Day trips from Venice and Rome
 

Hello!
My mom and I will be traveling to Venice and Rome in November, and I'm looking for suggestions for day trips from both cities

Also. I have a hotel in Venice, but would love recommendations for Rome (250/night range).

Thanks so much!

How long are you in each city?

250 what? US dollars? Euros? British pounds? Bat?

How many days will you be in each city and how will you travel on these daytrips? What kind of daytrips do you envision from each place? Seaside? Mountains? Cities? Villages? What do you want to do? The possibilities are pretty endless, so you need to get a lot more specific.

Take a day trip from Rome to Pompeii, an amazing place: https://www.seat61.com/places-of-int...to-pompeii.htm

But make sure you spend enough time in Rome and Venice, you could spend weeks in both places.

250 USD. I'm in each city 4 nights. I'm open to anything. I know what day trips are possible, just looking for personal favorites/recommendations.

Padua/Padova is an easy trip from Venice - 20 minutes or so by train. The Scrovegni Chapel is stunningly beautiful (purchase your tickets online in advance) and the 16th century anatomical theatre at the Palazzo Bo is not to be missed.

Venice - a day in the outer islands - Torcello and its colony of feral cats everywhere and very quiet- Burano - and Murano (closest and overrun with tourists flocking to its Murano glass factories) and the cemetery island.

I especially like Torcello and its garden-like kind of sleepy rural atmosphere:

https://www.google.com/search?q=torc...w=1920&bih=950

Cities - Vincenza and its Palladium architecture and sweet old town center.

Padua - for its churches and shrines in them.

Rome - Pompeii is of course great but 3 hrs or so each way by trains-Ostia Antica -ancient Rome's port - to me and many rivals it in scope and nicer because it is not as overrun with tourists-short metro ride from central Rome:

https://www.google.com/search?q=osti...w=1920&bih=950

Favorite day trip - Tivoli and Hadrian's Villa - take train or bus to Tivoli - nice but unexceptional regional city but with some Roman relics and the Villa d'Este's splish-splashing playful water gardens and lavish villa some fat-cat Catholic bishops built for their pleasure.

https://www.google.com/search?q=vill...w=1920&bih=950

Then hop a bus back towards Rome and stop by Hadrian's Villa - large Roman ruins of the luxurious villa and lavish other temples, water ponds, etc surrounding it Emperor Hadrian built as a country retreat - great rural setting:

https://www.google.com/search?q=hadr...w=1920&bih=950

Finally Orvieto -quintessential Italian hill city: https://www.google.com/search?q=orvi...w=1920&bih=950

I've done just about every conceivable day trip from each of a tourist nature but those are my favorites.

We have stayed at Hotel Genio in Rome several times and have been very pleased with it. It is four-stars and is located right at Piazza Navona. There is a wonderful rooftop terrace with great views.

Day trips to Pompeii as well as to Padua (from Venice, of course) would be fun.

Personally, akvaughn, I wouldn't take any day trips. You'll have no trouble filling your 3 days with sightseeing in both cities and still may not see/do all that you hoped. But I would definitely visit at least one of the islands near Venice mentioned by PalenQ.

Depending on how late in November you'll be there, it could be fairly dark before 5:00p. With fewer daylight hours I definitely wouldn't want to spend much time in the morning sitting on a train, so if I decided to day-trip I would see how far away some of these suggested towns are. For example, Verona is more than an hour each way from Venice, Ferrara about 90 minutes. Naples and Orvieto are each more than an hour from Rome. Plus you spend time everywhere getting to/from train stations. If you're morning people, you can obviously start the day very early, but have a plan if you arrive before things are open.

You can plan out day trips ahead of time: how to do it, where, when, etc. Then, play it by ear, see what the weather is like and decide the night before or the day of, what you will do.

If painting, especially early development of religious, aesthetic and emotional expression combined is of interest, frescos in the Scrovegni Chappel in Padova may appeal to you. The city is also quite beautiful. It seems spacious, with wide streets and large buildings compared with the narrow compact spaces of Venice and many other Italian cities. I wish I had noted the fabulous restaurants we ate in, but did not.

