Things to do in Veneto
What to see in a region so rich in attractions that it has become the most visited in Italy? Here is a list of 20 must-see attractions in Veneto!
Veneto
Your online travel guide to Venice and the Veneto
Is there another city in the world like Venice? Can you think of another region in Italy besides Veneto that includes within its territory sea, mountains, lakes, cities of art, hills, villages, spas and the delta of a river? Come on, you have to admit it: Veneto deserves its place on the podium in the rankings of the most visited regions in Italy and the Italian regions most loved by foreigners.
It could have lived off its income thanks to its varied territory rich in natural wonders, its strategic position for connections between Italy and Europe, and the inestimable historical and cultural heritage accumulated before and after the glorious years of the Serenissima Republic. Instead, even in tourism the Veneto has brought out its industrious and tireless nature and has equipped itself with modern services, efficient road and rail links and no less than three airports.
A land of immense wealth, Veneto is also a land of great humility. Its inhabitants speak little and work hard; they honour the value of hospitality but maintain a reserved nature and only indulge in loquacity after a glass of prosecco or a spritz.
A trip to Veneto can be anything you want it to be. Close your eyes, where do you see yourself? Up and down the bridges of Venice, in the city of Romeo and Juliet, atop the peaks of the Dolomites, in the discos of Jesolo, on the rollercoaster of Gardaland, standing where the Po meets the Adriatic? Would you like to wander the misty countryside alone, or explore the shady paths of the hills, stroll along the walls of a village or relive the bucolic dream of Palladian villas?
Whatever type of holiday you want to take, it is possible in the Veneto. In our online guide to Veneto you will find all the information you need to organise the holiday you need yourself.
In the Veneto there is something to do in every season of the year. Spring and autumn are the best times to visit the cities of art, while for seaside holidays and walks in the mountains it is best to wait until summer.
Winter is perfect for a skiing holiday in the Dolomites or for visiting Venice in the low season at significantly lower prices. The natural warm waters of the Euganean Thermal Baths make it possible to swim in an outdoor pool even in the colder months.
The Carnival of Venice, the region’s flagship event, is celebrated between February and March, but you can find interesting events in every period.
To know what to pack, it is a good idea to find out about the climate and have a look at the weather forecast a few days before departure.
From a tourist point of view the Veneto really does offer everything. Here is a guide to the most beautiful places in Veneto to help you plan your travel itinerary.
Entirely built on water, Venice is a unique city. It’s up to you whether to make it the destination of a weekend getaway or the start of a touring trip in the Veneto, but make sure you put it on your list of places to see at least once in a lifetime.
The other internationally renowned Veneto city is Verona, temple of opera and symbol of eternal love thanks to its two top attractions: the Arena and Juliet’s House (there is also Romeo’s House, less famous!).
The other Veneto cities, all well connected, are ideal destinations for those who do not like the chaos of the more famous tourist resorts. They will surprise you with their beauty, the sheer number of attractions and their vitality.
Padua is the city with the greatest number and variety of attractions; among these, the Scrovegni Chapel, Giotto’s masterpiece, is not to be missed.
Vicenza is tops for architecture lovers: within a few kilometres it concentrates a theatre, a villa and a monumental building designed by Andrea Palladio, the artist who changed the history of architecture in the 16th century.
Treviso is an enchanting city of water, to be added to your travel wish list for its romantic views, riverside promenades and rich calendar of events.
Veneto shares with Trentino-Alto Adige one of the most beautiful gifts nature has given Italy: the Dolomites mountains. But did you know that it is Veneto that has taken the biggest slice? As much as 70% of the Dolomites fall within the province of Belluno.
There are many locations in the Veneto where you can experience a dream mountain holiday. Of all of them, the most famous, and most expensive, is Cortina d’Ampezzo, the Courmayer of the Dolomites: dream landscapes, champion ski slopes, a main street crowded with people, and fashionable clubs.
No worldliness, on the other hand, in Auronzo di Cadore, a town that allows you to admire striking peaks without having to shell out an arm and a leg. The centre is built around a lake, but more famous is Lake Misurina, a hamlet further north that is an excellent base for those who want to complete the magnificent Tre Cime di Lavaredo tour on foot.
Between Cortina and Auronzo, both geographically and in terms of price, is Alleghe, a pretty town at the foot of Monte Civetta.
Veneto cannot boast a crystal-clear blue sea, yet seaside tourism is an established and very profitable tradition. The beaches in Veneto, all sandy, are wide, safe, easy to reach and equipped with modern facilities.
The top resort for seaside tourism in Veneto is Jesolo: if you are looking for the widest choice of hotels and flats, plenty of shops, clubs and nightlife, this is the destination for you.
