Veneto Italy {Venture Beyond Venice!}

If you’re visiting Veneto Italy, there’s so much more to see outside of the Grand Canal, and Piazza San Marco! Venture beyond Venice, and discover more of the beautiful region of Veneto.

Located in northeastern Italy, Veneto borders the Adriatic coast to the east, and runs north to the foothills of the Alps bordering Austria. Famous for winter sports, the Dolomite mountains (southern Alps), were host to the 2026 Winter Olympics in Cortina d’Ampezzo. Veneto borders Trentino-Alto Adige on the northwest, Friuli-Venezia Giulia to the northeast, Lombardia on the west, and Emilio-Romagna to the south.

Just as beautiful as Lake Como, but larger and less crowded is Lake Garda, around a two hour drive from Venice or Trevisio. Explore Valdobiaddene and go wine tasting at a Venetian villa or castello.

Visit an organic farm, brewery, a family run bakery, dairy, or stay in a spa wine hotel. Veneto has something for everyone from nature lovers, to cyclists, foodies and wine enthusiasts! 

(Disclosure: I was hosted by the Province of Treviso and Marca Treviso, Touring with Lara, and the Veneto Region on this press trip)

Why visit Veneto?

Veneto has everything one could want from charming towns, world heritage sites, delicious wines, beautiful cities, Palladian Villas, and fantastic food. This diverse region features the largest lake in Italy, (Lake Garda), a UNESCO World Heritage site in Verona, Ferrrara, Padua, Vincenza and more. If you read my post about Visiting the Veneto Wine Region, I focused on wineries and breweries in the region.

This time, I’m highlighting experiences for foodies in Veneto. Veneto is of one of my favorite regions of Italy. Every year I visit Treviso for the Tiramisu World Cup. Treviso is a lovely small city with a great central location, easily accessible by train, making it perfect for a “home base”. The prices are far cheaper than the city of Venice, and it offers easy access to many popular places. 

What to do in Veneto

Visit a farm

30 miles outside of Venice is one of my favorite places to visit; Nonno Andrea. This family run farm focuses on organic fruit, vegetables and even flowers. Depending on what time of year you visit, you could encounter tulips, sunflowers, or pumpkins.

It’s a family friendly farm with lots for the kiddos to do including a corn maze, entertainers, and mini train. It’s just as much fun for adults with music, craft beers, and plenty of delicious food, as well as a farm shop with edible gifts.

I honestly can’t say enough wonderful things about Nonno Andrea’s! I’ve been there twice and had two different experiences. You can hang out in the pumpkin patch (which is HUGE) and grab a beer or glass of wine and a sandwich.

Or spend some time relaxing over a fabulous, multi-course meal in the farmhouse restaurant.

We dined here after visiting Vaka Mora dairy. Because we had our fresh cheese with us, our tour guides, Lara and Sara, arranged with the chef at Nonna Andrea’s to prepare it as part of our lunch. We proceeded to have the most incredible luncheon with produce fresh from the farm. It was one of the most memorable meals I’ve had in Italy.

In the fall the entire farm turns into a giant pumpkin village with over 500,000 pumpkins. During the 43 days the pumpkin village is operating, hundreds of thousands visit from all over the world.

It’s just 8 miles from Treviso, which is close enough for a bike or scooter ride! It’s worth spending a whole day here as they have a 3,000+ square foot store with fresh vegetables, local meats and cheeses, breads, jams, edible gifts and pastries.

Visit a bakery

Founded in 1932 in the heart of Castelfranco Veneto, a beautiful walled town in Veneto, is the world renown Pasticceria Faccaro bakery.

This family run company started as a simple neighborhood bakery, that turned into a multi-generational business, which now ships their famous panettone to 43 countries including Harrods in London.

The Fraccaro family’s values blend tradition and quality with innovative and sustainable practices. The bakeries use a solar thermal system and packaging that reduces plastic consumption.

In addition to their classic panettone, Pasticceria Fraccaro offer a vegan, whole wheat, and spelt version. From co-owner Luca, we learned about the history of the company over cappuccino and pastry.

After that, we suited up, and took a tour of the inter-workings of bakery. We learned about the 48 hour leavening and three days of processing required for each panettone! After our tour we tasted more of Pasticceria Fraccaro’s delicacies including pizza, followed by, what else but panettone!

Visit a family run dairy

Just a short distance from Treviso is another family run agricultural company, Vaka Mora. Vaka Mora has been in operation since 2013. This third generation, agricultural family company incorporates modern technology and green practices.

We were able to see the production line, meet some of the “girls”, and even learn how to make fresh cheese!

They offer 15 different types of dairy products from fresh to aged cheeses to raw milk, yogurt, butter and ricotta.

In addition their on-site store sells cured meats and soft served gelato. We brought our freshly made cheese to Nonno Andrea where the chef prepared it for our lunch in the traditional style. (see above)

Where to stay in Veneto

Staying in Venice itself is nice, but expensive. Staying outside of Venice and traveling into Venice is always an option. 

