Day Trips from Venice: Where to Go, How to Get There and How Long It Takes

Cortina d’Ampezzo in the Dolomites is about two hours from Venice by direct bus, while Murano, Burano and Torcello are lagoon islands reached by ACTV boat. The bus from Piazzale Roma needs a reservation, and the Line 72 return times from Cortina make a night in the mountains the easier plan.

At a glance

• Cortina d’Ampezzo is around two hours by bus.
• Bus departure: Piazzale Roma, direct to Cortina with no change
• Bus reservation: mandatory with ATVO Line 29, made when you buy the ticket
• By boat: Murano, Burano and Torcello on ACTV lagoon routes 12, 13 and 14
• Boat ticket: €9.50 for 75 minutes, €25 for the Venezia Daily Pass
• Trip better with a night on site: Cortina d’Ampezzo

Which day trip from Venice should you choose?

For glass, lace and quiet churches, go to the islands: Murano, Burano and Torcello are all on ACTV lagoon routes, and the Museum Pass covers the Glass Museum, the Lace Museum and the Torcello Museum. If you only have half a day, pick one island and leave early, since the museums close at 5:00 or 6:00 p.m.

• Cortina d’Ampezzo: around two hours each way by bus · reservation required · for mountains, trekking in summer, skiing in winter
• Murano: ACTV boat · €9.50 for a 75-minute ticket · for glass and the Museo del Vetro

What are the best day trips from Venice?

Cortina d’Ampezzo, in the Dolomites

The Dolomites are a UNESCO World Heritage Site, from the Three Peaks of Lavaredo to passes like Falzarego and Pordoi. Cortina is a prestigious ski resort in winter and a base for trekking and climbing in summer.

The ATVO bus leaves from Piazzale Roma and arrives directly in Cortina, in around two hours, with no change. Line 29 needs a reservation made when you buy the ticket.

Murano

Murano is known for artisanal glass. The Museo del Vetro is at Fondamenta Giustinian 8 and is covered by the Museum Pass.

ACTV GiraCittà routes 3, 41.1, 41.2, 51.1, 51.2 and 6 connect Venice to Murano, and the lagoon routes also reach it. The museum is open 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. from April 1 to October 31, and 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. from November 1 to March 31. A 75-minute Rete Unica ticket costs €9.50. It fits easily in a day and pairs well with Burano, which is on the same lagoon network.

Burano

Piazza Galuppi is where you find the Church of San Martino and the Museo del Merletto, the lace museum, at number 187. The church is open every day from 8:00 a.m. to noon and from 3:00 to 6:00 p.m.

ACTV lagoon routes connect Burano to the mainland, and the Alilaguna NLN overnight line also stops here. Go in the morning, and keep the church’s midday closure in mind.

Torcello

Torcello’s small square holds the throne of Attila, the Museo di Torcello, the 14th-century Church of Santa Fosca and the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta.

Torcello is on the ACTV lagoon routes with Murano and Burano. It makes a natural last stop after Burano, as long as you arrive before closing.

Lido

Lido separates Venice from the Adriatic Sea, along with Pellestrina. It’s the lagoon’s sea side.

City Centre routes 1 and 2 run along the Grand Canal to the Lido. ACTV also sells a return waterbus ticket for beaches at €16. A 75-minute ticket costs €9.50. The islands are not subject to the Venice access fee, which applies to the historic city.

Can you do day trips from Venice without a car?

Day trips from Venice work without a car, and the historic center has no roads anyway, only canals and calli, so it can only be visited on foot or by boat. Murano, Burano, Torcello and the Lido are reached by ACTV boats. Cortina is reached by ATVO Line 29 from Piazzale Roma, or by the direct link from Marco Polo airport, which also takes two hours. Another option is ACTV bus line 15 or the ATVO shuttle to Mestre station, then a train to Calalzo-Pieve di Cadore or Feltre.

For heavy boat use, the Venezia Daily Pass costs €25, the 2-day ticket €35 and the 3-day ticket €45. Line 29 runs all year, with winter reinforcements from December to March and summer services from June to September. Winter transfers to the Dolomites can be booked in advance with ATVO, Cortina Express and FlySki Shuttle.

If you have no car, take the boats for the lagoon and the bus for the mountains, and leave early for either. The islands’ museums and churches close between 5:00 and 6:00 p.m. The ATVO bus runs from Piazzale Roma straight to Cortina with no change, so a car isn’t needed to reach it.

The access fee for day visitors applies only to the historic city, and not to the minor islands.