We will be arriving in Venice on a Friday afternoon in October to spend a week so our first full day there will be Saturday. I'm wondering how busy to anticipate Venice being on a Saturday. We do have day trips planned that we could schedule on Saturday but I would like to stay put and not hop right on a train after just getting off a plane the day before. Any suggestions/comments? Thanks.

I don't think that it will be so bad that you would have to "escape" from Venice on Saturday. However, if you can, do avoid the "main drag" that goes from the Piazza San Marco to the Rialto. It's called "Mercerie" at the San Marco end and changes names several times before it ends at the Rialto.

We were there in October...believe me, it's nothing like that sardine-in-a-can feeling you'd have midsummer.

There were a few crowded streets, etc, but not bad.

Have fun,

Jules

Thanks so much for putting my mind at ease! We can easily avoid San Marco but I really didn't want to get back on a train unless absolutely necessary.

We got away from San Marco crowds in the daytime by exploring Dorsoduro area. We actually took a picture of one street, just because there wasn't a soul on it! San Marco is a lot nicer at night. Have fun!