poshwriter

My husband and I are going to Italy for 10 days and we have been told that Venice can be experienced in half a day. Our plan is to spend time in Rome, Tuscany and Cinque Terre for the most part.
1) Should we skip Venice all together?
2) How many days do we need in each area?
3) Any suggestions on lodging and activities in Cinque Terre?

Jean

"Venice can be experienced in half a day." Well. That is certainly a unique approach to traveling. Reminds me of those endless family car trips. When you finally got to the "World's Largest [whatever]" after following all those road signs, everyone would pile out of the car and gape. Yep, that's the biggest one of those we've ever seen. Back in the car, everybody!

With 10 days, I'd plan on two hotels, or three if you need to position yourselves for the flight home. I'd spend all of your time in Rome and Tuscany.

DAX

Perhaps they are talking about Venice inside The Venetian hotel in Las Vegas. That one can be skipped altogether, but don't skip the one in Italy. In so many ways it's the best city to visit in Italy. I'd sacrifice Cinque Terre for Venice.

poshwriter

Thanks for the replies thus far, you have enriched out trip more then you know.

J62

I recently spent 4 nights in Venice and wish I had spent twice the time.

Can you see St. Mark's square, tour the Doge's palace, and St. Mark's church in 1/2 day. Sure. Check if off your list of 'been there, done that'

It's somewhat like romance. Which do you prefer, 5min quickie or a lifetime (or even just a weekend) of love?

Do you want to sit at a sidewalk cafe and enjoy the sites, or click a photo and move on. Feed the pigeons (or watch kids of all ages from around the world do the same), take a gondola ride, explore the shops and restaurants off the beaten path. Stay out late and sleep in the next morning? Take an evening vaporetto ride down the grand canal?

Venice is a place where you can escape the cars, scooters and bus traffic of the city and relax for a few days.

And just as important, do you and your husband agree on the questions above (all of them )

Rd

I don't believe you can really feel Venice by visiting it in half a day. Like Capri you will come away with the feeling that it is swamped with tourists (daytrippers of which you would be one). You need to be there for a few days to really enjoy it. The evenings are rather pleasant. Last June we were in Venice for six days spent a lot of time on Vaporetto's riding the canals, wonderful! Isn't it strange that all tourists want to go to places where there are no tourists!

LoveItaly

Hello poshwriter. Let's say you travel by train from Florence to Venice. The train trip will be a little under 3 hours plus the time it takes to get to the train station in Florence. If you are going to spend just half a day in Venice then you need to return to where??? Florence???
Another 3 hours train trip etc.

So 6 hours travelling time to spend a half a day in Venice? I of course have no idea who suggested this idea to you but personally I would ignore any and all of their travel advice.

When you say you will have 10 days does that include the flight time over to Italy and back? If so I would personally just visit Rome and Tuscany.

How many actual nights will you have in Italy poshwriter? That give a better picture of the actual time you will have to enjoy Italy.

JohnFitz

The Cinque Terre is really lovely and I would stick to your plans about it and save Venice for another time .

Sue_xx_yy

Since I wasn't party to the original conversation in which the time for an experience was stipulated, I and everyone else is at somewhat of a disadvantage.

I can't dispute that Venice can be experienced in half a day, given that there are as many ways to experience something as thumbprints in the world. I can't even argue that a half-day sojourn in Venice won't make for an enjoyable experience, for the same reason.

However, there are certain other indisputable facts that might influence your decision - depending on what you feel you want in the way of an experience.

If you check a map of Italy that details the major road and rail systems, it becomes apparent that, relative to Florence, the routes to CT and Venice are at virtual right angles to each other. In other words, at Florence you hit a fork, with the CT on the left (WNW) fork and Venice on the right (NNE) fork. On a short trip either one is advisable, but not both.

It is possible to fly directly out of (or into) Venice, say as part of an open-jaw ticket that takes you into Rome and out of Venice. This is why many people can manage a brief look at Rome, Florence and Venice on a 9-10 night trip.

