Veneto is a region based in the north of Italy and one worth visiting for its diversity of landscapes and the sheer amount of things to do all year round.
You can start your journey from Veneto’s lagoon where you’ll find the romantic city of Venice and many other smaller mediaeval villages. Then, moving towards the hills, you have alpine lakes and the Dolomites… Veneto really is a chest of treasures.
Of course, one trip to this northern Italian region won’t be enough to visit its main sights, or allow you enough time to connect with the local culture, but you can always start by getting acquainted with some the best things to do in Veneto.
Before you do though, let’s see what is of interest to the first-time traveller below.
Veneto Region, Italy
This comprehensive guide looks not only at what to do in Veneto and its cities and towns but gives you an insight into what to expect when travelling to this region.
I think it is important to understand exactly where this region is located, what it’s famous for and why it’s even worth your time before getting to know what to do.
Let’s start by looking at the map of Veneto below so you can fully visualise the area.
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Where is Veneto?
I’ve written about various cities in Veneto which you will find located in north-east Italy and makes up one of the most populated and touristic regions in the north.
It’s bordered by Friuli Venezia Giulia to the east/north, Trentino Alto Adige to the west/north, Austria to the north, Lombardy to the west and Emilia Romagna to the south.
On the eastern border it is met by the Adriatic Sea. Veneto’s capital city is Venice and there are 6 more provinces: Treviso, Vicenza, Verona, Padua, Rovigo and Belluno.
Veneto’s territory is marked by:
- The Alps in the north, and more specifically the Dolomites mountains;
- Po Valley and flatlands where the longest Italian flows, river Po;
- Garda Lake sharing its shores with the regions of Lombardy and Trentino Alto Adige;
- The Venetian Lagoon and the Adriatic Sea coastline.
What is Veneto known for?
Just like with many others, there is a chance that you have heard about the Veneto region in Italy on many occasions, but without actually realising it.
Veneto is a region known for many different things, starting from its rich historic and cultural heritage, cities like Venice, Verona and Padua, its dramatic mountains landscapes and the incredible cuisine and its wines.
Below are some of the main reasons why Veneto is so popular:
- Venice is the main reason why millions of people know the Veneto region and dream of visiting it. Built on more than 100 small islands, Venice is one of the most visited destinations in the world. The Grand Canal, bridges like Rialto or the Bridge of Sighs, St. Mark’s Basilica and the Doge’s Palace are just some of the things Venice is known for in and around the world.
- Cities like Verona with its Arena and Juliet’s balcony are popular landmarks attracting thousands of visitors every year. There are less touristy places worth visiting, cities such as Treviso and Padua and mediaeval walled towns like Bassano del Grappa, Castelfranco Veneto and Asolo that will make you fall deeper in love with this region (if you weren’t already).
- Lake Garda is a the most famous lakeside resort in Veneto. Summer is the most popular time of the year to go sunbathing by its shores, visit picturesque villages overlooking its waters and have fun at amusement parks like Gardaland!
- The Dolomites mountains belong to the Italian Alps and places such as the Tre Cime di Lavaredo, the Lake Misurina or the fancy village of Cortina d’Ampezzo are on the bucket list of many mountains and nature lovers.
- The Prosecco wine is one of the most loved sparkling wines in the world! It comes from the Prosecco wine region that extends in the Veneto and Friuli Venezia Giulia region. It’s worth knowing that the best Prosecco (DOCG denomination) only comes from a circumscribed area in Veneto, Italy.
Is Veneto worth Visiting?
Yes, Veneto is worth visiting for all the points mentioned above and many more! The beauty of Venice, with St. Mark’s Square, famous bridges like Rialto and the Grand Canal are -only they- a reason to travel to Veneto.
Let’s then add more cities like Verona, Padua and Treviso that you can easily reach from Venice and both mountains and sea to the things you can see.
The good news is that you can get from one side of the region to the other in less than an hour and a half by train and less if driving a car.
It’s a bit more complicated and it takes longer to get to the mountains and the Prosecco hills. In this case, hiring a car or joining guided day trips from Venice is the best.
In any case, trains connect the most important places in Veneto and they’re quite reliable and on time. By visiting different places in Veneto, you’ll get a better understanding of the variety of landscapes that this region offers, that make it such a unique one in the country.
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Things to do in Veneto, Italy
With all the things to do in Veneto, Italy I’ll now share some of the unmissable ones, in particular if you’re a first time visitor. Let’s start with the city on the water: Venice.
