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Where to stay between Venice and Malcesine?

Posted by (Southeast of Seattle) on

Yup. Trying to get our nights and days organized for our spring 2024 trip.
Because we aren’t departing until late March, the Schengen stay regulation will not impact us when combining our fall trip this year with the spring trip. All good there.

Currently the calendar looks something like this:

Fly into Lyon- 5 nights
Bourg-Saint-Maurice- 9 nights- ski at Les Arcs and surrounds
Torino- 5 nights
Train to Bologna, drop gear, train to Brescia (not too bad and not even a full day on the train!)
Brescia to Bergamo- 6 nights -hiking
Venice- 9 nights
??????- 4 nights
Malcesine/Lake Garda- 4 nights
Bologna- 3 nights (we have spent a total of 13 nights in Bologna before, so 3 will have to do this time.)
Fly home from Bologna

There are many choices between Venice and Malcesine. It needs to have train/bus service- preferably train. We know we will end up in Verona for the transfer to Malcesine, but I’m not sure 4 nights in Verona is good especially since the Opera season is not at a high point in April and maybe more tourist centric than we want, especially just having spent the 8 days in Venice!
We want good food choices, no museums necessarily, but interesting old centers and maybe even odd/quirky. We love to just walk and explore the town/city. Of course, that can mean many things!

I’ve made note of:
Valdobbiadene- I LOVE Prosecco
Bassano del Grappa- ditto the above
Castelfranco Veneto
Vicenza
Treviso
Padua-although maybe a bit larger and busier than we want even though we have not been to the Scrovegni Chapel.

Any ideas welcome because I know there has to be many more options than what I’ve listed.
We are hoping to NOT need a car this trip in Italy.

Yes! I do like to have the gist of our trip planned quite aways in advance. Means I can get reasonable airfares (maybe) and can find lodging, etc. that suits our needs in places like Venice and for the hiking trip.

Posted by
11606 posts

We love Bassano del Grappa and it’s Alpine feel!
We drove up the western side of Lake Garda and stayed in Saló, recommended by an Italian friend. Toney town filled Europeans. We were on our way to the Dolomites. Returning from Ortissi in the Dolomites , we stayed in Malcesine, somewhat touristy but our hotel Il Castello was waterfront and had its own beach.
Spend your four days in Ortisei in the Dolomites! Stunning scenery!

Posted by
2571 posts

If you’re up for skiiing or just winter hiking, the Dolomites are close. You could take the train to Bolzano, then bus to either Ortesei, Castelrotto, or stay up on the Alpe di Siusi.

Posted by
732 posts

Thank you both. We took ski tours to Europe in the early 80’s and Val Gardena/Dolomites area was one of them. Loved it. My vegetarian meal one night was a gorgeous slab of triple cream Gorgonzola. I’ve never had as good a Gorgonzola since!
Skiing this trip will be limited to France especially since my husband is the only one skiing. I gave it up years ago.

Love the thumbs up for Bassano del Grappa. And the extra on Malcesine. Know it’s a hotbed for German tourists. Hoping in early May it may not be. All those hopes can be quickly dashed these days as everyone travels all the time. I will look into that hotel as we will do a hotel stay while on the lake. Thanks.

And edit to add, I think the 5 days we’ll spend hiking will do it for us, although hiking in the Dolomites would be lovely. Hmmm…might look into it!

Posted by
1593 posts

On a beautiful but slightly rainy/misty day in late September, we ate at Salis Ristorante Enoteca and drank Cartizze in the Prosecco Hills near Valdobbiadene. Our table by the big windows allowed us to look out over the hills where the grapes that made the wine we were drinking were growing in just a few acres of land. The food was great.

As we were leaving, my husband complimented the person at the door, saying among other things in quite good Italian, that the wine we had for lunch was by far the best Prosecco we had ever had. The man was pleased but also made a gentle correction that, no, no, no, what we drank was NOT the best Prosecco, it was Cartizze.

Pretty sure you would need a car to get to this place, but go, if you can. Reservations, of course, but not a fancy place, at least, not at lunchtime.

Posted by
732 posts

Thank you Nancy. Sounds exactly the type of experience we love to have on our travels. Will find it on the map and add it to the possibilities.

Edit to add: There’s a bus! Valdobbiadene to Santo Stefano then a 10” walk to the restaurant. That is so doable.

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