Venice to the Prosecco Hills

By the Viamo editorial team · Editor Terje Moy · Last updated July 2026 · 4 min read

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The steep, closely packed hills between Conegliano and Valdobbiadene, striped with vineyards and now a UNESCO World Heritage site, produce the Prosecco Superiore that outranks the everyday sparkling wine sold worldwide — and they're a straightforward train ride from Venice, even if seeing the hills themselves properly takes a little more effort than reaching the nearest station.

The direct way: train to Conegliano

Regional trains run from Venezia Santa Lucia (or Venezia Mestre) to Conegliano, the gateway town to the Prosecco hills, in around 1 hour to 1 hour 15 minutes, with frequent departures through the day and no reservation required. Conegliano itself is an attractive walled town with a hilltop castle and a historic centre, and it's also home to Italy's oldest school of oenology, reflecting the area's long winemaking pedigree. From the station, the town centre is an easy walk, though the vineyard-covered hills that give the region its UNESCO status lie further out, in the countryside between Conegliano and Valdobbiadene.

Getting into the hills: bus, bike or tour from Conegliano

From Conegliano, local buses run onward towards Valdobbiadene and villages along the wine road, though services are limited compared with the frequent trains from Venice, so checking the timetable in advance matters if you're relying on a connecting bus rather than a car or tour. Some visitors hire bikes in Conegliano to explore the nearer vineyard lanes independently, though the terrain is genuinely hilly and better suited to confident cyclists. For most visitors wanting to actually taste at wine estates in the hills rather than just visit Conegliano, an organised tour or a hire car is the more practical route.

Organised wine tours

Numerous operators run day tours from Venice into the Prosecco hills, typically by minibus, combining transport with stops at two or three producers for tastings and cellar visits, and often a walk through one of the UNESCO-listed vineyard landscapes around Valdobbiadene or the villages of Cartizze, the small sub-zone that produces the region's most prized Prosecco. These need booking ahead and are the most practical way to visit actual vineyards rather than just Conegliano's town centre.

Driving

Conegliano is about 60 km from Venice, roughly a 1-hour drive, with the heart of the UNESCO hills and Valdobbiadene a further 20–30 minutes beyond. Driving is the most flexible way to follow the "Strada del Prosecco e Vini dei Colli Conegliano Valdobbiadene," a signposted wine road winding through the steepest and most photogenic vineyard terrain, stopping at small producers along the way. As always, plan for a designated driver if tastings are on the agenda. See our guide to driving in Italy for road rules and driving culture.

What makes these hills different

The UNESCO-listed area around Valdobbiadene is distinguished from the flatter Prosecco vineyards found across the wider Veneto plain by its steepness — some slopes are worked entirely by hand because they're too steep for machinery — and by the DOCG designation "Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore," which marks a step up in quality from the more basic Prosecco DOC produced across a much larger area. Visitors specifically chasing this distinction should make sure their tour or itinerary actually reaches the hill villages rather than stopping only in the flatter surrounding countryside.

A realistic day plan

• Morning train from Venice to Conegliano; a walk through the old town and castle grounds.
• Onward transport (tour, hire car or bus) into the hills towards Valdobbiadene.
• Wine tasting and a walk or drive along the Strada del Prosecco.
• Return to Conegliano for the train back to Venice in the late afternoon or evening.

Booking and tickets

Trenitalia regional tickets to Conegliano can be bought online, via app, or at station machines, and don't need advance booking given how frequent the service is. Wine tours into the hills should be booked ahead, particularly in peak season, since minibus capacity to popular producers is limited. If you're arriving in Venice from the airport first, see our guide to Venice airport to the city.

Which should you choose?

A wine tour from Venice is the best option for most visitors who want to actually see the UNESCO hills and taste at estates around Valdobbiadene, since public transport into the hills themselves is limited. The train to Conegliano alone suits those happy with a gateway town and a shorter, simpler day. Driving offers the most freedom to follow the wine road independently. For a different, gentler day trip from Venice, see our guide to Venice to Padua, and for Italy's rail network more broadly, see Italy by train.

Frequently asked questions

How do I get from Venice to the Prosecco hills?

A direct regional train reaches Conegliano, the gateway town, in about 1 to 1.25 hours; reaching the UNESCO hills around Valdobbiadene themselves generally needs a tour, hire car or connecting bus from there.

Can I visit the Prosecco hills without a car?

Yes, most easily via an organised wine tour from Venice, since public transport onward from Conegliano into the hill villages is limited.

What's the difference between Prosecco DOC and the UNESCO hills?

The UNESCO-listed area around Conegliano and Valdobbiadene produces "Prosecco Superiore" DOCG from steep hand-worked slopes, a step up from the much larger and flatter Prosecco DOC zone across the wider Veneto region.

How far is Conegliano from Venice?

About 60 km, roughly an hour by direct regional train or by car; the hills around Valdobbiadene lie a further 20–30 minutes beyond Conegliano.