A charming day trip to Venice while you’re touring Italy is a great way to explore all that the Floating City has to offer. At a mere 3-hour journey (270 kms) from Milan, Venice is the perfect destination for a day trip from Milan if you’re looking to experience a more romantic, playful side of the European country.
Venice was historically an independent nation and the capital of the Serenissima Venetian Republic for more than a thousand years, which gave it the name "Serenissima”.The city is built on an archipelago of 118 islands formed by about 150 canals in a shallow lagoon, which are amongst its major attractions. Here’s everything you need you know about planning a Milan to Venice day trip.
Milan to Venice Day Tour Tickets
Milan to Venice - The Day Trip Experience
- Travel in comfort and luxury from Milan to Venice and back in a fully-equipped, air-conditioned GT coach
- Discover the culture and history that make the city special and explore the iconic landmarks with a guided tour
- Once the tour is done, take a leisurely stroll through the streets of Venice and revisit any attraction that caught your fancy during the tour
- Experience the traditional Venetian experience with a joyous ride on the ‘vaporetto’ around the Venetian lagoon
Witness the spectacular sight of a city that floats with a Milan to Venice day tour! Begin your journey by cruising through the Italian countryside on a luxury GT coach will take your from Milan to Venice.
Once in Venice, you’ll begin the tour by visiting the main attractions, such as the Grand Canal, ll Fenice Opera House, St. Mark’s Square, the Basilica, and much more! While visiting these popular attractions, you’ll be accompanied by a guard who will share interesting bits of trivia about the places you’re visiting. You also have the option to explore the city on your own once the tour is over. This Milan to Venice bus tour also includes an excursion on the lagoon aboard a ‘vaporetto’, the preferred mode of transport in the city.
Things to do in Venice - One Day Itinerary
Venice is a beautiful city that can be covered in its entirety within 2 days. That said, touring Venice in a day is not so hard with the help of the right guide and good time management. We have put together a 1 day Venice itinerary for you here below which will help you tick off all the major attractions in Venice. If you happen to stay in Venice for more than a day, you can look at our carefully curated Venice Itineraries
Grand Canal
The Grand Canal is an ancient waterway, lined with buildings - about 170 in all - that were mostly built from the thirteenth to the eighteenth centuries. Most were constructed by wealthy Venetian families. Read more about Grand Canal cruises.
Fenice Opera House
Teatro La Fenice is one of the most famous and renowned landmarks in the history of Italian theatre, and in the history of opera as a whole!
Doge’s Palace
This impressive structure, built around a courtyard and richly decorated, was the meeting place of the governing councils and ministries. Over time, the palace has incorporated characteristics of Gothic, Moorish, and Renaissance architecture. Read more about tickets and tours to Doge's Palace.
Rialto Bridge
The Rialto Bridge is the oldest of the four bridges spanning the Grand Canal in Venice, Italy. Connecting the sestieri (districts) of San Marco and San Polo, the bridge is now a significant tourist attraction in the city.
St. Mark’s Basilica
The Patriarchal Cathedral Basilica of Saint Mark, commonly known as Saint Mark's Basilica, is the cathedral church of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Venice, northern Italy. Read more about tickets and tours to the St. Mark's Basilica from our Visitors Guide.
St. Mark’s Square
St. Mark's Square (Piazza San Marco) is Venice on parade, where everyone comes to see and be seen. It is Venice's only square with the title of "piazza" - the rest are called "campo."
Gondola Ride
Long, sleek, black, slightly crooked, looking like a cross between a canoe and a coffin is the Venetian gondola, the primary form of transportation in Venice. This popular tourist activity is a must-do! Read more about Gondola Rides in Venice.
Know Before you travel from Milan to Venice
Tour timing
Most Milan to Venice tours begin at around 7:00 AM and it’s advisable to reach the designated pick up point at least 15 to 20 minutes in advance. The actual guided tour generally lasts for a duration of 2 hours, post which you’ll be free to explore the city for yourself. Most tours also includes a 30-minute vaporetto ride in Venice over the lagoon.
Guided or Self Guided
If you’re considering opting for either a guided tour or one where you just wing it and do everything on your own, we have some news for you. Guided tours are always better, no matter which city, country or continent you’re exploring. Not only is everything planned in advance for you, but you’re accompanied by an experienced guide who knows their stuff and will give you all the information you need to make the most out your experience.
Season
While not set in stone, it’s generally believed that the best time to visit Venice is between September to November. These are the months when when tourists desert the city. Although the temperatures — which range from the upper 30s to mid-70s — necessitate some warm weather wear, the lowered hotel rates and the barren canals make it worth it. Winters are cold with temperatures in the 30s and 40s, while spring brings Venice's most beautiful weather. You can read more about when it's best to visit Venice in our Handy Venice Guide .
