uluvbs

Are two (full) days enough time to see most of Venice? We'll be staying right at St. Mark's. We don't like to spend "too long" in a given city, but we want to allow enough time to see the top 5 or so sights and walk around and shop. Thanks.

Eloise

Do you want to see "most of Venice" or do you want to see "the top 5 or so sights"? If the latter, two days are enough.

Just don't think that you will experience what Venice has to offer...

Maria_H

On our recent trip to Venice we had three nights, which gave us two and a half days for sightseeing. This gave us time to see the main sights (Basilica, campanile, Doge's palace, Rialto and Grand Canal on a vaporetto)and wander about the various areas of Venice. It was enough for us, as we hardly stopped walking for one of the days, getting lost round the various back streets and popping in the odd museum or church that took our fancy. It gave us a taste of the place and left us wanting to go back another time to see the bits that we missed.

RufusTFirefly

Possible missed bits:

Piazza San Marco, Basilica San Marco, Campanile, Palace of the Doges, Grand Canal on a vaporetto, Lagoon islands: (Murano, Burano, Torcello), San Michelle, Gondola yard. The Arsenal and the Naval Museum, Corrier Museum, Accademia art museum, Peggy Guggenheim Gallery, numerous art shows and exhibits that are always running, The Ghetto. Another dozen or so specialty museums.

Too many churches to list with interesting art and architecture, but...Basilica Santa Mariadella Salute, Basilica dei Frari, Santa Maria dei Miracoli, San Sebastiano, San Pietro di Castello, Santo Giovanni E Paolo, Madonna dell'Orto. Venice's churches have some of Italy's greatest works of art--many free to view by the likes of Tintoretto, Veronese, Titian, Bellini, Vivarini, and Carpaccio.

Scuola Grande di San Rocco, Scuola San Giorgio degli Schiavoni, Scuola San Nicolo, Scuola Grande Dei Carmini, Scuole Grande of San Rocco.

Campo Santa Maria Formosa, Ca’ Rezzonico museum, Querini-Stampalia palace/museum, San Giovanni Evangelista, Ponte di Rialto, Rialto market, Ca’ d’Oro, Ca' Pesaro museum, Correr museum, gondola tour of smaller, hidden canals. Opera and concerts at La Fenice. Walking away from the daytripping herds and discovering a quiet, secret city that most tourists have no clue exists.

And don't forget the Lido of Venice in the summer.

travelphile

RufusTFirefly - If you didn't want to 'go to the beach' per say, would you still recommend the Lido? What would you do there?

I'm just curious. Didn't hit any of the Islands my first 3 days in Venice, and will have either 3, 4 or 7 days there this September (don't ask!). Trying to 'prioritize' my Venezia wish list, but not making any decisions yet.

travelphile

And it wasn't nice for me to steal uluvbs thread.. I would say you certianly could use 3. In my three days there in 2002 we were so intrigued that the day we bought a Vaporetto pass to see the islands, we still never made it... we found a reason to get off each stop on the mainland. I can't say I even saw all the 'top' sights, but I had a splendid time.

One site I did hit, was Ca 'd Oro (house of gold). It was in our neighborhood, its a museum/art gallery. Can't say it absoltely wowed me, but we didn't dislike it either. -Trav

Sue_xx_yy

Where else are you going? The answer could be partially dependent on how many art galleries, churches, etc., that you will have already visited by the time you reach Venice. Depending on your interest in art, etc., you might be satiated with it by the time of your visit. If that's the case, 2 days will give you enough time to wander the city and visit the sites of St. Mark's Square. Of course, opinions will vary as to whether that could be considered 'most of Venice'. But if time is tight, it's a good start.

pg

IMHO, 2 days are enough, especially if you would have covered other towns which have an abundance of art and sculpture.
Like any other town, Venice too has several places to visit as listed by another poster. You can easily cover more than your Top 5.It is a small island town, and walking 20 minutes is all you need to walk in any direction in the town before you hit the sea .

elaine

The Doge's Palace can by itself easily take a whole morning or after noon, 3 hours minimally. There is often a very long line to get into the Basilica.
The Accademia museum is good for a morning or afternoon, ditto the Peggy Guggenheim Collection.
What ARE your top 5 sights?

Rufus gives you an excelent idea of the sightseeing and enjoyment that Venice has to offer, and running around Venice for two days just to do the top 5, imo, misses the point of Venice. It has some important churches and fine art collections, but it is much more than the usual greatest hits of sightseeing.

I would recommend a minimum of 3 days, 4 would be better, and I wouldn't think that 'too long', but that's me.

eroz

3. we are active travellers and had 2 full days with 2 night there. would have added a 3rd night in hindsight!

welltraveledbrit

I was in Venice for 4 nights in Jan 04 and I'm heading back for another 4 nights over Easter...I'm sure that after this visit I've seen only a fraction of the possible sites.

However, that having been said 2 nights will give you a flavor of the place, a couple of meals, the big sites etc. For me however the joy of Venice is the time walking away from the busy areas, the time spent far from San Marco...for this you may need more time.

RufusTFirefly

travelphile--yes, for the beach in summer. Only for some relaxation one afternoon IF the total stay in Venice is at least 5 days. It is a beach resort and beach life is its major attraction.

RufusTFirefly

I should add that we aren't beach people, though we have spent some time on the Lido for varioius reasons over the years.