Learn Venice’s history and culture
You can’t say you’ve been in Veneto, Italy without having visited Venice, its capital city. I recommend you read my seven reasons to visit Venice before you arrive.
Venice is also called La Serenissima (the most serene), to reminisce its past as a wealthy maritime republic dominating the Mediterranean Sea and successfully trading with the Middle and Far East over the course of three centuries.
The Republic of Venice was very powerful and controlled most of the Veneto region for quite some time. Today there are many things you can do in Venice to learn more about its history and lively culture. Start by St. Mark’s Square and the St. Mark’s Basilica, dedicated to Venice’s patron saint: St. Mark.
You can then visit the Doge’s Palace, the former residence of the doge of Venice (magistrate chief of the Serenissima Republic). The best thing you can do is to join this guided tour of the St. Mark’s Basilica and Doge’s Palace and let an expert guide show you around.
Cross the Rialto Bridge for a wonderful view over the Grand Canal and stroll around the Rialto market. Go on a gondola ride and have a snack in Venetian style: with cicchetti and ombra de vin (glass of wine).
You can also take part in this street food guided tour and let a local teach you how to eat like a real Venetian! Finally, if you’re interested in learning more about Venetian art, visit its museums and art galleries like the Gallerie dell’Accademia, the Correr Museum, Ca’ Rezzonico and the Galleria Giorgio Franchetti at Ca’ D’Oro, just to name a few.
Visit Veneto’s City of Love: Verona
If I say Verona probably you can’t help but think about it as the tragic setting of the love story between Romeo and Juliet by Shakespeare. Even though thousands of tourists fly to Verona to visit Juliet’s Balcony, this is not the only reason why it’s worth visiting it.
In fact, Verona is also called the ‘Porta d’Italia’ (the ‘Italian door’) because it anticipates, for those coming from the north, the beauty of this country. To visit Verona I recommend buying the 24 or 48 Hours-Verona Card.
With this city card you visit for free many attractions such as the Castelvecchio Museum, Juliet’s House, the Natural History Museum, the Arena Amphitheater and Archaeological Museum at the Roman Theater.
If you ask me, I believe that the landmarks mentioned above, should be in your itinerary if you’re thinking of spending a weekend in Verona.
I also suggest taking time to stroll around its historic city centre, and visit its piazzas. Starting from Piazza delle Erbe, the oldest public square in the city, then Piazza dei Signori, from where you can get to the Torre dei Lamberti and admire a splendid panoramic view of Verona’s roofs (entrance fee included in the Verona Card!) and Piazza Brà.
Relax by the shores of Lake Garda
Lake Garda is the largest Italian lake and it’s impossible to visit its most important attractions during one holiday. You can get from Verona to Lake Garda easily and in less than 15 minutes and spend a day chilling and sunbathing.
Or if you like amusement parks, pick one of the many in the area, one of my favourites is without any doubt Gardaland and I’ve recently been to Movieland which is great for all movie and cartoon fans.
There are many lakeside towns and villages worth visiting, and on my top list, you can find: Peschiera del Garda, Desenzano del Garda, Bardolino and Sirmione, also called ‘the pearl of Lake Garda’.
The range of experiences you can live around the lake is huge! Depending on your travel style and plans, these are my recommendations:
- If you like hiking – complete the scenic trail of Busatte – Tempesta and the cyclo-pedestrian path of Limone del Garda.
- If you like cycling, mountain biking and MTB – cycle along the Ponale path that connects Riva del Garda to Valle di Ledro.
- If you like driving – drive along the Strada della Forra, which is 6 kilometres long, full of hairpin bends and tunnels until you’ll reach the village of Tremosine.
- If you’re interested in culture – visit the Italian Vittoriale, the house of Gabriele d’Annunzio, one of the most important Italian poets and novelist.
- If you’re interested in local wines and cuisine – visit Bardolino and try the local wine or join this winery tour with Garda wine and food tasting in Lazise sul Garda.
Visit the Prosecco Region
The Prosecco hills of Conegliano and Valdobbiadene are one of the 9 UNESCO Heritage Sites in Veneto, Italy. This wine region is a renowned wine lovers and foodie destination immersed in a sinuous landscape, only 1 hour away from Venice.
During a day trip on the Prosecco Superiore hills, you can visit wine cellars and taste the DOCG Prosecco, the best Prosecco in the world! Normally wine tastings are accompanied by local cheeses and cured meats, so don’t worry, you won’t get drunk!
But of course, here it’s not just about wine. The Pedemontana hills are also a perfect destination for the sporty types. In fact, the natural ups and downs of the hills are perfect for walks and bicycle itineraries. There are also numerous events throughout the year celebrating the local wines and in particular the iconic Prosecco wine.
