Venice: 3-Day Veneto Itinerary
Three days balances the city and the region: one day in Venice, two easy day trips into the Veneto. Base yourself near Venezia Santa Lucia and stay overnight to remain exempt from the access fee. Prices are 2026 figures, so treat each as verify on site.
Day 1: the Venice core
Piazza San Marco before 9am: St Mark’s Basilica on a timed slot (nave free, dress code enforced), then the Doge’s Palace (about EUR 30 to 35) to the Bridge of Sighs. Bacaro lunch, the Rialto market side, a spritz to close.
Tip: book both sights before you travel to keep day one queue-free.
Day 2: Padua
Regional train to Padua, 25 to 30 minutes, roughly EUR 4 to 9. The Scrovegni Chapel and Giotto’s frescoes (about EUR 15 plus a EUR 1 fee) are the draw, booked ahead as daytime slots never sell same-day, plus Padua’s squares and the Basilica of Saint Anthony.
Tip: reserve the Scrovegni first; the short train ride leaves a full free afternoon in Padua.
Day 3: Verona
Fast train to Verona, around 54 minutes, fares from about EUR 9. The Roman Arena (daytime entry about EUR 12) is the highlight, with Piazza delle Erbe and the Torre dei Lamberti for a rooftop view. Skip Juliet’s House, a manufactured 20th-century attraction, in favour of the real Roman city.
Tip: if your dates hit the summer opera season, book an evening Arena performance (stone-step seats from about EUR 30) and make it a long day.
Read more: the 4 day Veneto itinerary adds Vicenza, the Veneto region page sets the region in context, and the Veneto day trips guide covers the wider region.