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Veneto - Trails and Rails

Guided walking holiday in Padua and the Veneto: Brenta peaks, Euganean Hills, Venetian Lagoon trails, Chioggia visit, and optional Venice day trip.

Veneto – Trails and Rails

Italy

Veneto – Trails and Rails

About this holiday

Walking Holidays in Italy: Discover the Veneto from Padua

Discover one of northern Italy's most rewarding walking holiday destinations on this expertly guided tour of the Veneto region. Based in the vibrant university city of Padua, three guided walks take you through contrasting Italian landscapes: the dramatic peaks of the Brenta Valley, the volcanic Euganean Hills rich with rare flora, and the shimmering waters of the Venetian Lagoon, with a visit to the authentic fishing town of Chioggia.

Free days let you explore Padua's world-famous Scrovegni Chapel, its magnificent covered market, and thriving café culture, or jump on a 25-minute train to Venice for an optional day in one of Italy's most iconic cities.

From ancient smugglers' trails to lagoon crossings by vaporetto, this walking holiday in Italy uncovers a side of the Veneto that most visitors never see, making it perfect for travellers seeking culture, nature, and authentic Italian experiences off the beaten track.

What’s included

Holiday Highlights

  • Flights from your local airport
  • 7 nights half-board in Padua
  • Transfers and Luggage included
  • Three guided walks into the heart of the Veneto
  • Ancient smugglers' trail above the Brenta Valley
  • Volcanic Euganean Hills
  • Venetian Lagoon by vaporetto
  • Optional Venice excursion
  • Based in historic Padua.

Day by day

Itinerary

Flight to Venice. On arrival, you will be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel, Crown Plaza Padova for seven nights half board accommodation. Transfer time is approx. 40 minutes.
By train from Padua Today's excursion heads north into the foothills of the Dolomites to the elegant town of Bassano del Grappa, famous for its beautiful covered wooden bridge - the Ponte Vecchio - spanning the fast-flowing Brenta river. It is here that the Alta Via del Tabacco begins, one of the most characterful walking routes in the Veneto. The trail follows ancient mule tracks and terrace paths along the right bank of the Brenta, climbing through the distinctive dry-stone 'masière' terraces where tobacco was cultivated for centuries between the 17th and 20th centuries. This was also smuggling country - for generations, local families carried contraband tobacco along these same paths by night to evade the customs officers below, and the route carries that history in every step. The first section of the trail offers dramatic views down into the Brenta Valley, across to the sheer rock walls of Monte Grappa, and through a landscape that feels entirely untouched by the modern world. Today we walk the first stage of the Alta Via - well-waymarked, rewarding and accessible to all abilities - before returning to Bassano del Grappa for a well-earned lunch and a leisurely explore of the town. 5.5 Miles- 200M Ascent. 400M Descent
By train from Padua No visit to the Veneto would be complete without at least one day in Venice, and from Padua the journey takes just 25 minutes by train - one of the most convenient connections to the city in all of Italy. For those who wish to visit on one of the holiday's free days, Venice is yours to discover at your own pace. Whether you choose to lose yourself in the narrow calli of the Dorsoduro or Cannaregio districts away from the crowds, cross the Rialto Bridge and browse the morning market, visit the Byzantine splendour of St Mark's Basilica, or simply find a quiet canal-side café and watch the city go about its daily life - Venice rewards in every direction. For those who have visited before, the outer islands of Murano and Burano are easily reached by vaporetto and offer a quieter, equally memorable experience. Your guide will be happy to offer suggestions and a recommended itinerary to suit your interests. ACTV vaporetto day passes can be purchased on arrival and give unlimited travel across the city's water bus network. Travel: return train Padua–Venice, approximately 25 minutes each way. Vaporetto passes available locally.
By train from Padua Rising dramatically from the flat expanse of the Po Plain south of Padua, the Euganean Hills are a geological curiosity - ancient volcanic peaks that erupt unexpectedly from the surrounding flatlands, creating a landscape of extraordinary variety and beauty. Today's walk explores Monte Ceva, the most remarkable hill in the group. What makes Monte Ceva so special is its unique microclimate, created by its unusual geological composition of latite and rhyolite rock. The result is a botanical treasure — more than 1,200 plant species thrive here, including prickly pears, agave, strawberry trees and rockroses that give the hillside an almost Mediterranean character, quite unlike anything else in the Veneto. The trail climbs through this extraordinary natural world, passing the ruins of a 12th-century monastery and the remains of the Monte Croce quarry, before reaching the summit cross at 255 metres. From the top, on a clear day, the panorama is breathtaking - the thermal spa towns of Abano and Montegrotto spread below, the ridges of the Euganean Hills ripple into the distance, and on the finest days the shimmer of the Venetian Lagoon is visible on the horizon. 4.5 miles - 200 metre ascent/descent
Free day in resort to explore your destination at your own pace.
By bus from Padua Today's excursion is perhaps the most memorable of the week - a journey into the extraordinary world of the Venetian Lagoon, taking in a fishing town that most visitors to Venice never discover and a sliver of island that feels like the end of the earth. A direct bus from Padua brings you in around an hour to Chioggia, a proud maritime town at the southern tip of the lagoon. Often called "Little Venice" - though its residents would bristle at the comparison - Chioggia has the canals, the painted houses and the arched bridges of its famous neighbour, but none of the crowds. Its famous fish market has supplied the lagoon's kitchens for centuries, and the long main street of Corso del Popolo, lined with churches and palaces, gives way at Piazzetta Vigo to a sudden, breathtaking view across the open lagoon. There is time to explore the town and enjoy lunch at one of the waterfront restaurants before boarding the vaporetto. The short crossing to Pellestrina - a long, narrow barrier island barely wide enough in places to cross on foot - carries you into a world where time genuinely seems to have stood still. Colourful fishermen's houses line the lagoon side, the great 18th-century Murazzi sea walls of Istrian stone protect the island from the Adriatic, and the Ca' Roman nature reserve at the southern tip is a haven for birdlife. A walk along the island offers a perspective on the Venetian Lagoon that no gondola ride or tourist excursion can replicate - quiet, elemental and utterly unforgettable. 4.5 miles - 20 metre ascent/descent
Free day in resort to explore your destination at your own pace.
Free time until you depart for the airport for your flight home.

Where you stay

Accommodation

Crowne Plaza Padova

The Crowne Plaza Padova is an ideal base for exploring the very best of the Veneto region. Four-star comfort, excellent dining, and attentive service ensure you return each evening feeling genuinely refreshed and ready for the next day's adventures.

The hotel sits at the heart of Padua, one of northern Italy's most captivating cities. The extraordinary Scrovegni Chapel, a magnificent covered market, and the vast Prato della Valle square are all within easy reach, making every free moment rewarding.

Beyond the city, the hotel's central position puts the dramatic Brenta Valley, volcanic Euganean Hills, and the Venetian Lagoon comfortably within reach for guided walking excursions. The authentic fishing town of Chioggia is easily accessible, and Venice is just 25 minutes away by train for those tempted by an optional day trip.

It is a base that works beautifully for walkers, culture lovers, and anyone wanting to experience the real northern Italy.

Hotel features

  • TV
  • Bar
  • Air Conditioned
  • Fridge
  • Free Toiletries
  • Free Wifi
  • Hairdryer
  • Safety Deposit Box

Gallery

A look at the trip

Availability

Dates & Prices

Depart Return Price Offer Solo Booking
Depart10 Jun 2027 Return17 Jun 2027 PriceFrom £1699
Depart12 Sep 2027 Return19 Sep 2027 PriceFrom £1799

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