8 or 9 days in Venice, Verona and ??
May 9th, 2015, 12:44 PM
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2010
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
8 or 9 days in Venice, Verona and ??
Planning a 10 day trip (including travel) - 2 adults and 2 older teens. (17/19) Daughter wants to see Venice, we all like outdoor time (hiking/boating), I want to see the Opera in Verona. All like good food, and could build in some foodie excursion. Starting with those elements, I'm thinking 3 days in Venice, a drive north somewhere near/in the Dolomites or Lakes for some outdoor time, a day or two in/around Verona so we can have a night at the opera and then would we have time to do something else? looking for favorite suggestions - Padua? Bologna? Willing to drive or train. Figure this may be one of a diminishing number of family trips we get to take, so want to really make it memorable and don't want to feel rushed around - so if there's more to do, we could expand the time in any location. Ideally no more than three hotels for that time period. Possible? All advice welcome! Thank you in advance!
Jill
Jill
May 9th, 2015, 01:57 PM
#2
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 12,018
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Take a boat to the islands of Burano and Torchello.
Bike along the Brenta canal.
Take a boat down the Brenta Canal.
Go swimming on the Lido.
A day in Vicenza. Be sure to see Teatro Olympico. Sometimes they even have events there. Personally, I would choose that over Padua. Actually, over Verona also, except for the opera.
Bike along the Brenta canal.
Take a boat down the Brenta Canal.
Go swimming on the Lido.
A day in Vicenza. Be sure to see Teatro Olympico. Sometimes they even have events there. Personally, I would choose that over Padua. Actually, over Verona also, except for the opera.
May 9th, 2015, 01:59 PM
#3
Would you have to fly in and out of Venice, or could you fly open jaw and use either Verona or Bologna at one end?
If you're arriving in Venice on an overnight flight, are you sure 3 days is enough? Is the first day your arrival day off an overnight flight? I can only do "sightseeing lite" on arrival day as my brain just isn't fully functioning until the second day.
I'm not the biggest fan of Bologna, so I would choose the Dolomites and Verona. I'd pick up a car on leaving Venice and drive to Cortina d'Ampezzo for lunch. This was the site of the 1956 Winter Olympics. Then continue the drive to the Val Gardena area (Ortisei, Castelrotto) for a few days of exploring in the mountains. Then drive to Verona and drop the car on arrival. If there is time and interest, stop in Bolzano on the way to Verona and visit the South Tyrol Archeology Museum to see the Otzi (Iceman) exhibits. Or drive along the eastern shore of Lake Garda and stop at Malcesine for a ride up the cable car for wonderful views of the area.
http://www.iceman.it/
http://www.funiviedelbaldo.it/en/
If you're arriving in Venice on an overnight flight, are you sure 3 days is enough? Is the first day your arrival day off an overnight flight? I can only do "sightseeing lite" on arrival day as my brain just isn't fully functioning until the second day.
I'm not the biggest fan of Bologna, so I would choose the Dolomites and Verona. I'd pick up a car on leaving Venice and drive to Cortina d'Ampezzo for lunch. This was the site of the 1956 Winter Olympics. Then continue the drive to the Val Gardena area (Ortisei, Castelrotto) for a few days of exploring in the mountains. Then drive to Verona and drop the car on arrival. If there is time and interest, stop in Bolzano on the way to Verona and visit the South Tyrol Archeology Museum to see the Otzi (Iceman) exhibits. Or drive along the eastern shore of Lake Garda and stop at Malcesine for a ride up the cable car for wonderful views of the area.
http://www.iceman.it/
http://www.funiviedelbaldo.it/en/
May 9th, 2015, 03:59 PM
#6
Figure on staying at least one night IN Vernoa since the operas typically end after midnight (they don't begin until 9-9:30 PM) and start looking for tickets now, not later, once you decide. I assume you'll want to see a performance of a work you are truly interested in vs. whatever happens to be on stage on the date you happen to be there.
May 9th, 2015, 08:55 PM
#7
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 12,018
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Vincenzo,
so great to see another poster recommend Vicenza. Padua is a lovely city and Verona has the Arena but little Vicenza has more charm, IMHO, than either, plus the Palladian architecture.
That looks like a great B&B and a super location near Teatro Olympico.
Next visit, I wanted to stay at Hotel San Raffaele in the arcades walk way going up to Monte Berico because the grounds are beautiful and views are so great, but the rooms are not that good and it is quite a walk into the city center. So, glad you posted the B&B - it is so much easier for sightseeing and the rooms look good. Nice for two couples or family also.
so great to see another poster recommend Vicenza. Padua is a lovely city and Verona has the Arena but little Vicenza has more charm, IMHO, than either, plus the Palladian architecture.
That looks like a great B&B and a super location near Teatro Olympico.
Next visit, I wanted to stay at Hotel San Raffaele in the arcades walk way going up to Monte Berico because the grounds are beautiful and views are so great, but the rooms are not that good and it is quite a walk into the city center. So, glad you posted the B&B - it is so much easier for sightseeing and the rooms look good. Nice for two couples or family also.
