Verona to Venice - A Great Day Trip in Italy (Travel Tips and What to See)

A day trip from Verona to Venice in Italy is easy, enjoyable, and a must-do.

For its location in the heart of the Venetian Lagoon, Venice is universally known as the world’s most unique and beautiful city.

Venice is also rich in important historic and artistic sights, it is a hub of artisan crafts and a stage for large-scale worldwide known events. In a nutshell, the city of water offers a great number of things to see, do, and enjoy. Several of them can be covered in a day.

With a travel time starting from an hour and 12 mins one way and with trains connecting Verona and Venice dozens of times throughout the day, this is a day trip in Italy that you simply must do. Don’t miss the chance!

To make it easy for you, in this blog post, I have collated all the details to make planning a day trip from Verona to Venice a success. From first-hand tried and tested information on how to travel between these two Italian cities to a shortlist of the major sights to see in Venice in a day, everything’s covered.

During my six years of living in Italy, I travelled between Verona and Venice and from Venice to Verona dozens of times. Each time, it was so worth it and it opened yet another horizon in front of me in terms of Italian history, culture, food, and art.

Now, I would like to share my tips with you to help you have a great experience, too. Logically organised in easy chunks, below you will find the information that you need to enjoy Venice on a great day trip from Verona in Italy.

Have a look!

Verona to Venice – An Unmissable Day Trip in Italy (With Travel Tips and Sights to See)

Where is Venice, Italy?

Venice is the capital of the Northern Italian region of the Veneto. Famously, the historic centre of the city is built on 118 small islands grouped together in the heart of the Venetian Lagoon. A long car and railway bridge connects Venice to the mainland.

Venice is within close proximity to Veneto’s other large cities, namely:

Padua – westwards about 40 km away from Venice;
Vicenza – westwards about 70 km away from Venice; and
Verona – westwards about 121 km away from Venice.

Venice is connected to all three cities by road and railway. Travel between them is easy, well-organised, and inexpensive.

The historic city’s train station – Venezia Santa Lucia – is an end of the line station and among the 14 largest and busiest train stations in Italy. On average, it serves 450 high-speed and regional trains a day and deals with 30 million passengers a year.

Venice is easy and quick to reach from a number of large Italian cities like Milan, Bologna, Turin, Florence, and Naples in addition to the Italian capital Rome. Venice also enjoys excellent railway connections to a number of important European cities in Austria, Switzerland, Germany, and France.

Geographically speaking, Venice has two parts:

The historic centre of Venice – built on 118 islands in the Venetian Lagoon and surrounded by water on all sides. This was the capital of the Republic of Venice and nowadays is one of the biggest tourist destinations in the world. If you want to explore the beauty and heritage of Venice on a day trip from Verona, you need to travel to the Venezia Santa Lucia train station which serves the historic centre of Venice.
The mainland area of Venice – known as Venezia Mestre or simply Mestre, this is the large borough on the mainland. The trains from Verona to Venice first stop at the Venezia Mestre train station before heading across the water to the Venezia Santa Lucia train station in the historic centre of the city. First-time visitors at times get confused and get off the train at Venezia Mestre. Unless you have a specific interest in Mestre, you need to stay on the train until the end of the line at Venezia Santa Lucia.

Why Visit Venice from Verona?

If you are spending more than two days in Verona, it’s always a good idea to take a day trip to Venice. The city of water doesn’t really need an introduction and it’s famous worldwide for its unique location, multilayered history, priceless works of art, and mesmerising beauty. Once the capital of the mighty Republic of Venice which ruled over the Mediterranean trade for over 1,000 years, nowadays the historic city of Venice is a must-see for anyone who loves beauty, art, and history.

Plus, Verona itself has a centuries-old connection to Venice for it used to be part of the Republic of Venice from 1405 to 1797. It being so close to Venice gives you a chance to simply jump on the train or hire a car and make the very manageable day trip across the Veneto.

