Day trips from Venice
 

Well, thanks to all the wonderful advice I got here, I have decided on Venice for my long weekend - I'll take an evening train from Milan on Nov 19th, then my flight back is on November 23rd at 12:40 PM, and there's an early morning train back that the wonderful people at Locanda Orseolo (where we will be staying!) said would get us there in time.

I am so excited about this trip!!!! My first time in Italy!

A friend mentioned to me that Venice is small, and 3 days might be too much. I was wondering if anyone had suggestions for a good day trip - primarily one involving Vineyards - out of Venice.

Also, any suggestions in the city would be gladly accepted.

One more thing - how reliable are the trains? If I'm leaving on a 6:30 train to Milan set to get me in at 9:05, does that leave me ample time to get to the airport? I would love to take a morning train so I can see the countryside!

Thanks!

Hi ODO,
Venice IS small but there are many nooks and crannies so you might find you want more than 3 days!
Other Fodorites will have to advise about nearby vineyards.
Trains are very good. Your timing should be fine. When we were there, there was a bus to airport at Milan station leaving every 20 minutes. You might have to cab it if timing feels tight.
Enjoy and please report back!

Ho Oh - 3 days in Venice too much?? No way!

Don't miss a trip to Burano - a real delight IMO.

Steve

I don't think you will want to leave Venice if you are only there for three days. The lagoon islands (Murano, Burano and Torcello) are interesting to visit as a change from the city. My personal favorite is Torcello
http://travel.nytimes.com/2006/02/19.../19dayout.html

You could certainly research other possible day trips like Padua and Vicenza (both easy train rides) in case we are all wrong and you find you want to leave Venice. I think to visit vineyards you would need to have a car or take a tour

3 days would be too much only for someone who hasn't read up on Venice to find out what is there. We spent 4-1/2 days on our first trip there 12 years ago, and we didn't have time for such major sights as the Accademia Museum and the Guggenheim Museum and some of the better known churches, not to mention any of the smaller lagoon islands like Murano, Burano, and Torcello.

It really takes at least 5 days for Venice.

3 days is a short trip to Venice. I had some guests there last October who refused to read up on the lay of the islands, the sights, and the transportation options. After Piazza San Marco they were ready to leave.

We have been to Venice several times and our trip in October was for a week. We bought a Venice pass which was great for us because we wanted to see everything and go everywhere. And we did.

Buying the inexpensive Chorus Pass, which allows visits to many churches, is a great way to the city. It allowed us to wander from church to church on the map that is included with the pass, and we saw more than we had expected. This was a couple of trips ago.

There are literally dozens of churches and museums that I have yet to see in Venice. Three days is nothing!

One thing: check out opening and closing schedules before you plan your days.

Late November and vineyards from Venice without a car doesnt see easy, or maybe even practical.

OMG... my post wasn't edited. I'm sorry. Venice is fabulous. Learn a little about how it works and what is there. You will love it.

The "see" in the last sentence of my previous post should have been "seem."

plenty to do for only 3 days (!) but...if you want a daytrip....Padova, Bassano del Grappa, Verona, Ferrara are all good (IMHO).

Ok! Hearing you loud and clear - will not run out of things to do in Venice - and I promise to read up on it very well before I go.

By the way, could the people from Locanda Orseolo be any nicer? Just cooresponding with them re: reservations is a joy! Thanks for all who recommended them - I have a feeling they will live up to all the good press. :)

I'm smiling at the notion that 3 days is too much for Venice, and daytrips FROM Venice, because my first stay there involved 3 days, and I had to daytrip TO venice because I couldn't get a room in town.

I second the Burano recommendation. Torcello is also a nice trip but doesn't take an entire day.

Hello Ohdonnaoh, I am so glad that your have worked out to your satisfaction your time in beautiful Italy.

I do have a question. Not to disagree with the Locanda Orseolo for sure but what time do they recommend you take the train departing Venice? And your train will go the the Central Train Station in Milan I would think. Am I correct?

And if I am you will probably take the Malpensa Shuttle bus to the Malpensa Airport assuming you are departing Italy from Malpensa. Am I right?

I gave you the website for the Malpensa Shuttle bus on your other thread.

So my concern is can you really take the train to Milan the morning of your flight and also get to the airport at the proper time to check in etc. I am not saying it is not possible just wondering.

Best regards and have a beautiful trip! No doubt you will fall in love with Italy and make many more trips Ohdonnaoh.

hi, ohdonnaoh,

ditto what all the others have said. we were in venice or a whole week at easter with no day trips and it wasn't too long.

we did go out to the islands twice though, once to see Burano and Murano and once to Torcello, which I agree is lovely. you can combine them all thus: get the boat to Burano and stay on all the way to the island harbour. immediately get on the shuttle boat to Torcello, and once there, tour the cathedral [last renovated in 900 and something] with its beautiful mosaics. then either lunch on torcello [you might like the attila restaurant as much as we did, not least for its log fire] or get the shuttle back to Burano, walk down to the centre and lunch in one of the restaurants down there.

then catch the boat back to Venice, but get off at the "faro" stop on Murano and walk through the town, shopping or watching the glass blowing. then catch another boat back to Venice from the piers in the middle.

it goes without saying that a trip like that will mean that you should buy a vaporetto pass, rather than paying €6.50 per single journey. [and more I think for the island trip]. it'll take you most of the day.

