The Best Day Trip from Venice You’re Not Taking (but should be!)

venice travel photographer 52

The Best Day Trip from Venice

The Best Day Trip from Venice

The best day trip from Venice may surprise you. It has nothing to do with coastal views, the ocean, or boats. Instead, it’s all about the mountains and it may also surprise you as to how close you are to those mountains.

From Venice, you can take an easy day trip to the Dolomite mountains and they are gorgeous. You’ll be right on the border of Switzerland and you’ll get a taste of those Swiss Alps. It’s amazing because you get away from the hustle and bustle of Venice to visit the serene outdoors. The air is cleaner, the crowds disperse and you’re left with gorgeous scenery. If you’ve got the time, I highly recommend it.

Gorgeous Dolomite Mountains of Italy
Gorgeous Dolomite Mountains of Italy

How to See the Dolomite Mountains

Today I’m sharing three ways you can take this trip. Personally, we drove ourselves, but if that feels daunting, then take a tour or public transport, just get out there! You can also download a few mountain quotes on the Journey Junkies page to get you excited about the trip. If you’re not a member, sign up here, it’s free!


By Tour
The Dolomite Mountains of Italy
The Dolomite Mountains of Italy

First up is the tour and my least favorite. I looked at doing a tour out to the mountains because I do tend to like day tours. However, they are very expensive! I found that none of them included lunch so I was basically just paying for transportation. That being said, I don’t want to deter you from a tour completely. If you’re scared to drive, then this could be a great option. You’ll still see them, get to meet new people and probably learn more about the area than we did.

If you are interested in tours, then be sure to check out Viator. I’m sure if you’re a traveler, then you’ve heard of them before, but just in case you haven’t, they group together different tour companies and allow you to compare them. Check it out here for the Dolomites.

The Bottom Line

Pros: No driving on your own, commentary on what you’re seeing, and meet new people

Cons: Expensive, no flexibility, relying on others


By Car
Road Trip to the Dolomite Mountains from Venice
Road Trip to the Dolomite Mountains from Venice

Next up, is by car. This is how we went so it’s definitely my recommendation. Renting an automatic car cost us about $60 USD. There are tolls you’ll need to pay as well (about $10 Euro). This was great mostly because of the freedom to go wherever you want. It was not a difficult drive. You don’t have to worry about going through any large city and as long as you get a GPS, you should be fine. We had never driven in a country that wasn’t English-speaking before so we were a little nervous about reading the road signs, etc. However, it wasn’t an issue and we loved every minute of our drive.

The Bottom Line

Pros: Freedom to make your own schedule, cheaper than a tour

Cons: You are responsible for the car and you will also want to get an international driver’s license if you’re traveling from the US.


By Public Transport
Take a Ride on One of the Ski Slopes in the Dolomite Mountains
Take a Ride on One of the Ski Slopes in the Dolomite Mountains

The last way to experience the best day trip from Venice is by bus. This is definitely not a favorite of mine or easy to do. However, it’s probably the most cost-effective. You don’t have to worry about gas, tolls, or the high price of a tour. So if you want to do it on your own but don’t want to drive, then this might be your option! You can check out different public transport options on the this site RometoRio.

The Bottom Line

Pros: The cheapest option and allows you more flexibility than a tour.

Cons: Can be cumbersome and buses don’t always arrive on time so you’ll need to plan extra time.


Share Your Travels with Me!

I’m always on the hunt for new places to travel. That’s why I created my travel bug email list. It’s where I share my favorite places and encourage you to do the same.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

texas mini sessions photographer 205

Are you looking for an affordable family photographer who provides digital images, has fun at sessions, and whose style you love? Hi! I’m Jamie and it’s my mission is to make it easy for you to share special moments with your kids while enjoying getting your photo taken.

FOLLOW ALONG