Caorle combines the services of a seaside resort with the charm of a pretty town with a Venetian atmosphere. Bibione is the top destination for those who, in addition to beach life, want to go for long walks or bike rides. Sottomarina is the seaside hamlet of Chioggia, ‘Little Venice’, and is famous for its sand with therapeutic properties.
Lake Garda lends itself to a relaxing holiday in contact with nature. Hours of relaxation on grassy beaches, lakeside cycling routes, easy walks or trekking in the mountains are some of the green experiences you can enjoy in Lazise, Malcesine or Valeggio sul Mincio.
For total immersion in nature, far from urban agglomerations and tourist attractions, change course and head for the Po Delta. The extraordinary beauty and environmental richness of Italy’s largest wetland are still little known to tourists: along the banks of the Po and the wild beaches where the river meets the sea, peace is guaranteed.
If you prefer a hilly landscape to the plains, consider a holiday in the Euganean Hills. The low hills of volcanic origin to the south of Padua are a beautiful refuge of tranquillity where you can spend your days with walks in the woods, lazing around and tasty dinners in agritourism.
Is your idea of a holiday an aimless stroll through a small village where time seems to stand still? Can’t resist the charm of a perfectly preserved medieval castle? Get out your notepad because the Veneto is full of places that will make you fall in love.
Triumphant on the podium of the most beautiful walled towns in Veneto are Montagnana, Cittadella and Soave; the latter boasts what is rightly considered the most beautiful castle in the Veneto.
If you are looking for poetry and sweetness, the must-see destinations are the enchanting Asolo, in the Treviso hills, and Arquà Petrarca, in the Euganean Hills.
Another area with a high level of romance is Lake Garda: here you will be spoilt for choice, but if you want a destination that is easy to reach, perhaps because you have little time, go to Peschiera del Garda.
Where to take a wellness holiday in Veneto? If you want to immerse yourself in hot water to forget stress and problems, you have more than 200 pools to choose from at the Terme Euganee, the spa area south of Padua. Abano and Montegrotto are the two most famous resorts, where the most beautiful spa hotels and spas are concentrated.
On the Veneto shore of Lake Garda, the best place for a spa weekend is Lazise, located a few kilometres from the Garda Thermal Park.
Veneto has no less than three airports, all served by low-cost airlines. The main airport is Venice, the third most important airport in Italy after Rome and Milan; in the centre of the region there is Treviso airport, while in the west is Verona airport.
Arriving by car is easy because the Veneto is criss-crossed by motorways in every direction, making it quick to get from one part of the region to another. The main artery is the A4, connecting Venice to Milan on one side and Trieste on the other.
The rail connections between the main cities are very good and include numerous direct high-speed trains to Milan, Bologna, Florence, Rome and Naples. Once you arrive in Veneto, you can get around by regional trains or buses.
The numbers of the hotel industry in Veneto are record-breaking. For a long time the region has been equipped to accommodate a very high number of business and leisure travellers, and the accommodation facilities have been able to adapt their offer to their specific segment of the public.
This means that the choice of accommodation in Veneto is very wide, and you can find everything: family hotels, romantic hotels, studio apartments, villas, cheap guesthouses, charming B&Bs, agritourisms, rustic cottages, modern business hotels, international chain hotels…
Of course, this choice is wider in the most visited locations and smaller in lesser-known places such as the Po Delta, but in general it is not a problem to find a place to stay in Veneto.
The prices of hotels, b&b’s and flats in Veneto vary greatly depending on the location: they range from very expensive resorts, such as Venice and Cortina, to others with affordable prices for everyone.
On average, however, the Veneto cannot be considered a low-cost destination, so if your holiday budget is low, we recommend booking as early as possible to avoid missing out on the best offers and the cheapest accommodation.
A holiday in Veneto by car allows you to concentrate the best of this region full of attractions in a single trip or to experience a magnificent themed holiday designed to suit your tastes and interests.
It is true that the rail connections within the region are good, and so are the bus lines, but reaching smaller towns by public transport takes time (and patience) and risks limiting your holiday considerably.
For example, the car allows you to follow the wine roads to discover the best wine cellars in Veneto or to concentrate the most beautiful villas of the Riviera del Brenta in one day trip. Or you could take a car tour of Lake Garda, stopping at the most picturesque villages. Also consider that the starting points of the high-altitude trekking trails in the Dolomites are often not accessible by public transport.
If you reach Veneto by plane, you can rent a car directly at the airport. In all airports in Veneto there are low-cost car rental agencies offering cheap rates and attractive offers to those who book online.
Veneto is a region in north-eastern Italy. It borders Emilia-Romagna to the south, Friuli-Venezia Giulia to the north-east, Trentino-Alto Adige to the north-west and Lombardy to the west; for a small stretch to the north it borders Austria. It is washed by the Adriatic Sea to the east.
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