Best way to travel from Milan to Venice
Venice is located at a distance of about 270km from Milan making for an easy travel by train and bus. If you're on a budget, traveling from Milan to Venice by bus is your best bet considering the pocket friendly rates. However, if you have a time constraint, opting for a train from Milan to Venice is ideal as the commute time is much lesser.
Milan to Venice by Train
Taking the train is one of the most popular ways to travel from Milan to Venice. Trains traveling from Milan to Venice depart from Milano Centrale train station and arrive at either Venice's Santa Lucia or Mestre train station in as little as 2 hours 10 minutes. More than 30 trains travel from Milan to Venice every day, with the first train departing at 6:35 AM. Check train timings and schedules from Milan to Venice here.
Milan to Venice by Bus
Taking the bus is the cheapest way to travel from Milan to Venice. Most buses traveling from Milan to Venice depart from Milano Lampugnano bus station and take 4 hours to arrive at Venice's Tronchetto bus station. More than 10 buses travel from Milan to Venice every day with the first bus departing at 7:15 AM. Check bus timings and schedules from Milan to Venice here.
Milan to Venice Day Tour ( Guided)
The Milan to Venice GT coach guided tour offers a great deal and is the most comfortable option for the day trip. Venice has a lot to do and squeezing them all into one day requires the guidance of an expert guide who will take you to all the prime spots within a stipulated time frame. This allows you to make the best of Venice and travel back to Milan with the satisfaction of having seen all of Venice.
Tips for your Milan to Venice tour
- Make quick stops at the popular tourist attractions and then begin wander. You are on islands, you cannot wander so far that you’ll never get back again, and you will stumble upon the most interesting parts of the city this way.
- Most places in Venice do not have direct access by boat. You will most likely have to carry your luggage yourself across one or more stepped bridges. So travel light if you don’t want your arrival to spoil your whole trip.
- Make sure you know upfront which is the closest vaporetto stop to your destination and count this in number of bridges, not only in metre or foot. You can then decide which line you have to take and where you have to change, if needed.
- If you want to be prepared for Venice floods, check the forecasts a couple of days prior to your arrival. If it says ’80 cm above sea level’, this means only a very little flooding, and only when it’s 100 cm above sea level will you need to adapt your routes. Check the weather forecast in Venice here.
Other Day Trips from Milan
Milan to Lake Como & Bellagio
Take in the rich, lush natural Italian countryside on this relaxing experience which includes a day trip from Milan to Como and Bellagio. Unwind on Lake Como and visit the beautiful cities nestled in the foothills of the Alps while you’re at. Make the most of the quaint ambiance by completely immersing yourself in the surroundings in this 2-hour journey, which takes you across the two branches of the Lake. You’ll also get to spot some of the most beautiful villas and gardens all around including George Clooney’s former villa!.
Read more about Day trips from Milan to Lake Como .
Recommended Experiences
• Lake Como and Bellagio Guided Day Trip with Coach Transfers from Milan
Milan to Swiss Alps
Experience one of the most magical train routes, Get aboard the Bernina Express, one of the most fascinating train routes in Europe, and experience the magic of the Swiss Alps for yourself. Explore the fascinating town of St.Moritz, dubbed, ‘The Top of the World’ and take in the Swiss town famous for its cafes and chocolatiers. On this experience which takes you across international borders, you’ll also be able to learn about the region with a local guide. This 12-hour experience is exciting, relaxing and charming in equal measures, making this tour is a must-do activity in Milan.
Read more about Day trips from Milan to Swiss Alps .
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• Day Trip to the Swiss Alps by Bernina Express from Milan
Milan to Bergamo
Bergamo is an Italian city northeast of Milan, in the Lombardy region. Its older upper district, called Città Alta, is characterized by cobblestone streets, encircled by Venetian walls and accessible by funicular. It's home to the Romanesque Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore and the grand Cappella Colleoni, a chapel with 18th-century frescoes by Tiepolo. To experience this tour is to bear witness to the perfect mix of man’s history and nature’s magnificence over a duration of 5 hours. You’ll explore the city, its popular attractions and breathtaking scenery along with a professional guide. And the best part, this tour is just a half-a-day experience.
Read more about Day trips from Milan to Bergamo .
Recommended Experiences
• Bergamo Half Day Trip from Milan
Milan to Cinque Terre
Cinque Terre, a UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Italian Riviera is a must-visit from MIlan. Comprised of 5 lazy towns, namely, Manarola, Corniglia, Riomaggiore, Monterosso and Vernazza, there is quite a bit to explore, requiring at least a day's time. What's most intriguing about this city is that there are no cars on the streets: so leave behind your traffic woes and explore this joyous city, filled with friendly locals and tourists.
Read more about Day trips from Milan to Cinque Terre.
Recommended Experiences
• Cinque Terre Day Tour from Milan
