Day Trips

Head out on a full-day cruise beginning in Venice. Sail among the ancient and beautiful villas of the region, pass by 9 swing bridges and through 5 locks, and arrive in Padua in the evening. After meeting with your guide, begin a cruise toward the Brenta Riviera. Along the way you will see various villas lining the water. Keep going until you arrive in Fusina, passing through the Moranzani Lock with rising of the water level. Stop at Malcontenta for the internal guided tour of Villa Foscari, La Malcontenta. Then continue on past villages and swing bridges. In the early afternoon, you will arrive in Oriago. Here you will stop at the famous restaurant, Il Burchiello, where you have the option of a discounted lunch. Next, cruise to Villa Widmann in Mira and stop for a guided tour of Villa Widmann, before continuing on to pass through the Mira and Dolo locks. Disembark at Stra for a guided tour of Villa Pisani's gardens, the greatest gardens of the Brenta Riviera. Marvel at its impressive swimming pool, the grandiose stables, and the elegant eighteenth-century coffee house. Pass through the Stra and Noventa Padovana locks. Go by the gorgeous and suggestive Villa Giovanelli of Noventa Padovana before arriving at the historical Burchiello’s Stairway at Portello in Padua.

In ancient times, Padua and Venice were connected by typical river boats called Burchiello®. The wooden boats featured elegant cabins and 3 or 4 balconies and were driven by the wind or oars, before being drawn by horses from Fusina to Padua. Recreate this journey on a full-day mini cruise from the heart of Padua to Venice San Marco. Departing from the historical Burchiello® Stairway at Portello, you will cruise along the original course of the 18th-century Venetian Burchielli, passing the gorgeous Villa Giovanelli at Noventa Padovana. Relax on board the luxury boat, with open-air deck to soak up the views. Disembark at Stra for a guided tour of Villa Pisani's gardens, the greatest gardens of the Brenta Riviera. Marvel at its impressive swimming pool, the grandiose stables and the elegant eighteenth-century Coffee House. Continue towards Dolo, enjoying historic illustrations of the different villas seen from the river. Pass through Dolo Lock and on towards Mira. Just past Mira Lock you will stop at Villa Widmann for a guided tour of the 18th-century mansion that belonged to a noble family of Persian origin. Cruise to Oriago, where you will stop for lunch in the historic Il Burchiello Restaurant. Next, navigate to Malcontenta, cruising past villas, villages and swing bridges. Upon arrival in Malcontenta, stop to explore one last villa; the regal Villa Foscari. Located on the edge of the lagoon, it was within easy access of Venice for its powerful Venetian owner. Finally, cruise through the Moranzani Lock to journey across the lagoon, and dock at San Marco Riva degli Schiavoni at the “Pontile della Pietà” landing stage.

Discover a jewel of the European Renaissance on a full-day tour of Verona, with round-trip transfers from a host of locations in Lake Garda, including Limone, Lazise and Riva del Garda. Following a transfer by air-conditioned coach, discover a clear example of a city that has developed progressively without interruption over 2,000 years. Admire artistic elements of the highest quality from different periods, including the ever-present contributions of the Scaligeri family. Upon arrival, take a short walk into the city center, where a local guide will take you to the Verona Arena. See one of the finest Roman theaters still in use in existence anywhere in the world. Continue to the Square of Lords (Piazza dei Signori) and Square of Herbs (Piazza Erbe), before going to Juliet's House to see messages of love written by visitors from around the world. You will also go to the Castelvecchio and see the tombs of the Scala family (Arche Scaligere). Look at the Ponte Pietra, a Roman arch bridge that spans the Adige River. Then, enjoy some free time for some retail therapy on one of the most elegant streets in Italy. Stroll down the Via Mazzini and window shop (or max out your credit cards) before your return transfer to Lake Garda.

This tour of the Prosecco hills takes you northeast of Venice through the countryside near Valdobbiane. On this tour you will have the opportunity to visit the lush green hills of the Prosecco winegrowing region that included the town of Valdobbiane, Conegliano, and Vittorio Veneto. Admire the beautiful scenery of the steep hills covered by vineyards and framed by the nearby Dolomite Mountains. Discover one of the most famous sparkling wines produced in Italy well known for its fruity aromas and its charming unpretentiousness. In this picturesque winegrowing region you will visit one of the top wine producers, where you can learn about the traditional production methods and enjoy a guided wine tasting. The tour then stops for lunch at one of the most historic Frasche (simple rustic trattorias) specializing in simple local cuisine. You will then continue on your journey, stopping to visit a second cantina to experience the small, family-run wine production that is so important to this area, followed by a wine tasting.

Join an Italian Sommelier on this special 8-hour trip to small prestigious vineyards in the Valpolicella Valley. Discover the best Amarone and other quality Valpolicella wines, and sample the local cuisine in a beautiful atmosphere. On this tour, you will drive through a landscape of classical villas, surrounded by vineyards, olive groves, and orchards. Pick-ups are available from Venice, Verona, or Padua, and each tour starts with a visit to a typical cantina, set in a 15th-century building. Drive along tiny roads that wind through the vineyards. Enjoy tastings of Valpolicella’s classic wines - Valpolicella, Ripasso della Valpolicella, Amarone, and Recioto. Each wine will be paired with cheese, selected by the vineyard owner and your guide, who is a sommelier and master cheese taster. Next, take a scenic drive to a typical restaurant, for a light lunch with tradional dishes and wine. After lunch, visit a second cantina, where the grapes for Amarone and Recioto are withered before vinification. After a short visit to the vineyard and winery, taste some more famous wines for a chance to compare the differences and similarities of the two different producers.