Comments on locations/sestieri, please
 

Hello there.

My husband and I will be in Venice for three days in the end of May, 2017 for our 20th anniversary. (First trip to Venice.) We're looking at a couple of Air BnB's in a couple of different sestieri. We would like to be a bit away from the heavy tourist areas, but also have a great selection of restaurants who offer great food, romance and more reasonable pricing than the touristy areas. Of course, we realize we can get to just about anything fairly easily. We also want to take into consideration that we will be traveling to Venice via Tuscany (Montici) and leaving out of Marco Polo airport at the end of our stay. (Not sure yet what method of transportation we will be using from Montici. That's another topic.)

Here are the two apartments we are considering at this point:

https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/6099635...out=2017-05-30

https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/4961054...out=2017-05-30

We like the first because it's elegant, beautiful, seems to be in a pretty/romantic/quieter/interesting sestiere and the price looks very reasonable at the time we're going (about $148 per night including tax and fees). That being said, it has no view, according to reviews, and we will have to walk up 3 flights of stairs with two sets of heavy luggage (we'll be gone almost 3 weeks).

We like the second one because it's beautiful, seems to be in a good location, has only one flight of stairs and it has two balconies and a terrace. Although the price is more than we want to pay at the time we're going (about $180 per night including tax and fees), we're willing to spend it if we feel like it's worth the extra expense.

When we see pictures of Cannaregio (where the second one is located), it looks more industrial and not-so-pretty. Whereas, Castello (where the first one is located) looks so pretty and quaint. But these are all just pictures and I know you all can give me recommendations based on your experiences.

We're in our mid-50's, still love romance, love great food and wine (and perhaps a cocktail after dinner). Can anyone help to sway us towards one apartment/sestiere or the other? If you need more info, please ask.

Thank you for your kindness and time.

I hope someone who has stayed in these bnbs can give you first-hand info. DH and I visited Venice several times but were almost always exploring areas where tourists go.

We loved strolling through Cannaregio area on a quiet Sunday morning and didn't encounter industrial things. In Castello we found more art galleries and places to eat as we searched for a scuola.

Please, someone say if this is true: I think you will find more going on in Castello area. However, Venice is not large so living in quieter Cannaregio might be very nice at the end of the day.

IMO the second one would be better as it's closer to most of what you will want to see as first time visitors to Venice and it has good access to the station and transport to the airport.

Plus I think you would enjoy the area more.

And I don't fancy carrying luggage up three flights of stairs - the last time I was in Venice there were 7 flights which meant I didn't go back there much during the day!

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We spent two weeks in Canareggio and it isn't industrial at all. There are numerous excellent dining choices, proximity to vaporsttos on Grand Canal or Fondamente Nove(to islands), historic art filled churches. It was not filled with the touristic mobs nearer to San Marco, and is a real neighborhood.

Happy Trvlr - this thread has been resurrected by an advertiser; still waiting for the eds to respond to the yellow button.

I would say that, while distances in Venice aren't huge, if you are visiting San Marco each evening to enjoy its beauty and listen to the orchestras and perhaps have a drink (which we love to do when visiting Venice), then the distance between either of these locations and San Marco will start to seem far.

We have stayed in the Cannaregio several times, but more in the area of Chiesa dei Santi Apostali (in a hotel, not AirBnB). It seemed more like a real neighborhood to us, with kids playing in front of the church. The AirBnB in Cannaregio is on the other side, closer to the rail station. Though I have gone for morning runs out to that part of the Cannaregio, and it is not industrial.

Wherever you end up staying, consider having dinner at Anice Stellato, which is on a quiet but scenic canal in the Cannaregio; we eat there every time we visit Venice.

And the other AirBnB, in Castello, near Arsenale Biennale is pretty far out toward the other end of the island. In the Castello, I prefer to stay near Campo Santa Maria Formosa. I love that square; it also feels like a neighborhood, with kids playing, and has some nice cafes for people-watching. AND it's just minutes away from Piazza San Marco.

And, just BTW, it is very doable to pack for a three-week trip without having big, heavy luggage.

Enjoy! Writing this post is making me want to go back to Venice.

Again, this is an old post that has been resurrected by an advertiser - and a pretty dodgy one at that.

the OP hasn't been back since his/her original post.