dragonflydesign

Hi
We are spending 10 days in Venice April 17 - 28 - any recommendations for our first visit? Should we spend all the time in Venice or travel around a bit?

Vttraveler

With 10 days in Venice I certainly think you have time for some day trips. Padova and Vicenza are very easy to reach by train and Verona is a farther but doable. All are well worth visiting

You should also plan on seeing some of the lagoon islands. Torcello, with the spectacular Byzantine mosaics in Santa Maria Assunta, is my favorite

traveller1959

Side trips from Venice:

The trip along the Riviera de Brenta (it is, in fact, a canal) is absolutely rewarding - either by boat or by car. On the banks of the canal there are gorgeous historic palaces and gardens, many of them are open for visits.

In Padova, at the end of the canal, you must visit the Scrovegni Chapel with frescos by Giotti - absolutely breathtaking. A reservation is mandatory - the hotel concierge will help.

Both combined makes a wonderful daytrip.

thursdaysd

You could also day trip to Ravenna, for some of the best Byzantine mosaics around. Take binoculars as well as a camera with a good zoom lens. Consider a stop for coffee and a castle in Ferrara on the way back to Venice.

DDA

traveller 1959,
Do you remember how expensive the boat trip up the Riviera de Brenta is? Would this be something doable with a 5 year old travelling with us, or something to do the next time? Thanks.

Mambo_

I would do 5 days in Venice and 5 days elsewhere in Italy. Have you been to other towns in Italy yet? If not, I'd go to Rome and/or Florence.
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LizaMarie

I stayed in Venice for 4 nights in June and would have loved to stay longer. Didn't get to any of the nearby towns. I stayed at Pensione La Calcina which is right on a canal (not the main one though) and right near a vaporetto stop (like a water bus) It was a great location away from the hustle and bustle of the touristy centers but still very easy to get to all those places by walking or hoping on the vaporetto. Nearby islands of Murano (glass factories) and Burano are lovely. Would've liked to have traveled to nearby Verona, Padua and Vicenza.

LoveItaly

Hello dragnflydesign, do you have the address for the English version of the Italian train website? If not it is:
http://www.trenitalia.com/en/index.html

I think having a hotel in Venice for 10 days is wonderful. It will be so relaxing to not have to pack and unpack constantly. And Venice early morning and evening is so beautiful and less tourist as many are daytrippers.

Besides the other wonderful suggestions you have received consider training to Bologna also.

A good map and the train schedule will be invaluable. You can decide where you want to take day trips to after arriving in Venice and getting settled in. You can buy your train tickets at the Venice Santa Lucia train station or at the American Express office in Venice. The AMEX office is still located I believe down the street heading west when leaving San Marco Piazza.

Have a wonderful trip! It sounds absolutely delightful.

AMV

Not sure about the travel time/distance but Trieste would be an entirely different cultural experience and well worth a visit. Also, in the countryside a marvelous day trip could be to Asolo -- The City of a Hundred Horizons. The more traditional day trips involve Verona and Padua and if you are into architecture, there are tours of the various Villas designed by Palladio.

notbob

enice is a wonderful magical place and ten days is not too long to stay. We have been going to Venice off and on for the last twenty years and still haven't done everything we'd like. So ignore the naysayers and enjoy your time.

I'd suggest not planning in advance for outside the city excursions. Close by places are readily reachable by train and tickets are easily purchased.

Depending on where you are coming from, arrival day is usually a slower day due to jetlag and departure day is usually taken up with just getting to the airport. So you ten days isn't really as long as you think. You'll probably want to set a side a day to travel to the other lagoon islands of Murano, Burano and Torcello as well as a stop on San Michelle.

Get up early and go see them set up the Rialto fish and vegetable market.

LoveItaly

I believe Trieste is about two hours from Venica via the train. Certainly a worthwhile visit. But I would do a bit of research in advance so that you chose the places that would interest you two the most dragon. With 11 nights you will have 10 full days without counting the arrival and depature days so you will have a lot of leeway as far as day trips.

zoecat

10 days in Venice will be wonderful.

Not sure what your accomodation plans are but I suggest staying in an apartment rather than a hotel. It's nice to have more space and to be able to have the option of preparing your own meals and snacks.