Treviso

I’ve stayed in many places in Treviso. I’ve tried self serve, where you have no contact with anyone, full service hotels, and partial service rooms with minimal employee contact outside check in and check out and breakfast. For a full-service hotel which includes a full breakfast, I like B&B Treviso. It’s just a 7 minute walk to Piazza dei Signori. The rooms are clean, modern and updated, and the view from my room was lovely!

Mogliano Veneto

Another option is staying in Mogliano Veneto which is halfway between Treviso and Venice. Located just 6 miles from Venice Mestre (where you catch the train for Venice) and just 15 minutes from the Marco Polo airport, is The Foscarini, a beautiful luxury hotel in a Venetian villa.

The Foscarini caters to both wine lovers and sports enthusiasts with nearby golf, bicycles for rent, and an indoor gym. They even offer a fully equipped maintenance station for bikes! A simple, but filling breakfast is offered in addition to lounge and dining spaces.

It’s located within easy distance of the Prosecco region. Cortina d’Ampezzo is less than two hours by car. The Belluno area is about an hour away. 

Castello di Roncade

If you want to stay in a castle, Castello di Roncade offers a variety of rooms in its 15th century villa. Here you can read more about Castello di Roncade, in my last post as well as its history, and the wine tours they offer. 

Wine Hotel Giacomo

For the active traveler, Wine Hotel San Giacomo is perfect! This hotel is located a short drive from both Valdobbiadene and Treviso and offers an on-site restaurant. As a wellness hotel and spa, the offer e-bikes and regular bikes for rent, or can safely store your bike. Explore the region on your own, or take a cycling tour. When you get back to your room, you can head down to the spa for a massage or dip in the jacuzzi. They offer a full complimentary breakfast which will fill you up until aperitivo time!

​Locanda Sandi

Locanda Sandi on the Villa Sandi Estate offers wine tours, a Cooking Class, full service dining, as well as a limited number of unique and tranquil rooms.

You can take a wine tour of the estate, dine in, and/or spend the night on the property.

Verona

Verona is a charming town famous for of course, Juliet’s balcony. It also has a wonderful Roman Empire forum from the 1st century, which is lit up at night, and still in use. Visit the historic Piazza delle Herbe, a bustling market square.

There’s a 14th century fortified bridge, Castelvecchio, and museum which is worth a visit. Visit Castel San Pietro for beautiful views of the city. Verona is easily accessible via train to many other towns including Treviso and Venice.

When choosing where to stay, I take into consideration two things; would I rather be closer to the train station which is usually noisier, but cheaper and easier to get to if I’ve got a lot of luggage? Or take a taxi to the center of town to be closer to all the action, which is usually more expensive, and can be noisier depending on how close to the main piazzas the hotel is located.

Flying in and out of Veneto

Since I travel to Treviso every year for the Tiramisu World Cup, I’ve flown in and out of Milan, Rome, Naples and Venice. Once I discovered how easy it is to get around from the Marco Polo airport, I try to make it my first option. There are no direct flights from LA to Venice, but it’s usually a really quick flight from anywhere in Italy, Switzerland, Paris or London. I’d highly recommend checking out the flights into Venice Marco Polo airport. Usually it’s a few dollars more, but worth it when comparing convenience against the cost of a train ticket from elsewhere. Incidentally it has one of the best airport club lounges as well.

Getting around in Veneto

Renting a car is always a great option. So many of the best places and small towns are only accessible via car. If you don’t feel comfortable driving in another country, there are still options. Hire a driver! This is often much cheaper than you’d expect! From the Venice Marco Polo airport there are many shuttle, water taxi, and bus options to get to both Venice proper and the train station at Mestre.

Treviso Car Service offers a fleet of cars that hold up to 8 passengers. This is especially nice if you’re traveling with friends. They offer airport and cruise transfers, trips to the Dolomites, or a Prosecco Road experience. You can also take the Cortina Express, a direct bus with connections from the airport or Venice Mestre station to points in northern Veneto. 

Where to eat in Veneto

In my last post about wineries in Veneto, I touched on a couple of places to eat in Treviso and the Venetto region. Some of the hotels and villas listed above also have on-site restaurants. We also had lovely meals at the following restaurants.

Right on the banks of the Sile river is Al Porticcciolo 5 less than 10 miles south of Treviso and about 17 miles north of Venice in Casale Sule Sile.

We had some exception tuna tartare, and a delicious seafood pasta.

About a 30 minute drive east of Treviso is Ristorante Barbesin. We had a most delightful lunch paired with local wines. They also offer rooms in their hotel Ca’delle Rose

We finished our meal with the local specialty, Sbrisolona, which is sort of a crossover between crumbly almond shortbread, a cookie, and cake, and one of my new favorite desserts! (Bottom right)

Thank you to the following who sponsored and organized this wonderful trip! Associazione Guide di Marca.

Fondazione Marca Trevisio Visit Treviso.

Treviso Tours and Touring with Lara

Treviso Car Service for driving us all around the Veneto region in luxury!