I'm taking my girlfriend to Venice for her birthday. I have a hotel in San Marco booked for the beginning of October 2002. We're there for all day Sat and Sun and 70% of Monday. What are the "must do's" and "don't do's". Since it's a relatively short time span I dont want to spend it going the wrong way getting charged 10 times the price for something i dont need etc.

get a 3 day ferry pass. flee san marcos sq, the most repugnant part of the train sta/rialto/san marcos touristy spine. just walking anywhere away from these places is endlessly serendipitous. for views go to the s george island tower and bovolo (sp? means snail) instead of s marcos one. boat to burano (not murano!) island. a palace or two and maybe the maritime museum...

Venice is one of my favourite places in the world. jt is right about the touristy aspect of the city though. The Rialto bridge is just gross. I, however, love the Piazza di San Marco - especially at night. There is something magical about it. Another great way to see Venice is to get a 2 or 3 day Vaporetto (their Public Transit) Pass. We just hop on whatever line we happen to be near. I also would try to wander into an "authentic" mask shop. The last time we were there we spent about an hour with this awesome mask maker in her shop and studio. You're going to love Venice. Have a great time!

Day one, see if you can get on a tour of the Doge's palace and St. Mark's. Get a map and explore on your own on day two. Don't expect to have a great meal but do expect to pay a lot for one. There must be a good restaurant but we have yet to find it in two trips.

Please try to stay away from restaurants that have menus in many different languages, or those that say "menu touristo" (or something like that) in 3 nights we had 1 great meal at a restaurant where the menu was only in Italian- I'll will write later when I find the card. It was in the part of Venice called Cannareggio. Just wander in the quieter areas and you may do better for meals.

To truly enjoy the magic of Venice, just get lost among the maze of narrow streets, little alleys and small bridges. Really! That's the joy of Venice.<BR>If you are taking the train into Venice, you'll be overwhelmed by the initial view of the Grand Canal when you emerge from the station. A spectacular view!

Do visit St marks square VERY early in the morning - before the tourist onslaught. (My father-in laws advice before my first trip to Venice - was to get out early and then have a afternoon siesta, during the real tourist onslaught - it worked wonderfully - but I do mean early - 7am!. ) Do take the No 1 vaporetto and sit up front outside. Do go across to San Georgio maggiore and look back at Venice from the top of their campanile. Do sit outside at a cafe an watch the crowds. Do wander around the back streets - particularly in Dorsoduro, a wonderful neighbourhood. Do get right away from San Marco to eat - it's a tourist trap area. (if you want to seriously spoil your girlfriend for hr birthday - why not book into Da Fiore - you can book over the internet)<BR>Don't go anywhere near the Rialto during the middle of the day. And with only that amount of time I'd say that you should limit yourself to visiting the doges palace and maybe one major church - but just spend your time wandering the city and soaking it all up!

After dinner each night you are there, you must go to Piazza San Marco and listen to the "battle of the bands." Restaurants on the piazza have small orchestras that play music through the evening. It's free (unless you sit down at one of the cafe's tables), and you can move around the square and listen to each band. Music is a broad mix of Italian folk and traditional songs, show tunes, popular music. Charming.

Steve...<BR>1)Eat as much gelato as you can<BR>2)Go to the cichetti bars for afternoon snacks<BR>3)Order a scrogpino<BR>4)Have a glass of champagne/prosecco on the terrace of the Gritti Hotel at sunset<BR>5)See the 'real horese' in St Marks<BR>6)Listen to music at Cafe Chioggia instead of FLorian or Quadri late at night<BR>7)Go to the Rialto fish market early in the morning<BR>8) Take a stroll on the Lido Beach<BR>9) Take in the Frari Church<BR>10) Try every kind of local fish you can!

We just got back from our honeymoon (full trip report to follow soon). Some advice on Venice:<BR><BR>Do: <BR>Visit the fruit market in Cannareggio<BR>See the Tintoretos in Madonna Dell'Orto<BR>Visit Murano (I loved the glass in the upscale galleries)<BR>Enjoy the band (our favorite) and the granita de caffe con panna at Caffe Lavena in Piazza San Marco<BR>Eat at local restaurants (you don't have to pay through the nose for a good meal)<BR>Drink local wines<BR>Wander aimlessly through the alleyways and streets<BR><BR>Don't:<BR>Visit Burano (the 1/2 hour trip to and from was a waste of time, not to mention the 1/2 hour wait for a return ferry -- easily the biggest tourist trap on our trip)<BR>Eat anywhere near the Rialto or Piazza San Marco unless you plan to pay big bucks for mediocre tourist food<BR>Worry about the weather

While in the Piazza of San Marco, have a drink at the Florian cafe. Expensive but quite oppulent. We stopped in for a hot chocolate and biscotti (sp?) after hours of walking. Lovely atmospere.<BR><BR>www.venetia.it/florian

Hi Steve<BR>You sound a little suspicious about being taken advantage of in Venice.<BR>Rightly so, since tourism is the only business, there are some tourist traps and rip-offs to be sure.<BR><BR>On the other hand, it is a magical place, and in such a short time I think you will remember mostly just the experience of being there. Do take the advice and have an overpriced drink or snack or dessert in Florian's or in one of the other cafes on the Piazza. Be warned that there will be an extra charge if the band is playing, and do sit outside, there is really no point imo in sitting inside.<BR>Price aside, you will always remember the hour you spend there.<BR><BR>In the amount of time you have, I would reluctantly decide not to do the Doge's Palace tour unless you are true history or art and architecture buffs. Admire the building from the outside instead.<BR>Go early in the morning if you want to go inside San Marco Basilica--there is always a line. If you go to mass in the morning, you can skip the line and just enter from the side entrance.<BR><BR>Take a walk through the Dorsoduro district, and perhaps also visit the old Ghetto if that interests you. Walk into some old churches. When Columbus was "discovering" the New World, Venice was already at the height of its wealth, power, and cultural accomplishments.<BR><BR>Even for a short trip I recommend a good guidebook--Fodor's guide to Venice is very good. I have a long file on Venice; if you'd like to see it, email me.<BR>

I would say definitely to do the Doge's Palace--it gives you an historical sense of the way Venice saw itself, not to mention that it's wallpapered in Tintoretto's and Veronese's. I'd also add the Chiesa dei Frari to the must list if you're in the area--two of Titian's most important paintings, a fabulous Bellini, and a Donatello wood sculpture as well as a monument to Canova and Titian's tomb--all for two lousy bucks.

Steve -<BR><BR>My sister and I went to Venice in November 2 years ago and had a blast!! <BR><BR>My only DON'T is that if you take a wife or a girlfriend, DO NOT take a "gondola" ride with "LENO" - no matter if you are there or not, he will try and most likely do so attempt to kiss your girl and stick his tongue down her throat!!!!! I was the lucky one, he only got my sister and I ran for it and dragged her away from him!!! Whew - those Italians!!! Gotta love em though!!!!<BR><BR>We had the best time there - I would love to go back someday and take my hubby - very romantic place to be!!!<BR><BR>Have a great time!!!

Do you have to pay extra for the kiss from Leno?

And have Bellinis at Harry's Bar! Expensive, but worth it IMO. Boots