✦ Top pick
Burano is the best all-rounder for its color and easy lagoon access; choose Treviso for a cheap, relaxed canal city 30 minutes by train, or Asolo if you want a quiet hilltop escape worth staying the night.
Venice is unforgettable, but it is also small, crowded, and expensive, and after a day or two of St. Mark's Square you may crave somewhere slower. The good news: the Veneto around Venice is packed with lagoon islands and mainland towns you can reach in under 90 minutes, most by train or vaporetto, and many for the price of a coffee back in Piazza San Marco.
These picks range from fishing islands you can see on a half-day boat tour to walled hill towns that reward an overnight. Each entry below tells you how far it is from Venice, how to get there, what to eat and see, and who it suits best.
Use the travel times and modes to build your day: lagoon islands pair well together on one boat trip, while mainland towns like Treviso and Bassano are quick, cheap train rides. Order is best-first, but the right choice depends on whether you want color, quiet, or a good plate of cicchetti.
Planning a trip to Venice?
1tours from $39.51Burano Google
Burano is the photogenic star of the lagoon: a fishing island where every house is painted a different saturated color, from cobalt to coral, so returning fishermen could spot home through the mist. Beyond the Instagram lanes it has a genuine working soul, with lace-making traditions kept alive at the Museo del Merletto and leaning bell tower of San Martino visible for miles. Come for lunch and order risotto de gò, a local risotto made from lagoon goby fish, or buy the buttery ring-shaped bussolà biscuits. It is small enough to see in a few hours but rewards those who wander the back canals away from the main drag.
- Rows of rainbow-painted fishermen's houses
- Museo del Merletto (lace museum)
- Risotto de gò and bussolà biscuits
- The leaning campanile of San Martino
Best for photographers and first-time lagoon visitors
Getting there Vaporetto line 12 from Fondamente Nove, about 40-45 minutes; a single lagoon ticket is around €9.50
2Treviso Google
Often called a smaller, calmer Venice, Treviso is laced with canals, frescoed porticoes, and water wheels, but with a fraction of the crowds and prices. This is the birthplace of tiramisu and the home of radicchio rosso di Treviso, the bitter red chicory that turns up grilled and in risottos each winter. Wander the Pescheria, a fish market on its own little island, browse the arcaded Calmaggiore, and stop for an ombra (small glass of wine) in Piazza dei Signori. It makes an easy, cheap half-day and pairs well with an outlet-shopping stop if you are so inclined.
- Canals and the island fish market (Pescheria)
- Tiramisu at a historic cafe
- Grilled radicchio rosso di Treviso
- Frescoed Piazza dei Signori
Best for a cheap, relaxed canal-city fix and food lovers
Getting there Direct train from Venezia Santa Lucia, about 30-35 minutes, roughly €3.60 each way
3Asolo Google
Nicknamed the "city of a hundred horizons," Asolo is a arcaded hilltop town beloved by writers and travelers from Robert Browning to Freya Stark, who is buried nearby. It is the kind of place to do very little: sip a spritz in the tiny Piazza Garibaldi, climb to the Rocca fortress for views over the Prosecco vineyards, and visit the frescoed Castle of Caterina Cornaro, the exiled queen of Cyprus who held court here. Because it takes a bit of effort to reach, it stays quiet, making it ideal for an overnight when Venice feels overwhelming. Base yourself here to explore the wider Prosecco road.
- The Rocca fortress and panoramic views
- Queen Caterina Cornaro's castle and theatre
- Aperitivo in Piazza Garibaldi
- Nearby Prosecco Superiore vineyards
Best for a quiet overnight and wine-country scenery
Getting there About 1 hour 15 minutes by car; by public transport, train to Bassano or Montebelluna then a local bus
4Bassano del Grappa Google
Bassano sits where the Brenta River spills out of the mountains, spanned by the covered wooden Ponte degli Alpini, designed by Palladio in 1569 and rebuilt many times since. As the name hints, this is grappa country: stop at the historic Poli or Nardini distilleries by the bridge for a tasting. The old center is full of frescoed facades, ceramics shops, and the white asparagus that locals prize each spring. It is an easy, scenic train ride and works as a gateway to the Dolomites beyond.
- Palladio's covered Ponte degli Alpini
- Grappa tasting at Nardini or Poli
- Bassano ceramics and frescoed squares
- Local white asparagus in spring
Best for grappa lovers and Alpine-gateway day-trippers
Getting there Direct train from Venezia Santa Lucia, about 1 hour 5 minutes to 1 hour 15 minutes, roughly €7-8
5Chioggia Google
Chioggia is a real, working fishing town that looks like Venice without the glamour or the crowds: a herringbone of canals, bridges, and a broad main street, Corso del Popolo, lined with cafes. Its morning fish market is one of the best in the Adriatic, and seafood here is fresh, cheap, and unpretentious. Combine it with the adjacent beach town of Sottomarina if you want sand, or arrive by the scenic lagoon route via Pellestrina. This is the pick for travelers who want authenticity over polish.
