reckon the dish, a heavenly combination of butternut squash, parmesan and nutmeg folded into fresh, eggy pasta, dates back to the 16th-century.Taste it for yourself in Ferrara, an understated city in neighbouring foodie region of Emilia-Romagna.

Wash it down with a glass of wine at Enoteca Al Brindisi, which claims to be the oldest wine bar in the world. Opened in 1435, you’ll find it tucked away along a cobbled alley next to the cathedral. And while there’s nothing that old on sale, its dusty, bottle-crammed shelves are full of ancient vintages from all over Italy.

### Travel time

Car: Approximately one hour 20 minutes Train: Approximately one hour 20 minutes

Tour the Prosecco Vineyards of Valdobbiadene
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Terraced vineyards and rolling hills await in Valdobbiadene, the heart of northern Veneto’s UNESCO-listed Prosecco country. Make a day of touring the many wineries along il Strada del Prosecco (the Prosecco Road), a snaking route of lush vineyards, stone villages and beautiful rural scenery between Conegliano and Valdobbiadene.

The area is at its liveliest in May when the Vino in Villa festival takes over in a flurry of popping corks and prosecco-themed events. Way before September’s harvest, this is also when the vines look their best.

### Travel time

Car: Approximately one hour 10 minutes Train: Approximately on hour 50 minutes

Check out even more Venice holidays with Expedia!”