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.
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The Best Day Trip from Venice
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.
How to See the Dolomite Mountains on a Day Trip from Venice
Today I’m sharing three ways you can take this day trip from Venice. Personally, we drove ourselves, but if that feels daunting, then take a tour or public transport, just get out there!
By Tour
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.
Biggest Tip:
I personally like a tour that gives me something I can’t get on my own, and this wine tour that combines the Dolomites is just that.
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 Day Trip From Venice
Next up, is doing this day trip from Venice 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
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.
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