May 10th, 2015, 02:41 AM
#8
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 422
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Only three days in Venice might be cutting things a bit short, particularly if you are visiting during the Biennale.
Even if you ignore the major pavilions, the smaller countries entries are hosted in a wide selection of buildings, usually not accessible to the general public - and finding them gives ample opportunity to get hopelessly lost, one of Venice's unique attractions.
The actual art itself is far from stuffy and traditional so the younger folk might quite enjoy it.
Even if you ignore the major pavilions, the smaller countries entries are hosted in a wide selection of buildings, usually not accessible to the general public - and finding them gives ample opportunity to get hopelessly lost, one of Venice's unique attractions.
The actual art itself is far from stuffy and traditional so the younger folk might quite enjoy it.
May 19th, 2015, 06:45 AM
#9
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2010
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
THank you all - this has been really helpful. I've booked my air - arriving Venice Friday Aug 14, departing late afternoon Aug 22. Thanks to your advice, I'm planning to stay Fri - Mon nights in Venice- I didn't even know about the Biennale. Thank you SeeDee! (though the website is rather overwhelming, I'm hoping we can figure it out)
The opera on Tuesday in Verona is scheduled to end at midnight - I assume we need to stay in Verona that night, is that right? I'd like to limit the number of hotels, so was thinking perhaps Vicenza for the day Tuesday, en route to Verona, just arriving there for dinner and the opera (8:45 start). Does that sound possible? Also, any recommendations for Verona accommodations? I love the rec. for Vicenza, but doesn't make sense to drive back east at midnight.
Then, we plan to leave Wed. morning and head to our second main stop. We'll have that day, all of Thurs and Fri and then need to be back at Venice airport by around 1 (assuming I'm going to have a rental car for the time out of Venice). So, would like to stay somewhere that should be within three hours of the airport, under normal conditions (acknowledging that is a bit unknown on mountain roads) Lots of great recommendations on the forum but I can't seem to get my bearings on how far things are from each other and what would offer the most options as a central spot - ideally, we'd like to have a cute town to explore, access to one of the funiculars with day hiking options, and of course, great food. I'd welcome specifics as well as guide books/maps. I"m feeling a bit overwhelmed. Thank you!
The opera on Tuesday in Verona is scheduled to end at midnight - I assume we need to stay in Verona that night, is that right? I'd like to limit the number of hotels, so was thinking perhaps Vicenza for the day Tuesday, en route to Verona, just arriving there for dinner and the opera (8:45 start). Does that sound possible? Also, any recommendations for Verona accommodations? I love the rec. for Vicenza, but doesn't make sense to drive back east at midnight.
Then, we plan to leave Wed. morning and head to our second main stop. We'll have that day, all of Thurs and Fri and then need to be back at Venice airport by around 1 (assuming I'm going to have a rental car for the time out of Venice). So, would like to stay somewhere that should be within three hours of the airport, under normal conditions (acknowledging that is a bit unknown on mountain roads) Lots of great recommendations on the forum but I can't seem to get my bearings on how far things are from each other and what would offer the most options as a central spot - ideally, we'd like to have a cute town to explore, access to one of the funiculars with day hiking options, and of course, great food. I'd welcome specifics as well as guide books/maps. I"m feeling a bit overwhelmed. Thank you!
May 19th, 2015, 07:10 AM
#10
It sounds like all you're doing in Verona is dinner, opera, sleep... That's too bad. It's a nice town.
I'd skip the Dolomites on this trip, spend a little time in Verona and then only go only as far as Malcesine on Lake Garda (about 90 minutes from Verona). From there, you can ride the cable car to Mt. Baldo, enjoy the amazing views, hike a bit, ferry to other points on the lake. It's about 2.5 hours from Malcesine to the Venice Airport. Ortisei or Castelrotto would be closer to 3.5 hours from the airport.
http://www.visitgarda.com/en/malcesi...ldo-cable-car/
http://www.navigazionelaghi.it/eng/g_orari.asp
I'd skip the Dolomites on this trip, spend a little time in Verona and then only go only as far as Malcesine on Lake Garda (about 90 minutes from Verona). From there, you can ride the cable car to Mt. Baldo, enjoy the amazing views, hike a bit, ferry to other points on the lake. It's about 2.5 hours from Malcesine to the Venice Airport. Ortisei or Castelrotto would be closer to 3.5 hours from the airport.
http://www.visitgarda.com/en/malcesi...ldo-cable-car/
http://www.navigazionelaghi.it/eng/g_orari.asp
May 19th, 2015, 07:14 AM
#11
The Biennale is great. You should get the lay of the land by looking at the website, but you can see a lot just wandering around the main exhibition halls. I think your kids will enjoy it a lot.
