Venice pre-book tours or do it on our own
 

We will be in Venice in October 3-6 ..one day we will tour the Dolomites...but do we need to pre-book tours ..or is this something we can do on our own...the Doges Palace and St Marks Basilica?..and Murano...Burano?

Venice is actually small. Easy to walk around. Get a vaporetto pass so you can hop on or off the vaporetto(venice equivalent of bus). I don't think you need to take a tour.

All the things you mention that are in or near the city are easily done on your own unless you like hand-holding and steady commentary. I don't but you might. Otherwise I think on your own is infinitely more relaxing.

I've visited places out of town for the day also on my own like Verona and Padua which were just train out, walk around to sights, train back. For more complicated day trips a tour might be nice. No logistical effort getting from one location to another. The day in the Dolomites might qualify for that.

Murano and Burano are easy to get to on your own by vaporetto. I would get on-line admissions to St. Mark's and the Doges Palace in order to skip the line (especially for the Doges Secret itinerary tour, which I recommend).

It is absolutely essential that you acquire a decent map of Venice as soon as you set foot on dry land. Walking around, you will get lost. It is not a question of "if", just "when". The map will at least help you untangle the maze of passages and alleys that serve instead of streets, tangled around the twisting and bending Grand Canal. Nice place to get lost, though.

Hi MR,

You should keep in mind that you will be on an island. If you run into water, you have gone too far.

Look for signs pointing to the main sights - San Marco, Rialto,,,

Forget about tours.

Have you looked up Venice under "Destinations"?

((I))