Hiking the Veneto: Dolomites and Hills
Venice itself is flat lagoon, but the Veneto behind it climbs fast into some of the best hiking in Italy. None of it is on the doorstep, so treat these as full day trips or, better, short overnights from the city.
The Dolomites
The big one. From Piazzale Roma, the bus to Cortina d’Ampezzo takes roughly 3 hours, putting you among the pale limestone peaks of the Dolomites, a UNESCO World Heritage site. The classic walk is the Tre Cime di Lavaredo loop, a well-marked circuit beneath the three iconic towers with a mountain refuge or two along the way; the terrain runs from easy to demanding. Because of the travel time, an overnight in Cortina or a nearby valley turns a rushed day into a proper mountain trip.
The Dolomiti Bellunesi
Closer to the plain, north of Belluno, the Dolomiti Bellunesi National Park offers quieter trails through forest and rock without the crowds of Cortina. It is a good choice if you want the mountains with more solitude, though you will need a car to reach the trailheads.
The Euganean Hills
The easiest hills to reach are the Colli Euganei near Padua, a cluster of volcanic cones rising straight out of the plain, protected as a regional park. Monte Venda, the highest at around 601 metres, has marked paths through chestnut woods, and the hills are dotted with vineyards, monasteries and thermal spa towns for a soak afterwards.
The Prosecco terraces and Monte Grappa
Up in the UNESCO-listed Prosecco hills of Conegliano and Valdobbiadene, walking trails thread the steep terraced vineyards, a gentler landscape best combined with a tasting. Further west, the great isolated massif of Monte Grappa (around 1,775 metres) rises above Bassano, with high pastures, war memorials and huge views.
Lessinia, above Verona
North of Verona, the Lessinia plateau is a regional natural park of rolling upland pasture, drystone walls and the dramatic Ponte di Veja natural rock arch. It is walkable and rarely busy, an easy add-on if you are already visiting Verona.
A few essentials for all of them: check the season, since the high Dolomites trails are snow-free only roughly June to October; wear proper boots and carry water, layers and sun cover; and confirm bus or train times back, which thin out in the evening.
Read more: base yourself with the Venice as a Veneto base guide , see the flat lagoon walks in the Venice walks guide , and the wider region in the Veneto nature guide .