Is it worth it to spend a day or two in Venice?
 

My husband and I are in our early 30s and will be traveling to Rome and Paris with our (hip) parents, sister, BIL and their two toddler daughters.

My husband and I went to Florence and Rome last year and LOVED Rome. We weren't crazy about Florence but just loved Rome. I've been to Paris before, but my husband hasn't and is really excited. We're also interested in Venice.

Since we are traveling with so many, we will be staying in an apartment in Rome for 7 nights. This leaves us with an additional 5 nights. Do you think it's worth it for us to spend a night in Venice and then head to Paris or should we just go straight to Paris? We'd love to see Venice but I'm wondering if that leaves enough time for both.

We can't change the total nights spent in Rome, so we really do have 5 nights for the rest of the trip. The additional 5 nights are "free", so we can go wherever we want but need to be in Paris for a few of them.

Thanks!

Venice IMo even for a few minutes is worth the detour - to me the most visually fine city in the world

and at night a vaporetto ride down the Grand Canal is my number one thing to do in Europe

You don't say when it is you're going to be there. I've been to Venice in March, early June and April. It was glorious. However I have known people to go in July and August and the hot, humid weather coupled with hordes of tourists very much tainted their opinion of Venice. I hate to hear people speak of their disappointment in Venice because it is truly magical.

Our week in England is the last week of May. We are completely flexible as to travel dates. We can tour Italy either before or after.

Wrong thread! Sorry!

Can we delete our own posts?

Haha! Fieldtrip, I was so confused for a second!

We'll arrive in Rome on October 20th and leave Paris November 1st.

dahlie,

That's a very tough question!

Venice is very special and I think would be very lovely in October. OTOH, 3 days in Paris is really not nearly enough. I see you love Rome (not personally my favorite) and are already committed to a full week there, so that makes this really hard.

I vote for Rome and Venice and another trip to Paris for a full week next year...

If I had to choose Venice over Paris I would choose Paris... But you must see Venice at least once.

g.

Oh, and yes, 2 days in Venice is enough to get the flavor but you will just be getting the overview...

I would go directly to Paris, if I was traveling with so many people as you are.

You will have plenty to do in Paris for 5 nights, especially since your husband is so excited to see it.

I think Venice would be a lot of extra travel and trouble, and might be hard to please your entire crowd. Save it for another time IMHO.

Thanks all! The first half of the trip will be spent all together, then we are all going our own way (parents to Morroco, sis and family to see BIL's grandparents in other parts of France). So the trip to Venice would be just my husband and myself. I'm sorry, I should have explained that better.

After a few days on our own, everyone will meet up in Paris. We fly into Rome and out of Paris, so those are a done deal...we just need to figure out if it's worth heading to Venice in between for a short stay.

Is there any reason why you and your husband cannot leave Rome a day early and go to Venice?

Venice is certainly worth a visit, and while two days is not near enough for devotees it is, IMO, enough to give you a taste of the place. Agree that it can be stultifying in the hot and muggy season but around the time of your visit that would not be an issue. In fact, of the three or four times I have been to Venice an October visit was the best.
Given your schedule it would work out nicely.The train from Rome to Venice S, Lucia (not Mestre, which is outside Venice) is about 4.5 hours so unless you have a train phobia it is easier than flying and having to deal with airport transfers at both ends.

From Venice to Paris you could take the overnight train (about 12 hours, leave ~8 PM, arrive ~8 AM) or fly.

I personally would knock 2 nights off of Rome and add another 2 nights for a nice trip to Venice, before heading to Paris. If you are that close to Venice, you must see it. That time of year will be wonderful weather wise and tourist wise. Don't see the need for 7 nights in Rome.

I have been to both Paris & Venice (and Rome and Florence), and I can tell you that Venice is one of my absolute favorite cities in all of Europe! I would definitely be sure to spend a day or two in Venice if you can...You can take a shuttle flight from Rome or take a train. I went to Venice in late September/early October a few years ago and it was a beautiful time to visit. I started in Venice and took the train to Florence, then headed down to Rome. I thought the train was very easy and convenient, though I can't remember how long the ride would be if you are going directly from Rome to Venice.

If you can swing 2 days in Venice, I think that would be perfect and still leave you enough time to feel like it was worth it to travel to both Venice & Paris...

Just my 2 cents, but I absolutely loved Venice and I would highly recommend it...

Especially since it will be just the two of you, go to Venice. It will be very romantic. Take the train: easier than air transfers and puts you right into Venice. If at all possible, take an extra day from Rome and/or Paris so you have a bit more time to just wander and perhaps go to Burano. I also love Rome, but Venice is my favorite place.

Yes, yes and yes!!!
I love Venice and there is lots to do and see.

My husband and I were in Rome for a week last year. We took one day and made the trip to Venice, leaving on the first train out of Rome, and the last one back in from Venice.
It was a fairly short visit of course, but we found it well worth it.

Wonderful! Thanks all! I think the whole family is going to spend 5 nights in Rome now, 2 nights "wherever" and 5 nights in Paris.

So, now we've been thinking about where we want to go for those 2 "wherever" nights. Still thinking Venice, but maybe Amsterdam, London, or Vienna. The flights/trains are so cheap and fast that we figure we can squeeze in another city for sure.

