Venice-Most Impressive Approach
 

I will be taking my mother and sister to Italy in October. It will be their first time in Italy and we will arrive in Venice by plane. What would be the best, most impressive approach to Venice. I remember my first time in Venice, coming out of the train station and seeing the "Floating City" in front of me! Our hotel is near San Marco, nearest the San Zaccaria stop. Should we take the Alilaguna to San Marco, or a bus to the Piazzale and then go up the Grand Canal to San Marco/San Zaccaria? Would appreciate any advice to make this special!!

Michelle:<BR><BR>Venice was laid out over the centuries to impress guests (friendly and other ones) approaching from the lagoon, with St. Mark's square as entrance and the Canal Grande as "living room".<BR><BR>To re-create this approach, I would suggest you take the bus to Piazzale Roma and from there the Vaporetto line 82 running *away* from the Canal Grande. This way you will run through the Giudecca canal, stop at San Giorgio Maggiore, cross the lagoon riding past the Dogana del Mar, and head straight for the Piazzetta and St. Mark's square.<BR><BR>It may be some hassle with lots of luggage, but certainly the most "historic" approach to Venice.<BR><BR>Enjoy your trip.<BR><BR>Phil

Dear Phil:<BR><BR>Thank you for your reply!!! Question: if we take the #82, should we get off at San Marco or San Zaccaria??? Our hotel is very near the San Zaccaria stop. We are travelling light--I am only allowing 22" suitcases!!! If we get off at San Marco, is it very far to walk??? <BR><BR>Michelle

Michelle:<BR><BR>The #82 vaporetto has its Terminal at San Zaccaria, so you will be safe in this respect; it's the first stop after San Giorgio Maggiore.<BR><BR>The Venice local transport authority's website, incidentally, is at http://www.actv.it/.<BR><BR>Hope this helps.<BR><BR>Phil.

It will be more expensive, of course, but far more convenient and incomparably romantic, to just get into a water taxi right from the airport and then cruise across the lagoon to whatever landing is closest to your hotel. (And that doesn't have to be a vaporetto stop. It might be right outside, depending on the hotel.)

If you would like some good and cheap accommodation in Venice, please send me an email. Have a nice day !<BR><BR>

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It is hard to beat going from the airport on the Alilaguna to San Marco. It is a beautiful boat ride.

PS The San Zaccaria stop is very close to San Marco, the next vaparetto stop up. It is no more than a very pretty five minute walk from San Marco.

Thank you everyone for the recommendations!!! I want this to be an unforgettable trip for my mom and sister!!<BR><BR>Michelle

I agree with those that say that the Alilaguna waterbus into San Marco is an impressive and economical way to get into Venice. The only drawback is that it is slow (takes 1 1/2 hr) because it stops at Murano, Lido, and Arsenale before getting to San Marco. The other thing I don't like is that you sit down inside the boat usually with a lot of other passengers, and can only see thru usually not very clear windows. If you can afford it, a water taxi will be a quicker and much more impressive way to get into Venice. Both times I've been to Venice I've seen these water taxis fly by my slow moving water bus. If I'm ever lucky enough to take my family to Venice I would splurge for the taxi just to see their expressions as they see Venice for the first time, priceless.<BR>

Dear Bill:<BR><BR>Thank you for your reply. When you say "splurge", how much are you talking about? If it helps, my mother is 80 years old (but in pretty good shape), and I'm also trying to make this trip as painless as possible.<BR><BR>Michelle

I would agree with Bill - the Ailaguna boat isn't exactly the scenic best - "splurge" would run about $60-80 (check prices at the kiosk inside the air terminal) for a water taxi that will let you ride in the open or in style in the cabin: you can probably find someone else at the airport to share the ride and the cost. <BR><BR>It's a little hard to manage luggage, etc. on the vaporetto (sometimes even not allowed at busy periods), and I'd really suggest going for the "motoscafo." Ordinarily, you'll come past Murano and the cemetery island, around west to Piazza San Marco

Nothing beats sailing into Venice on a cruise ship for a gorgeous and romantic view of the city. <BR><BR>The best way to arrive.

