I apologize in advance if this is too basic a question. However, I am making my first trip to Venice next week and was wondering if someone could tell me the approximate distance from St. Marks Square to San Polo. I'm trying to decide whether to walk over there or take the vaporetto. My destination is Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari & Scuola Grande San Rocco. I like walking and thought it would provide a could opportunity to see more of the city.

Thanks for your help.
RMH

Definitely, walk.

It's an easy walk. We stayed in San Polo and walked to St. Marks frequently.

There is so much more to see walking.

IF you were to walk directly, it's probably only a 10-15 min walk...but you will see so much more walking slowly.

Have a good trip.

As Dick says, an easy and not too long walk but remember you will have to cross the Grand Canal and there are only a couple of bridges so you should plan your route with that in mind.

Hi
I am not particularly good at recalling walking times, but if you allow about 35 minutes or so of dedicated walking, you'll get there. It's a great walk.
On the way back, make some stops--Campo Santa Margherita, etc.

I may have overstated in saying 35 minutes, but 15 minutes doesn't seem right to me either--from the Piazza, it's about 15 minutes just to get to the other side of the Accademia Bridge, don't you think?

Walked from the Accademia bridge to San Marco many times. It's about 15 minutes, with one stop to take pictures.

thanks so much for your help-- it was just what I needed.

RMH

Walking anywhere in Venice is not very far. You might want to walk one way & take a vaparetto the other. Totally different view of things from the water.

I would hardly call this an easy walk for someone who's never been to Venice. Without a good map you can kiss your 30 minutes goodbye. I remember bumping into newlyweds from Minnesota in Campo d. Frari this past May with a map in hand and such a distressed look on their faces. I knew they were lost. Turns out they were. "Everybody said just follow the crowd and the arrows" they told me and, of course, I laughed. They had been walking in circles for an hour, poor things, looking for San Marco.

The walk from San Marco to the Frari Campo is one of my favorites. I say try it and be VERY proud of yourself if you get there without questioning yourself, someone else, or your choice of map.

But from San Marco, would going via Ponte Rialto be more direct? I think so, and then 15-20 mintues, especially without meandering, seems reasonable.

At age 17, I fell in love in San Marco Square. We spent the entire night aimlessly walking the streets of Venice.

I can't imagine a better town in which to wander around if you *should* become lost! Enjoy!

I'm with ellenem. The route by way of the Ponte di Rialto is more direct, though probably more congested (it's a major tourist thoroughfare). Once you've crossed the bridge, it's not hard to get to the Campo San Polo, and from there to the Frari, with any decent map.

I always try to avoid the Rialto if and when I can (except for specific delights). The Rialto reminds me too much of Times Square. So...I'd take 22 Marzo, cross the Accademia bridge and work my way through to Campo Santa Margherita and on to Campo d. Frari. This particular walk offers a very special part of Venice that many day-trippers never get to see. The distance is equal either route.