Worth a mention it’s the Primavera del Prosecco Superiore annual event. Even though I recommend staying in the Prosecco hills for a few nights to make the most of this land, you can also join these Prosecco tours from Venice and visit iconic locations of the region in one day.
If you decide to spend more days around this region, make sure to explore the lovely historical city centres of Asolo, Conegliano, Valdobbiadene and Vittorio Veneto.
Go hiking in the Dolomites
The Veneto’s Dolomites can be visited all year long and they attract thousands of tourists for their magnificent beauty and the wide range of activities you can practise.
I recommend the summer to go hiking and climbing, whilst spring and autumns are perfect to admire the colours of nature. During winter, you can go skiing and snowboarding or even just relax at some of the best hotels with spas in the country for a few days, surrounded by the woods and mountains.
If you don’t know where to start planning a trip to the Dolomites and currently spending your holiday in Venice, then you can join one of these highly-rated day trips to the Dolomites from Venice and spend a day in the Alpine zone of Veneto.
Dedicate at least half day to visit the ‘pearl of the Dolomites’, Cortina d’Ampezzo and from there go hiking around the Lake Sorapis, famous for its turquoise colour which is dust of the nearby glacier.
You can also spend a day around Auronzo di Cadore, visit its city centre and then go for a walk around the Lake Misurina (check out the legend of Misurina) and take Instagram worthy pictures of the Tre Cime di Lavaredo.
This popular guided tour of Cortina and Dolomites covers all the most beautiful places of the Veneto’s Dolomites.
Visit the most beautiful mediaeval towns
Veneto preserves several medieval villages and towns, many of which are considered some of the most beautiful in Italy. Many of these towns boast well-kept defensive walls and the charm of small centres.
In Veneto there are many castles and fortresses scattered all around its territory worth visiting, so it’s not easy to decide where to go.
This is a list of the best mediaeval towns and villages you can visit in Veneto:
- Asolo – I’ve been there many times and this village never stops enchanting me. I love the small artisan shops, the tiny bars and restaurants and its fortress from where you can admire a wonderful view of the surrounding hills.
- Castelfranco Veneto – my hometown! It’s one of the most elegant medieval-walled towns in Veneto. You can go for a stroll around the walls and the gardens, stop for apertivo by the Piazza Giorgione’s porticoes and visit the Duomo.
- Cittadella – this charming medieval town is the only one in the world with the entirely walkable rampart walk.
- Cison di Valmarino – it’s famous for CastelBrando, based on a high spur dominating the medieval village. It’s an ideal starting point for walks and excursions surrounded by nature.
- Follina – in the province of Treviso, the must-see attractions are the Abbey of Santa Maria with its pictoresque Gothic cloister.
- Montagnana – it’s one of the most beautiful villages in Italy thanks to its intact medieval walls. Make sure to visit the San Zeno Castle.
- Marostica – this village not far from Bassano del Grappa, it’s famous all over the world for the game of chess with living characters. Here there are two castles: the lower castle, in the city centre and the upper castle, connected to each other by medieval walls.
Go to the beach
The beaches of Veneto, Italy are famous throughout the country and beyond for the shallow waters and because they’re perfect for families with children.
Along the 130 kilometres of coast in Veneto, you can expect to find calm and sheltered sea and plenty of facilities to spend a relaxing holiday.
There are many beaches near Venice: the Lido of Venice, Jesolo Lido, Caorle, Sottomarina and Bibione. The latter is certainly the most loved beach on the Venetian coast.
Caorle counts on 15 kilometres of coastline, divided between the Levante and Ponente beaches and its lovely city centre attracts visitors from all over the region.
The Lido of Venice is the closest beach to Venice city centre. It’s basically where the Venetians go when they want to escape the crowds and relax by the seafront and you can get there by Vaporetto or water taxi.
Finally, Jesolo Lido is perfect for young people thanks to its wide offer of restaurants, bars and nightclubs. The high standard of the beach facilities and amount of things to do by day and night make of Jesolo one of the most famous beaches in Italy.
Visiting the Veneto Region FAQs
Here are some questions people ask when before visiting Veneto:
The Veneto Region, Italy
Now you know some of the best things to do in Veneto and why it’s worth visiting this Italian region. The northern region offers something for all types of travellers.
Once here you can learn about its long history, get in contact with the local culture and cuisine and spend time immersed in nature.
If you want to get more acquainted with the Veneto region, make sure to read my posts and get all the information you need for your trip to this part of Italy.
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