- The bustling morning fish market
- Corso del Popolo and quiet canals
- Fresh Adriatic seafood at low prices
- The scenic Pellestrina ferry route in
Best for authentic seafood and crowd-free canals
Getting there Bus 25 or the scenic vaporetto-and-bus route via Lido and Pellestrina, roughly 1 to 1.5 hours
6tours from $29.00Murano Google
Murano has been the center of Venetian glassmaking since 1291, when furnaces were moved off the main islands to reduce fire risk. Today you can watch a maestro blow molten glass into a vase or horse in minutes, then browse workshops for chandeliers, jewelry, and kitsch alike (look for the Vetro Artistico Murano trademark for the real thing). The Museo del Vetro traces 700 years of the craft, and the island's own canals are quieter than Venice's. It is the closest escape of all and slots neatly onto a Burano trip.
- Live glassblowing demonstrations
- Museo del Vetro (glass museum)
- Buying certified Murano glass
- The quiet Fondamenta dei Vetrai canal
Best for the closest, quickest lagoon escape and craft lovers
Getting there Vaporetto lines 3, 4.1, 4.2 or 12 from Fondamente Nove, about 10-15 minutes
7tours from $23.24Torcello Google
Once a thriving city of tens of thousands, Torcello is now a near-empty island of marsh, vineyards, and one astonishing sight: the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta, founded in 639, with shimmering Byzantine gold mosaics including a haunting Last Judgment. Climb its bell tower for a sweeping lagoon panorama, then sit by the so-called Devil's Bridge in near silence. There are only a couple of restaurants (Locanda Cipriani among them), so this is about atmosphere, not activity. Pair it with Burano, which is a short hop away.
- Byzantine mosaics of Santa Maria Assunta
- Climbing the ancient campanile
- The Devil's Bridge and quiet marshland
- Lunch at historic Locanda Cipriani
Best for history lovers and total quiet
Getting there Vaporetto line 12 to Burano then the short line 9 shuttle, about 45 minutes to 1 hour total
8Marostica Google
Marostica is the "chess town," a walled medieval village whose main square is paved as a giant chessboard where, on even-numbered years each September, locals in Renaissance costume re-enact a legendary game with human pieces. Even outside the event, the town is a treat: two castles (one at the top of the hill, one in the square) linked by walls you can walk, and cherries so good they carry a protected geographical status. It is a natural add-on to Bassano del Grappa, just up the road. Come for the storybook setting and a slice of local history.
- The life-size chessboard in Piazza Castello
- The biennial human chess match (September)
- Walking the medieval walls to the upper castle
- Protected-status Marostica cherries in season
Best for history and a fairytale square
Getting there Train to Bassano del Grappa then a short local bus, about 1 hour 20 minutes total
Want these spots worked into your trip?
We'll build a custom Venice itinerary around the places you pick.
✦ Good to know
Before you go
Lagoon ticketsFor the islands, a single ACTV vaporetto ticket (about €9.50) is valid 75 minutes, but if you are hopping between Murano, Burano, and Torcello, a 24-hour pass (around €25) quickly pays off.
TrainsMainland towns like Treviso, Bassano, and Padua are cheapest and easiest by regional train from Venezia Santa Lucia; buy tickets at machines or the Trenitalia app and validate paper tickets before boarding.
Timing the islandsBurano and Murano fill up midday with tour groups; go early or late in the afternoon for softer light and quieter lanes, and check the last vaporetto time back.
Overnight vs day tripIslands and Treviso are easy half-days, but hill towns like Asolo and Marostica reward staying over, especially if you want to explore the Prosecco road without rushing.
When to goSpring and early autumn are ideal; note Marostica's human chess match runs only in even-numbered September and books out, so plan ahead.
Venice is best enjoyed in small doses, with escapes to the color of Burano, the glass furnaces of Murano, or the quiet arcades of Asolo built into your trip. Pick one island cluster and one mainland town, check the train and vaporetto times, and you will see a slower, more affordable side of the Veneto that most visitors miss. Start planning your day trips and let Venice be the base rather than the whole story.
Frequently asked questions
Which small town near Venice is best for a day trip?
Burano is the best day trip for color and easy lagoon access, reachable in about 45 minutes by vaporetto. For a mainland option, Treviso is only 30 minutes by train and offers canals, tiramisu, and far fewer crowds.
What is the closest town to Venice?
Murano is the closest, just 10-15 minutes by vaporetto from Fondamente Nove, famous for its centuries-old glassblowing. On the mainland, Treviso is the nearest town at about 30 minutes by train.
Can you visit Burano, Murano, and Torcello in one day?
Yes. All three lie in the northern lagoon and are connected by vaporetto lines 12 and 9, so a half-day boat tour or a 24-hour ACTV pass lets you see all three; start with Murano, then Burano, then a short hop to Torcello.
Which town near Venice is quietest?
Torcello is the quietest, a nearly empty lagoon island with ancient Byzantine mosaics and marshland. On the mainland, hilltop Asolo stays peaceful because it takes a little more effort to reach.
How do you get from Venice to Bassano del Grappa?
Take a direct regional train from Venezia Santa Lucia, which takes about 1 hour 5 minutes to 1 hour 15 minutes and costs roughly €7-8 each way.
✦ Plan with MagicTrips
Build your own Venice trip
Tell us how many days, your budget, and what you're into. We'll turn it into a custom, day-by-day Venice itinerary.