four days in Venice 19 - 23 April
Apr 7th, 2003, 07:59 AM
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four days in Venice 19 - 23 April
I would like to have your tips for a four days stay in Venice. What to see? Where to eat? Can you help me you a program (best places to see in the morning, in the afternoon, etc.)
Thanks
Thanks
Apr 7th, 2003, 08:18 AM
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I think the on of the best things to do in Venice is just wander around. You should tour Doges palace, visit San Marco and the Basilica. If you have time take a trip to Murano and see some glass blowing. The guggenhiem there is also supposed to be great.
Apr 7th, 2003, 11:00 AM
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Hi
Most churches closes for a long lunch period in the afternoon, time varies within the range of noon to 3 or 3:30 pm.
So I'd plan church visits for the morning or the late afternoon, visit museums during the middle of the day.
If you do a search on this message board for Venice, or narrow it down to venice restaurant, you will find many suggestions. Also, elsewhere here at fodors. com, go to the Venice "Destination" information.
Any good guidebook will have suggestions for how to plan your days.
I don't know how you feel about art museums, and I mention the churches because they contain so many of Venice's masterpieces of art. You need to do a little advance reading to decide what interests you.
Here are some general ideas.
The days can be in any order you like.
Day 1
St Mark's Basilica, get in line by 8:30.
Doge's Palace
lunch break
take a boat ride to San Giorgio Maggiore church on an island in the lagoon, just 5 minutes away. On a clear day you will have the best view of Venice's waterfront, plus there are art works on the main floor of the church.
Day 2
San Giovanni and Paolo church
walk through Cannareggio (great shops, not as expensive as around San Marco)
Other great churches are along the way
Take a one hour walking tour of the Jewish Ghetto area
walk a little further to the train station, take a vaporetto ride down the length of the Grand Canal all the way to the San Marco stop
Day 3
Start at Frari church
Visit Accademia museum (open daily)
lunch, preferably at Campo Santa Margherita
Peggy Guggenheim Collection (modern art) , closed Tues
end up at Salute Church
Day 4
choose
either pick another strolling day in Venice proper, or take a ride to one of the outer lagoon islands like
Torcello (not much to do, but magnificent mosaics in a 7th century cathedral, about an 80 minute boat ride)
Burano (lace making, and very picturesque with brightly painted houses)
or Murano ( a couple of nice churches, a musem of Glass, glass factories, not the most beautiful island, don't go unless serious glass shopping interests you)
I have a file on Venice, if you'd like to see it, email me at
[email protected]
Most churches closes for a long lunch period in the afternoon, time varies within the range of noon to 3 or 3:30 pm.
So I'd plan church visits for the morning or the late afternoon, visit museums during the middle of the day.
If you do a search on this message board for Venice, or narrow it down to venice restaurant, you will find many suggestions. Also, elsewhere here at fodors. com, go to the Venice "Destination" information.
Any good guidebook will have suggestions for how to plan your days.
I don't know how you feel about art museums, and I mention the churches because they contain so many of Venice's masterpieces of art. You need to do a little advance reading to decide what interests you.
Here are some general ideas.
The days can be in any order you like.
Day 1
St Mark's Basilica, get in line by 8:30.
Doge's Palace
lunch break
take a boat ride to San Giorgio Maggiore church on an island in the lagoon, just 5 minutes away. On a clear day you will have the best view of Venice's waterfront, plus there are art works on the main floor of the church.
Day 2
San Giovanni and Paolo church
walk through Cannareggio (great shops, not as expensive as around San Marco)
Other great churches are along the way
Take a one hour walking tour of the Jewish Ghetto area
walk a little further to the train station, take a vaporetto ride down the length of the Grand Canal all the way to the San Marco stop
Day 3
Start at Frari church
Visit Accademia museum (open daily)
lunch, preferably at Campo Santa Margherita
Peggy Guggenheim Collection (modern art) , closed Tues
end up at Salute Church
Day 4
choose
either pick another strolling day in Venice proper, or take a ride to one of the outer lagoon islands like
Torcello (not much to do, but magnificent mosaics in a 7th century cathedral, about an 80 minute boat ride)
Burano (lace making, and very picturesque with brightly painted houses)
or Murano ( a couple of nice churches, a musem of Glass, glass factories, not the most beautiful island, don't go unless serious glass shopping interests you)
I have a file on Venice, if you'd like to see it, email me at
[email protected]
Apr 7th, 2003, 12:43 PM
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I'm working on my web pages from Venice now, but you can take a look at the few pages I have up -- especially the photos from Burano. Burano is an island about 45-minutes outside Venice with colorful houses and no traffic. You travel there by boat and is covered under the multi-day vaporetto pass.
http://www.travelswithdiane.homestead.com/Italy1.html
http://www.travelswithdiane.homestead.com/Italy1.html
Apr 7th, 2003, 01:14 PM
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After only one trip to Venice I'm hardly an expert (which Elaine IS) but here are some tips from my experience.
Don't try to see everything in 4 days because it's impossible. DO do some reading & decide what interests you. Then make sure to do those things FIRST. Otherwise you'll run out of time. DO take a gondola ride at sunset even though it's expensive (80e). If you can't bring yourself to spend the money, try the American Express tour version where you share the boat with others.
