The more I read about Venice, the more hesitant I become to stay there...particularly dealing with transportation, luggage, etc. I am a senior citizen who has traveled a few times in Europe. Usually my husband and I stay in small to mid-sized towns and travel about by public transportation. This time I'll be going solo, to visit a relative who will be working in Venice. I will be staying in a hotel or B&B. I'm considering the option of lodging in either Verona or Padua and just visiting Venice on day trip(s) by train. This way I could use taxi's or other ground transportation to get from airport to hotel, instead of trying to master the various public and private boat options. Crazy idea? If not, which town (or other nearby) would make for the best "home base"? I like a fairly flat, walkable town with historic architecture, markets, and nice little cafes.

Some will assure you that nothing beats going to sleep and waking up in Venice itself, and they may have a point. But nearby Padua (an hour closer than Verona!) is itself a very nice historic city and makes for a great place from which to commute.

Trains run very frequently, some slower regional ones and some superfast ones (where you may need a seat reservation, so wait til the next one comes where that's not necessary). On average they take a half hour, some even less, and when you get there, you're right at the Santa Lucia station down by the canals, at the Grand Canal where the boat buses (vaporetti) pull up to take you to where you need to go.

So, no, it's not a crazy idea at all.

WK

Hello Barbara, I agree with Wally, Padua is a lovely city and is quite easy to walk around in as it is flat and it does have everything you mentioned enjoying.

But is there any chance your relative could meet you and take your luggage to a hotel in Venice if you really want to stay in Venice?

I would chose Padova versus Verona also since Padova is closer to Venice. Best regards and enjoy your time in Italy.

I'd work harder on overcoming the difficulties of staying in Venice before decamping.

Verona is a lovely place of itself and well worth a visit, but it's a bit too far to be considered a commute from Venice.

I've been to Padua twice and didn't particularly like it (although it has some SPECTACULAR artwork).

Getting your luggage around Venice can be aggravating. The best plan is to stay close to a canal. People will help you get your stuff on and off the water transport and (in my experience) the hotel will send someone to help you from where you dock. If that isn't feasible, then can you travel light -- definitely with wheels?

Venice is Venice and is like no place else. It is a little confusing at first to understand, as you say, the various boat options. But once you get the hang of it, it's just like undertanding bus and subway routes.

Once you're settled walking around is simple and charming. And there is so much to see.

I agree with Wally and LoveItaly, and indeed did just this for four days eight years ago. Your last train back from Venice Santa Lucia is at 2252, and the one before at 2027 or 2037. There are four steps down from the station level to the waterbus point, and so long as you have a map with bus lines you can keep walking down, and sit in squares and on the busses, with their great views. You need to go away from St Marks to find lunch at a fair price. In Padua I think I had a small hotel on the station square.

Even with wheeled luggage you face in Venice the many short flights of stone steps to and from bridges.

Ben Haines, London
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Venice is a big as a town. In fact, you can circle the city in a day (just walking and not stopping at landmarks). Padova is a regular city where I wouldn't like to go again. Verona is OK, but a city like many others. There's nothing like Venice. Venice is not only connected to the mainland by boat. There are also buses and taxis in Piazzale Roma. I think the best homebase is Venice because it has what you need: "a fairly flat walkable city (more like a big towb in terms of size) with historic architecture, markets and nice coffeeshops". Venice is not a city to daytrip; it's a city to stay.

Have a wonderful trip!

Venice is one of those few places that people return to again and again. I think it is best enjoyed by staying there and absorbing the atmosphere. It seems that the visitors that like Venice the best are folks who stay there a few days, getting outside the touristy spots. I have a sister who sayed at a hotel on the Lido, going into Venice each day- she didn't enjoy her stay there- hated the crowds and felt it was like a theme park

Venice is truly unique and I think staying there is worth the difficulties as long as one is not handicapped- it would be very difficult if one was in a wheelchair, for example. One needs to be able to walk about to some degree. It is not a huge city, and people get around either by foot, taxi (water) or by bus (vaporetto). Pick a hotel that is close to a Vaporetto stop. People on this forum can help. There are some sho know Venice very well.

Happy travels,

Margret

I, too, am a senior citizen and would stay in Venice. I have stayed several times at a nice, small, family owned hotel right at the St Zaccaria vaporetto stop. It is called the Paganelli. You can literally walk off the boat and into your hotel. It has no lift, but if you ask for a room on the first floor, one up, that is all the lugging you will have to do of your suitcase. If you fly to Venice, it is a small, very manageable airport where you can get the boat right to the stop at St. Zaccaria. If you arrive by train, you can come right out of the station and catch a vaporetto to the same stop. Venice is easily walkable, but the vaporetto is easy to use if you prefer. There is another small Pension in the same location as the Paganelli which is also recommended on this forum. I believe it is called The Weidner, and it is also easily acessible by vaporetto.
Padua is a wonderful place to stay, one of my favorite cities. It has a great market on Saturday morning in The Prato de Valle, and beautiful churches and art. However, you should be aware that if you arrive in Padua by train, you may have to walk up and down stone stairs if your train does not arrive on the track next to the station; not fun with a suitcase, I know from experience. It may cost you more to stay in Venice, but your savings on train tickets and taxis should offset that. Besides, there is nothing I know to compare with Saint Mark's Square by moonlight with the violins playing. Try it, you'll love it!

Would the Venice airport be the one a person would use from/to U.S. if staying in Padua? If so, any idea what taxi might cost into town?

I tend to agree with my wife, Margret. Venice is, of necessity, completely flat, so in some ways, it's easier to walk around than some other cities. The only problems are that whenever you cross a canal (often), you have to go up one side of a bridge, and down the other. This always involves steps, never ramps.

But it seems to me that coming in from the train station each day you visit Venice will involve even greater distances than were you staying in the center of the city. The train station is at the extreme north-west of the city, and St. Mark's square is at the south-east.

Venice is not really that big. A straight line from the Frari to the Basilica di San Marco is only 1.3 miles, and a circle built on that line as a diameter would encompas the entire central city. Of course, walking from one to the other would be longer, as you can never walk a straight line for very long in Venice. But basically, it's not very big.

If you don't mind a lot of walking, which you can do at a leisurely pace, then Venice will be no problem. If you have problems going up and down short stretches of steps (the bridges, half a flight up and half a flight down), then it is.

- Larry

What do people think about suggesting that Barbara stay in Venice at a hotel very close to the railstation. I notice on Veniceby.com that there are many located within short distance of the rail station. That way, she could not have to drag her bags on the boats yet stay in Venice proper?

If this is an option, there might be posters who can suggest one that is an easy walk from the station?