We leave for Venice next week and would like to identify a fun day trip out of the city while we're there. I'm having a hard time getting a handle on how long it will take to get place - does anyone have any recommendations? Is Verona too far? Trieste? I'm just plucking these off a map, and would LOVE to hear all your ideas and opinions. Thanks!!

Trieste is about two hours by train, Verona 1.5 hrs. Padua, just 20 minutes away is a great place to explore - lots of old churches, pleasant town center. Ditto for Vicenza.

Think Verona makes the best for a whole day - lots there - neat old town with striking Roman relics and of course Juliet's Balcony, Ersatz though it may be - but i'd put Verona at top of my list.

Treiste is an interesting unusual type place but Verona is much more more more...

for something different, how about Mestre - they have a raddichcio festival next week, I think!!! [try the tourist board web-site]

Last year we did a day trip to Padua, Verona and Vicenza. It's a bit much to do all 3, but you can certainly do 2. Padua has lots to see, and don't miss Giotto's fresco at the Scrovegni Chapel. Vicenza is famous for it's Palladian palaces.

Vaporetto to Lido, bus to Pelestrina, boat to the fishing village of Chioggia. About 1.5 hours total time.

Or train to Padua (1/2 hour).

Padua has both the Scrovigni Chapel
( reservations needed so call them a day ahead) and the Bascilica of St. Anthony. A nice change from Venice was our day trip via train to Bassano del Grappa in the foothills of the Dolomites, cuckoo clocks and all. Bassano is in a beautiful setting on the Brenta river with its famous bridge which was designed by Palladio.
The Brenta River cruise leaving from Venice to see the villas along its shores also was a nice day trip.

I would not day trip from Venice at all until you spend 5 days seeing Venice. Then, day trip to Murano/Burano.

Agree with Bob, but also add the island of Torcello on the same trip to see the churches and mosaics.

Ditto Bob

bobs got it right.