Plan a self-guided day tour through Chioggia, near Venice

Even when visiting iconic places such as Venice, we are always trying to find locations that are off the beaten path, where we can experience a bit of life outside of the tourist spots. Chioggia was exactly the place we were looking for. Imagine a smaller version of Venice, with the colorful houses and the narrow canals – but without the crowds.

In this article, we will help you plan a day trip to Chioggia from Venice, with everything you need to know to make your tour incredible. Let’s begin.

How to get to Chioggia from Venice

Chioggia is located on the edge of the Venetian Lagoon. Venice is the main island, which is connected to the continent via the railway and the bridge. However, the Lagoon is quite big and has over 100 small islands. 

Chioggia is not an island, which means you can reach Chioggia by boat but also by land. Check the map below so you can have a better idea of where Chioggia is located in relation to Venice.

How to get to Chioggia from Venice by boat?

If you will be traveling during the summer, specifically between June and September, then going to Chioggia by boat is the best option of transport. During the summer months, there is a direct Vaporetto line that connects St Mark’s Square in Venice to Chioggia. The boat ride is very pleasant, with nice views along the way, which only contributes to the whole experience of the day trip in Chioggia.

Outside of the summer season, the only way to go to Chioggia from Venice using public boat transport is via Lido. This will add a couple of hours to your day trip since the connection isn’t direct, but it is definitely doable if you want it. The steps are:

• Get a Vaporetto from Venice to Lido – Lines 1, 2, and 5.1 are some of the best options, but it depends on where your starting point is.
• Get the bus nr 11 from Lido to Pallestrina – The bus stop is right outside the Vaporetto station in Lido, and you will be on it for the entire line, getting off at the last station in Pallestrina Cemetery.
• Get on the Vaporetto to Chioggia.

Pro tip: Check the boat schedule in advance to time your trip right, so you won’t have to be waiting too long between transports. The bus nr 11 and the Vaporetto to Chioggia are always coordinated, so you don’t have to worry about that part.

How to get to Chioggia from Venice by car?

For those of you who will be traveling outside of the summer months, we recommend going from Venice to Chioggia by road. The ride from Piazzale Roma to Chioggia lasts 50-60 min by car. If you will be going with your own vehicle, you will find a few parking lots right at the entrance of the city.

Do you need to rent a car for your trip?

If you will be relying on the public transport system, you can get a direct bus from Venice to Chioggia at Piazzale Roma. The bus line is nr 80, and it runs multiple times a day, with the peak being every 15 min on the busiest time of the year. Check the Chioggia – Venice bus schedule here.

Why visit Chioggia? A little bit of history

Talking about the history of Chioggia is something that takes time, since the legends about the city’s foundation date back to 2.000 b.c. 

The name “Chioggia” means “artificially built” because many years ago before the city had any human interference, this part of the land used to be always submerged during high tides. Because of this phenomenon, the most accepted theory is that the city was born on the other extreme, closer to the continent and the Brenta River.

As the years passed by, Chioggia established itself as an important city of the Veneto Region mainly for its salt production. Nowadays there are no operational salt flats in this area anymore, but the salt produced in Chioggia used to be one of its main sources of income.

The salt produced in Chioggia, known as “Salt Clugiae”, was so well-valued that it was used as currency for many years. On several occasions, the enemies have tried to conquer this city for its commercial value, and Venice has always risen up in protection.

During the years, Chioggia has been under the domain of the Serenissima Republic of Venice, from the Republic of Genoa, and even Napoleon. Nowadays, Chioggia’s economy is heavily dependent on fishing. Due to its position, it is also an important spot for controlling imports and exports in the Venetian Lagoon, and also for the new system for controlling the tides.

What to see in Chioggia on a day trip

Chioggia is a perfect destination for a day trip because it is small enough that you can visit everything within a day, without having to rush it or compromise on what to see. We recommend starting your day early, between 7 and 8 am, so you can be in Chioggia soon and enjoy the day until the afternoon.

Our favorite thing to do in Chioggia is just to stroll around the beautiful little canals and quiet streets. Chioggia is sometimes referred to as “Little Venice” because it does look like a smaller version of it. The only thing you won’t find here are the gondolas, but there will be plenty of small boats and canoes to make up for it.

Once you get off the boat coming from Venice to Chioggia, you will be right in front of the main street called Corso del Popolo, which is fully dedicated to pedestrians. Here you will find a lot of bars and restaurants, along with some of the most important landmarks of the town. Here are the places you shouldn’t miss:

• Piazzeta Vigo and its bridge – this is the square where you will land if you come by boat. It is a nice place for refreshment, but it gets quite busy during the high season. One of my favorite things about the square is the beautiful marble bridge on the right.
• Chioggia’s Town Hall – a beautiful building located right in the middle of Corso del Popolo. It is a fully functional town hall, so you will sometimes see some entertainment happening around it.
• Chioggia Duomo or Cathedral Santa Maria Assunta – this is the most important church in town, considered a cathedral since 1110. We do recommend going inside to visit the Duomo – our favorite part was the left chapel that is dedicated to Chioggia’s patron saints, Felix and Fortunatus.
• Clock Tower – right on the side of the cathedral, you will see the big 14th-century bell tower. The Clock Tower also hosts a museum.
• Porta Garibaldi (or Porta Santa Maria) – this beautiful stone entrance is used to mark the start of Chioggia.
• Fish Market – by far, my favorite place in Chioggia was the fish market, where you can see the fresh produce and different typical things they have in the Lagoon. It is not touristic at all, which only adds to the experience.

Book a guided trip of Chioggia

Extend your trip – What to visit close to Chioggia

Chioggia may be a perfect day trip destination, but you can also extend your stay to visit other interesting locations nearby. Here are the two places we recommend the most if you will be extending your trip:

• Spend a day visiting Lido, especially if you will be traveling during the warm months of the year.
• Enjoy the sand beaches at Sottomarina, located right outside of Chioggia.

Need other day-trip ideas? Check our curated list of the 9 best day trips from Venice.

Where to stay in Chioggia?

If you will be extending your stay in Chioggia, you may want to consider spending the night in town. Here are our top recommendations of where to stay in Chioggia:

• Hotel Grande Italia – One of the most important hotels in the city, located right in the old town. This property is very well-rated and a nice place to stay if you will be going to Chioggia by boat.
• B&B La Caneva 951 – This is a small bed and breakfast that offers a very comfortable stay in the city center at reasonable prices. Guests have consistently complimented the host and the installations.
• Hotel Mediterraneo – Located in Sottomarina, this is a good option for a place to stay if you want to extend your trip to Chioggia with a few days by the beach. The hotel is located only a 15min walk away from Chioggia’s city center.

We hope this post has helped you plan your day trip to Chioggia!

If you are still looking for tours and inspiration on what to do in Venice, check out a few options below