Have a great trip,

regards, ann

You guys are making me more excited by the moment!

Love Italy - Locanda said there's a 6:30 train that gets to Milan at 9:30, and if the bus is another hour, we are still cool for the flight - hoping the trains are on time! Locanda gave us the fourth night free just to sweeten the pot for staying! Do you think the time is ample?

Ann, wow!!! Amazing suggestions - thanks! I can't wait to see the islands!


I definitely have my homework cut out for me reading up on Venice. You all have been a huge help - thnaks!!!!

double check on trenitalia...but I believe the 6:30 train gets into Milan around 9 (9:05 or something?) - so, you should be ok.

opps. sorry! just saw you already do know it gets in at 9:05 :-)

No worries! Better safe than sorry! :)

Hello Ohdonnaoh, here is the schedule for the Malpensa Shuttle from the Central (Centrale) Train station in Milan to Malpensa. If arriving two hours at Malpensa before your depature flight is workable you should be fine. I have experienced trains in Italy being quite late but that is usually trains from Rome.

http://www.malpensashuttle.it/mxp-mil.htm

Thanks LoveItaly! If for some reason we miss the shuttle and have to take a cab from the train station, how much is that?

I've always wanted to see the Palladian villas in the Veneto.

I would never take a train across Italy for a same day flight. Trains are often late. Also strikes are not uncommon, sometimes with no warning.

The last time I took a train in Italy (Nice to Camogli on the Ligurian coast), we were rerouted because somebody committed suicide by jumping in front of a train. They made announcements in Italian. Some English-speakers took pity on us and explained what had happened. On the way back, there was a power outage or something. The train sat for an hour and a half.

Now these occurrences are unlikely, but do you want to take a chance on missing your flight? Can you afford to buy another full-price ticket?

Now that I've rained on your parade, I love Venice and would encourage you to spend as much time as you can there.

Here is a website I got from Google Ohdonnaoh. If you scroll down you will see that this website states a taxi will cost about 70euro. Please keep in mind that Italian websites are not always up to date so the fare could be more.

http://www.airport-desk.com/airports...a-airport.html

Ohdonnaoh, personally I agree with Mimar. I would never rely on the trains in Italy on the day of my departing flight. As I suggested to you on your other thread I would take the train from Venice to Milan late afternoon on Saturday, stay at a hotel near the train station Saturday night and have a lovely dinner in Milan Saturday evening. You could of course then take the Malpensa Shuttle bus to the airport Sunday morning without any worries or stress. Best regards.

Now I'm torn...

On the one hand I don't want to risk it, on the other, I do want more time in Venice, and they offered us the 4th night free, which is a very nice deal, saving me the cost of another hotel in Milan... Also, I would love to take one morning train ride, not both at night...

Any other opinions?

Hello Ohdonnaoh, I can appreciate your situation. You will "probably" be all right with the 6:30am train but if you are not..well new one way tickets to fly home would be a horrendous price.

I was thinking you could rent a car to get from Venice to Malpensa (I have no idea what a once day rental fee would cost) but am almost certain an auto rental office would not be open real early on a Sunday morning. But perhaps some other Fodorite could comment on that or you could use Google.

The only other thought I can think of is to hire a car and driver but that would cost a fortunate so am sure that would not be a good solution.

Here is the website for the numerous car rental agencies located at the San Marco Venice Airport if you want to check to see if any of them open up real early on a Sunday morning.


http://www.veniceairport.com/page/se...car?m=01020401

Do note Ohdonnaoh, the autostrada between Venice and Milan can get real bad low heavy fog in November which make it miserable to drive and there are sometimes bad auto accidents.

I don't want to sound negative but it is important to know all the pros and cons especially since this is your first experience in Italy. My wish, and everyone elses is that you have a safe and beautiful and relaxing trip.

Again, if I were in your shoes I would train back to Milan Saturday afternoon under the circumstances. But no doubt others would take the early morning Sunday train. We all have different "comfort" zones which makes a difference with our travel decisions.

Thanks so much for your concerns - will consider it and wait for other opinions - you are right, don't want to really risk it.

Three days is NOTT to much for Venice - esp if you do some of the outer islands. We much prefer Torcello to Burano - and much more than Murano - which is just SO commercial.

Venice is small but three days isn't enough to really enjoy everything that there is there. I suggest visiting Murano. It is only a short boat ride and the glass is worth purchasing there. Versus purchasing Murano glass in the states which is usually priced alot higher.

Thanks all!


Found a solution to the train travel - found an early morning flight from Venice to Rome, and can return home from Rome - ony adds $47 to the ticket!!! Probably cheaper than the train ticket!!!

Thanks to all contributers!

Is the ticket on Ryanair?

No actually, surpisingly, it's Alitalia - thought they were no longer operating! Why, is Ryan Air a problem?

I wouldn't rely on either Ryanair or Alitalia to get you back to the airport the same morning you need to fly out. However, it depends too on what the financial consequences of missing that second flight are.

ok guys, thanks for the concern - I have many a time taken flights the day of, and I'm sure it will be fine. The train would have probably been fine too, considering it's a Sunday. I have faith in the lords of travel - I travel a ton for work, and have had very few bad flight experiences. |(May this not be the first!)

I'm a realist - yet an optimist ;)