Venice, one of Italy's top travel cities, is the jewel of the Veneto region but there's much more to see in the Veneto. From the city of Verona with its Roman arena to Paladian villas, lakes, and mountain towns, here are the best places to go in the Veneto. You'll find most of them on our Veneto Region Map.
Click on a city or town link to see the travel guide with information about what to see, where to stay, and how to get there.
Venice
Venice Photo © by Martha Bakerjian
Venice is the top destination in the Veneto and one of Italy's most-visited cities. It's a unique car-free city built on the water with narrow lanes meandering alongside canals. Saint Mark's Square and Cathedral and the Grand Canal are the top sights in Venice but there are many picturesque squares, beautiful churches, museums, and shops, too.
Verona
Verona Photo © by Martha Bakerjian
Verona is famous for the house and balcony said to belong to Juliet in the Shakespeare story, Romeo and Juliet, and its large 2000 year old Roman Arena where prestigous opera performances are held. Verona has a good medieval center, a castle, museums, and shopping areas. Piazza delle Erbe and Piazza Bra are great places to sit at a cafe and enjoy people watching.
Padua
Padua Botanical Garden © by James Martin
Padua is a walled city with Europe's oldest botanical garden, the Basilica di Sant’Antonio, Scrovegni Chapel frescoes by Giotto, and a good historic center. Padua, one of my favorite Italian cities, makes a good alternative to staying in Venice.
Bassano del Grappa
Bassano del Grappa © by Martha Bakerjian
Bassano del Grappa, named for nearby Monte Grappa, is a pretty medieval town on the Brenta River known for its Alpini wooden bridge, grappa, and ceramics. Bassano del Grappa is a good base for visiting Paladian villas and the castles of the Veneto or hiking in the nearby mountains. In town you can taste grappa or relax with a drink in one of the lively squares.
Lake Garda
Peschiera del Garda Photo © by Martha Bakerjian
Lake Garda is Italy's largest and most visited lake. The eastern shore is in the Veneto region. Peschiera del Garda, with its small historic center, is one of the most picturesque lake towns in the Veneto. Gardaland, a big amusement park, is near Lake Garda in the Veneto.
Soave
Soave Castle Photo © by Martha Bakerjian
Soave is a small wine town enclosed by medieval walls and crowned by a pictuesque castle. Vineyards surround Soave and in town you can taste the famous Soave wine. The town holds several wine festivals during the year and concerts in summer.
Chioggia
Chioggia Photo © by James Martin, Wanderer's Eye Travel Photography
Chioggia, a fishing port in the Venetian lagoon, is sometimes called Little Venice. A wide pedestrian street lined with cafes, restaurants, and shops runs down the center of town to the port and the town has a top seafood market. Beaches are 2 kilometers from town.
Vicenza
Vicenza was home to the famous Renaissance architect Palladio who designed 23 of the buildings in the city, including Palazzo Barbaran da Porto that houses the Palladio museum. The Palladian Villas in the countryside, also designed by Palladio, were built as summer homes for well-to-do Venetians and some of them are now open to the public.
Belluno
Belluno, one of the largest towns in the northern part of the Veneto, is the gateway to the Dolomite Mountains. Belluno makes a good base for visiting the Dolomites where you'll find winter skiing and summer hiking or biking. Belluno has fortress towers, a historic center with a 16th century cathedral, restaurants, and squares with outdoor cafes.
Cortina d'Ampezzo
Cortina d'Ampezzo, called the Queen of the Dolomites, is one of Italy's most famous mountain resort destinations. In winter it's a top place to ski and in summer it's a dream mountain-climbing destination as well.
