10 best day trips from Venice
23.08.2023 - 05:49
/ roughguides.com
/ Lake Garda
In Veneto lies a whole world of exploration beyond Venice. Discover the 10 best day trips from Venice, full of culture, history and natural beauty. From the Renaissance charm of Verona to the crystal clear waters of Lake Garda, each trip offers its own unique and unmissable experience.
Planning a trip to Italy? Browse our Italy itineraries for inspiration.
40-45 minutes by boat from Venice
Venice landmark, Burano Island canal, colourful houses and boats, Italy © StevanZZ/Shutterstock
The islands lying to the north of Venice – Murano, Burano and Torcello – are the places to go on day trips from Venice when the throng of tourists in the main part of the city becomes too oppressive. Murano has been a glass-producing centre for hundreds of years, while Burano was once renowned for its lace work. The main vaporetto stop for the northern islands is Fondamente Nove (or Nuove).
The glassblowing craft made Murano famous throughout Europe, and its furnaces today represent the last remaining industrial centre of Venice. You can't walk a few metres on this island without being invited to stop by a showroom. Some of the exhibition halls even have attached kilns, providing a unique opportunity to see the astounding craftsmanship of these artisans in action.
In contrast to the weathered facades of other lagoon settlements, Burano's small, brightly coloured houses are striking. According to local legend, these colours once helped fishermen distinguish their homes in the sea, although today they serve a purely decorative function.
Torcello settled as early as the fifth century, flourished as the episcopal seat of the Altinum by 638, and by the fourteenth century, it had a population of around twenty thousand before the rise of Venice diminished its prestige. By the end of the fifteenth century Torcello had fallen into decline, and today only a few inhabitants remain among the echoes of its history.
It is absolutely essential to have a comfortable residence in Venice to make day trips from here. To find the option that best suits your preferences, explore our guide to the best places to stay in Venice.
20 minutes by ferry from Venice
Aerial view of Lido di Venezia © Shutterstock
As one of the interesting day trips from Venice, you can choose the island of Lido di Venezia. Just a short boat ride away, this charming island offers a break from bustling Venice.
For about eight centuries the Lido was the site of the annual hoopla associated with the «wedding at sea», when the Doge would go out to Porto di Lido to dip a gold ring into the rapa and then come ashore to celebrate Mass at San Nicolò al Lido.
It was then an unspoilt strip of land and remained so into the nineteenth century. By the twentieth century, however, it had