Michelle,<BR>Considering your mom is 80 I would recommend the motoscafi. Think of it as a small price to pay for a once in a lifetime experience for you and your family.<BR><BR>Also, since your hotel is near to San Zaccaria which comes before San Marco. I would still ask to be dropped off at San Marco to see the magnificent center of Venice as your first experience and then you can walk over to your hotel.<BR><BR>

Dear Bill, Phil and all:<BR><BR>Thank you for the great advice!!! Is the motoscafi the water taxi??? I really appreciate all the input!!<BR><BR>Thank you,<BR>Michelle

Hi Michelle,<BR>Yes, the motoscafi is the water taxi, they leave from the airport at a dock right next to where the Alilaguna water bus departs. If you are interested in my notes and photos about Venice feel free to visit my travel website at: www.gatortravels.com<BR><BR>Have a great time in Venice, it's a magical place.<BR>

Michelle,<BR>None of the Venice taxi companies I found on the Web give the price of the ride from the airport but I think Jon's $60-$80 estimate is probably a good one since the Alilaguna fare from the airport into Venice is $10 per person.<BR>

Michelle,<BR>I found an estimate of $60 for the taxi ride into Venice (confirming Jon's answer) at: http://italianguide.com/veniceairport.htm.<BR><BR>

Michelle: As the taxi might be a bit too fast (read: bumpy) for a woman your mother's age, I would strongly suggest just taking the Aliguna waterbus to arrive at San Marco. Actually, I think it arrives at the San Zaccharia stop. (Sorry; too lazy to pull out the timetable)

Actually the water taxi ride into Venice is quite smooth since you are in a lagoon an not the open sea.

Dear Bill & everyone:<BR><BR>Thank you for the input, now I just have to make the BIG decision. All the approaches have there own pluses.<BR><BR>Bill - I went to your web site, but couldn't find Venice?? I keep getting an under construction notice. Am I missing something??<BR><BR>Michelle

Just got back from Venice last week. The Ailiguna was a great first impression of Venice, and very cheap ($10). When you arrive at the airport, you will arrive at the "new" airport, and have to take the shuttle to the "old" airport (free). The ailiguna stops at Murano (the glass blowing island) and Lido (where they just finished the Venice film festival). It stops at San Marco, one stop away from San Zaccharia.

Michelle,<BR>You should be able to click on the "Travelogues" blue button on the left hand side menu. This should bring up a Travelogue menu on the main page, this menu has two selections one for my 1998 trip and a second for my 1999 trip. I've yet to add the travelogue for the 1998 trip (that is why you're getting "under construction" notices) but I have added the travelogue for the 1999 trip. So if you click on the flashing cities graphics icon by the 1999 trip you'll be taken to the currently completed travelogues. Venice was my first stop during my 1999 trip. Have fun !<BR>

Sailing in on a cruise ship, sitting about 80 feet above the water as you glide past San Giorgio Maggiore and then turn around and see the entrance to St. Marks and the Doges Palace and the campanile and then turn again and see Cippriani's glide by....now that's the way to come into Venice.

Good info on this post so if I may ask-How long does it take from Lido to Venice?- and what's the best approach? Thanks...

Don, <BR>It depends on where in Venice you are starting out from. Lido is the second stop of the aliguna from the airport, and is around 30-45 minutes. From San Marco it is probably around 45 minutes, depending on your route. We went from San Marco to Murano, had lunch at a terrific Osteria, and then took another vaporetto to Lido that took 15-20 minutes. Buy a pass for the day and you can just keep jumping from one vaparetto to the next.

