I am going to spend one day in Venice arriving at the airport about 9:15 AM and taking the bus to my hotel. I figure I have from 11:00AM to see Venice with my family. We are departing the next day at 10:30 AM. Should I spend the time on a gondola ride or use the time to see as much of Venice as I can with my wife and 2 boys age 15 and 8? Any suggestions of a must see walking tour and restaurants to go to for lunch and dinner would be a big big help as well.. Thanks in advance.

the first time i went to venice was also for 1 day and i did the gondola thing.when i went i was with 5 others and we split the boat cost between us.i think it cost €12 each. venice looks so different from sea level.you go in into quiet calle away from the tourist hordes.definately worth it. in that 1 day i also saw palazzo ducale and the basilica and walked around a bit.

i returned in a later trip to explore some more of venice.

btw, €12 got us a 45min duration ride

With a family of four, you will probably be looking at paying for a "whole gondola" (versus sharing with others as is mentioned above), and I think that current prices are more like 80-120 euro for 45 (to as much as 65-75 minutes). I don't think it needs to be viewed as "competing with" time you would otherwise spend sightseeing nor at meal times. Late at night gondola rides - - unless by (unlikely) chance it would be crazy cold are a perfectly good way to experience the unique quiet of the waterways of Venice - - you'll fully understand why it's called "La Serenissima".

Expensive as it may seem, I say of you can afford to go to Venice at all, then this is a substantial part of why you go there - - spring for it.

Best wishes,

Rex

Unmissable. The perfect way to see Venice and a lifelong souvenir.

I agree with the others...definitely do it. We had our children with us as well, and my dh figured we would do it once and be happy. He actually enjoyed it so much that when the kids asked to go again on our last evening he was all for it.

Hello frankdaddy. I have read your other post and so more or less know about your travel plans.

I agree with Rex. There are four of you and so if you do decide to hire a gondola I would absolutely hire one for just you and your family. And Rex's idea of price falls into the realm of what I know pricewise.

If you can afford this, without hurting your budget, I would hire one.

If you feel that with all the cost of your trip it is just one more thing that will break the budget then don't feel like not hiring one is going to ruin or spoil your time in Venice.

One place that I enjoy in Venice is LaMadonna. If you walk from Piazza San Marco to the Rialto Bridge, cross the bridge, turn left and look down the first or second alley (I think it is the second alley) on your right you will see the sign for this restaurant. It is on the left side of the alley.

There are so many places to go to but if I had just one night that is where I would go.

And, if you feel alright about this, if you and your wife want a quite hour to yourselves you can send your 15 year old off with his younger brother for one hour. And you and your wife could relax in Harry's Bar and have a drink and just relax and take in the decor of this well know old establishment. When you are in the Piazza San Marco, if the Basilica is behind you walk straight ahead, through the piazza. Go down the calle and about two down turn left and go down toward the Grand Canal. Harry's Bar is at the end, on the left. Hotel Monaco is on the right.

The Jewish Ghetto is very interesting to see also if you have the time.

Personally I would not spend a lot of time worrying about lunch. I would just stop somewhere that appeals to you while you and the family are discovering Venice.

I sure wish you all a beautiful trip, and good skiing in Cortona.

Thank you all for your wonderful messages. I will take rex's suggestion on the gondola ride and loveitaly on the dinner suggestions. I thought I read somewhere where there is a better place to catch the gondola than in front of St Marks square. I also want the ride to go in the canals and not just on the Grand Canal. Do you know where you can catch the gondola and how do you pay for it? Do you ask up front how much the ride is, and do you tip, and how much? I thought the gondola was 200 euro's not the 120 euros. Are the prices posted, and do they go off the price list. Thanks again you guys are great.

Hello frankdaddy, it seems to me that the last gondola ride my late DH and I took was arranged at the end of the calle where you walk from Piazza San Marco to go to Harry's Bar. But instead of turning left to go to Harry's Bar we went straight, to the end, a side canal. There were some gondolas there and the men were more then willing to talk about their price. I know my husband made arrangements with a gondalier for that evening. A price was agreed upon and also that we would go up quiet canals as well as the Grand Canal and the amount of time that we would have was agreed upon

This location does not get all the tourist as Piazza San Marco and the Rialto Bridge does.

Regarding a tip. I honestly do not know if my husband ever tipped or not but we had such wonderful gondaliers I suspect he did. I think I would do what you feel alright about.

What a wonderful trip you are giving your family. You all will have beautiful memories!

P.S. Another thought. If you are going to have dinner at LaMadonna maybe it would be more convenient for you to make arrangements ahead of time with one of the gondaliers around the Rialto Bridge. Just a thought.

here are the official rates. "Gondoliers regard the official rates as a polite fiction"

http://europeforvisitors.com/venice/...by_gondola.htm

our gondola was basic. no accordian man,1 flower on bow. you will see they vary widely. i remember a two seater coupe gondola:the passengers looked very rich.

Thank you again for your information. I am aware of the posted pricing mirage because they post prices for carriage rides in Central Park NY and that is "polite fiction" as Chevy puts it. I would like to schedule the ride after dinner but since we will be in Venice this Saturday I am thinking this will be cold and dark. Is there any specific place you go to catch them and is tipping necessary?

Hi frankdaddy, think I answered this question regarding where and tipping.

May I suggest that at this time of the year that a gondola ride before dinner would be the most enjoyable. Maybe try to end it around sunset. Then go and have an enjoyable dinner.

It is settled. I will take the Gondola ride before sunset catch dinner at La Madonna. Thanks loveitaly. My family thanks you.

I found the information that Chevy posted with the hyperlink on the Gondola to be quite informative. I will post my gondola ride when I come back. Thanks all.

Oh frankdaddy, as they say in Italy, prego! And I do hope that my suggestions help make your visit to Venice pleasant.

And you will be going to Cortina. I have friends that have a house there. You will have such a beautiful time I know.

And I know we will all look forward to your report after you get back home and get settled in.

A beautiful, safe and happy trip is wished for all of you.