Burano is so pretty and unique and tiny for walking around, and if the weather is nice, it is a lovely trip on the lagoon. It is a one of a kind little fishing village island, very colorful and picturesque. It can be a lazy, kind of romantic place if you walk a block away from the tiny center to a side canal. A shower would be OK, but I would not enjoy it in a downpour.

Vicenza is one of my personal favorite places. The city center is lovely and the Palladian architecture is wonderful. It is worth the trip just for the Teatro Olimpico, which IMHO, is spatial perfection. The incredible beauty of such a simple space combined with the amazing visuals of the stage stunned me to silence - not easy to do. If you do go to Vicenza, check ahead for opening hours of different buildings. They are very limited. They have a great market with local products. Check for the days and times.

With so many things to see and do in Venice, you may not want to leave.
Two places that may be overlooked when people have limited time are the very interesting Synagogues in the Jewish Ghetto (take a tour) and the marble church, Santa Maria dei Miracoli, which is unforgettable. It always seems a little hard to find, but is well worth the effort.
There are also often concerts in the evening in magnificent churches, sometimes even free.

Most of my recs have been covered: plenty to do and see in Venice, and I hope you spend time in Cannaregio area (good food and drink; Aperol Spriz is a great aperitif).

Day trips from Venice -- Padua for art/Scrovegni Chapel; Verona for walkable center, amphitheater, history. But Torcello/Burano is a lovely close-in day trip.

From Rome (I like WRW Trastevere--cross between an apartment and a b&b) in Trastevere for around $110/night, or Albergo del Senato (next to Pantheon) which is of course more pricey but should be lower rate for your dates.

A nice day trip from Rome if you want to see a hill town is Orvieto as mentioned above--can go by train, take funicular up. But again, plenty to do/see Rome.

Have a wonderful trip!

We even took a trip a few hours by train to Trieste - for something really different - an Austrian-Italian feel and a historic city!

With only 4 nights in Venice and 4 nights in Rome I would not do any "day trips". That's barely enough time to see the highlights of the central areas of each city.

Have you been to either Rome or Venice? If not, then take the advice of Sassafrass and suze. One could stay busy in Rome for 4 or 5 days. Venice is just beautiful.

How are you traveling between these cities? If by train, stop off in (Firenze) Florence on your way.

4 nights will fly by. I can't imagine any "day trip" that would be more interesting than what you would see just by staying in the cities you have chosen to visit and looking around.

I think close by day trips like Ostia Antica and the outer islands of Venice are really part of a Rome or Venice stay and day trips can be left in flux - no need to pre-arrange anything for most- if you feel like you've seen enough of say Venice in a few days do a day trip - if not stay in Venice proper-ditto for Rome.

So play it by ear.

Totally agree with Tivoli, Orvieto and Ostia Antica. We chose to alternate a day in Rome with a day trip outside and enjoyed all these. Villa d'Este in Tivoli is one of my favorite places anywhere!

This is just so uncanny because Elaine Gucci and I will be in Orvieto on October 19!

If you see us you can wave. We won't be all Anna Wintour towards you.

We will probably be the only tourists in Orvieto wearing full-length mink coats with matching YSL Emmanuelle bags.

Thin

Thanks everyone! I appreciate all your feedback! This is my first trip to Italy so I need all the advice I can get!

It's a good idea to get the advice, nod your head and consider it so you know all your options.

Then just do whatever you feel like doing. Have a splendid trip!

Santa Maria dei Miracoli is the most beautiful church in Venice!

A really good restaurant in Burano is Gato Nero!

The most beloved Fodorite hotel in Rome is Albergo del Senato.

Others: Portoghesi, Modigliani, Parliamento, and Aberdeen.

Good luck,
Thin aka JoAnn Gucci

Last trip I loved Hotel Nerva in Rome. I'm trying a new hotel next week and will report back if I can recommend it.

