← Verona Marathon·2 nights

Venice in November: Two Nights in the Lagoon

A direct fast train takes you from Verona to Venice, for two nights in the lagoon city in the quiet season, with a plan to keep the bridges to a minimum.

Duration2 nights
TransitFast train from Verona Porta Nuova, about 1 hr 10 min
DepartsVerona Porta Nuova

After the Verona Marathon: Two Nights in Venice

The Route: Verona Porta Nuova → Venezia Santa Lucia (2 nights) → Marco Polo Airport (VCE) Logistics: Direct trains all day. Venice is on foot or by vaporetto, with many bridges. Marathon Month: November Duration: 2 nights

Verona Porta Nuova ──(fast train ~1 hr 10)──> Venezia Santa Lucia ──(walk / vaporetto)──> Cannaregio / San Marco
                                                      │
                           Marco Polo Airport (VCE) <──(bus / boat)──┘

Venice is the obvious next stop from Verona, and November is a good month for it. The crowds thin out, prices drop and the light is low and silvery. A fast train from Verona Porta Nuova takes roughly an hour and ten minutes, and regional trains take longer. Check times and prices at trenitalia.com or italotreno.it, and book fast trains ahead for the lowest price.

November in Venice. Late autumn brings mist, rain and the risk of high water, called acqua alta, when tides flood the lowest streets. The city raises walkways on the worst days, and many people wear rubber boots. Check the tide forecast on the city's official service when you plan the days. In most years the weather is cool and damp, though conditions vary. The city's day-visitor access fee ran on selected days between April and July in the most recent year and did not apply in November, and overnight guests are exempt. Dates change, so check the city's portal.

Nights One and Two: A Base with Few Bridges

Venice is made of bridges, and marathon legs feel every step. Choose a hotel close to the station or on a vaporetto line, so the stairs are few. Cannaregio, the district beside Santa Lucia station, has quieter streets, and the Grand Canal vaporetto line 1 runs slowly down the whole length of the canal and counts as a sit-down tour. A single ACTV ticket costs about EUR 9.50 (approximately GBP 8.15) and lasts 75 minutes, so a multi-day pass is better value. Check fares at actv.avmspa.it.

Piazza San Marco and the Doge's Palace are the sights, and timed entries sell out, so book ahead and check the hours. The Ghetto, in Cannaregio, is a flat, quiet area with an important Jewish history and a few museums. A slow walk with no particular destination is the best use of a day here.

Where to stay: Hotel Santa Chiara is near Piazzale Roma, close to the station and the bus terminal. Hotel Ai Mori d'Oriente is in Cannaregio. Check rates and cancellation terms.

Where to eat: Venetian bars serve cicchetti, small plates eaten at the counter, such as salt cod on bread and sardines in a sweet-sour onion marinade. Order a few at a time and eat standing up, and check opening days.

Getting Back

Take the train to Verona, or go to Marco Polo Airport (VCE) by bus or boat from Piazzale Roma. Check the times before relying on them. For an early flight, stay on the mainland at Mestre for the last night.