Leaving for Venice next week - have only 3 days then off to Florence for a day with a flight off to Paris. Have a 17 yr old daughter and would like this to be an easy, fun filled trip for her, rather than it feeling like a school field trip. Just being there will give her wonderful memories, but looking for a quaint local feel at neighborhood restaurants; should we go to any of the islands or jaunt off to Padua? If everyone could give me their 3 favorite places when they think of Venice - I'd have a great compilation of suggestions. Thanks for your time on this.

With three days, stay in Venice, but perhaps go to Burano and Torcello on a good weather day if you want a different feel/experience.

The BEST part about Venice is to just get lost. Take a street and just wander. And shop. They have beautiful things.

With three days, don't go to Padova. Torcello and Burano are spectacular if the weather is nice.

1. Walk around Dorsoduro (Cadogan has great guide to Venice); see the Carpaccio paintings on the top of the Accademia. Stroll along the Zattere, Campo Santa Margherita, other small streets.

2. early Sunday mass at San Marco (you can avoid the crowds and mosaics are lit)

3. Number 1 vaporetto up and down Grand Canal on a sunny day.


Take your daughter shopping at ProMod--inexpensive, but very good design chain frequented by young people (but you can find things if you are also older)

Thanks one and all for the info - I love how you all give such helpful info to this Happy Wanderer! Good travels to all of you!

You might find this fun - have your daughter show Venice to you.

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...-teenagers.cfm

Your daughter may be a tad too old for the “Venice for Teenagers” thing, but some suggestions:
Have your daughter buy you breakfast at a bar, even if your hotel does breakfast. A coffee and croissant will cost you about 3.00 Euro, which is a pretty standard breakfast for Italians. The routine is that you order coffee – due cappucini, per favour, and then help yourself to to a croissant from the counter. Now we are back in Melbourne, we really miss those breakfasts. The croissants at the American Bar in Piazza san Marco are especially bad – avoid them.

Go to Campo Margerita in the evening, and have a drink - a spritz – which will cost about 2.00 Euro. It’s the standard evening – or any other time – drink for Venetians. Campo Margerita is full of students, as it’s close to the Uni campus. It’s generally pretty lively. The Arancia bar (orange décor) is fun.
If you have time, buy a copy of “Venice is a fish” by Tiziano Scarpa. It’s a quick read – say 3 hours, and it’s a great intro to Venice.



No doubt you’ll visit some of the big attractions – Doge’s Palace, etc, but we found that it was the small things in Venice that fascinated us. Click on Peter_S_Aus for a boring trip report, which lists my favourite fifty places in Venice.
The trip to Burano is a good suggestion, and is quite a contrast to Venice. We found Murano not all that enjoyable. With only three days, I’d not take a train trip to anywhere.

You’ll both love Venice.

From my trip report:
Food and hints for travellers.
I’ve not attempted to do a trip report, rather a written ramble around my head, while my head is in Venice. However, some recommendations.
In Rome, have a meal at Le Tamerici, which is near the Trevi Fountain. Vicolo Scavolino 79, uphill from the Trevi, take via del Lavatore, and first left. Think 120 Euro for two, and we ate there twice in three days. They have a web site, www.letamerici.com. Best food we have eaten in all Italy, ever, and was one of the reasons we went to Rome this time. We were served by one Kate, who hails from the Hunter Valley in Aus, a girl of good humour. (“Would you recommend the pork or the duck?” “Don’t ask me, I’m a vegetarian.”)
In Rome, the bar called “The Glass”, Via Carlo Battisti, left side as you go downhill. It looks very cool and expensive – but it’s not.
La Bitta in Calle Lunga San Barnaba, Dorsoduro, is a good place to eat – they don’t do fish. On the left as you walk west from Campo San Barnaba.
The bar, Ai Artisti in Campo San Barnaba, is fun, and the staff get to know you quickly.
Fabio Bressanello, Calle Lunga San Barnaba, Dorsoduro 2751 sells photos, which is a complete understatement. He’s brilliant, some of the most evocative images of Venice and the lagoon that I’ve ever seen. Limited edition photos, printed on good paper, four colour offset for the technically minded, registration of the print is perfect. Pleasant guy, we talked for half an hour about photography, printing, selling stuff. Www.bressanelloartstudio.com is worth a look.
The shop just west of him sells linen, and the woman who runs it is most charming.
Glass – try L’Isola, Salizada San Moise, San Marco 1468 (Salizada San Moise runs west of the Piazza.) This is the showroom for glass by Carlo Moretti, and not cheap. However, you can buy work there that you won’t see anywhere else, except in the Metropolitan Museum of Modern Art in NY, and the designs are spectacular. Expect to shell out 70 Euro for a glass that you’ll use and treasure forever. Www.lisola.com. He does mail order, for when you smash the treasured glass and can’t live without it.
Paper – try Legatoria Polliero, Campo dei Frari, San Polo 2995.
Nice green grocer with good smile – Fondamenta San Basillio, Dorsoduro, near the church of San Sabastiano. He’s fun, even if you just buy an apple and munch it in the sun on the Zattere.

I agree stay in venice I was there last Octobr for 4 days with my husband and 27 year old son.
We didn't visit any of the other islands, we stayed in Venice the whole time and there is so much to see, we loved getting lost and finding the most amazing sights and churches etc.
Oh and by the way we always had the best cappuccino and croissant at Bar Al Campnile in calle S. Basso right on a corner.

Enjoy your trip.

Thank you all again for the wonderful suggestions. I find myself adding to my itinerary every day w/the many wonderful tidbits from all of you. So far, out trip has been so amazing. Did a quick lunch in Padova (Padua) and saw the Prato della Valle - lovely park surrounded by statues, fountain and a wonderful atmosphere. Today is Venice - so excited! Thanks again for your suggestions!

Hey Peter, your report was anything but boring. It was a great read. I second your suggestion for a visit to Burano, we loved it. We bought a 24 hour Vaporetto pass and took advantage of it to go Burano. Travel is expensive in Venice, so after that we walked. We did use the Traghetto which we enjoyed - it takes you across the Grand Canal rather than along it. .50 euros each and in theory you stand for the very short trip, but as tourists I think they prefer you to sit rather than loose your balance and end up in the Canal. Good fun and inexpensive.