Planning first trip to Rome later this month and hoping to take 2 day trip to Venice in the middle. Any advice? 2 days Not enough time? How long is the train ride? Any help would be great. Thanks!

How long is the total trip? Does it include any other destination besides Italy?

Two nights (three days) is short okay. The train take four and a half hours.

<<Any help would be great>>

You need to invest the time to obtain a big comprehensive guide book or two on Italy from a public library or bookstore. Then read it cover to covr, like a novel.

This is not preaching, nor lecturing at you. It is advice that will benefit you.

Welcome to the forum. Come back often with all the questions you can think of, broad or specific.

Best wishes,

Rex

usually drive from rome to venice but last year decided to take the Euro Star train back from Venice to rome..... about 3 + hrs of sheer delight...full wide comfortable seats, large viewing windows, a full course lunch served in lovely dining car, white table cloths, fresh flowers on the table, all while skimming through the mountains and sipping a fine borolo...very nice (was $132.00 fare for two and lunch about $65.00 currency was around 96 cents to the euro at that time...today's rate is 82 cents and fluxuating...enjoy

Hi Posh,

If you have a full week, an overnight to Venice would be nice. Two nights would be much better.

Train schedules and prices are at www.trenitalia.com/en.

Do a text search here on "Venice" for lots of hints.

See www.fodors.com miniguide to Venice.

Follow Rex's advice.

As Popesa posts, the train ride from Rome to Venice is very enjoyable. I also took the Euro Star. It was 3 1/2 hours. Of course, the very best part is arriving in Venice at the train station and experiencing the one and only spectacular view. I took a Vaporetto, which stops right in front of the train station with no problem with my suitcase and just loved that first ride down the canal to my stop. I would not want to be in Venice for just 2 days, I think it is just not enough time. Even if you could extend Venice to 3 days it would be a little better, as you will not be able to spend enough time to wander the streets, visit the sights and enjoy. Depending on your interest, if you want to visit particular sights, museums, actually go inside of many of the churches, and buildings, instead of just walk by them, you won't have the time in 2 days.

trendgirl is absolutely right....but if you just want to "breathe " venice its still worth the trip...if you just want to forego the churches and museums and enjoy a romantic meal overlooking the grand canal and stroll hand in hand through the winding side streets..since widowed , these are the memories I cherish...or a 3 hr. trip to the surrounding islands....not the tourist attractions...an evening at the casino is good, too...just don't pronounce it the american way (say CAH-ZEE-NOO) casino means house of ill repute in italy. enjoy

Popesa....Curious,where did you go to the Casino, on the Lido?
Yes, I guess 2 days is better then not ever going at all to Venice.

hi trendgirl, a few years ago there were 2 casinos...one on the grand canal and one in lido...they alternated each month...open 30 days, closed 30 days..sort of like their gas stations . lido is closed now and the only one inside venice is on the grand canal...a lovely old gated palazzo--cost 5E to enter last year..some loose slots...outside venice--taxi ride is about 20 minutes to the new larger one..

Awesome advice - esp on the Euro Star..is there a website for this train? Also, planning on being in Italy a full week. I think we won't push it with more than 2 destinations. FYI, going with my BF so we can't make it a romantic getaway but we'll sure have fun! Thanks so much.

you probably can book the euro star online...but i just walked over to st. mark's (one street over and got the tickets) i have had some problems in the past with on-line reservations so i prefer a face-to-face....hope you have a great vacation

Posh -

www.trenitalia.com is the official site for the train system. This info would be in the guidebook(s), miniguides recommended to you.

You'll enjoy your trip a lot more if you do a bit of "homework" beforehand so that you're well-informed and comfortably oriented.
http://www.fodors.com/miniguides/mgr...ion=venice@163

www.frommers.com/destinations/venice

www.timeout.com/venice

The trip from Rome to Venice is FOUR and a half hours, not three and a half.