On the other hand, a visit the CT will almost always involve doubling back to an airline gateway in order to leave the country. An itinerary involving CT, Florence, and Rome is still possible, but a little more awkward, and likely to involve a minumum of 4 as opposed to a minimum of 3, moves. Still, if your heart is set on the CT, I'd do it - awkward or no.

pat

Did a 1/2 day visit to Venice (or less), via the train from Milan. All I remember is the bathroom man, who handed out toilet paper, thinking he was the most important man in the world. Also remember having lunch on the Grand Canal. Then it was back to the train station! What a waste! We went back the next year and spent 3 days there and loved it. Either pick the Cinque terra or Venice, but forget the 1/2 day trip.

DinPa

In 2005 we were in Venice for about 36 hours. I said then that I would be back to really give Venice is just dues. In May of this year, we spent 5 nights there and "almost" saw everything we wanted to see. 1/2 a day?? Again, I would skip the advice of the person that told you this. In fact, we will go back again in 2 years to see more of the real Venice.
Dave

Marianna

We visited Venice for the first time last summer for just a few days after visiting Rome and the Sorrento area for almost 2 weeks. I liked it and enjoyed the visit, but didn't love it as many here do. It could have been because I wasn't feeling well while we were there (actually had to go to thehospital which was an experience in itself) so we didn't get to see all we were hoping to see. My husband did not like Venice at all. Anyway, I think I would like to go back some day and give it more time (so the 1/2 day visit, IMO, is best spent added onto your time in Rome, Tuscany, or CT) and perhaps select a hotel right on the canal with a view.

Enjoy your visit to Italy!

MissPrism

I have visited Venice four times, spending a fortnight each time.
I have still not seen everything I'd like to.
I'm going to sound like an intellectual snob, but you need to have read a great deal about it literary and historical and know something of art if you want to get the most out of it.
I suppose that in half a day you could see St. Marks and the Rialto Bridge, eat an ice-cream, and possibly have a ride in a gondola. It would give you a taster for a later visit.
In your place, I'd give it a miss.

DAX

I think you came to the right travel board to ask your question. Going back to my original recommendation for Venice, It is a great all pedestrian city surrounded by water and bridge where you can just explore and get yourself comfortably lost in it. It's the architecture,setting, & atmosphere that made Venice special.

I would recommend avoiding Italian major cities during high season if you can help it because they are way too overcrowded. You'd get so much more when they are not wall to wall covered by throngs of tourists.

barbmc

We did a day trip from Bologna to Venice last summer. We had heard from many people that they did not like Venice..it was dirty, etc.. so we weren't expecting much. Turns out we LOVED Venice...even more so than Florence. Wish we would have had more time. We will be back.

So...yes...you can do Venice in a day to experience what it is all about. But I bet you will want to make plans to return.

bobthenavigator

You need 3 to 6 days to see venice. If you have less time do not bother. In your 10 days pick 3 destinations max.

suze

I've been to Venice twice, stayed 5 days each time, which worked for me.

If you can't spend at least 3 days there, I would skip it. I do not believe it can be "experienced" in a 1/2 day (not to mention all the travel time to get there as LoveItaly points out).

ComfyShoes

Love the response from DAX ( 07/20/2007, 02:12 am)

lyb

Half a day?!?! Who ever told you that? They must have never been to Venice! And I know you couldn't have read that in a book!

I spent 9 days in Venice last fall and still there were things and areas I didn't get to do.

However, your itinerary makes me dizzy!

Venice is definitely worth it, HOWEVER, given your current itinerary, I would say skip it for now, you've already got a lot on your plate!

ira

Hi P,

1/2 day in Venice is a total waste of time, money and effort.

You should plan for at least an overnight. If not now, then on a later visit.

Myself, with 10 days, I would do Venice 4 nights; Florence 5 nights, with visits to Siena, San Gimignano, Bologna and Orvieto.

Enjoy your visit.