kaly

We (family of four with 20 and 17 year old) have six weeks in Italy this Christmas. We are doing 2 weeks in Rome and were thinking of 2 weeks in Venice over Christmas - with travelling in between. Does anyone think 2 weeks in Venice is too long?

jules4je7

I think 2 weeks would be a very long time to spend there...I'd had enough of it after a couple of days, namely because of its expensive everything (lodging, food, shopping, wine on San Marco). But then, I was taken with it for about 24 hours, then I was ready to leave the cold, smelly (yet beautiful) city.

I know there are Venice lovers here who would be willing to retire there, but in all reality, I think 4 or 5 days there would be plenty.

Jules

BATUFFOLINA

Both 2 weeks in Rome and 2 weeks in Venice is too long. Venice is one of the most expensive cities in Italy so that would bring your budget sky rocketing. As an alternative I would stay in Mestre which can be cheaper.

CU

I came back from Venice a few weeks ago and I found 4 days enough. I went to Bergamo and Milan. Rail transport is good and not expensive I found travelling around Northern Italy very inexpensive.

suze

While I'm in the "loves Venice" camp and have visited twice myself, with 6 weeks in Italy I'd think 1 in Venice would suffice. As others have mentioned at least partly because of the expense.

tuscanlifeedit

Are you adverse to moving three or four times or more? If it were me, and I had six weeks,

I might spend a week in Rome,

a week in southern Tuscany (Pienza, Montalcino and more, discussed here often),

a week in Umbria,

a week in Florence,

maybe one week split between Bologna and Verona,

and a week in Venice.

Or, if you really don't want to move, and have a reason for two weeks in Rome:

2 weeks in Rome

2 weeks in Tuscany outside of a city

1 week somewhere else (Florence?)

1 week in Venice

sandi_travelnut

I found Venice slightly dead this past Christmas. Also, the weather was cold and rainy with daily acqua-altas. I found four days to be plenty.

RufusTFirefly

I think 2 weeks in any one city anywhere would be too long for a vacation--especially in cooler climes in the winter or hotter climes in the summer. But it depends on your personality and what recharges your batteries.

BATUFFOLINA

Ok, this is my 2-cent-opinion:
If I had 6 weeks to spend in Italy I would divide them as follows: 1 week in Rome, 1 week on the Amalfi Coast, 1 week in Tuscany, 1 week in Venice area (not necessarily Venice island, but rather Mestre so that from there I could go visit Verona, Padua and Trieste), 10 days between Lake Como and Lake Maggiore(just to relax, stay on the beautiful lakes, go to Switzerland and Milan) and the few remaining days in Liguria, visiting Cinque Terre, Genova, and why not take a train on the French Riviera.
In this way I would see lots of beautiful places whitout being always on the run (because I would spend almost always a week in each place and from there do day trips to the surrounding areas). Again, this is what I would do.

LoveItaly

Hello Buttufolinna, in that kaly and family are going to be in Italy for 6 weeks over winter (Christmas and all) would you really suggest that they stay in the lake area? And I honestly don't understand your suggestion that they stay in Mestre versus Venice proper. Mestre is on the mainland, a semi-industrial suburb of Venice. From the Santa Lucia train station in Venice one can go to visit Padova, Bologna, Verona etc. just as easy. Other places in Veneto also. I would prefer to skip Venice if I had to stay in Mestre if Venice was a budget concern.

I do agree that two weeks in Venice would probably be too long. I would enjoy two weeks in Rome however.
We do not know if kaly and her family has been in Italy before. That would make a difference in their trip plans I would think.

Florence/the countryside of Florence, Milan, Naples are some thoughts also. Also the region of Veneto would be something to look into. There are a lot of possibilities. It will be winter of course so one must expect rain, electrical storms, cold weather, fog (in northern Italy especially). Personally I would not chose to stay along any of the coasts in winter.

Anyway kaly, you and your family will have a beautiful six weeks I am sure. Best wishes to you. If you haven't, get a good map of Italy (with the Italian version of the names of the various cities/towns etc. versus the English version). Take some time to look at the map, check out some websites and enjoy planning your trip. There isn't a lot of time before you leave so I would get started on this as soon as possible. Best wishes to you and your family.