With a history that spans many centuries, nowadays Venice is an important cultural and artistic centre in Northern Italy. For its concentration of unique historic, urban, and artistic landmarks and for its extraordinary natural landscape, Venice and its Lagoon have been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987.

From its main sights – many of which are clustered around the spectacular St. Mark’s Square and Grand Canal – to its many hidden gems and corners dotted all over the historic centre, Venice is always a delight to discover. With a bit of forward planning and having a clear idea in mind as to what you want to see there in a day, a trip from Verona to Venice is an unmissable adventure to leave memories that last a lifetime.

How to Travel from Verona to Venice?

There are two main convenient ways to travel from Verona to Venice. Here they are in further details:

Verona to Venice by Train – train times are from short to manageable depending on the type of train you choose. There are dozens of trains running between Verona and Venice all throughout the day.

In general, there are two types of trains here:

High-speed trains (Frecciarossa and ItaloTreno):

On average they take about 1 h 12 mins from Verona Porta Nuova train station to Venezia Santa Lucia train station.
They are very swish and travel really fast.
However, this type of trains cost more and the tickets for them get more expensive the closer to the date of travel you buy them.
If you want to maximise your sightseeing time and don’t mind the cost, then get a high-speed train from Verona to Venice. The earlier you buy your tickets, the less you will pay, so keep an eye on the TrenItalia and ItaloTreno websites for the best pricing.

Regional trains (Regionale Veloce and Regionale):

The tickets for both Regionale Veloce and Regionale trains cost the same, don’t increase in price no matter how close to departure you buy them, can be used for both a Regionale Veloce or a Regionale train, and can be bought on the day of travel from the ticket machines or the ticket kiosks at the train station.
The thing to remember is that once you buy your ticket for a Regionale Veloce or a Regionale train, you need to validate it before you board the train! Basically, you need to place your ticket in the slot of one of the machines affixed to the walls/pillars of the train station and wait for the machine to print a code on the ticket. If you don’t do it, your ticket is not valid and fines are large.
A Regionale Veloce train is a fast regional train that only stops at the major train stations along the way.
A Regionale Veloce train takes about 1 h 28 mins from Verona to Venice.
These trains are new, well-maintained, and very comfortable. Usually, the train carriages have two levels so you can climb the steps to the top floor of the train and enjoy the views from there.
The Regionale Veloce trains are a great alternative to the high-speed trains – about three times cheaper and with just over 15 mins difference in travel times.
A Regionale train is a slow regional train which stops at every train station – no matter how small – along the way.
The Regionale trains take from 2 h 16 mins to 2 h 22 mins to reach Venice from Verona, so it’s best to get a Regionale Veloce train (especially as the price is the same).

Train Stations:

Depending on where you are staying in Verona, there are two train stations from which to start your day trip to Venice. Both of these train stations are on the same train line:

Verona Porta Nuova – this is the city’s main railway station. It is about 20 mins on foot and about 10-12 mins by bus from Piazza Bra and Arena di Verona.
Verona Porta Vescovo – this is a small local railway station on the left side of the River Adige. Travelling to Venice, it is the first station after Verona Porta Nuova. Bear in mind that this train station is only served by the Regionale Veloce and Regionale trains. So, if you are planning to travel by high-speed train from Verona to Venice, you need to start your journey from the Verona Porta Nuova train station.

As mentioned above, there are two train stations in Venice, too. Both of them are on the same train line:

Venezia Santa Lucia train station – if you want to visit Venice proper, i.e. the historic centre of Venice on the islands in the Venetian Lagoon, this is the train station you need to travel to. The travel times given above apply to the journeys from Verona Porta Nuova to this train station.
Venezia Mestre train station – if you have a specific interest in Mestre – the mainland administrative borough of Venice, you need to travel to this station. It precedes the Venezia Santa Lucia train station and travel times from the Verona Porta Nuova train station to it will be on average 10-12 mins shorter.

Buying Tickets Online:

To check train travel times and buy train tickets in advance, you can use one of these two websites:

TrenItalia – for both high-speed trains and regional trains;
ItaloTreno – for high-speed trains only.

