must see- things to do in venice
 

Hi there , myself and my boyfriend are going to venice next week- we have no clue as to what to do in venice bar a gondola trip- any tips also any good reasonable restaurants-
ciao

Why did you plan a trip to Venice if you have no clue what to do there? If you're leaving next week, you need to RUN to the nearest bookstore and buy at least one guidebook and read it!

Without knowing anything about you or your interests, budget, etc., it virtually impossible to make any useful suggestions.

Hi Rady. For the gondola ride make sure you negotiate the price before you get in. There is a great outdoor restaurant area at the foot of the Rialto bridge. The ambience is amazing. If you like glass, buy it there. Earrings etc... you can load up for yourself and gifts and they cost a fraction of what Venetian glass costs anywhere else. The sites are pretty obvious. Doges palace, St Mark's square, Bridge of Sighs etc. Anywhere you turn, there is something great to see. The best time in Venice (for me anyways) was dusk. You will find that it is a pretty dark city at night but that is part of the charm. Don't fall into a canal though!! Have a great trip. I can't wait to go back myself.

Walk around a lot and get lost. It truly is the best thing to do there. St. Cirq is right about getting a guidebook, though. And I would add, get a good, folding laminated map of the city.

Reasonable restaurant? We like Trattoria Sempione. Ask around for it.

Go to a bookstore and buy a guidebook on Venice that includes maps. Read it together on the plane!! Venice is a fairly small place geographically. You can just wander around and have fun getting lost. Or attempt to use a map and the street signs (painted on the corners of buildings) and go to the major sites: San Marcos, Rialto Bridge, Bridge of Sighs, etc. Personally I wouldn't do a gondola but that's just me. The vaporetto (public water bus) is a good way to get around, besides walking.

For reasonable restaurants I would just keep your eyes open as you're walking around. There's plenty to choose from both on the main tourist path or a bit off-the-beaten one. Lots of cafes with coffee/wine bar and pastries or ready-made sandwiches available.

My husband thinks the ONLY reason to go to Venice is to sit in San Marco Piazza and listen to the orchestras till midnight. I can't say I disagree. Me,I just love Venice and walking around.

one really good restaurant/bar that we enjoyed last march was Bar da Gino which is on the right had side of the "street" as you walk from the accademia bridge towards the peggy gugginheim museum in the dursoduro section....we had lunch there several days...

warning---food is quite expensive in venice!!!

gondolas are very expensive, about 90E or slightly less... a cheap alternative is one of the boats that crosses the grand canal, where you stand up for the quick trip....there is one from just outside the door to Harry's Bar that goes across to dorsoduro....its also a great time saver...they are located in other places as well....

eat a big meal at noon to save money and eat lightly at nite...

eat in bars and stand up for cheaper meals...

Hi
I have a long file on Venice, if you'd like to see it, email me

And/or, click at the top of this screen on Destinations, lots of info on Venice

StCirq - Why are you so arrogant? I've run in to this a lot with Fodors. People write in to gain valuable insight from people who have experience and then people like you respond with these nasty, pompous comments. Why respond at all? Are you really so rigid that you've never thought of going someplace to just go and find out what to do before you leave? It really makes me hestiate to ask anything.

StCirq's first sentence may be a little arrogant, but I think she is perfectly right. The very LEAST one should do is read up on a place -- in a guidebook, at "Destinations" on fodors.com -- before asking wide-open questions here. No one is asking a poster to be an expert, but the OP really should have a little information about the place she is going...

Venice is indeed about two things - boats and walking. You will want to see Piazza San Marco, the Doges Palace, the basilica at San Marco, Rialto Bridge, and take a ride on the Grand Canal. Other than that, there are some great churches (the Frari in particular) and museums, but no absolute musts perhaps. The other must is to spend time walking some of the peaceful neighborhoods (sestieri) away from the tourist crowds. My favorites for strolling are Cannaregio and Dorsoduro. This is the true magic of Venice. Daytrips out to the islands of Burano and Torcello recommended if you have at least 3-4 days.

If I may suggest something regarding your perception that Fodoritews might be arrogant..many of us, myself included, frequent this board because we love to travel and we love to plan our travel. I first read like a devil and then try to narrow down my choices via threads, discussions and the like on this board. So..when someone posts a question such as yours about a place like Venice, it might seem somewhat out of the "ordinary". Venice is a grand place. Take others' advice and buy a guidebook to anchor yourselves in some of the bigger spots/sights. Take the vaporetto everywhere and walk everyplace else. Check out the archives here for many discussions on Venice including a relatively recent one on where to dine. IMHO, the food of Venice is not its greatest feature. It almost doesn't matter. Be prepared to spend more money than you might anywhere else in Italy.If you are going to be in Venice for more than a day or two, I'd say venture off the well beaten track. Take a boat ride to the outer islands. I am particularly fond of Burano(my birthday there was delightful). Eat at Da Romano on the "main street". Eat outside. Order the grilled shrimp. Go up to the near rooftop of the Hotel Danieli for a drink. A negroni will cost you $16 euros but the view will astound you.

