What are your top 3 must do/must see things in Venice? Hidden gems and touristy favourites - I'd love to hear them all. <BR>THanks a lot.

Hi Luda,<BR><BR>1) Sit at an outdoor table at a restaurant in San Marco Piazza with a bottle of wine before dinner, and listen to the musicians and people watch. <BR><BR>2) Gondola ride (I know, it's cheesy and expensive, but it was so much fun!).<BR><BR>3) Walk along the many little streets and explore - allow yourself to get lost!<BR><BR>I loved Venice, hope you have a great trip!<BR><BR>Karen

For me, the top 3 must dos aren't necessarily the same as the hidden gems.<BR>If time is short and it's a first visit, might have to forego the hidden gems until the next time.<BR><BR>The must sees are mostly in any good guidebook, Fodor's is one. There are also many great websites on Venice with lots of info. I have a file on Venice; if you'd like to see it, email me.<BR><BR>Here's my gem, which I've mentioned here before<BR>In tiny Corte dei Risi o del Bovolo, San Marco section, between Campo Manin and Calle dei Fuseri, is the Scala Contarini del Bovolo, an outdoor Gothic spiral staircase 6 stories high. &quot;Bovolo&quot; means &quot;snail.&quot; As my guidebook put it, this is what Venetian architects were accomplishing around the time America was being discovered. It was built in the 1490s. To find this little-known and beautiful structure, follow the signs from Calle Della Vida. I believe it is closed to climbers from November through March, but you can just gaze at it other times.<BR><BR>

1. Wear your waders or boots or roll up your pants.<BR>2. Walk carefully on the board walks.<BR>3. Do the backstroke.

Luda,<BR><BR>Three things that come to mind when I remember Venice.<BR><BR>Touring the Frari church. As impressive (and uncrowded) an Artistic Encounter as you'll have anywhere.<BR><BR>Catching the late night vaporetto and sitting in the rear, all the way from the train station out to the Lido and back.<BR><BR>Kicking back in the hotel room and discovering the joys of Brut Prosecco.

I also would take the vaporetto trip - all the way up the grand canal to the station. Much cheaper than a gondola and if you pick the time of day well there won't be too many other people on it. Make sure you walk back from there as you go through so many different areas of Venice.<BR><BR>Glass of wine at Florian's and watch the world go by.<BR><BR>Sit in one of the piazza's (San Zaccharia) for example with the locals on a Saturday morning away from the madding crowds.<BR><BR>

I second the Frari and two more art stops: the Scuola Grande di San Rocco for Tintoretto (right behind the Frari) and the Scuola di San Giorgio degli Schiavoni for Carpaccio at his best.

It might not be in the &quot;top 3&quot; but it would be up near the top for me: a trip to the &quot;glass island&quot; of murano and the &quot;lace island&quot; of burano. we especially enjoyed burano, where all the little houses are painted a different bright color. After 2 days of rain in Venice, we arrived at this colorful island and the sun chose that moment to come out from behind the clouds...a wonderful memory. Both islands are easy/inexpensive to get to by vaporetto.

Thank you all - I'm very greatful.<BR><BR>And Schwimmer - you're crazy - I always prefer front crawl in a crowded street. SNorkel is already packed.