My husband and I are planning a two week trip to Italy in late October and have a few questions that I know you all can answer. We will be staying 5 days in Venice, one of which will be recovering from jet lag. What would you suggest as a must see day trip on the train from Venice? - I think we will do at least one.
We then plan to travel to Bologna by train for 9 nights. Day trips from there will be Ravenna, Modena and Parma. Another 2 or 3 suggestions? We have been to a good part of Tuscany and Umbria. Is Lucca easily within reach?
Finally, since we will be on the train 5 to 7 days should we invest in Eurail passes or just wing it day to day?
I really appreciate all your advice. This board makes travel planning a snap. Joanne

Wing it with that itinerary - the Italian railpass is way overpriced for the train trips you'll be taking - mainly short ones on dirt-cheap regional trains.

Venice - Verona best IMO, Padua, Vincenza and Trieste are all places i've loved and day tripped to from Venice.

Lucca is doable from Bologna.

Just buy your tickets as you go along, in the idiot-proof machines in stations that in January i found a snap to use.

You may want to consider Trieste, which isnt that far from Venice. It's a very nice city (with the world's biggest square that faces a body of water...no kidding). Its very Austrian/Hungary in looks and feel. We visited Miramare, a historical castle near the city. Trieste is off the beaten track but it has loads of history.

Hi Joanne - Day-trips from Venice?

Pick any from: Verona, Vicenza, Treviso, Padova, Bassano del Grappa, Asolo, the Dolomites ...

Hope this helps ...

Steve

P.S Lucca is about 2 hrs each way, changing train in Prato. For details:

www.trenitalia.com

Hi J,

Train schedules, fares and tickets are in English at http://www.trenitalia.com/en/index.html

You can decide if you want a railpass.

With only 4 days in Venice without jet-lag, I don't think that you will need to go somewhere else.

Enjoy your visit.

How about 5 and a 1/2 days in Venice?

What are the transit times to these cities?

If you had to choose between going to one of the outer islands and going to another city like Verona, Padua or Trieste, what do you think?

I have been to Venice twice, 5 days both times. I did not day-trip nor would I want to. That was hardly enough to scratch the surface of Venice imo.

I would consider taking a vaporetto to the islands - Torcello (sp?) or Burano as well as the usual Murano are fantastic half day trips as you not only see the backwater of Torcello and lace-making on Burano and glass-making on Murano but you get to see Venice lurking in all its majesty from a distance over the water - dazzling us much as it must have ancient mariners who approached it from the water and when it was then, as now, the world's loveliest city (IMO!)

Or to the Lido for a modern part of Venice and the beach.

These are no doubt way more expensive than taking the train on your own.

But which of these destinations seem best for a day trip?


http://www.viator.com/Venice-tours/D...rsions/d522-g5

Scrb - The Dolomites (- on a clear sunny day). No contest

Steve

Hmm, so I plugged in Venice to Cortina on trenitalia.com and it shows almost a 4-hour journey.

Padded by over an hour of stops or train changes at two interim stops, at Conegliano and at Ponte Nelle Alpi-Polpet.

Is there some other way to take the train to the Dolomites, maybe an express train to some other city nearby?

Would love to do it but not 4 hours each way because I would only go and return within a day.

I thought you were looking at organised excursions, Scrb. I believe there are several Venice companies which offer the Dolomites as a day-trip.

In high season there is also a Venice-Cortina bus service. Sure - it's a long day - but worth it IMO.

Steve

From Venice we did a day trip to Padua to see the Giotto frescos - I really liked that. On another trip we went to Vincenza and I thought that trip was a bust. I looked into going to the Dolomites from Venice - seemed a bit far. We spent one day going to the nearby island of Torcello to eat lunch at the Locanda Cipriani - that day is one of my top 10 travel days - just wonderful - best meal we had in Venice and a great way to see the lagoon and sea views of Venice. Ravenna is wonderful and be sure to ride or walk the walls of Lucca - I think just buying point to point tickets will be fine - train travel in Italy is cheap - no need for a railpass. Have a great trip!

I was looking at Viator for ideas.

Train tickets are a fraction of what Viator charges. Of course, you do get a guide and entry to certain places.

Maybe for a trip to Cortina, organized wouldn't be bad.

But for places like Padova or Verona, train looks just as easy and much cheaper.

Cortina by bus takes about 3 hrs - dep. Venice approx 08.00 in high season.

If you just plan to see Cortina and surrounds that's the way to go.

You can return by bus mid-afternoon - OR travel back later by train from Calalzo (- connecting local bus service from Cortina to Calalzo station) if you want to have the whole afternoon in Cortina. This is advisable if you wish to take any of the cable-cars.

Round trip by public transport would be approx. € 20

The organised tour option from Venice would normally include Cortina and some of the passes. This could also be done with a hire car, of course ...

Steve

If you like Art History and small quiet little towns... GO TO Ravenna and see the mosaics. They are unbeleivably beautiful. Ravenna is so quiet and so peaceful.The town is mostly modern looking but the ancient art is worth a day trip.