I also like Vicenza, but I've never been to Verona or Padua. Your plan for Tuesday sounds do-able to me. As to where to go on Wednesday, you could head south to Modena and use that as a base for exploring the Emilia-Romagna region. The food there is excellent. Parma is less than an hour away, and you could arrange a tour with a cheese co-op for a tour of the factory where they are making parmesan cheese. We just did this free tour and it took a couple of hours and was very interesting. We booked a table in advance for lunch in Modena at the Hosteria Giusti (apparently one of Mario Batali's favorite restaurants in Italy.) There are only 4 tables at the back of a salumeria. The food was delicious. We mentioned to our waitress that we would love to go to visit a balsamic producer, and she called the family that supplies the restaurant's vinegar and arranged a tour for us that afternoon. It is just over two hours to return to Venice by car.
You could go north too, but I have never done that other than stopping at Bassano del Grappa once to see their Palladian bridge. It was a very pretty town.
I also like Vicenza, but I've never been to Verona or Padua. Your plan for Tuesday sounds do-able to me. As to where to go on Wednesday, you could head south to Modena and use that as a base for exploring the Emilia-Romagna region. The food there is excellent. Parma is less than an hour away, and you could arrange a tour with a cheese co-op for a tour of the factory where they are making parmesan cheese. We just did this free tour and it took a couple of hours and was very interesting. We booked a table in advance for lunch in Modena at the Hosteria Giusti (apparently one of Mario Batali's favorite restaurants in Italy.) There are only 4 tables at the back of a salumeria. The food was delicious. We mentioned to our waitress that we would love to go to visit a balsamic producer, and she called the family that supplies the restaurant's vinegar and arranged a tour for us that afternoon. It is just over two hours to return to Venice by car.
You could go north too, but I have never done that other than stopping at Bassano del Grappa once to see their Palladian bridge. It was a very pretty town.
May 19th, 2015, 07:48 AM
#12
Join Date: Apr 2013
Posts: 19,736
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Sass & jih: B'Charme really is a nice place, and the location is excellent. From there, you can walk to most of the in-town attractions.
We liked Vicenza a lot, but note: As in many cities, a lot of the museums and other attractions are closed on Mondays, so it will be more enjoyable if you can arrange your schedule accordingly.
We liked Vicenza a lot, but note: As in many cities, a lot of the museums and other attractions are closed on Mondays, so it will be more enjoyable if you can arrange your schedule accordingly.
May 20th, 2015, 05:24 AM
#13
Join Date: Sep 2003
Posts: 691
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I just stayed in Albergo Mazzanti in Verona and thought it fantastic. Everything was great: the room was beautiful and very comfortable and quiet, staff was kind and helpful, breakfast was good, hotel premises are very nice and the location is absolutely perfect. I booked through booking.com.
http://www.albergomazzanti.it/en/
http://www.albergomazzanti.it/en/
May 20th, 2015, 08:06 AM
#14
We stayed at the Hotel Bologna in Verona. (I think I also booked through booking.com.) It was a very nice hotel. It's inside the ZTL, but according to the website you're allowed access and they give your car info to the police. The hotel is about 50m. from the arena.
http://www.hotelbologna.vr.it/
http://www.hotelbologna.vr.it/
May 20th, 2015, 05:42 PM
#15
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2010
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
this is all so helpful - thank you. Showing my utter ignorance Jean - what is the 'ZTL"? Also, would you recommend that we pick up a car in Venice and bring it with us to Verona, or take the train and pick up the car in Verona? Is it difficult or wasteful to have the car while in Verona? (because of the opera we want, we need to do Verona after Venice and before the Dolomites - though I did like your suggested order Jean). THank you!!
May 20th, 2015, 06:40 PM
#16
ZTL = Zona Traffico Limitato. Most Italian cities and towns have instituted zones where nearly all car traffic is prohibited, at least during most daylight hours. If you drive into the zone without permission (see my comment about the hotel and police), you risk getting a ticket in the mail after you get home. The signage for these zones is usually very visible but somewhat easy for a tourist to miss or not understand. Cameras are installed at strategic points to capture vehicle info, and the rental company provides the authorities with your personal info. We've never received one of these tickets, but I've been told they are fairly expensive.
http://boards.independenttraveler.co...n-a-rented-car
We picked up our car in Verona. Hertz on Circonvallazione Oriani, not far from the train station and the road heading to Lake Garda and the Dolomites. It's a tiny office, and we had to wait in line for a few minutes. Otherwise, easy-peasy.
If you decide to pick up the car in Verona but still stop in Vicenza on the way from Venice, you need to find out if there is luggage storage at the Vicenza train station and how late you can pick up your stuff.
http://boards.independenttraveler.co...n-a-rented-car
We picked up our car in Verona. Hertz on Circonvallazione Oriani, not far from the train station and the road heading to Lake Garda and the Dolomites. It's a tiny office, and we had to wait in line for a few minutes. Otherwise, easy-peasy.
If you decide to pick up the car in Verona but still stop in Vicenza on the way from Venice, you need to find out if there is luggage storage at the Vicenza train station and how late you can pick up your stuff.