Hi Michelle. On my first trip to Venice fifteen years ago, I arrived via train and, like you, remember -- vividly -- seeing the Grand Canal right in front of me. Quite an impressive and unforgettable sight. <BR><BR>However, on my second trip to Venice, this past spring, we flew to Venice, so we took the Alilaguna from the airport to San Marco and thoroughly enjoyed that approach; also very impressive. <BR><BR>As other people have noted, the Alilaguna is also a lot more economical than the water taxis (and, of course, much slower) but Bill brought up a good point when he said that a drawback is that you sit down quite low inside the enclosed front of the boat, and the small windows were not very clear so, even though you can stand (which we did) our view still wasn't as good as we'd hoped for. I don't know what the seating on, or viewing from, a water taxi would be but, hopefully, for the price, they would be better so, if you don't mind spending the extra money, that might be the way to go.<BR><BR>I hope your mother and sister fall in love with Venice. As you know, it's a beautiful, and incomparable, city. <BR>

Richard- Will definitely buy a pass. We are staying at Lido and I thought it took longer into Venice. Glad to hear it's only about 45 min. commute. Thanks!

As some of you may or may not know there's a magnificent commercial website dedicated to Venice travel maintained by a gentleman named Durant Imboden. If you are planning to visit Venice you should checkout his website at: <BR>http://www.europeforvisitors.com/venice/<BR><BR>BTW I have no affiliation or association with this website. I simply have it used it as a research resource for my travels to Europe and have found it very helpful and educational.<BR>

Michelle,<BR>We just returned from two weeks in Italy yesterday and were in Venice for 2 of those days. To avoid the throngs of day trippers from cruise ships and tour groups, you might want to plan your visits to the Piazza San Marco area for later in the day. From about 10 in the morning to around 3 p.m., that area just seemed mobbed. The crowd was heaviest on the streets between there and the Rialto bridge.<BR><BR>In terms of dining, we had a great meal at Trattoria La Columba in San Marco. We also had a great lunch in a small, ten table place in that area. Unfortunately, I forgot the name but in English it translates to the "Black Mushroom."<BR><BR>Can't help on the orginal question as we arrived by car and took a water Taxi from the parking garage.<BR><BR>Have a great trip.<BR><BR>

Thank you everyone for your great advice. Now I have to make the big decision!!! Each approach has it's own merits.<BR><BR>Ryan - I think Black Mushroom would be Funghi Neri??? or Fungo Nero!!<BR><BR>Any tips on what times to attempt the Palazzo Ducale or the Basilica???<BR><BR>Michelle

Michelle,<BR><BR>I have to disagree with Phil on your approach if you come from the train station. The 82 going "away" from the Grand Canal, passing through Giudecca and then on to the lagoon is nowhere near the magnificent ride if you go the other way. You will pass industrial areas, the cruise terminals (boring) and although the Guidecca Canal is lovely, nowhere near the beauty of a first trip down the Grand Canal.<BR><BR>We have also approached from the airport in a private water taxi. We felt it worth every single lira/euro and would do it again in a second. Even in the rain, it was something I will never forget. <BR><BR>Just my opinion.<BR>

Train - boring. Air - boring.<BR><BR>Only way too see and appreciate the city on the water is from the sea.<BR><BR>You can see the campanile from miles out as you slowly make your way into the lagoon. You sail past the entrance to the Grand Canal and have a magnificent view. Once you are docked you can take a water taxi or tender back past San Marco and come on shore just below the Danielli Hotel. Then you have to fight the hoards of tourists ( how dare they interupt my vacation ) from the trains and planes and hotels. Alas.....<BR><BR>Only one real way to come into Venice...by sea.

Most impressive approach....by sea.

What about arriving at night (11 pm or later)? Are water-taxis readily available at that time?

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st,<BR>Good question! The Alilaguna Aeroporto-Zattere (Linea Rossa) waterbus service has departures at 5:45AM, 6:45AM, and on the hour every hour from 8AM to midnight. As for the water taxi's I would assume that you should be able to get one at any time, although you will probably have to pay a premium for late night/ealy morning service. Only way to know for sure is to call the taxi companies listed in the following link and ask.<BR><BR>http://www.veniceby.com/transpor/trans4.htm<BR><BR>Good luck!<BR>