Venice is wonderful for just strolling around in stopping in the beautiful shops. I addored the peggy gugenheim museum...perfect size with modern art. It's in her old house. Also, must have a Bellini in Harry's Bar!

Hi,
I posted this question because I wanted a personal insight into the real Venice other than stilted sentences from a guide book. Thanks so much for all the helpful tip so far.
Rady

Sorry, but I'm in the camp that wants to know why a person chooses to visit a place if they've no idea what to see there; even if it's because you saw something in a movie and now you want to see it...I would want to choose the sights/places that interest <i>me</i> before I ask others what <i>they</i> suggest.

Rady: I'm not quite sure whether you are using the comments here INSTEAD OF or IN ADDITION TO a guidebook. Most of the posters, even those who gave you plenty of helpful tips, also suggested that you buy and read a guidebook. Or are you just planning to visit the Doges' Palace without knowing anything about its history? It can be done, but I would suggest that it's a very superficial and immature way of doing it.

I disagree~ I don't think you must know the history to enjoy seeing a place. I visited Venice twice without a guidebook (call me immature!).

The difference is Rady was asking us what to do, worried they had no clue.

Myself I love to go somewhere new with no plan and simply wander around. Then again, I didn't post here asking for advice.

This is the first time I've read of someone who took an exception to St.Cirq's comments!! First time for everything I suppose :-(

Seems odd to me spending valuable time and money going to a place with no idea of what one might want to see. Can't imagine coming home from a trip to Italy and only then finding out that Rome has something called the Colosseum, and something else called the Roman and Imperial Forums, and big church in some place called the Vatican, or ... .

rady is doing a good thing by seeking information. And getting a guidebook is a good suggestion.

Rady: I am leaving for Italy in 2 days and did receive a great deal of info from this site, as well as guide books. What disheartens me is that this is the first time I have read threads from a group of &quot;die-hard planners&quot; that are not anticipating the excitement of just exploring on your own and that there is nothing bad to see anywhere in Italy or most places for that matter. I feel sorry for all of you who are so negative about her question. I am 50 yrs. old and am going for my first trip. I am just looking forward to being with my husband in a beautiful country and know that the experience will be jaw-dropping, romantic, exciting, incredible, etc., and not everything has to be planned to the nth degree. Lighten up guys. Where is Ira when you need him?

Rady, when my husband, daughter and I first went to Italy in the 1970's we had a business that kept us so busy we hardly had time to get the airline tickets. I did have the advantage of being born and raised in the Bay Area (San Francisco and the Bay Area) and had Italians around me from the time I was born and so heard their stories of Italy, their cities, their little villages, their lifestyles etc. But that was it! So we flew to Milpensa airport from San Francisco without the value of spending hours reading guide books, did not even know where we were going except for the first nights lodging in Milano. The plane arrived in Milpensa (Alitalia which at that that time was a wonderful airline). Had no idea how to get to Milano. Saw there was a bus, bought tickets and got on the bus to Milan. At one point my husband asked me &quot;do you know where we are?&quot; My answer was &quot;no, but who cares, we are in Italy&quot;. Arrived at the station, got a taxi, went to the hotel that we had the reservation with and from there on -- the two most beautiful months. At a book store we bought the 2 maps (Northern Italy and Southern Italy). Picked up the car at the rental agency we had made arrangements for from the USA. And off we went. The most beautiful,wonderful two months anyone could have. Have been back to Italy many times since but the most wonderful trip was the first one, the magic of everything, the surprises, the unplanned itinery. We did not have have reservations, we just moved on or not as we pleased. While in Naples we decided to go to Capri for 3 days. Made arrangements to leave most of our luggage at the hotel in Naples while we were gone. Ended up staying in Capri for 10 days. I could go on and on but the point that I want to make is that most travelers over worry, try to schdule, try to educate themselves about each and every moment of their trip. You want to go to Venice. You have no clue as to what to do. Believe me,please, you will arrive in Venice and you will discover what to do. Walk throughout Venice, check out the restaurants and go into the ones that interest you. Enjoy, enjoy, enjoy. Don't make this a &quot;homework assignment&quot;. And if you miss something &quot;important&quot; so what? You can go back again. Believe me, Italians laugh at tourist that have an agenda for every moment of their vacation. That is not &quot;dolce vita&quot;.

