Venice is my favorite city in the world, and because love is blind, I probably see it differently than some of the earlier posters. You should go there even if you have only one night to do so. Early reservations at St. Mark's or the Doge's Palace are a must if on your agenda. Go to the Rialto market early in the day. Then mid-day or afternoon head to Murano or over to the Campo San Barnaba area and leave Piazza San Marco and the Rialto to the day trippers. Find a nice osteria or trattoria and enjoy a looong lunch. Head back to Piazza San Marco after the sun goes down and when the orchestras are warming up. Enjoy the music and maybe even have an overpriced prosecco. You'll be glad you did.

You are trying to get there early to avoid crowds. That is what everybody tries to do. You end up with crowds trying to avoid crowds. You can’t get there early enough to avoid it. The only way to avoid it is to be there already and wake up early.

I also would rather have two nights and one day in Venice. I would aim on arriving in Venice about 4:00 as day trippers and cruisers are leaving. Enjoy the evening. Have one whole day awakening early, and another night and early morning, heading out as cruisers and day trippers arrive. It would be, IMHO, a much better experience.

That's my take, too. And even if it is crowded, I don't think people can get a good sense of this unique and magnificent city by trying to see it on a day trip, or even with an overnight or two -- IMO, one needs to be there long enough to explore its treasures while skirting the masses, roaming around and getting delightfully lost whether late at night or early in the morning (no need IME to get up early if that isn't your preference), long enough to get beyond the feelings of being smooshed and to open your eyes despite the crowds. JMO.

Good luck!

Ymmv
 

First time in Venice was in summer and it impressed me as a large open sewer wit expensive accommodations. Next time was in Autumn and lower levels of sewer smell and tourist hordes made a better impression. Still came off as expensive/overpriced and a tad skeezy (only place in Europe ever been pick-pocketed) but easier to get around and appreciate the rich history. The Murano glass thing is purely tourist class, give it a pass. Do think of it as a must see venue, but see in a day or two as opposed to stay for an extended visit, IMHO.

If you can afford Chihuly, by all means, give Murano a pass. If not, well, to each his / her own. ;)

I believe the train is about 1 hour from Verona. If I left Verona at 4, would I need an advanced ticket? Is that regional train the same as a commuter train?

My mileage most definitely does vary (from Seamus that is).

I have only been to Venice twice, both times were in high summer season. I found it magical. I never experienced sewer smells or tourist hordes. Must have been doing something right.

If you travel to Venice in the morning, sure, you will be travelling with the commuters. Contrary to popular opinion, Venice is actually a working city. There are courts, rubbish removal folk, street sweepers, the Commune administration, butchers, bakers, candlestick makers, architects, accountants, bricklayers - you get my drift.

Find somewhere to stay in Santa Croce or Dorsoduro, and you would be able to avoid the worst of the crowds. When you arrive, instead of taking a vaporetto, cross the Scalzi bridge and walk - you will find that the crowds thin out quite quickly.

the main drag, Ferrovia / Rialto / San Marco, the Strada Nova, is best avoided and can be pretty tacky.

I’m biased in favor of Venice. We arrive next thursday for ten nights.

I have been to Venice half a dozen times, never for fewer than 4-5 days, and have never failed to be charmed by it, no matter what time of year. We will gladly go back again and again.

ditto to what St-Cirq says - been there about 8 times or so and even though at times totally mobbed in main drag from parking lots/train station to St Mark's Square always found lots of Venice relatively untouristed and awesome - Venice out of the main tourist mobs simply awes me - a boat ride down the Grand Canale to me is so so super - especially at night when the sublimely lit crumbling pastel facades silently slip by hinting at the city's faded grandeur. The outer islands are also awesome. Folks who go to Venice for a day or two and are always in congested tourist areas miss out on so much.

I find Venice magical. However, we spend our time away from the San Marco area, in the neighborhoods.
They have to do something to control the large cruise ships, bringing thousands of passengers into this small city.

We visited Venice last October and found it to be lovely. While there are crowds, there is a good reason for so many people to visit this popular city that has character and charm. We did not encounter any bad smells and did not find the city to be dirty. One of our favorite experiences, besides wandering the smaller streets of Venice, was a boat ride out to Burano, with its colorful homes and shops. Venice and Burano are a photographer’s dream. The early morning and early evening reflections off the water make beautiful pictures.