RufusTFirefly

Mestre? An industrial dumping ground of a city--where many of the more unscrupulous group tours store their poor victims to save money. You can just as easily make daytrips from historic Venice as you can from Mestre.

eurovoyages

Well, I hope I don't sound pollyanish, but I was in Venice in February of 2004 for carneval season, and I absolutely loved it. Of all the cities I have visited so far, London, Rome, Florence, and Paris twice, Venice is my favorite.
To me, it's not too big and not too small, and is easy get around. Taking boat trips to go to the various sightseeing places was wonderfully different from other cities, and the food was delicious. If I can find a reasonable price again for airfare and hotel accommodations, I would go again in a heartbeat. Would I spend two weeks in Venice? Absolutely! And I say that even though a big winter storm hit all of northern Italy when I was there. But people just got out and carried on as usual. If you get the Fodor's travel books, I think it's the series that shows the top 20 sights in various cities, you could easily have plenty to do in two weeks. Most people have the impression that Venice only has a few places worth seeing, but that really is not the case. When I go to Europe, I always try to spend at least two weeks in a city to try to become really familiar with it, then I can decide whether or not I want to return. Buona fortuna e` buon viaggio!

elaine

Stay in Mestre while visiting Venice? One might as well go to New York and stay in Bayonne, NJ.
I'm sure Bayonne has its charms, but if the destination is New York, it's not the same experience to stay in a scruffy town a train ride away, however brief the train ride.

Two weeks in Venice would not be too long for me, I'd enjoy the experience of settling in, but I have to admit it might not work as well for a famly that includes young people. Venice isn't big on nightlife.

Have you considered heading south to Sicily, or, to Dubrovnik from Venice?

StCirq

Two weeks in Venice would be too much for me, too, but two weeks in the Veneto would NOT! If I were planning this, I'd rent a nice little villa somewhere near Vicenza or Padua and roam the Veneto for two weeks, making several day trips into Venice by train. We did this several years ago and found that 4-5 trips into Venice was just great, coupled with a lot of exploration of the wonderful cities and towns of the Veneto.

julia_t

6 weeks in Italy - how wonderful for you!

I spent 3 days in Venice one Easter - nowhere near long enough. I went back a year or so later with my young teens, rented an apartment for 6 days. Because one was unfortunately in a wheelchair/on crutches/in pain, life was made very difficult for us all and again the 6 days wasn't enough because we couldn't venture very far to really explore the city - so many steps!.

However with able-bodied people, I think you would see most things in a week. Although I could easily spend two weeks on my own in Venice and not be bored, it wouldn't suit the rest of the family.

But if I was going to be in north Italy at that time of year, I'd make sure we spent a week somewhere in the Italian Alps - skiing/snowboarding/tobogganing, and apres ski!. I just wish we could be going this winter....

But have a great trip.

chocobon

I agree with tuscanlifeedit! Venice is MY heaven but there is SOOOOO much to experience in ALL of Italy that maybe more than a week is too long in heaven!!!

maryk

we spent a month (all of december) in Venice last year - and it was wonderful. Our 19 year old was there for 2 weeks and he found plenty to do. A longer stay means that you can take your time - and absorb more - visiting all of the wonderful museums, churches, gallerys etc. It also allows time to just sit back, soak it all up and have a REST, and after all that's what a holiday is all about!

Fabio

with 6 weeks you can have a much deeper taste of Italy, so do not miss this wonderful chance to discover it from north to south !! I also think that 2 weeks in Venice is a bit too long. I would stay 4 days in Venice and the rest 10 days in Sicily !!Southern Italy is a bit more rural than the rest and people are really warm and friendly ! It is fantastic !

Voyager2006

You are spending two weeks in Rome, two weeks in Venice, and leaving the entire remainder of Italy or whatever parts of it that interest you for just two more weeks?

I love Rome and Venice but I think two weeks in Venice is a little more than you really need to say you've "done it" but everyone is different..and you DID ask!

kaly

Thank you everyone for your comments. It seems that many of you think two weeks in Venice is too long. I suppose we were thinking that we would rather get to know a place reasonably well, rather than 'sprint' past a number of cities. Perhaps we will take up your suggestions of time in Sicily, then some time in Florence, then Venice for a week, then a few days skiing... any suggestions? (For two snowboarders, two beginner skiiers).