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>