The best 1-week road trip around Veneto

Posted on by Marta

The beautiful region of Veneto has so much to see and experiment with. You can follow incredible mountain roads with breathtaking views, you can explore and learn the culture of many cities of the region, you can explore one of the most beautiful and unusual cities in the country and maybe in the world, Venice, and so many other things.

In this blog post, you can read about my suggestion to explore the region in one week. This is an amazing and fast passed road trip that will give you a perspective of all the different landscapes and landmarks of the Italian region. Explore Veneto in this one-week road circular road trip and share your experience with others.

Another beautiful region in Italy is Tuscany. You can also follow a two-week road trip itinerary around Tuscany. Another option is to slow a bit in one city such as Florence. You can find the 23 best things to do in Florence, such as climbing the Duomo.

*Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links, meaning, if you click through to make a purchase, I earn a small commission – at no extra cost to you!*

Overview

Getting there

This amazing road trip around Veneto will start in Venice. Venice is the capital of the region of Veneto. The beautiful city is well-known worldwide because of its beautiful canals and the bridges that connect the dozens of little islands.

Venice has its own International Airport, the Marco Polo International Airport, so it is not too hard to get to the city. However, you can’t drive to Venice (for obvious reasons) so renting a car straight away if you want to explore a bit of Venice may not be a great idea. From the airport it’s easy to get to the city, you just need to take a bus for 8€.

There is actually the chance of renting a car at the airport and bring it to the city because there is a bridge that connects one of the islands to the mainland and you can drive to Venice. However, if you still want to explore Venice, you’ll have to pay (quite high tariffs) to park the car there.

You can however rent the car after you finish exploring the city. There are rental cars after the Constitution Bridge (close to the parking lots where you can park your car if you bring it from the airport) or near the Venezia Mestre train stop, on the mainland.

Day 1 – Venice to Padua

After renting your car, your best 1-week road trip around Veneto can start. This road trip starts after you end your Venice explorations (even though you can leave only after lunch and stay in the city for a couple more hours). As you can see, this itinerary starts after you finish exploring Venice and does not include activities to do there. However, if you want some inspiration, you can think about this Gondola drive, a trip to Murano and Burano or even a pasta and tiramisu class.

From Venice, we will drive around 1 hour to Chioggia. This town resembles Venice, especially near the Canal Vena. You can however drive around Chioggia, even though it can get a bit stressful and claustrophobic because of how small the roads can be. Because of this, the best way to explore the town is on foot. Besides this, it isn’t too easy to find a parking spot in the city which mean that is probably easier to park somewhere like the Parcheggio Giove parking lot.

In Chioggia, the first thing that you’ll probably see by car is the Porta Garibaldi. This door used to be the main gate into the city. If you parked in the suggested parking lot, it will only take you about 10 minutes to get to this door.

Right by the door, you can see the main church in Chioggia, the Duomo di Santa Maria Assunta (Chioggia cathedral). Here you can also rest in the beautiful Piazzale Perotolo that ends at the Refugium Peccatorum, a statue of the Virgin holding the Child under a golden canopy. Here you can also look at the Canale Perottolo, which resembles Venice.

On the opposite side of the city (but only 10 minutes by foot away), you can see the Piazzetta Vigo. Here you can take ferries to Venice. Here you can also see the Ponte Vigo, a beautiful 17th-century bridge across the Canal Vena.

After this stop, you can drive another hour to reach Padua. If you are in Padua in June you can try to go to St. Anthony’s Italian Festival, the biggest event in Padua or to the River Film Festival.

While in Padua, you can explore the Prato della Valle Square, one of the biggest squares in Italy and Europe. In this square, you can also visit the massive Basilica of St. Anthony of Padua. You can also admire an equestrian statue by Donatello, outside the Basilica. Donatello lived and worked in Padua for ten years. There are also many other squares in Padua that you may like to explore. Some of these are Piazza delle Erbe, Piazza della Frutta and Piazza dei Signori. In the last one, you can also see a beautiful Astronomical Clock.

Another place to visit in Pádua is the Padua University Botanical Garden, the oldest University Botanical garden in the world.

This will be our last stop of the day which mean that you can explore the city as much or as little as you want.

Day 2 – Padua to Verona

On the next day of this perfect road trip around Veneto, Italy, we’ll leave Padua in direction of Bassano del Grappa. This town is truly a hidden gem in the North of Italy. The most famous place to visit here is the Ponte degli Alpini or Ponte Vecchio. This bridge dates back to the 13th century and connects the two sides of the river Brenta while keeping you covered from the rain. You can visit as well the medieval Castello degli Ezzelini that was home to Ezzelino III da Romano, known for his cruelty and tyranny in the Middle Ages. In the castle, you can also enjoy panoramic views of the town and the surrounding area.

After this stop, we head to Thiene, 30 minutes away by car. In this town, you can explore the Castello di Thiene, from the 15th century. You can also appreciate the gothic, baroque and romanesque architecture around the city. Some of the most famous places to see these features are the Villa Thiene Cornaggia the Cathedral of Thiene, the church of San Vincenzo and the Oratory of the Natività della Vergine.

