I keep reading about how fun it is to just wander around Venice and it's okay if you end up being lost. I would think that one would become worried. <BR><BR>Exactly how do you find your way back if you're not sure where you are? Do all the streets lead back to one central area?<BR><BR>Seriously, please explain this feeling. In any other city it's not fun if you're lost.

venice is one of more unusual tourist places where you can 'lose yourself' but still not get truly lost since there are always signs leading to the landmarks like rialto and san marco...so most likely you would never be in despair even if you lose your bearings temporarily; also, your furthest walk is always limited by the water...a map is handy but not truly necessary like most big cities; you can always ask for directions too.. <BR><BR>when most people spoke of 'losing yourself' it means you should hit the side streets which offer a more genuine look at venetian life; i read somewhere that most tourists (50% or so) never ventured outside of san marco and that's a shame; visiting the main attractions is fine but skipping the chance to visit the environs would truly be an opportunity lost..<BR><BR>btw other nearby interesting places include lido, murano, and torcello (sp?)..

Hi Amy - I also wondered about this before I went to Venice for the first time last year. But it is easy to get lost! All the small streets and small canals are a bit confusing, but it is so wonderful to get lost, because you will just keep on walking, turning into another small street, just to see a bit more... It is not at all frightening, because you will always reach a place where you will regognise something or see a sign leading to a well-known place, like Mike said!<BR><BR>Enjoy Venice - it is enchanting!

Just came back from 3 weeks in Italy and France and absolutely loved Venice. And we did get lost. Most of the time getting "lost" is as everybody says, interesting and fun and easy to get back to a "main" road. However, our first night there, after a thunderstorm (it was still raining a little) and it was dark, we did get lost for over an hour and that time it was not exactly "fun". You really could wander for hours if it's dark and you don't have a map. Venice is small, and it's an island, but there's enough of it to keep you walking for quite a while. After that first experience I felt it was the most wonderful place.

If you wander in Venice (even w/a map) you WILL get lost. As you approach buildings w/signs you will see San Marco Sq. w/the signs pointing in 2 different directions. That's part of the fun. The hard part is trying to 're-find' the good places you stumble across in the process. Enjoy !

Hi Amy, <BR>We where in Venice in June.. and just a little advice.. if you found something that you like in a of the many shops in Venice.. buy it now.. cause you might not be able to find that shop again ! <BR>You will love Venice...and we bought a 3 day pass for the vaperottos and when we where tired of walking.. we just jumped on one and got off it once we where ready to walk again ! it was the best.. passes for 3 days are 18 Euro each (unlimited access)<BR>Enjoy !<BR>(sorry for any spelling mistake etc.. I'm french)

What a nice thread! I've always thought of Venice as a big, crowded tourist trap, but you people make it sound as delightful as the tiny towns I usually visit! If I can ever tear myself away from Switzerland, I will definitely investigate this place that you love so much. J.

Hello everyone, I really appreciate all of your explanations. It helps me to understand fully now this feeling of being lost in Venice. I hope that I can visit soon and see for myself!

Previous posters have indeed give an accurate description of what it means to get lost in Venice. That was our major activity during our three-day stay. <BR>One poster is correct, however, in citing the "fear factor" of getting lost at night. I would definitely recommend getting lost strictly as daytime activity!

I'm notorious for shopping and Venice is one of my favorites. As others have mentioned getting lost is part of the charm of this magical place. I carry a small notebook, (3x5 or 4x6) and when I run across something interesting or a shop or restaurant that I may want to return to, I jot down the street and name of the shop, or go in and ask for a business card. If its a piazza or some other landmark, I jot down cross streets, so I'll be able to find it again. I learned my lesson after trying to find a jewelry shop in Florence and it took me 4 hours, I wouldn't give up.

For those who've been there, no explanation is necessary. For those who haven't, no explanation will suffice.<BR><BR>The "sustained, controlled directional mishap" in Venice is one of life's great experiences. And when you finally find your way back to the Rialto, look for the Trattoria alla Madonna and order the zuppa di pescatori and a bottle of vino.

Never wander in Venice without a good street maps. Most hotels can provide you with a little folding map, they don't always have all the streets, some are so small, but it's better than nothing. Also, as mentioned already look for the signs on building pointing to main areas. The notebook idea is a great tip. We found a great restaurant wandering, we wanted to return but could never find it again. You can easily get lost in Venice.

Hi Amy. In addition to signs pointing to Rialto & San Marco, there are also signs pointing to Accademia (the like-named bridge and gallery are right next to each other.) <BR><BR>It may not be fun if you're lost in any other city. But Venice is unlike any other city. Wandering through Venice is enchanting.

I spent 6 nights in Venice this past March and since I have a terrible sense of direction, I got lost many times. My hotel was sort of near the Rialto Bridge but not near enough to avoid me getting lost on my way back several nights! I could follow the signs to the major spots (San Marco, Accademia, etc.) but often had trouble locating the smaller churches. One time I even spotted a woman who appeared to be lost and assumed she was a tourist - she was actually a native Venetian who had gotten lost in an unfamiliar neighborhood! It was sometimes fun during the day to wander around, but I'll admit that I didn't find it quite as charming when I got lost at night, in the rain, or on my way to meet someone!

I think the above post combined have explained it pretty thoroughly but I can add...<BR><BR>1) Know which major landmark is nearest your hotel (to follow the signs and arrows, often painted on the corners of buildings).<BR><BR>2) Also the closest vaporetto stop to your hotel and what is the number of the route. If you walk WAY too far and get tired and/or lost, knowing this, then you can catch a vaporetto back to where you started.

Be careful with the signs! Some practical jokers paint over the head and tail of the arrows, and change them around!<BR><BR>It's fun anyways, 'cause you can't get lost for real. Its like a maze for grown ups.

The "getting lost" factor ceases to be fun when you've had dinner and it's getting dark and all you want to do is get back to your hotel. I sure was glad my hotel was on the Grand Canal by the Accademia stop; at least I knew if I could find my way to a vaparetto stop, I eventually would get back to the hotel.<BR>

Jot down the name or take the card of any restaurant you really like too. We ate at this really great place, very small and had an outdoor area in the back on one trip. The next trip there we could not find it! We retraced our steps and our turns and never did find it!

one of my fondest travel memories was getting lost in venice a finding a litle school playground where a bunch of litle kids were playing socer and chasing each other around..<BR>I thought i was going too hate venice especially since I was travaling alone. but it was cool..

Just remember, you are on an island! no matter how lost you get, you will not end up in Pocatello, Idaho or on a lonely road in South Dakota. You eventually find yourself back on a main road. Seriously, it's easy to get lost but it's just as easy to find your way back.