Hi. Last minute decision to visit Venice June 25th for a week. Was there 15 years ago, it will be the first time for my husband. Is a week too long? Any suggestions for excursions closeby? Don't want to rent a car. Thanks in advance.

We spent 9 days in Venice last July and could have spent many more.
Get a venice card and use it to the max, catching vaporettos to discover many out of the way areas.
Let you feet let you wander and when you are tired you catch the vaporetta back home, and make sure you catch one in the late evening and take in the mood of the grand canal.
Sit back and watch the word go by, venice style at a liitle local cafe and of course cover many of the things in the guide books.
We had an apartment through viewsonvenice.com and it was wonderful living like a local for a while, buying food from the supermarkets and local shops and having our little piece of venice to enjoy.

Some sights, activities, and museums in Venice:

Piazza San Marco, Basilica San Marco, Campanile, Palace of the Doges, Grand Canal on a vaporetto, Lagoon islands: Murano, Burano, Torcello, San Michelle.

Gondola yard, Arsenal and Naval Museum, Correr Museum, Accademia art museum, Peggy Guggenheim Gallery. Numerous art shows and exhibits. Too many speciality museums to list. The Ghetto. Too many churches with interesting art and architecture too list, but...Basilica Santa Mariadella Salute, Basilica dei Frari, Santa Maria dei Miracoli, San Sebastiano, San Pietro di Castello, Santo Giovanni E Paolo, Madonna dell'Orto. Venice's churches have some of Italy's greatest works of art--many free to view by the likes of Tintoretto, Veronese, Titian, Bellini, Vivarini, and Carpaccio.

Scuola Grande di San Rocco, Scuola San Giorgio degli Schiavoni, Scuola San Nicolo, Scuola Grande Dei Carmini, Scuole Grande of San Rocco--art and music Campo Santa Maria Formosa, Querini Stampalia Foundation museum, Ca’ Rezzonico museum, Querini-Stampalia palace/museum, San Giovanni Evangelista, Ponte di Rialto Rialto market, Ca’ d’Oro, Ca' Pesaro museum. Gondola tour of smaller, hidden canals. Opera and concerts at La Fenice.

Walking away from the daytripping herds and discovering a quiet, secret city that most tourists have no clue exists.

Thanks for your input. I looked at the apt rental website you recommended. How was your rental? What was the weather like July last year? Was it crowded? I am hopping less so since the Japanese don't seem to be travelling much in Europe these days I've noticed. Thanks again.

Rufus, Where is the gondola yard?

http://www.squero.com/

Thanks, Rufus. I knew I had read about it but couldn't find it in my notes.

I was there for 5 days and had just scratched the surface. A trip to the outer islands (Murano, Burano, Torcello) would take a day. Consider a tour down the Brenta Canal to see palladio villas. You could even do a day trip by train. Lots of previous threads here on daytrips.

Hi tangwah, a week in Venice is never too long IMO. This will allow you to real discover Venice, especially after the daytrippers go home.

A few places that I love that you could train to for day trips are Bologna, Padua (Podava in Italian), Verona, Trieste. There are so many more of course.

If I were you I would wait until I got settled in Venice before I made any plans. You can buy the train tickets at the Santa Lucia Train station when you decide what you want to do. Do have a map. If you don't have one you will be able to buy one at a bookstore. The trains are wonderful, and I think you are smart not to bother with a rental car. Have a beautiful week, how could you not?

Try livingvenice.com for a lovely apartment in Dosodoro. Chbarming neighborhood and very comfortable apartment. Good luck.

In addition to the above, you might consider a day trip in the Veneto with Avventure Bellissime (http://www.tours-italy.com/veneto/index.html). We have taken the Palladian Villas tour with Jonathan and can recommend it highly.

tangwah
sorry for the delay in responding .
we stayed in a lovely 2 bedroom apartment on rio d verona near campo sant angelo right on the gondola route. we were serenaded every night ,it was brilliant! the people at views were very good.
the weather was hot and dry but very bareable .you might want to prepare for mosqutios they can be very annoying at night.

A lifetime in Venice wouldn't be too long!

How about a mission to see *every* campo, piazza, etc. in the city?

It might not be do-able, depending on how much you like to walk, but it would be fun to try.

You will be there 2 weeks after the Biennale opens; so if you're interested in contemporary art, that will use up at least a day or 2. (We will be there the week before you ! )

But do I gather you haven't booked accommodation yet ? = I booked ours last October & still couldn't get exactly what we wanted.