After lunching in Thiene, we keep driving on this perfect road trip in Veneto. 30 minutes away from Thiene, we’ll find Vicenza.

Vicenza is very rich in history and culture, having many museums, art galleries and know landmarks. One of these is the Teatro Olimpico,  listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1994.

Another famous place to visit in Vicenza is the Basilica Palladiana, one of the most iconic buildings in Vicenza. This 16th-century Basilica is located in the Piazza dei Signori, the main square of Vicenza. In this square, besides eating you can also spot the Loggia del Capitanio, the Museum of Jewelry, the Church of St. Vincent and the Torre Bissara.

In Vicenza, you can also visit several Villas such as the Villa la Rotonda, the most famous villas designed by Palladio. This Villa is located a bit outside the city but because it is on a hill it has an amazing view of Vicenza and the surrounding area. If you want a private tour you need to reserve 2 weeks in advance.

The last stop of today in this perfect road trip around Veneto is Verona. We will get there late in the day but we will have the entire day of tomorrow to explore the city.

Day 3 – Verona

Today we will spend the entire day in Verona. Verona is the biggest city in the region. The city is quite well-known for its artistic heritage. This beautiful city has a lot to explore, so you should start your day early to get the most out of it. You can speed your exploration of the city with the Hop-on hop-off bus.

One of the most famous things to do in Verona is to visit the Arena di Verona. This is a beautiful amphitheatre that dates back to the 1st century. It resembles a bit the colosseum of Roma even though being lower. In Roman times, the citizens could attend spectacles and gladiator games in this amphitheatre and nowadays you can attend several performances and concerts. You can see which are the next shows on the official website where you can also buy tickets to see them.

Another famous thing to do in Verona is to visit the Castelvecchio. This castle was built in the 14th century and was an important military fortress. Nowadays, you can explore exhibitions there. You can learn more about what to do at the castle on its official website. 

In Verona, you can also find several connections to the story of Romeo and Juliet. Here you can see the iconic Juliet’s House and also the place where she was buried. It is free to enter the house’s courtyard, but if you want to visit the house, you must purchase a ticket. You can also, if you wish to, sent a letter to “Juliet” and you’ll get an answer. Despite all of the fame of this place, it has no real connection to the character of Juliet, and the balcony was only added to the house in the 20th century. However, it is still a beautiful place to visit in Verona.

Day 4 – Lake Garda and Rovereto

Back on the road, our first stop today is Lake Garda, 1h30 away from Verona. This is one of the most beautiful Northern Italy regions and has several incredible places that you can visit. The lake is shared by Veneto, Lombardy and Trentino. As a result, the beautiful places are scattered by these three regions.

One of the most beautiful towns to visit in the lakeshore is Limone Sul Garda, in Lombardy. The town has colourful buildings and a postcard-like waterfront. You can also drive from Riva to Limone so that you take the scenic road. Riva is surrounded by steep cliffs making it a beautiful town.

In the lake, you can also take a boat to travel around all these towns that surround the lake. Because of the steep mountains that surround the lake, the view is extremely picturesque.

After these stops in beautiful little towns, scenic views and delicious food, we’ll heat towards Rovereto. Rovereto is located 30 min to 1 hour away from Riva and Limone in the region of Trentino. In the town, you can visit Rovereto Castle and wander around the old town streets. If you love art, make sure to explore the MART – Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art of Rovereto and Trento with more than 20000 artworks scattered over 4 floors, you can spend here the entire afternoon if you wish to.

We will finish today in Trento, 30 minutes away from Rovereto, where we will spend the night.

Day 5 – Trento to Belluno

It’s a new day in this 1-week road trip around Veneto. Today we wake up in Trento. Yesterday we could appreciate a little bit of the city at night but today we will explore it until lunchtime. We can start our exploration in the Duomo di Trento. The cathedral is also connected to the Castello del Buonconsiglio. This is a beautiful 13th-century castle with a mixture of several different architectural elements and styles. Besides this, you can also enjoy an amazing view of the close by mountains. If you want more beautiful panoramic views, however, you can take a cable car to Sardagna.

Like most of the cities in Italy, Trento also has beautiful squares. One of them is the Piazza Duomo with its Fountain of Neptune. This square, as the name indicates, is the place where you can see the Duomo. Here you can also eat incredible Italian food in one of the many restaurants.

After lunch, we will drive to Mel. This town is located around 1h30 away from Trento and is an adorable town by the Dolomites mountains, where you can wanter for a couple of hours. If you are travelling in July, you may also enjoy the Choral music festival which is held every year in that month.

The most famous thing to do in Mel is to visit the Castello di Zumelle. This is one of the oldest castles in the region and dates back to Roman times. Another place to visit is the Church of Santa Maria, located in the Piazza Papa Luciani.

