Any suggestions for a 2 night side trip from Venice? Lake Como or Croatian islands are at the top of the list now.

You mean you would pack and leave Venicee, and then return? I'm not sure I understand that, unless you mean simply to catch your flight home... but anyway...

Sirmione and Bassano del Grappa

or

Riva del Garda/Malcesine and Trento

or

(from what I've heard - - never been there) Trieste and Goriza.

Best wishes,

Rex

The drive around Lake Como is beautiful. I especially like the town of Bellagio. I have done the drive from Venice to Como and it's probably a 3 plus hour drive and that's if you are really hoofin it. If you're set on going, I would recommend Lake Como but you're going to spend a lot of time on the autostrada. As an aside, I'm always astonished at how good the Italians can make food taste at the Auto Grill's on the autostradas. If they had them in the US, you would never see another fast food place on the turnpike!

A second vote for Trieste, but Verona is wonderful jaunt, too.

Trieste is a nice drive from Venice, very pretty as you approach the city and get a beautiful view of the Adriatic. Be sure and visit Miramare, the castle of Maximillian.

I would also recommend Verona. It is a cool town to see. It has an amazing Roman amphitheater that they still use for opera. Depending on the time of year you go, you might be able to catch an opera in the amphitheater. It would be a fantastic night.

Cheers

Or ... how about the Dolomites?

Steve

Any more ideas on the Dolomites?

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34470486

Here's a link to a previous post of mine that gave wonderful suggestions for side trips from Venice; we are leaving May 12-

Willy123 - Lots - what are you looking for?

You can reach Cortina by public transport as a day-trip from Venice. There are direct buses daily in the summer and at weekends throughout the year.

You can also go by train as far as Calalzo, then by connecting bus to Cortina.

San Martino di Castrozza would be another possibility with an early start.

If you have a car you have some excellent options for a day-trip.

It would, of course, be even better to go for a few days ...

Steve

Dolomites......we keep returning to Uhrerhof Deur!!!
Rooms are beautiful...views wonderful...food terrific. AND the price is right!!!
www.uhrerhof.com

Thanks Steve, i am visiting my daughter who lives in Trieste, and we want to go to the mountains, as she has a few day's vacation May 28-June 3. Her friends suggested Corvara, but many places in this area are not open on those dates (between winter and summer. We are looking at 3-star hotels. Got some info on Wolkenstein & Arabba via internet. We will be driving.

After we go back to Trieste, i want to spend a few days at Lake Garda, maybe Riva del Garda, or Limone. Will meet up with friends in Venice in between the Mountains. . Want a relaxing vacation, i.e., not too much city time. Have hasd wonderful truip to Slovenis & Croatia, as well as Lakes Como area, but this will be my first time in the Dolomites ot LAke Garda. (I 30 years) Any suggestiond are welcome. (Is the Ice-man worth visiting if we're in the area?)

Corvara is an excellent base for touring and would be a good choice, though early June will be quiet.

Otherwise I'd recommend the Val Gardena resorts - Ortisei is my favourite, but Wolkenstein/Selva would also be good for touring.

Another attractive village is Castelrotto, though this is less central for touring.

Yes - the Ice Man is well worth a visit.

Hope this helps ...

Steve

Hi there! My husband and his family are from PADUA (Padova), very close to Venice. It is a relaxing, not -very -touristy town, with the 2nd oldest university in Italy and the very-impressive Scrovegni Chapel (with amazing paintings). My husband and his friends also rave about ASOLO (romantic town in the hills above Padova) and VERONA. Buon Viaggio!

My inlaws took my husband and I to Lake Garda (Sirmione) it is a beautful resort area. We stopped there on our drive form Milan to Venice. We loved it so much that we planned to go back after we settled in at our hotel in Venice, but once we parked our car we never left Venice. I don't think you would need two nights there though. Someone else mentioned Padova, the church there was beautiful and we had a nice lunch there, but I don't think you would want to stay two nights there either.

Appreciate your suggestions, don't know how my reply got thru without editing, i could have sworn i saw another posting...don;t know how that works...

Couldn't get a Sirmione hotel that's open and in my price range, So am tending towards Lake Garda area maybe Riva or Limone, & Padova as a possible side-trip.

Am still hoping for Wolkenstein area in the Dolomites..Thanks to PB for opeining the subject.