In early October of this year we will be in Venice for three days. We are staying in Dorsoduro at Ca Maria Adele. We have an early arrival (9:30a.m.), but I'm thinking by the time we buy our vaporetto pass, sort out transport to hotel and get settled in, we may just want to explore Dorsoduro and then later head out to St. Marks to see the square in the evening.
Day 2 - we will visit inside the Basilica and take the Secret Itineraries tour of the Palazzo Ducale. Some questions here : I can't seem to reserve a time to see St. Marks at their website. The transaction never even gets to the payment part but just continues to "think" and then kicks me out. Also anyone taken this particular tour of the Doge's Palace? Is it worth the extra fee or is it better to just explore on your own? We're not big on tours, but this has some extra access, right?

Day 3 - Rialto area and vaporetto to at least Murano, Burano and possibly Torcello.
We'd also like to check out Ca Macana, a mask making workshop in Dorsoduro
Any thoughts? Are we doing too little? Anything we really shouldn't miss that isn't here. Ca D'oro? Thanks in advance for all suggestions. Also we'd love to try a cecchetti bar that isn't completely seafood. Thanks again.

You are skipping over the Peggy Guggenheim Collection, Ca Rezzonica, and the very important Frari Church.

You can have cicchetti and an aperol spritz at multiple bars near thee Rialto Market.

The most beautiful campo in Venice is Campo San Giacomo dell' Orio in my opinion.

Thin

Lots to see in Venice. Just waking down many small streets is wonderful.
We didn't see everything but there are a couple vista to Venice on my website -

http://www.rimerson.com/

Rob

In my opinion, the Doge's Palace Secret Itinerary tour is well worth doing. Also, I wouldn't miss Torcello. Enjoy this amazing city!

Thank you so much. Do you recommend using the vaporetto passes? It seems that if we got a 3 day pass after 7 trips it would pay for itself and it would be six separate trips just to do Murano, Burano, Torcello, right?

We will also be using the train to get to Florence on day 4. How early should we arrive at the train station. Remember we are new to this and there may be some confusion. : )

Allow at least a half hour at the train station. You'll have to find the right track (binario) and maybe even the right car. I'm assuming you will already have your tickets. If not allow an hour. Or, better, go a day or so early, buy your tickets, and check the place out.

We took the vaporetto to Murano, checked it out, then continued to Burano, and back, so 3 trips.

Hi cjar,

I always get a vaporetto pass in Venice as it's so easy to use the vaporetti once you've got one, and it's a fag and expensive buying separate tickets. THat said, you don't need separate tickets to see the three islands you've mentioned, as you can visit them all in one go, [which is 4 journeys as you hop from one to the other] but from memory the tickets for the boats that go there are more expensive then a normal ticket.

I agree that the Secret Itineraries tour is well worth doing - it lasts about 90 mins and then you have free access to the rest of the palace; and it's a good idea not to book anything for the first day.

I think that you may be selling the first day a little short - within walking distance of your hotel is not only Dorsoduro itself but the nearby Santa Croce district with the Frari church AND just next-door to it the Scuola grande di San Rocco which I would also recommend. that would bring you up towards the Rialto and the bars selling cicchetti which Thin talks about.

I had a look at the website for the Basilica, and I seem to be able to make a booking for October - here's the web-page:

http://www.venetoinside.com/en/saint...a_individuals/

hope this helps!

I can't remember if the vap passes are good for Murano and Burano. Something you should double-check.

I don't think you're doing too little on Day 3. In fact, a plan to visit the three islands sounds pretty ambitious and packed to me.

Do you have your tix to Florence in advance? Really, the only somewhat hectic part of the train station is buying your tickets. If you don't have your tix, recommend you familiarize yourself with the kiosks, to avoid the ticket lines. Other than that, it's pretty simple to catch your train. I'd guess 30-45 minutes before should be OK.

The vap passes are well worthwhile and are good for Murano-Burano-Torcello. But they don't cover the trip into Venice from the airport - you have to take a water taxi (and I would be tempted because your beautiful hotel has a water entrance,) the Alilaguna or a bus.

There's no charge to visit the basilica, maybe the cause of your online problem.

Thanks to all. First timers like me seem to have endless questions/ concerns. We will definitely invest in the vaporetto pass and make good use of it. I'm sure I can check the actv website to confirm it being valid for the other islands. Is there one vaporetto line that will get us from Torcello or Burano back to at least St. Marks or do we need to back track?

As far as trains go, I haven't purchased fare to Florence yet as I think it is too early. Any big differences between 1st and 2 nd class? And thanks for the giving us a good time frame. From Florence we'll head to Siena and then on to Rome. If anyone has thoughts on these destinations,PLEASE share.I also have another thread regarding driving Siena/ Rome but don't know how to attach it. What an amateur,huh? Feel free to comment there as well.

I'll try the veneto inside website again for the basilica reservations. I must be doing something wonky. I still can't seem to pay the reservation fee. Thanks all!

Cjar - the vaporetto pass definitely covers the islands, but by all means check for yourself!

here's what I think is a reasonably up to date vaporetto map. you can get the no 41 or 42 from the Zaccaria stop near San Marco to Murano and then change onto the no 12 to get to Burano - alternatively walk up to the Fondamente Nova to get the no 12. on the way there call in at the Gesuiti church [am only] to see the wonderful marble curtains.

there is a little ferry takes you over to Torcello - it stops over lunch-time so either have lunch on Burano and go to Torcello afterwards, or go straight to Torcello and have lunch there. but do go - the 1000 + year old Basilica is wonderful with ancient mosaics which you'll never forget.

tarquin is right - there is no charge for the entry to the Basilica, but there is a reservation fee.

there are a lot of threads at the moment on Florence and Rome; why not have a read then come back with your specific question.

Thank you., annhig. I really appreciate the vaporetto information. I will definitely look at some of the other threads on Rome/ Florence.