After this stop, we drive a bit more (less than 30 minutes) to get to Belluno. Belluno is a scenic town surrounded by mountains and with a beautiful old town waiting for you to explore. This old town has several beautiful Renaissance buildings to explore and is often called the mountain Venice.

In Belluno, you can visit the Piazza delle Erbe. In this square, you can also find the Porta Dojona and the Fontana Di San Lucano. Close by, you can also visit the Chiesa di San Pietro or the Minor Basilica of San Martino, less than 5 minutes walking.

This town was a summer getaway for rich Venetians and you can find there several palaces such as Palazzo dei Rettori in the piazza del Duomo, right by the Minor Basilica of San Martino.

Day 6 – Exploring the Dolomites

Today’s day in this amazing Veneto Road trip will probably be one of the most breathtaking days of the trip. We will drive north towards the most mountainous part of the region and will drive on some stunning mountain roads. Because of this, it is better to start today a bit earlier than the previous days.

From Belluno, we will drive half an hour to Agordo. Agordo is a cute little town surrounded by mountains where you can wander around and get some groceries in case you want to picnic in the mountains. Besides seeing the beautiful scenery you can also learn more about the region in the Mineral Museum.

After this quick stop, we’ll drive 1h30 to Cortina d’Ampezzo. Around here there are beautiful lakes, peaks and hikes to explore. Some of these lakes are Lago d’Ajal and Lake Pianozes, surrounded by forest, and the amazing Lago Federa. 

Since you are in the north of the Veneto region, you can also enjoy a bit of your afternoon in the Lago di Braies, in the Trentino region. Back in Veneto, if you wish to find fewer crowds and also appreciate an amazing 2 hours hike, you can explore Lago di Sorapis.

One of the symbols of the Dolomites also is located in the region of Veneto. The Tre Cime Di Lavaredo can be reached by car after 45 minutes drive from Cortina d’Ampezzo to Rifugio Auronzo. The entrance costs 30 euros per car. As a result, if you are a group of 5 sharing a car, you’ll just pay 6€ each. This beautiful hike takes you around 3.5 hours. You will get to almost 3000 meters above sea level so the weather may not always be perfect and you can even get to the peaks and not see them because of the clouds. Nonetheless, the hike is amazing.

When you wish to finish your Dolomites adventures, you can head to a town like Padola for resting and spending the night. Padola is 1 hour away from Cortina d’Ampezzo, quite near to the Austrian border.

If you want to extend your road trip to Austria, you can check my one-week road trip around Austria for added inspiration. You can even do the road trip from here, starting in the middle of the 3rd day, in Heiligenblut, which is 2 hours away from Padola.

Day 7 – Prosecco tasting and Treviso visiting

From Padola, where we slept and explored a little bit, we will drive 2h to Conegliano. Conegliano is famous for its wine, so if you are a fan of Prosecco, this may be your favourite stop on this road trip around Veneto. In Conegliano, you can also visit the Conegliano Castle and have an incredible view of the town. To get to the castle you will need to pass through the Porta Ser Bele a little tunnel that is the entrance to the castle and the Museo Civico del Castello di Conegliano.

After exploring Conegliano and taste the regional Prosecco Wine, if you like it, we will drive one hour to the town of Montebelluna. As a curiousity, Montebelluna is a major producer of ski boots. The biggest landmark of the city is the Church of the Nativity of Saint Mary. Besides that there are also several museums that you can explore such as the MeVe – Memoriale della Grande Guerra and the Museo di Storia Naturale e Archeologia.

We keep moving in the direction of Venice, and after a half an hour drive we will get to Treviso, the last stop before getting back to Venice and finish this amazing one-week road trip around Veneto. The city centre of Treviso is small and quite easy to get around on foot. There are several beautiful buildings and villas to explore in Treviso so walking is actually the best way of visiting the city.

In the centre of the city, you will find the Piazza dei Signori. Her you can also see the Torre Civica and the Palazzo dei Trecento. There are other squares in the city, such as Piazza Pola and Piazza san Vito. Near Piazza san Vito you can also find a beautiful canal called Canale dei Buranelli. This canal is part of a group of three that exist in the city and that can be seen all together below the Ponte di Pria, where you can drive.

Another of the most famous landmarks in Treviso is the Lodge of Knights which was used by the higher classes of the 13th century for meetings and games. As in any Italian city, you can also find several churches in Treviso if you wish to visit them. Some of the most famous ones are the Church of San Nicolò, with Romanesque and Gothic elements, the Church of San Francesco, used by Napoleonic troops as a stable and Duomo di Treviso, Cattedrale di San Pietro Apostolo.

The last hour of this road trip will be used to get from Treviso to Venice and end this amazing one week adventure, driving around Veneto.

Would you consider following this itinerary? What do you think about the chosen landmarks? Would you recommend other ones to anyone that is planning to do this adventure?

Map of the 1-week road trip around Veneto

In case you are wondering, all these pictures were taking with the following equipment:

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