Venice Side Trips
 

My husband and I will be staying in Venice for a week in March. Would you recommend staying in Venice for the entire week or taking side trips for a day or two by train or car? Any suggestions would be appreciated. Also, any recommendations in Venice would be great!! We'll be staying at the Westin E&R.

The islands of Burano (with its multi-pastel coloured houses) and Murano (famous for its glass making) can be done together in a round trip one day, but also think about a train ride to Verona? Its about 90 minutes away by train and well worth a visit. You'll probably find that a couple of trips will break up the week nicely, with the remaining time more than adequate to see all the sights of Venice and more besides.<BR>Enjoy your trip.

Agree with Murano suggestion,also Burano but definetly take the vaporetto not a private boat despite the offers of free trips.I love the vaporettos,They are a wonderful way to see the sights and mingle with the locals, great for people watching.I would think about going to verona but would leave it as a possibility, as I am sure you will fall in love with Venice as I have.It would not be hard to plan a trip to verona once you are there,I have heard you can get train tickets at the american express.If you go I would take a train.The station is not that far from the center of town,walk or take a taxi.I feel that the best use of time is to relax and enjoy<BR>slow pace,only &quot;do&quot; verona if you really have too.The coliseum and &quot;castle&quot; was interesting and we had a fabulous lunch but no magic like Venice.RR

HI<BR>You're staying in a great hotel.<BR>I haven't been to Verona yet, keep meaning to get there but so far haven't been able to tear myself away from Venice.<BR><BR>Lagoon islands:<BR>As described above, Burano is very picturesque, center for lace-making, some of it is authentic and some of it isn't if you care about that. Murano is ok looking, not pretty especially imo though it does have a couple of notable churches with some art masterpieces. There is also a glass-making museum, and many many glass-souvenir shops (the souvenirs are glass, not the shops) and also famous<BR>glass factories with showrooms that sell retail. I've been to Murano twice because I collect Venetian glass, but unless you are buying substantial items from the factories,no need to go to Burano. You can find the same cute little glass souvenirs in shops all over Venice proper.<BR><BR>Torcello, a longer vaporetto ride away (more than an hour) is mostly deserted, fewer than 100 inhabitants. I love it, though in March I don't know if the two or three restaurants there will be open.<BR>There is a church and a neighborhing cathedral that date from the 7th century I believe, and the cathedral has breathtaking mosaics. But that's it. I love Torcello, but I've only been there on warm days when we were able to sit outside on restaurant terraces and look at the flowers.<BR><BR>From Venice you can also do tours, overnighters I think, to the Dolomite mountains. You can also take daytrips up the Brenta canal to Padua, stopping at Palladian villas along the way.<BR>Again, not sure about the schedule in March. Your hotel can find out for you.<BR><BR>I have a file on Venice; if you'd like to see it, email me at<BR>[email protected]<BR><BR>

oops, I meant above, that unless you are buying substantial items there is no need to go to MURANO