We will be spending 2 1/2 day docked in Chioggia in March while on a Viking Ocean cruise. From what I've researched, Chioggia is called the "Little Venice" . and is supposed to be very charming. We've been to Venice before so I thought we'd spend a day exploring Chioggia, perhaps taking the second day to go up to Padua (I'll need to figure out how to get there from Chioggia).
Is there enough to see and do in Chioggia for an entire day? Perhaps we'll take part of a day to go into Venice, however, I understand it's a bit of a journey to get to Venice from Chioggia. Thoughts?
Posted by
Washington DC
27217 posts
What I've read about Chioggia is positive, but it isn't Venice, so I think you won't need a lot of time to see Chioggia. The two most obvious (to me) side trips other than Venice itself would be Padua (Padova in Italian) and Ferrara.
Unfortunately, Padua's about 2-1/2 hours away by train, despite the rather short distance. There's a lot to see there, but that's a lot of transportation time. Bus service would be more direct and a lot faster--not much more than an hour if you use the stop near the Chioggia train station. FSBusItalia has service running at least hourly (sometimes twice an hour) during much of the day. Here's the schedule:
Take note of the footnote that shows the codes for every day, Monday-Saturday only, and Sunday. The schedule might be somewhat seasonal, so check again shortly before your trip.
Once in Padua, the tram will get you from the train station to the Scrovegni Chapel (get ticket online in advance; walk-ups are usually not possible) and to or at least near other key sights.
I've read good things about Ferrara (including posts on this forum) but haven't been there myself. You can get there by train from Chioggia in about 1-1/2 hours. I don't see any indication that bus service would be faster to Ferrara.
I believe Padua and Ferrara (which, as I said, I haven't seen) are different enough that spending one day in each city would be a good approach. However, I suspect each one has enough attractions to justify more than one day.
Posted by
martinez, ca, usa
2304 posts
hey hey sue
haven't been but i have it bookmarked as a place to go and see.
tripsavvy.com/ chioggia
visitchioggia.com
ilburchiello.it
cruise down the brenta river. see if they have a stop in chioggia
stop at the tourist kiosk and see what activities they have available
have a great time, enjoy
aloha
Posted by
Sunriver
1321 posts
We stopped in Chioggia while on a barge and bike trip. It is pretty but not Venice. Cute central area awesome fish market. Walking around town you could fill a day I guess but 1/2 day more likely. We also stopped in Padua... again 1/2 day there would be plenty.
Posted by
Western Canada
3151 posts
I've been to Chioggia on a day out from Venice in 2015.
Honestly, there's nothing much there that would take up more than half a day!
It's a working town where people just go about their daily lives.
I would get up early and get on a train or bus to somewhere else.
Also, everything closed over the lunchtime period if I recall correctly.
Your cruise line must offer transport in and out of Venice??
If not, it is indeed a journey to get there....ferries and buses (plural) from Chioggia to Lido, then across to Venice's main areas.
It took us a couple of hours each way.
Posted by
Saint Paul, Minnesota
1397 posts
When we were staying in Padua in early September a few years ago, we decided to check out Chioggia. So we took the train to Venice, which did not take long, and then the vaporetto along the Grand Canal and all the way to the main Lido stop, then either another vaporetto or a bus, then a bus for sure, then the bus got on a ferry to Chioggia. Then we did this all in reverse.
We had spent two weeks in Venice on previous trips, but were happy just to travel through it twice more and to note again how all the crowds were at two spots. After the Lido stop, there were interesting views of the shore and the lagoon and little fishing shacks and old walls, and the trip was easy, despite all the different modes of transportation.
Actually, it turned out that we enjoyed the trip more than we enjoyed Chioggia, even though we had lunch at a nice little fish restaurant near the dock called Osteria Penzo (where they kindly made me a vegetarian pasta since I hate seafood). I admit that it was way too hot and sunny for my liking, and that may have affected my impression of Chioggia. There are indeed canals, and they resemble some parts of Venice, but are far from a substitute. I did not detect a bunch of charm, but, as I mentioned: mid-day and boiling hot and no shade. So we walked around a bit and then went back to Padua.
So, you could, if you wanted to, take the same route we did, from Chioggia to Venice and then to Padua, and back again all in one day. Or just Chioggia to Venice --- there's always more to see and do in Venice (we are planning another week there for next year).
Posted by
Bendigo, Australia
1230 posts
Hop a vaporetto over to Pellestrina on the Lido. Maybe explore the length of the Lido.
Posted by
Surrey, BC, Canada
11 posts
Treviso!! It is only about 30-40 mins by direct train from Venezia Santa Lucia station. We stayed for about 4 days the first time a few years ago and returned for another visit. Not a huge city but walkable and lots to see/do.
Posted by
Washington DC
27217 posts
But Treviso's about 3 hours from Chioggia. That's considerably beyond what I consider day-tripping distance.
Posted by
Western Canada
3151 posts
Venice is nearly 3 hours by train from Chioggia, with one change.
Treviso is 3+ hours with 2 changes of trains.
Padua is two and a half hours by train with one change.
The easiest place to get to for the day would be Ferrara, about an hour and a half to two and a half hours by train, with one change.
I think your best bet is to take the transport offered by the cruise line and go to Venice.
Posted by
Washington DC
27217 posts
As I mentioned above, there's bus service from Chioggia to Padua that takes just a bit over an hour. I think it's rather frequent.