The best advice I saw was to get lost in Venice. It's the best way to get to know Venice. If you only have a day or two, then you want to hit the hot spots. I myself like the little know spots best. I never plan my trips to Venice and never really will. Carefull who you listen to, it's half opinion anyway. Ciao, TVP

Rady,
I can't get over the attitude of some of the people replying to this question. A holiday can not be planned to perfection. Some people have an idea of what they would like to see and do and others go with the flow! I'm going to Venice in two weeks for the first time. I'm bringing my partner for her birthday and we have bought a small guidebook. I have glanced through the book to get some tips but I certainly don't know the history of each area or building. I'm looking forward to learning that when I get there. To me that's more exciting than reading it in a book. Rady, enjoy yourselves and see what takes youyr fancy when you get there!!

A professor once told the class, &quot;what you out of this course depends on what you put in to it.&quot; I feel the same way about vacation planning.

You don't need no stinking guidebooks.

Just walk aimless through the narrow, twisting, winding streets and see what you see. Nobody has the energy to search out that special fountain or neat little park. And who needs a map -just walk around and around and keep soaking it all in for the third and fourth time.

Hey, if a great museum is closed that day, just laugh and move on. So what if you miss that famous bridge, charming church or exciting market. Just chalk it up to being carefree and unrestricted. Who cares if you never knew if you were just a block away from that superb view or great shop. Why stress yourself with little details?

Besides, it will make a great story when you get home. Let me tell you about all the neat stuff we missed in .....

Remember, its only time and money you are expending. Planning is for suckers.

Rady--

We have been to Venice four times - we must like it - the last time we had the DK Eyewitness guidebook. It is a good reference book with good maps. It is a bit bulky so we studied before setting out and didn't take it with us. Got along fine.

I would suggest the 72 hour vaporetto pass. We used it a lot.

Have a great trip

:-B

Although I mentioned a guidebook in my earlier post, I want to chime in again. I said that because Rady seemed to want to know specifically what there was to do in Venice.

Personally I am with Degas on this one (and so eloquently stated I might add!) Venice is a true gem and all you have to do is get yourself there. The rest will unfold before you!

Uh, Suze... Degas is a big ole leg-puller. He absolutely DOES plan his trips, have you not seen his threads on various Paris walks?...Reread his note, injecting just a tad of sarcasm, and then you will get it...

Who said anything about perfection? rady is doing the right thing asking for advice--there are wonderful things to see in Venice (Rome, Paris, London, etc.) that, for most people, are definite must-sees, and there others that might not be the most famous sights/experiences, but fit your interests. And you could miss them if you don't do some research and planning. This is not the same as saying every minute of every day has to be planned precisely leaving no room for exploration and spontaneity.

rady, everything in moderation.

IMHO its always best to at least know your options. A health dose of planning and research allows for exploration and spontaneity and reduces confusion and frustration.

Get a map ahead of time and &quot;learn&quot; the city so you can &quot;wander&quot; in all the right directions.

I've done both...planned a trip down to every detail, and arrived without a clue as to what to do.

I had a great time either way.

One of the most important things I've learned about European travel is hotel location...try to stay close to some major sights, and close to transportaion. This requires some pre-planning.

I'm sure you'll have a great time in Venice. You'll quickly figure out the lay of the land.

For Travelnut &amp; Degas... I thought it was too good to be true! That finally someone was strongly supporting my no guidebook necessary philosophy- LOL.

I feel that it is the traveler's responsibility to plan their trip, to at least do basic research, whether by books or by websites. I think a forum should be for <i>additional</i> information to round out your plans, to clarify something you don't understand, to get advice about your choices or alternate suggestions, etc. I think a person who pops in and says, &quot;here I go, I have NO IDEA, you do the work and tell me what to do&quot; is being lazy and deserves whatever results they get. If they enjoy themselves, that's great. If that is how they wish to spend their travel dollars, more power to 'em, it just isn't my style.

There are more emails regarding everyone's opinion on planning vs venice itself. Enough already. Now I remember why I stopped checking out these discussions. Your idea of preparing for a trip is just one way. Ever hear of spontaneity? Some of the best things happen by chance.

Dear Rady--Simply &quot;get lost&quot;, remembering that you're on an island! Seek out the back streets, get to know the locals and by all means, do take a Gondola ride...Also, take the 30 minute, inexpensive boat ride to colorfully romantic--Burano...Of course there are world-class museums but simply sitting in St. Marks Square while orchestras play Italian classics is a &quot;don't miss&quot; event.--Order some grappa and soak up the atmosphere.
Venice is in a league by itself...What else can I say?

If you want more information, I'm about to post an extensive trip report of highlights which I hope will be of more specific assistance. It will be titled: &quot;Venice &amp; Environs: a unique trip report&quot;...

Happy Travels, Cal

I also say you've got to experience the Florian. (San Marco Piazza) it's so over the top. Sit inside and do so before the music starts. We ordered &quot;toast&quot; and coffee. I loved it.