DO use the vaparettos often. Even though some place may look close on the map, it's amazing how much faster you can get there using the boat AND you get a totally different view of things. (I often walked one way & rode the other). Buy at least a 3 day pass for the vaparetto. You can use it as often as you like and they "count" by the hour so a 3 day is good for 36 hours.
As to hours & best times of things, the most popular sights (like the Accademia museum, Doges palace, Basilica etc.)get crowded so try to see those first thing in the morning. If you want to do the "secret tour" at the Doges Palace you have to reserve ahead of time. You can go in the morning to reserve for the afternoon or the next day.
As to eating, there's a good recent string on afforable restaurants you should read. Normally I would say don't try to pick restaurants ahead of time because one of our nicest evenings was spent roaming & just dropping in on a trattoria we found, but since you will be there over Easter weekend, I would suggest booking dinners, especially Saturday & Sunday ahead of time. Your hotel can do this for you if you email or fax them. By the way, the Monday after Easter is also a holiday in Europe so places may be closed. Some museums are normally closed on Tuesdays.
Don't carry a handbag (sorry I can't tell if you're male or female) that's too big. I had to give mine up at the Guggenheim Museum security! (They let me take out my wallet)
Well I've rambled enough. Hope you have a great trip.
Don't try to see everything in 4 days because it's impossible. DO do some reading & decide what interests you. Then make sure to do those things FIRST. Otherwise you'll run out of time. DO take a gondola ride at sunset even though it's expensive (80e). If you can't bring yourself to spend the money, try the American Express tour version where you share the boat with others.
DO use the vaparettos often. Even though some place may look close on the map, it's amazing how much faster you can get there using the boat AND you get a totally different view of things. (I often walked one way & rode the other). Buy at least a 3 day pass for the vaparetto. You can use it as often as you like and they "count" by the hour so a 3 day is good for 36 hours.
As to hours & best times of things, the most popular sights (like the Accademia museum, Doges palace, Basilica etc.)get crowded so try to see those first thing in the morning. If you want to do the "secret tour" at the Doges Palace you have to reserve ahead of time. You can go in the morning to reserve for the afternoon or the next day.
As to eating, there's a good recent string on afforable restaurants you should read. Normally I would say don't try to pick restaurants ahead of time because one of our nicest evenings was spent roaming & just dropping in on a trattoria we found, but since you will be there over Easter weekend, I would suggest booking dinners, especially Saturday & Sunday ahead of time. Your hotel can do this for you if you email or fax them. By the way, the Monday after Easter is also a holiday in Europe so places may be closed. Some museums are normally closed on Tuesdays.
Don't carry a handbag (sorry I can't tell if you're male or female) that's too big. I had to give mine up at the Guggenheim Museum security! (They let me take out my wallet)
Well I've rambled enough. Hope you have a great trip.
Apr 7th, 2003, 01:39 PM
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In our seven days there last year, I think the two particular things we enjoyed doing most of all were...
. Visiting the Basilica of San Marco. Absolutely gorgeous, especially if you're fortunate enough to be there when the interior lights are turned on, highlighting all the golden mosaics.
. Visiting the island of Burano. With its simple, but very colorful houses, it's a photographer's dream.
As far as "non-particular" things, we just loved wandering around, especially in areas which did not have throngs of tourists.
. Visiting the Basilica of San Marco. Absolutely gorgeous, especially if you're fortunate enough to be there when the interior lights are turned on, highlighting all the golden mosaics.
. Visiting the island of Burano. With its simple, but very colorful houses, it's a photographer's dream.
As far as "non-particular" things, we just loved wandering around, especially in areas which did not have throngs of tourists.
Apr 7th, 2003, 02:28 PM
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All of the above are great suggestions - so I'll just add my tip. Start out early - it's the best time to soak up the atmosphere of just wandering through Venice. We'd leave our apartment by 8 at the latest and take a vaporetto to the furthest point in the area we anted to go that day and then just wander. Plan on an afternoon rest - most shops and churches close although the museums stay open. Visit Piazza San Marco at least once in the very early morning or late at night when it's empty - truely memorable.
Apr 7th, 2003, 02:58 PM
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A very late at night or very early in the morning vaporetto ride around the city is splendid. Especially the night one if you're with your sweetie. In addition to all that others have mentioned above, I enjoyed the gondola yard and the Naval Museum.
Apr 8th, 2003, 07:07 AM
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The best thing you can do in Venice is wonder.Get away from the Rialto,SanMarco,Accademia triangle and just wonder.You will find places to eat where only locals eat.We ate at Trattoria Al Cugnai run by three gruff sisters.This is near Accademia and was excellant.
Apr 8th, 2003, 10:22 AM
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Hi Mcouto,
The early morning fish market near the Rialto is worthwhile.
You might also want to take the #1 vaporetto from the Rialto to Lido near dusk and come back in the dark to see the lights along the Grand Canal.
The early morning fish market near the Rialto is worthwhile.
You might also want to take the #1 vaporetto from the Rialto to Lido near dusk and come back in the dark to see the lights along the Grand Canal.
