2-day Venice itinerary - can we do it all? Also, Vaporetto question
 

We are from the UK, a married couple in our 50s, and this is our first trip to Italy. After Venice, we will be in Rome for 8 days.

After a lot of research, reading and most of all helpful advice from this forum, and based on our interests, here is what I've come up with for our Venice itinerary:

***Wed 24 Apr***
6.30pm Arrive Santa Lucia station from Rome
Vaporetto Line 2 to hotel
Check-in Hotel Galleria
Supper - somewhere?
Piazza San Marco
Café Florian


***Thu 25 Apr***
Breakfast at hotel
San Zaccaria
9.55am Doges Palace (Secret Itineraries tour booked)
1.25pm Basilica di San Marco (Entry booked)
Foundazione Querini Stampalia
Santa Maria dei Miracoli
Scuola de San Giorgio degli Schiavoni
9.00pm Four Seasons Concert @San Vidal (Tickets booked)



***Fri 26 Apr***
Breakfast at hotel
Check-out hotel (they will hold our luggage)
Rialto Market (early morning)
Scuola Grande dei San Rocco
Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari
Scuola Grand dei Carmine
Santa Maria della Salute
Collect luggage from hotel
Vaporetto Line 2 to Santa Lucia station (Pick up food to eat on the train for supper)
4.25 pm Depart Santa Lucia station for Rome


Q. Location-wise, I think I've placed everything in logical order. For those of you familiar with Venice, are there any adjustments I should make?

Q. Other than the vaporetto from/to the train station, will we need it for anything else on this itinerary or can we reach everything on foot? (Trying to determine whether or not we should buy a pass.)

Q. After reading Rick Steves' ITALY, I'm a bit concerned about the eating situation. It seems like so much to have to remember ... extra charges for eating whilst seated; this menu and that menu. eek! Is ordering something to eat in Venice simpler than it sounds?

Thanks!!

P.S. My other Venice post as I was planning itinerary http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...ng-my-list.cfm

"Q. After reading Rick Steves' ITALY, I'm a bit concerned about the eating situation. It seems like so much to have to remember ... extra charges for eating whilst seated; this menu and that menu. eek! Is ordering something to eat in Venice simpler than it sounds?"

Whatever you have been reading the same is true for Rome. I'm not sure what is confusing you. There is one price to have your beverage or snack standing at the bar. There is a higher price if you sit at a cafe table and order because you will have table service. (You cannot get it yourself at the bar and then go sit at a table.)

Oh--your other questions . . . yes, you can reach everything on foot that you have listed. No need to ride another vaporetto except for pleasure. You have grouped your locations well. Do leave room for kismet.

Venice is made for wandering, not just going to Museums and famous sites.
Take time to smell the roses and wander. Get lost. You will enjoy it.

Charging more for food in the outdoor cafe - and more for drinks sitting down rather than standing at the bar - is common all over europe - or at least we have found it to be so. Not a big deal - just recognize that you are not being cheated. (Reinforce you cannot get at the bar and take to a table. I know this is sometimes done in pubs - not here - and must admit t- not in the US either. Not different prices - but does change who gets the tip and won;t make you popular.)

Can't help with the vaporetto - we walked everyplace except to other islands.

We did find that, unlike other places in Italy, some of the food is not that great - due to the huge number of tourists versus locals (the locals won;t eat bad food, many tourists don;t seem to know the difference). So we stick to very well-regarded places for dinner - and for lunch try to find places that do not do menus in 6 languages - and have as many locals as possible. Still sometimes end up with things we aren't really happy with.

Hi

Your hotel is in the Dorsoduro sestiere (district). We stayed in this sestiere last year. It was fantastic. It's away from the tourist throngs but we walked easily (after allowing for getting lost) to where we wanted to go. Don't bother with a pass. You'll love strolling through the narrow streets. You can take in pizza for supper along the picturesque Fondamente delle Zattere, not that far from you. There is a supermarket there should you require anything. The eating situation is not that complicated. To be honest I never worried (nor noticed) about the cheaper prices standing up. If the price was fair I sat down - after walking for quite awhile I was glad to! I note you haven't listed the Accademia - http://www.gallerieaccademia.org. I highly recommend a visit. Definitely book to avoid queuing.

Did you end up getting the vaporetto pass?

My sister and I didn't want to incur an extra charge for sitting one hot August day years ago. We must have really looked tired because the bartender told us to sit and said 'no charge'

Bookmark

"Venice is made for wandering, not just going to Museums and famous sites." I disagree. IMO, Venice is made for wondering AND for going to museums and famous sites. :-)

Hey TL,

I strongly urge you to drop one day (two would be better)from Rome and enjoy Venice instead of rushing through it.

((i))