Requesting Suggestions for Venice
 

My husband & I will be in Venice first week of July. We want to see St Mark's Basilica & St Mark's Square & Doge's Palace. We are thinking of getting the Travel/Tourist Pass that will include the vaporetto and priority entrances to the museums. Would like to visit the 3 islands (Murano, etc) using vaporetto with the pass. Will the travel pass cost worth the cost? Also, we don't have to reserve time for entrances to the museums so it's flexible. Is this correct, We appreciate your comments. Thnk you.

Any comments from anyone please?

I've been to Venice twice, but sorry I have no idea about the "pass" you are specifically asking about.

I was there 4-5 days each time and did not go out to any of the islands because I found plenty to do just walking in the central part of the city.

I also am not familiar with the pass you are speaking of. Maybe you could post a link to it? I am going back to Venice this September and was thinking maybe about doing the fast pass for some of the attractions. I don't think I will do any other islands this time. Last time, my friends who weren't staying at my hotel, were talked into a private boat to Murano to see a glass blowing demo. We went with them but didn't find it all that exciting. The things not surprising to buy were outside our price range. They just dropped us off and we had to find our own way back. I remember it took a long time for a boat to show up to take us back.

Thanks for the comments. I don't know the official link to the pass, but I saw it at europeforvisitors.com.

I was only considering the other islands since I believe the travel/tourist pass will cover the vaporetto ride. Thks for the warning regarding Murano glass blowing.

The tiny island of Burano is very colorful and pretty - very different in feel from Venice. I recommend it. Have a walk and lunch.
Another wonderful day trip is Vicenza for the Paladian architecture. Just be sure to check opening and closing times of various buildings. If the architecture interests you, it is worth it just for Teatro Olimpico.

Thank you. I think we will try that.

Think about the Venice Museum Pass - no need to buy it on line, and if you buy it at the Correr Museum, the queue is short. http://www.venice-museum.com/venice-museum-pass.php gives details.

A picnic on Torcello is nice. When you take the vap to Burano, get off at Mazzorbo and walk through the vineyard to Burano, over the bridge. Head left as you alight. The lace museum on Burano is worth a look.

Click on my user name and scroll down, and you'll find trip reports that I've written for Venice.

The Querini Stampalia Foundation is worth a visit. Also in July, the Architecture Biennale is happening, gives you the possibility of entry to the Arsenale.

Another vote for Burano & Torcello. We preferred them to Murano, which was, to us, overcrowded and touristy.

A nice day trip would be Padova, less than a half-hour train ride. Three really nice things in Padova are:

--Scrovegni Chapel (for which you need a timed advance-purchase reservation). Absolutely amazing Giotto frescoes of the life of Jesus.

http://www.cappelladegliscrovegni.it/index.php/en/

--The Duomo, with its other-worldly frescoes.

--The San Antonio basilica with its relics and domed architecture.

ssander

One more thing...

I also posted a trip report (May 2013) which includes our visit to those islands (as well as Verona and Padova):

Go to day 3 of:

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...rip-report.cfm

ssander

I third Burano. You'll enjoy your visit to that colorful island.

So you're in Venice for a week? Visit Burano only on a sunny day - otherwise the houses' colours don't look as vibrant.

I would do just one day trip out - Verona, Padua or Vicenza are all good choices. Trieste is another very neglected destination and a favourite spot of James Joyce. A bit of a hike for a day trip but if it piques your interest, why not.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/01/tr...taly.html?_r=0

Thanks for the comments. I'm getting excited about Burano now. Don't know if we have enough time for Torcello but would certainly consider.
The trip report is very interesting and helpful.

Regarding San Marco: during the day it will almost undoubtedly be crowded with visitors and when you get there you will fully understand why.

IMO what you should do, if at all possible, is return around dusk when many of the visitors have left. It can become quite magical.

if you get to Burano, Torcello is easy to visit and definitely worth the trip [or vale la pena as the italians say]

you just get the ferry that takes you across to Torcello [it takes a max of 10 mins and runs every 30 mins from the brand new dock on Burano, right next to the place where you will alight from the Vap from Venice] and walk down the side of the canal to the "centre" where you will find the 1000+ old Cathedral with its wonderful mosaics. The tower and the museum are also worth the very small price of admission.

coming back there are several restaurants along the way - we had lunch at the trattoria Attila and enjoyed it a lot especially as it was a cold day and they had a roaring fire going.

To answer your question about whether it is worth getting a vaporetto pass, my answer is YES! Not trying in any way able to rival Peter, if you click on my screen name you will find a TR from the week that we spent in Venice a few years ago. Some of the info may be slightly out of date, but the point of sending you there is to show how using the pass can enhance your trip, as it enables you to explore some of the further reaches of Venice without worrying about the cost of getting back which at €7 or so a pop is not inconsiderable. Also, one day we just hopped on and off the vaporetti about 6 times which would have been impossible without the pass.

As for day trips, the great thing is that you don't need to plan in advance - you can decide when you are there, except perhaps if you want to go to Padova to see the Scrovegni chapel in which case pre-booking might be a good idea, though I see that at present, there are tickets for every day during the 2 month booking period:

http://cappelladegliscrovegni.vivati.../?Language=ENG

I agree that some of the best times in Venice are in the evening, but the early morning can be great too, when the work boats bring goods into the shops and markets and take all the rubbish away, giving you a different aspect on this wonderful city.

and one more thing, you can book a "slot" [about 10 mins] to see the interior of the Basilica di San Marco on line €2 pp :

http://www.basilicasanmarco.it/infor...zioni/?lang=en

you need to get there slightly earlier than the time specified in order to deposit any large bags [ladies' handbags are fine, backpacks not] before entry is allowed. The details are on the ticket you get once you have booked.

For me, a visit to the ancient mosaics in the church at Torcello surpasses a visit to any of the other islands. I've been to them several times and this is the one I want to return to.

Of course, this is purely personal.

Another vote for Torcello and a night time visit to San Marco square.
Go after dinner, bring lots of money, have a drink under the stars while listening to the dueling bands.

Ditto on the tranport passes...the vaporetti are expensive, if you pay by the ride.

My only regret is that the pass does not cover the traghetti, which used to cost 2€ in 2004 when we were there.

ssander

<vaporetti are expensive, if you pay by the ride.>

Really? What is the cost for a single ride?

(I don't recall it being so expensive.)