fables

I am staying in Capri the night of Sept 23 and was planning to fly to London from Naples on Sept 24. Not trusting the ferries for a morning flight, and not wanting to leave Capri a night early to stay in Naples to catch the morning flight, I figured I would catch the 7:35pm flight from Naples.

But then I noticed there was an Easy Jet flight at 3:35pm from Naples to Venice for $50 and a flight the following day from Venice at 9:35pm to London for just $73. Those two flights together are cheaper than the Naples to London flight. Still with me

So my question: is 24 hours enough time in Venice to enjoy it and be able to tell if I wish to return in the future. I rather enjoy flying so the extra flight would not be a bother but I would be sacrificing one of my 6 days in London.

Thank you for your opinions.

flanneruk

"is 24 hours enough time in Venice to enjoy it "

In principle, absolutely. Venice is so absolutely one of a kind that a 24 hr stay can change your life: actually, so can even a 90 minute gap between trains. Several months might be better: but just those 90 minutes can be enough to start on.

Whether you'll enjoy it, though, is unpredictable. It's still crowded, and that can get some people. It's not too difficult to escape the crowds - but if you are put off by crowds, allow a bit of time in your planning to get away from them.

Surfergirl

Totally agree with flanneruk. Do it.

fourfortravel

Go for it. I'll be spending about the same amount of time in Venice later this month for Carnivale, going with an open mind and my camera.

slang81347

Yes, do it. Our first time in Venice was an overnight stay on our way from Germany to southern Italy. We arrived at 3pm and left before 8am the next morning. We had a wonderful dinner and spent hours walking through the alleyways and over the bridges. Needless to say we included it on the itinerary for our next trip when we rented an apartment and stayed for a week.

annhig

absolutely, do it.

but why not look at delaying your London flight by a further 24 hours, so as to give yourself an extra day and night in Venice? Then you could have a proper look round.

ssander

Do it. One day in Venice is much, much, much better than no days in Venice.

SS

flanneruk

"delaying your London flight by a further 24 hours...you could have a proper look round."

I'd disagree. In 48 hours, you're still scratching the surface.

My own affair with Venice started with a 90 min gap between trains, then followed up with a series of 24 hour visits before finally staying there for any significant amount of time. In between, endless burrowing through Milanese bookshops (and interrogating a girlfriend doing a thesis on Venetian art) to learn about the place.

I really, really think I got far more out of Venice because of the research done after I'd got a basic idea of the place. If I'd stayed another day I might easily have deluded myself I'd seen it all

wesleymarsh

My very first visit to Venice lasted less than 24 hours. I drove up from Bologna, parked the car at P.Roma, and drove down to Florence. I wasn't sure how I would react to the place and there were many other cities on my itinerary that I wanted to see. It sounds terribly cliche but that single overnight changed my life forever. I consider Venice a favorite girlfriend.

vincenzo32951

Yes, no question.
Normally, it's preferable to stay in the city, but in this instance you may want to stay at a hotel near the airport and take the bus. If so, I recommend the Best Western Titian. Decent rooms and price. Shuttle to airport. Good breakfast. Friendly staff.

dfourh

Because of your evening departure, if you have bags, then the airport hotel might be a hassle (do you return to the hotel to pick them up, or take them to Venice and check them at the train station?). Instead a hotel close by Piazzale Roma might be good since you can check out in the morning and leave the bag at the desk till it's time to catch the bus to the airport. If you go to www.bookings.com you can click the map feature on the lower left and zoom in to view properties at or near Piazzale Roma.

Though if you think 1 day for Venice isn't right, you could always go to Padua instead (direct bus from Venice Marco Polo airport; decent hotels close to the airport bus).

Sassafrass

Yes! Do it! We've made many visits to Venice and always jump at a chance for even a few hours. We've made several stops of overnights and one for just an afternoon.

Don't waste a minute making a second trip into the city though. Stay in Venice, so you can easily stay up as late as you want, and feel the magic of Venice at night, and wake up to the lovely sounds of a city that lives on the water. If you do this, just get straight into Venice and be there for every second of your short visit.

annhig

"delaying your London flight by a further 24 hours...you could have a proper look round."

I'd disagree. In 48 hours, you're still scratching the surface.>>

telling someone to stay one more night to have a "proper look round" is not the same as saying that they can see all there is to see in that time. I would have thought that that was obvious from the context.

fables

Thank you all very much for the responses. I am pleasantly shocked to hear how many people's first stay in Venice was a short one. In my mind, I was hoping the brief time would make it that much more impactful which seems to be the case.

I will only have one carry-on(backpack) so I would definitely like to stay in the city itself so I can wander late and then get up early with less crowds.

I really hadn't considered Venice on this trip as the usual advice is "less is more itinerary wise" so I am glad I asked. Thanks again everyone.

rialtogrl

I agree with dfourh to stay close to Piazzale Roma. You can take the #5 bus from right in front of the airport there and it is fast. Drop you bags and head out. Consider getting a 24 hour vaporetto pass so you can hop on and off to make the most of your time.

If it is in your budget the Locanda Marinella is a great little hotel just off Piazzale Roma. http://www.locandamarinella.com/

Sassafrass

Less is usually more, but this is the exception. If this were your first stop after an international overnight flight and you had other people with you to worry about, it would be different.

You are not arriving jet lagged.
You are coming from hopefully a restful stay on Capri and a short flight from an easy airport, Naples.
You have only yourself to think of.
You are not spending a lot of extra money to come for a few hours.
You will have at least one evening (very important, IMHO) to take a vaporetto and see all the buildings along the Grand Canal with lights at night.
You can get up early to see the market around Rialto, see San Marco, even tour the Doges Palace if you wished to squeeze it in, though the most wonderful thing in Venice for me is just wandering along canals, walking over bridges, etc.
So, in your case, this will be a perfect first visit.
I hope you love it!

ssander

Sassafrass is spot-on! Don't miss this opportunity.

SS

fables

I like the way you think Sassafrass.

I have written Venice(in pen) onto my printed out trip calender.

Sassafrass

Fables,
Thanks.
You might like to try this. Try not to peek at the facade of San Marco. Walk straight to the other end of the piazza, then turn so that is your first look. I did not do that my first visits to Venice, but now do it every time, and wish I could blindfold people and have that be everyone's first view. It is overwhelming.

ssander

...and, even though it's not one of the classic "sights" of Venice, I find exiting the train station a breathtaking experience...there is no "entrance" to any other city like it...like stepping into a completely different world.

SS