lunamoth105

I'll be spending my first afternoon and night in Venice alone waiting for my husband to arrive the next day. What do you recommend for me to do alone, see, etc. and where re good places to eat alone? I am not travel-savvy so I want to remain safe. I'll be staying in a hotel in the San Marco area.

Jean

Have you been to Venice before? Are there things your husband won't be interested in seeing/doing that you want to see? What day of the week is this "free" day?

As far as safety, maybe I've been irrationally confident, but Venice has never felt at all unsafe, even late in the evening. If you stick to the main streets (can't miss 'em), you'll be amid groups of people at all times. I'm not a big fan of any particular restaurants in Venice, so I'd probably ask the hotel for a few suggestions.

LoveItaly

Hello luna, you should feel very safe in Venice as since Venice consists of islands crime to my knowledge is not a problem and many women go to Venice to spend days when they are travelling on their own. I so wish I could remember the place that would be perfect for you regarding dinner but I cannot sadly. May I suggest that if you don't get recommendations that you ask your hotel for one or two, usually they will be quite helpful. Or while wandering around you may find a place that appeals to you. I have often had much good fortune doing that, you could make a reservation if you come across something that appeals to you.

After checking into your hotel I would wander around. The Piazza San Marco will be loaded with visitors until evening so you might want to visit there after the daytrippers/cruise visitors leave. If you budget is appropriate you might enjoy a drink at Piazza San Marco in the evening, sit at an outside table and just soak in the beauty of the piazza. Not inexpensive but it would be a nice treat if it appeals to you. Not knowing where exactly you are staying in the San Marco area I will throw out a thought. Across the Rialto Bridge from the San Marco area is the area of San Palo. That would be an area you might enjoy exploring while getting some fresh air and getting over jet lag.

annw

What Jean and LoveItaly said. I've gone to Venice alone many times when the DH couldn't travel with me or I was meeting friends, attending a workshop, etc.

Venice is a fabulous place to be on your own, wandering different areas, taking the vaporetto around, and the like. I've dined on my own many times and I think the hotel can advise you -- I like Enoteca San Marco and Osteria Antico D'Olio (over Rialto Bridge, first major left turn, then a hundred yards or so on the right) or Even Aqua Pazza or Masaniello (a couple of campos toward Accademia).

The hotels know which are open which days (or can check). I personally like La Zucca (though it got a handful of not so good reviews in TA recently) but it is quite a bit harder to find than Enoteca San Marco and the others nearby.

I absolutely agree with the recommendation to go to Piazza San Marco after the crowds have left--dusk or evening are fine;also go into the basilica if it is open; definitely either have a drink at the table (molto euros) or just wander around and listen/enjoy the show for free! I love Venice in the evening and feel very safe there. The only crime I've heard of is the occasional pickpocket or purse snatch--only by hearsay, however.

Go and have a wonderful time! And it might be a good time to shop without the DH slowing you down .

godmother_lr

Ditto the others on safety. I spent a lot of time wandering by myself. It is hard to get too lost as it is a pretty small place. There were many signs to the main tourist spots so you should have no trouble if you wander in finding your way back to the hotel.

Enjoy. Sorry, I can't remember where I ate by myself. One place was a pizza restaurant and I do remember loving it.

StCirq

You can do whatever suits your fancy in Venice alone without any concern for safety, assuming you're just basically aware of your surroundings. Have a ball.

Peter_S_Aus

As others have said, Venice is very safe, and you can walk around at any time of the day or night without concern.

If you walk east from San Marco (leave San Marco at the corner furthest from the basilica and follow the signs to Academe) you will find Campo San Stefano – it’s about ten minutes walk, and there are a couple of restaurants there. (Take a look at the statue in the campo, and you will see why Venetian kids know it as “el Cagalibri – the book shitter.)

I’d avoid places that have the menu posted in English, German, Russian, Eskimo and Japanese. They tend to have not the best food.

tarquin

The Dorsoduro just across the Accademia bridge is my favourite area for wandering and it's not so teeming with people, so you might feel more comfortable. Now that the Punta della Dogana (the eastern tip of the area) has been reopened, you can walk all around the perimeter. There are many small shops with lovely things like glass jewelry, silks and paper, and this might be a good opportunity to get your eye in before your husband arrives. I always buy at least one glass necklace and it can take time to find "the one."

I'd leave the drink on Piazza San Marco until you had company.

curlyhair412

Venice is fascinating..Our favorite..We enjoyed Enoteca San Marco very much..Take the vaporetto into Murano for interesing glass mills and shops..Buy a necklace!!!Sicns are clear for tourists..Ditto on Piazza San Marco.. Have a great time ...

allib123

Just returned from Venice alone with three children and felt safe at all times, even when we got a bit off the main throughfares - using the same sense intuition you'd use in your own home town. In June, it it light till about 10 pm and we were out till 11 or so most nights. Just perusing the multitudes of shopping options could absorb hours if you like that. Eating alone in an outdoor cafe allows you to watch the passerbys, which is great fun. The majority of people are very stylish in Venice!

franco

Venice must be the safest city in the world. At night, it's even safer, and in the dark side lanes, it's at its safest. No, I'm not kidding: the only crime occasionally to be encountered in Venice is pickpocketing, and that's of course out of question at night, or in dark side lanes - it only occurs where crowds are to be found, so it only occurs on vaporetti and on Piazza S. Marco in plain daylight. And even there, just rarely, so really nothing to worry about.

As far as eating, all my and plenty of other recommendations are here: http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...estaurants.cfm - for solo diners, anyplace is fine with the exceptions of Bacco, where most primi are available for two persons only, and Capitan Uncino, where the waiters are so unfriendly that you wouldn't want to chat with them (nor would they be willing to chat with you). Cause that's what good Italian waiters do: if you are dining solo, they will try - work and time permitting - to chat with you a little in order not to make you feel lonesome.

marty

I have been to Venice many times, and the good thing about being by yourself on the 1st day is that you can kind of get "the lay of the land" and be ready to enjoy places when you husband arrives. I love time alone in Venice, because it allows me time to stay in shop as long as I like or to go back and back to the same shop, if I can't decide!

Ninja007

I was in Venice a mere month ago with two other female friends and even in the evening, late in the evening, we felt safe. We ate at an exceptional restaurant called Osteria Alla Botte - you won't be disappointed. It was populated by locals when we went and the food was better than in Bologna, famous for its food. As for what to do, if you are a shopper this would be a great time to browse around. If you haven't booke a walking tour yet with your DH make sure you check out Avventure Bellissime. The combined walking tour and Gondola ride was only 45 Euro and it was amazing. Here's the link.
http://www.tours-italy.com/venice_to...ours_italy.htm

Have a great time

FWT

I concur with the above. Overall, I think Venice is safe. Take the usual precautions. If anything its pickpocketing in Italy in general that people worry about. Take Vaporetto number 1 it goes the length of the canal and stops at all the stops so it is slower than the other vaporettos. A nice way to get your bearings. If you like lace then a trip to Burano. The island itself is very colorful and you can window shop and also eat, relax. If you like glass then Murano. We really enjoyed just sitting at a cafe near St. Marks by the canal and just people watchig as well. Have fun!