← Padova Marathon·2 nights

Venice: Two Nights on a Flat City of Bridges

A flat city of bridges and canals with some steps, reached directly from Padova. Two nights give time to see it without rushing.

Duration2 nights
TransitRegional or fast train from Padova to Venezia Santa Lucia, about 30 to 45 minutes
DepartsPadova

After the Padova Marathon: Venice

The Route: Padova → Venezia Santa Lucia → Venice Marco Polo Airport (VCE) Logistics: A direct train of about 30 to 45 minutes, then the vaporetto, the water bus, from the station. The city is flat but full of bridges with steps. Marathon Month: April Duration: 2 nights

Padova ──(30-45 mins train)──> Venezia Santa Lucia ──(vaporetto Line 1)──> San Marco
                                         │
         Marco Polo (VCE) ◄──(Alilaguna boat or bus from Piazzale Roma)────┘

Padova and Venice are on the same line, and trains run through the day. The Monday after the Padova Marathon, a train to Venezia Santa Lucia takes about 30 to 45 minutes, with fares for a regional ticket from a few euros. Check the timetable and the fares at trenitalia.com.

Day-visitor fee: Venice has charged day visitors an access fee on selected days, between about 8:30 and 16:00, with exemptions for overnight guests in the city and for anyone entering after 16:00. The 2026 calendar ran from early April to late July, and the city usually publishes the next year's dates towards the end of the year. Check the city's access-fee website before you go. Staying overnight in Venice itself exempts you, but you need to carry the confirmation.

April in Venice: the weather is mild and changeable, and the city is busy but not at its summer peak. Rain is possible, and the lagoon is cool.

Nights One and Two: Venice

Venice is flat, but nearly every canal crossing is a bridge with steps, and your legs will notice them for two or three days after a marathon. Use the vaporetto for distance. Line 1 runs slowly along the Grand Canal from Piazzale Roma and the station to San Marco and gives a view of the palaces without any walking. A single ticket costs about €9.50, and a 24-hour pass is cheaper if you ride three times or more; check the price and the validity on the ACTV website.

The Zattere is a flat promenade along the Giudecca Canal on the southern edge of the city, about 1.5 km long, with benches and cafés in the sun. It is the best place for a recovery walk. The island of Giudecca opposite is also flat, and a short vaporetto crosses to it. Murano and Burano are further out and reached by water bus; Murano is flat and Burano has few steps. Check the times of the boats and the weather.

St Mark's Basilica and the Doge's Palace have queues, so book a time slot ahead online. The Doge's Palace is a long visit on your feet, and the basilica has uneven floors.

Where to stay. Hotel Carlton on the Grand Canal is near the station. Hotel Rialto is closer to the centre. Check the location, the number of bridges between the hotel and the vaporetto stop, and the rate on the booking page.

Where to eat. Local dishes are sarde in saor, sardines with onions and vinegar, and cicchetti, small snacks eaten with a glass of wine at a bar. Book a table for dinner.

Getting to the airport

Venice Marco Polo (VCE) is reached by the Alilaguna water bus from the city or by bus from Piazzale Roma. Check the timetable and the fare on the day. Leave a margin of time for the journey.