If you knocked off two days from Rome why not take the train to Venice for those days and then go on to Paris for the rest of you time in Europe Save Amsterdam, Vienna or London on another trip.

Since you have time for an extra city it just makes more sense to me to stay in Italy and see one of the most beautiful cities in the world on this trip instead of waiting for another.

Whatever you decide, have a great time, sounds like a fun group.

Venice is magical!!!! Go Go Go

Thanks all! After looking through some options, I think it's Venice or Bust. :) Either Venice for a day or two or an extra few days for day trips outside Paris and Rome (Ostia Antica, Versailles, Dijon--where my mom's family is from, Cassis--where BIL was raised, etc.).

That didn't come out clearly. Either Venice for a few days or 6 nights in Rome, 6 in Paris and a few little day trips within that time. That way, we have less "travel" time--checking in/out of hotels, packing, etc.

We took the trains in Italy last year and really loved them. So easy to use and cheap! I think I'd rather stay in areas closer to Paris and Rome or on the way. You guys were right again!

Hi dahlie,

here's another vote for Venice.

you can maximise your time there by donig as the other poster suggested and getting the train to Venice, and then the overnight train to Paris.

there are plenty of hotels within walking distance of Santa lucia station in venice along the rio terra de spagna; stay in one of these and you can be checked into your hotel and be out again exploring Venice within 30 minutes of arrival.

by taking the train to Paris, again you can time your departure so that rather than spending 2-3 hours getting to the airport, at least an hour in the air, then another hour at least travelling into central paris, you spend the maximum time in Venice, then sleep on the train.

A Vaporetto along the grand canal [if you get the No 2, it only stops a few times and is less busy than the no 1] will get you to st. Mark's square in less than an hour. they leave from right outside the station.

if you can, stay at least 2 nights and try to get three days actually there- then you won't be trying to cram everything into too short a time - one of the joys of Venice is just wandering around.

good luck,

regards, ann

Thank you Ann and everyone else. We've decided to just go for it! We will spend 5 days/nights in Rome, leave the morning of the 6th by train and arrive in Venice by 1pm. We'll spend the rest of that day in Venice and the next two. We'll take the overnight train to Paris and stay for 4 days/nights in Paris.

That way, we'll get 5 days in Rome, 2.5 days in Venice and 4 days in Paris. We arrive early in Rome and leave on the morning of the 5th day in Paris, so, even though we'll be tired that first day, we'll still have mostly full days.

Thanks again!

That's sounds wonderful!

Have a great time!

Venice is great!

It's magic at night when it's not so crowded.

Seeing the Duomo San Marco with the interior lights on was one of the greatest sites of my life. It's gold glass, when lit it's as if the entire church is made of golden mosaics.

I will return again and again and always plan to stay at least one night.

hi again, dahlie,

I'm so pleased you've decided to go for Venice - I'm sure you'll love it.

one surefire way to get to see the lights on the mosaics of St. Mark's is to go on a sunday or feastday, when they are on all day.

Failing that, they are illuminated on sat pm and from 11.30 to 12.30 every day.

other beautiful mosaics are to be found in the basilica on the island of Torcello - take the boat to Burano, and then the shuttle boat to Torcello. I realise you may not have time for this, but if you make one boat trip to the islands, let it be this one [much better than Murano, IMO and Burano is very pretty, with lots of nice restaurants in the main street.]

if you get the boat back to the fondamente nove, you can walk back via the Gesuiti church [amazing marble curtains] and through Cannaregio, which is where Venetians live.

this would amke a very nice day, and be a change from the crowds of Vencie.

Another "off the beaten track" activity [insofar as anything in Venice can be thus described] is an early morning visit to the Rialto markets - the fish market is particularly interesting but it's all amamzingly fresh and lots of fun. you could even buy your picnic to eat on Torcello if you were so inclined.

if you click on my name, you should find my trip report from our visit at easter.

regards, ann

I'm so glad you're going to Venice!

A couple of years ago we did a similar trip and spent lots of time researching the best options to get from Italy to Paris. As it turned out, Venice was the best departure point---both convenient and economical.

We considered the overnight train, but opted for one of the direct flights on MY AIR. Nice plane, not a puddle hopper. They fly direct from VCE to Paris ORY. Orly is a nice option---you can be at your Paris hotel no more than an hour after arrival.

The last day in Venice we packed and left our bags with the hotel. Spent the day in Venice, returned to hotel around 3:00 to go to the airport. By 8:30, we were at our Paris hotel, heading out for a late supper.

My Air's current schedule departs Venice 6:10pm, arrives Orly 7:50pm. I just priced two tickets: 83eu total for 2--w/ 2 checked bags.
http://www.myair.com/docs/cust/en/index.shtml

I am in no way discouraging the train trip. Just wanted to make sure you knew of this option. We liked it. Arriving in Paris at night was magical!

Wonderful ideas! Since we just went to Rome last November, I feel like I know what to do there...but studying up for the trip to Venice is overwhelming. I don't know why, I guess just trying to get everything in in 2.5 days and not knowing a thing about the city. Keep the ideas coming!

We are so excited to go back. We're really lucky to have the chance again. I never thought we'd go to Italy (or maybe once we were retired), so getting a chance to go at age 29 and again at 30 is amazing.

So, Mom, if you see this post while researching: Thank you, Mom and Dad. We love you!!!