Venice-End of September
 

My husband and I are traveling to Florence to visit our daughter studying there forthe semester. Our planned itinerary is 2 nights in London, 3 nights in Venice, 4 nights in Florence. Are we shortchanging ourselves by choosing to stay in Venice 3 nights vs 2 nights in Venice and 5 nights in Florence. Peole that I have been speaking to have sid 1 or 2 nights in Venice is enough. Thanks for the advice in advance , also what is on your"must see" list for Venice?

People you have been speaking to are obviously quite ignorant of what there is to see and do in Venice. You can't see all the major sights in Venice in even 3 full days. You need to hang out with more knowledgeable people.

Geez, Rufus.

mbohn99: I'd suggest you do some research in guidebooks and decide whether Venice or Florence offers more of what you are interested in. Venice is more of an "experience" (amazing and unique). Florence has more art and, in my opinion, better food. You'll probably wish you had more time in both places no matter how you divvy it up.

Thanks Jean. YOUR answer helped. While we are interested in art,it is not our entire focus. I think we will keep to our itinerary as planned. What were your favorite places in Venice outside the usual "top 25" in the guides. We love to visit out of the way neighborhoods and talk to people.
Thanks again for your kind response.

I've been to Venice three times -- the last time for five nights. I still feel there is much to do and see, and I look forward to returning. How people can "see" Venice in a day or two is beyond my comprehension.

On a more practical note, it looks like you might be flying into Venice from London. That alone justifies 3 nights, since you will appreciate having the time to collect yourself from the flight, and to allow for any delays, etc.

Venice herself is the 'must see.' It will be very easy to spend one of your two full days (or more) just wandering around the back streets and cruising on the vaporetto (the public boat system). The sights of St. Mark's square (including the Basilica and Doges Palace) can easily consume another day.

Who's to say, you might not care for Venice. But it is hard to give any major centre a fair shake in only 1 or 2 nights. Enjoy Italy.

Jean--what's with the "Geez, Rufus"? If mbohn is listening to folks who say 1 or 2 nights in Venice is enough, then mbohn really does need to find other people to hang around with. They are not good sources for travel information. It's a good move on her part coming to Fodors to ask.

Things to see and do:

Academy Gallery (Galleria dell'Accademia)
Ca' Rezzonico
Ca' d'Oro
Correr Civic Museum
Naval History Museum
Peggy Guggenheim Collection
P. San Marco
Basilica San Marco
Campanile di San Marco
Clock Tower (Torre dell'Orologio)
Palace of the Doges
Murano (If interested in glass blowing)
Burano
Torcello
Basilica Santa Maria Assunta
The Ghetto
Madonna dell'Orto
San Giorgio Maggiore
San Giorgio degli Schiavoni
San Rocco
San Zaccaria
Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari
Santa Maria della Salute
Santi Giovanni e Paolo
Gondola yard
Gondola ride--on back canals, not the Grand Canal.
San Michele
San Francesco del Deserto
Rialto Bridge and market
Vaporetto ride around the city late at night or early in the morning.
Wandering the meandering streets and making your own discoveries.

Thank you. I appreciate your detailed response, I'm sure it will be helpful.

HI! Good luck to your daughter . . . i also studied here and have been here for more than 4 years now! check out where to eat in venice in "neighborhoods to wander, rome, etc." i just posted it. there's another great restaurant near the Rialto, "al grapa de ua" (bunch of grapes in venetian dialect). be sure to try the meringue cake for dessert . . . it shouldn't be missed. i don't have the address but it is right of the rialto, phone number 041.520.0150.

do you have plans in florence? there is a group of american girls that offer accompanied tours to many of the outlets in tuscany and around milan. great day to spend a day with your daughter shopping! and send the hubby to play golf (they can arrange that, too!) the email is [email protected].

if you need any other info or help, please let me know! laura

Thanks Laura! I am very excited about our first trip to Italy. My daughter is spending 3 weeks in Via Reggio (sp) now in an intensive language class then a semester studying art history in Florence. So far she is having a fabulous experience. I will check out the "shoptoyou drop" website!

The only way you might be shortchanging yourselves is by missing more time in Florence with your daughter :S- (if she is not joining you on your travels).

Venice seems to be one of those places you either love or "don't get it" from reading posts here. Most Fodorites are Venice lovers (me included). I spent 5-6 days there and felt I hadn't scratched the surface. You can't really see the all top things AND roam around so we did a little of each. I enjoyed the "roaming." You come across something on your own and think you've "discovered" it (despite the fact that hundreds of thousands of others have done the same).

Since I'm a shopper, I enjoyed "discovering" some unusual shops. I cam across Bevilacqua that is a famous fabric co. In addition to the quite expensive fabric, they also had some pillows and other items. I got a beautiful velvet sachet bag (almost looks like an evening bag) that also reminds me of Venezia.

You might enjoy reading the book "A Thousand Days in Venice" by Maria de Blasi. She's an American who meets and marries a Venetian. I read it on my return and wished I'd read it before the trip. It mentions a number of places to eat and drink and also gives an interesting view of the Venetians.

There are also a number of threads here on other books and movies to read/watch.

Great suggestions, Thanks!