Both are easy to navigate and have an English user interface. The only thing to remember is that on the TrenItalia website you need to use the Italian names of the train stations (as given above) when you are doing a search for tickets.

Verona to Venice by Car – you can easily and quickly travel from Verona to Venice by car. The journey by toll roads can take anything from just over an hour to two hours depending on how heavy the traffic is. This very helpful website will give you an estimate of how much the tolls are going to cost. Just be prepared for a more of an assertive type of driving and drivers that seem to be on the offensive.

As you know, Venice is a car-free city. You can park on the island of Tronchetto which is like one huge car park. Just follow the signs after crossing over from the mainland on the long Liberty Bridge. It’s easy and your GPS app will be able to point you in the right direction. Once at Tronchetto, you can get the people mover to Piazzale Roma and start exploring from there.

Another option is to park at one of the car parks at Piazzale Roma and either walk from there or take the vaporetto (Venice’s water bus) from there down the Grand Canal.

If you do a search online, you will find several different car park operators and then you can choose the most convenient one for you.

What to see in Venice on a Day Trip from Verona?

One day is never enough for Venice but it’s better than none. There are many things to do, see, and fall in love with in Venice, Italy. If you have a plan in mind and/or are prepared to be walking around all day, you can certainly cover a lot of ground here from morning till dusk.

Just make sure that you wear your most comfortable shoes and clothes, that in summer you bring a water bottle with you (you can refill it from the free water fountains around town), and that you are not afraid of getting lost once or twice (it’s part of the experience of being in Venice).

A great introduction to the beauty of Venice is to simply take vaporetto number 1 either from Piazzale Roma or from Venezia Santa Lucia train station down the Grand Canal. This way, you will be able to see numerous splendid palaces, historic churches and Rialto Bridge before arriving in style at St. Mark’s Square where many of the city’s major sights are grouped around.

Here is a shortlist to get you started planning your day trip from Verona to Venice:

Grand Canal – take vaporetto number 1 all the way to St. Mark’s Square. The journey down the Grand Canal is a fabulous introduction to the beauty of Venice. Along the way you will see such stunning buildings and structures as Ca’ Pesaro, Ca’ d’Oro, Rialto Bridge, Ca’ Rezzonico, Accademia Bridge, Gallerie dell’Accademia, and Basilica Santa Maria della Salute. The vaporetto (this is what water buses are called in Venice) will take you all the way down to the large expanse of water known as St. Mark’s Basin with St. Mark’s Square and the Doge’s Palace on one side and the islet of San Giorgio Maggiore on the other.
Doge’s Palace – a visit to this splendid pink and white Gothic building will give you an excellent idea about the Republic of Venice as a political and commercial titan during its heyday. You will also gain an understanding of the Republic’s unique governmental structure and will see some truly stunning monumental pieces of art.
St. Mark’s Basilica and St. Mark’s Campanile – Venice’s most iconic church that is covered with gold mosaics inside. Its belltower is almost 100 m tall and it’s diagonally across from the basilica’s facade. Make sure that you take the lift to its top to enjoy breathtaking views over the city of water.
Rialto Bridge and Rialto Markets – one of Venice’s most famous sights, the elegant stone arch of Rialto Bridge straddles the Grand Canal at its narrowest point. Right next to it you can explore the Rialto markets offering an abundance of fresh produce and fresh fish.
Museums, churches, and sights – two of the most famous museums here are Gallerie dell’Accademia and Peggy Guggenheim’s Collection. In addition, there is a whole host of museums, churches, and sights here to satisfy every type of interest in history and art. Here are some suggestions: Fondazione Querini Stampalia, Ca’ Pesaro, Ca’ Rezzonico, Teatro La Fenice, Scuola Grande San Rocco, Basilica dei Frari.
Cicchetti – take every opportunity to enjoy Venice’s own finger foods that are traditionally washed down with a glass of wine (called ombra by the Venetians);
Historical Events – if you are in Venice at the right time, enjoy a splendid event. Carnevale, Venice Historical Regatta, the Regatta of the Ancient Maritime Republics, and the annual Befana race are particularly famous.
Private Tours with a Truly Venetian Local Guide – for private tours of Venice, I always recommend Luisella Romeo from See Venice and Erika Cornali from When in Venice. They can help you experience Venice authentically and tailor a tour to your specifications.