I was just in Venice last week. I was there taking a class so stayed in an apartment. Have stayed at La Calcina before and liked it. For me Venice is more enjoyable away from San Marco and Rialto (Dorsoduro, Canareggio away from Strada Nuova, others can provide additional suggestions), but if this is your first visit you will probably want to see those sights.

With four days in each city I wouldn't have time to squeeze in day trips but that's just me. You may be more energetic and ambitious than I.

Again day trips can be in flux - no need to pre-plan or buy train tickets for regional trains that take you to nearby ones.

Play it by ear.

Let us put an end to verbal vandalism!

Down with Verbal Vandalism! Up with Lovely Literature! Up with tennis talk by David Foster Wallace!

I don't think St Cirq was being a bully by asking about specifics. OP's questions were very vague.

For example, where in Rome does she want to stay? There is a huge difference between Parioli and Monti!

So you some of you need to chill!

Thin aka JoAnn Gucci

<And please, be honest: re-reading massimop's comments on this thread and others, none ever approached St. Cirq's for sheer vulgarity.>

St-Cirq I think was not referring just to this post but to a pattern of caustic my way or the highway posts made for eons seemingly under different names.

Dearest Thin,
I totally demand a photograph of your good self in a full length mink coat.

Verona could also be a very viable day trip from Venice - great old city and Lake Garda for a day.

Rome - want to visit a classic hill town besides Orvieto - try Viterbo - also easy train ride away.

Plenty to see and do in Rome and Venice, I wouldn't do any daytrips other than the islands from Venice, and maybe Ostia Antica from Rome.

So I agree, play it by ear, depending on weather, etc.

(sometimes the bickering just makes this forum more entertaining) ;)

Well this is fun. Thanks for the advice I am getting here by just reading. Like the OP, I am trying to plan my first trip to Italy too, likely in May 2018. We will finalize the dates this week. I am going with a good friend, so if anyone knows some hotels that have 2 double/queen size beds instead of one king, let me know. $200 - $300 a night range. I will also go over to that other hotel thread to ask. We are planning Venice, Florence and Rome.

Thin- I want to see you in a full length mink too! ;)

Pal I thought you invented Fodorgarch :)

Bankbabe I don't think I've ever seen two doubles in Europe. Usual choice is a double or a king or a twin, which is two twins either pushed together or separate, which should work for you.

http://www.lacalcina.com/
I loved this hotel, in your price range, but when I checked no 2 bed rooms (which is strange because I don't remember having to share with my travel partner when we were there).

Chime in in favor of Torcello from Venice, because you don't have to plan for it, but I don't think you have time for any day trips from Rome.

Torcello and Burano make for a lovely day or half-day trip.

Look into a multi-day vaporetto pass when you get to Venice. Be sure to validate it on first use.

Bankababe I remain loyal to Locanda Orseolo but one room is tight quarters for two unless you go up a notch in price and get deluxe room--which depends on your dates.

But also consider Domus Orsoni if you don't need full hotel services. I've stayed in one of their rooms that had twin beds (but I was single use) for 130 euros in high season.

Don't know La Calcina but it sounds good --

Thin is the pantomime dame of Fodorville!!

Edna Everage has nothing on me!

Thin aka JoAnn Gucci

first time I've heard <Fodorgarch> but rather like it!

Palenq yes an interesting term and rather entertaining...You once called annhig the most polite Fodorgarch of all time! That's still got me laughing, well I think we'd all agree with the most polite term at least. ;)

Well to me Fodorgarch is not necessarily a negative word-especially for annhig.

For some the Lido in Venice may make an interesting divergence - some neat older modern architecture like the circa 1900s Grand Hotel des Bains made famous by Thomas Mann's novel Death in Venice.

Or for a swim!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_Hotel_des_Bains

PalenQ would you really advise Lido over Burano/Torcello, or a short trip on the Mainland?

I guess I just never really "got" the Lido. Maybe if there for the film festival I'd feel differently.

No - no in general -note I said "for some Lido...." -those spending lots of time in Venice. Lido is just a typical Italian seaside resort -those looking for really cheap hotels will find in off-season really low prices on the Lido - only about 20 mins or so by boat from San Marco.