Venice: Day Trips and Tours from Rome

They call it the city of love for a reason....probably due to its meandering canals, striking architecture and numerous bridges. Come and see for yourself on a Venice day trip from Rome.

This is your guide to visiting Venice, the ultimate day trip from Rome.

How do I get to Venice from Rome?

Venice is located in the northeastern Veneto region of Italy and sits 500 kilometers away from Rome, but it is possible to travel back and forth between the two cities in one day.

By car

Driving from Rome to Venice takes around 5 hours and 45 minutes and starts along the E35, heading northeast. At Bologna, you’ll take the A14 exit which merges with the E45. You’ll then join the A13 all the way to Venice.

By train

You can journey to Venice from Rome in just over 3 hours on the high-speed train that departs from Roma Termini. You can purchase tickets directly from Italo Treno, starting at €33 per traveler.

On a guided tour

A guided tour takes away the stress of traveling between Rome and Venice, helping with your train . Tours last around 16 hours and meet around 6 AM, returning to Rome around 10 PM.

What is the typical itinerary of a day trip?

Day trips to Venice start at the Roma Termini railway station, where you’ll meet your tour guide and head to the city via a high-speed train. Once you arrive in Venice, you’ll have the whole day to explore the cobblestone streets and winding canals.

Around 6 PM, you’ll make your way to the Santa Lucia station to start the journey back to Rome, arriving around 10 PM.

What kinds of tours go to Venice from Rome?

Day trip to Venice from Rome

You will enjoy the help of a tour coordinator to experience the delights of the city. When you reach Venice, you will have the entire day to explore the city at your own leisure.

Tours vary in extras that they offer — some provide hop-on hop-off gondola tickets, while others provide skip-the-line tickets for Venice’s main attractions.

Our selection: Day Trip to Venice by High Speed Train

• Price: From €273 per person
• Duration: 15 hours
• Includes: Transportation by train, unlimited ferryboat pass, vaporetto experience, headphones, aperitif

Private tour to Venice from Rome

On a private tour, you’ll be picked up from your hotel in Rome and transported to Roma Termini to catch your high-speed train to Venice. Once there, you’ll visit St. Mark’s square, explore the Grand Canal and have the opportunity to see Doge’s Palace.

You’ll have your own private tour guide to show you around the city and will be returned to your hotel once the tour is over.

Our selection: Venice Full Day Tour by Fast Train Private Group

• Price: From €598 per person (depending on group size)
• Duration: Full day
• Includes: Transportation by train, pickup and drop-off, water bus, entrance to St. Mark's Basilica

2-Day tour to Venice from Rome

A two-day tour from Rome allows you to see most of the enchanting museums, cathedrals and attractions in Venice.

Our selection: 2-Days Venice Trip from Rome Private Tour

• Price: From €521 per person (depending on group size)
• Duration: 2 full days
• Includes: Transportation by train, pickup and drop-off, hotel in Venice

How much does a day trip to Venice cost?

A day trip includes transport to and from Venice. Some tours also offer add-on experience passes, such as a gondola ride, and prices start at €270 per person.

What will I see in Venice?

St. Mark’s Basilica

There are over 200 churches in Venice, but the one that stands out from them all is St. Mark’s Basilica. It is one of the most popular sites to visit in the city and there are more than 85,000 square feet of mosaic inside.

You can visit the basilica from 9:30 AM to 5:15 PM on most days (with the exception of Sundays). Entry fees are €3 and free for children under 6 years old.

The Grand Canal

The defining point of Venice is its canals. There are over 150 canals in total, but the Grand Canal provides you with a charming overview of the most romantic city in the world.

The canal is lined with 16th-century palaces, museums and other impressive and colorful buildings. If you want to up the ante in the romance department, choose a gondola ride that serves champagne aboard.

Be sure to avoid traveling on the canal during commuting times in the morning and early evening. The best time to travel on the Grand Canal is later in the evening.

Murano and Burano Islands

Just 3.5 kilometers from Venice is the island of Murano and its neighboring island of Burano, a little over 9 kilometers away.

Both islands are famous for their artisanal crafts, and visitors can expect to see lace making, as well as glass blowing, alongside other traditional crafts. Burano is especially scenic with its vibrant buildings dotting the streets. A one-way ticket to Burano costs €7.50.

When is the best time to go to Venice?

The weather in Venice can become unbearably muggy in the height of summer, so visit in September or October to enjoy more mild temperatures.

The summer months can see the city packed to the brim with tourists, so visitors during the fall also benefit from fewer crowds.

From which other cities in Italy can I take a tour to Venice?

• Venice day trips and tours from Milan
• Multi-day trips to Venice from Florence
• Day trips to Venice from Padua
• Day tours to Venice from Lago di Garda

Tips for Venice day trips

• As one of the top destinations in Italy, the streets of Venice are often swarming. You can use the Venice crowd forecasting tool to predict how busy the city will be and plan your Venice excursion accordingly.
• If you choose to visit the most famous attractions in Venice, buy skip-the-line tickets to avoid queuing for hours.
• Venice is a large city with cobblestone streets, so choose comfortable shoes to enjoy strolling through the alleys and attractions.