There are many more beautiful sights and unique locations to visit in Venice, Italy on a day trip from Verona. If you are after some hidden corners and little-known gems, make sure that you read this exhaustive article:

Hidden Gems in Venice – 101 Things to Do in Venice, Italy Off the Beaten Track

It covers in extensive detail the many curious, weird, and whimsical things that make Venice such a unique city and a must-see destination when you are in Italy.

What Is Your Personal Experience of Travelling from Verona to Venice?

I spent six years living in Vicenza – an elegant historic city halfway between Verona and Venice in Italy. As such, I took every opportunity to travel to both Venice and Verona on day trips to explore their art, history, culture, unique events, delicious food, and lovely city settings.

Travelling by train and by car around the Veneto is incredibly easy and inexpensive. The Veneto is the Northern Italian region which Venice, Verona, and Vicenza are a part of. Travel distances between the tree cities are short and easy to navigate. A modern motorway leads directly from Verona all the way to Venice. Dozens of train connect the two cities all throughout the day.

The trains are clean, new, and well-maintained. They feel safe. While they can get quite busy in the mornings and in the late afternoons with students and workers commuting between Venice, Verona, and the towns and cities between the two, the journey is not long per se and it’s never an inconvenience to make it.

Venice has so much to offer that a day here quickly flies away. Delving into the city’s history and art is very satisfying for you always end up discovering new things. Even if you are here just for a day, you can explore places of great historic, architectural, and artistic importance. Plus, the city as a whole is very beautiful and turning every corner, crossing every bridge, walking along every canal reveals more beauty to truly fall in love with.

Yes, the most popular sights will be besieged by crowds. In summer the sun can be very, very hot. Yet, Venice – the real, authentic one – is easy to discover even on a day trip. The city of water has a way to get under your skin, to make you really fall for it.

I full-heartedly recommend taking a day trip from Verona to Venice to anyone spending more than two days in Verona and wanting to see the most beautiful city in the world with their own eyes.

A small disclaimer is due here: All the information contained in this blog post is up to date at the date of publishing it. This is not professional, exclusive advice. Just personal experiences and suggestions shared without any obligation to you and any expectations from you.

In Conclusion

Taking a day trip from Verona to Venice is a great way to make your Italian holiday even more exciting.

These two Italian cities are a manageable distance away from one another. They are connected by a modern motorway and multiple trains run between the two all throughout the day. Hence visiting Venice from Verona is easy and straightforward. Plus, Venice – universally recognised as the world’s most beautiful city – has many splendid sights and museums several of which can be covered in one day.

In the above blog post, I give you detailed information on how to make such a day trip. From how to get from Verona to Venice to a shortlist of what to do and see in Venice in one day, all the bases are covered.

I hope that the information provided will galvanise you to put Venice at the top of your travel wish list and that you will visit this exciting Italian city on a day trip from Verona (or even stay longer) as soon as this is possible.

Verona to Venice – An Unmissable Day Trip in Italy (With Travel Tips and Sights to See)

A day trip from Verona to Venice in Italy is easy, enjoyable, and a must-do.

For its location in the heart of the Venetian Lagoon, Venice is universally known as the world’s most unique and beautiful city.

Have a look!

Verona to Venice – An Unmissable Day Trip in Italy (With Travel Tips and Sights to See)

Where is Venice, Italy?

Why Visit Venice from Verona?

How to Travel from Verona to Venice?

What to see in Venice on a Day Trip from Verona?

What Is Your Personal Experience of Travelling from Verona to Venice?

In Conclusion

Enjoy your day trip to Venice, Italy!

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