Venice in 24 hours or less?
Mar 12th, 2005, 06:48 AM
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Venice in 24 hours or less?
My husband and I leave for Italy end of April. Our first trip and we are SOOOO excited we can hardly stand it (like a 6 year old awaiting a visit from Santa)!! The majority of our stay will be in Florence, but we want to go to Venice for a day and 1 night. Best way to travel from Florence to Venice? About how much will it cost? And, besides sipping Bellini's at Harrys, what are some other "must do's", especially given the short time we'll be there? Oh, and any suggestions about a place to spend the night, and should we book it ahead of time?
Mar 12th, 2005, 07:36 AM
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It is 2.5 hours via Eurostar. Fares depend on class of serivce chosen and can be researched on the trenitalia website.
I would highly recommend having a hotel reservation ahead of time, especially with such a short stay. Venice is very popular and this is a busy time.
I find Venice to be an expensive city but, as in most cities, there are options in many price ranges. I think that for one night you would want to be in the heart of things near San Marco.
Do a search on this forum for Venice hotels and you will find a lot of useful information.
I would highly recommend having a hotel reservation ahead of time, especially with such a short stay. Venice is very popular and this is a busy time.
I find Venice to be an expensive city but, as in most cities, there are options in many price ranges. I think that for one night you would want to be in the heart of things near San Marco.
Do a search on this forum for Venice hotels and you will find a lot of useful information.
Mar 12th, 2005, 08:01 AM
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Just spent 3 days in Venice in a lovely hotel opposite the railway station-Grand Canal & Carlton Hotel, thoroughly recommend it.
Take the No 1 waterbus opposite hotel (10.50E for a day travel ticket)and take a trip down the Grand Canal to St Marks Square.
(Stop off at Rialto Bridge).
Go up the Caminile-there is an elevator.
Visit Doges Palace but take the guided tour-you may be lucky at such short notice.
Have a lovely time-we did
Take the No 1 waterbus opposite hotel (10.50E for a day travel ticket)and take a trip down the Grand Canal to St Marks Square.
(Stop off at Rialto Bridge).
Go up the Caminile-there is an elevator.
Visit Doges Palace but take the guided tour-you may be lucky at such short notice.
Have a lovely time-we did
Mar 12th, 2005, 09:35 AM
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The best advice is simple - spend more timer in Venice and less in Florence. If you are big on art museums, fine. But Florence itself isn't all that great.
Incidentally, I would consider sipping Bellinis at Harry's a must-don't. It's one of the classic fleece the tourist rountines, right up there with the "free" Murano tours.
Incidentally, I would consider sipping Bellinis at Harry's a must-don't. It's one of the classic fleece the tourist rountines, right up there with the "free" Murano tours.
Mar 12th, 2005, 10:55 AM
#5
I would definitely reserve a hotel room for Venice. Especially with such a short time you don't want to spend half of it trouping around looking for a place to stay. www.lacalcina.com is my hotel of choice.
Is there a reason you're spending all your time in Florence and only 1 day in Venice?
The must-do's for me in Venice are riding a vaporetto on the Grand Canal, strolling around the streets, sitting in a cafe for an egg sandwich and glass of wine, visiting San Marco plaza and the Rialto bridge... that's about it.
Is there a reason you're spending all your time in Florence and only 1 day in Venice?
The must-do's for me in Venice are riding a vaporetto on the Grand Canal, strolling around the streets, sitting in a cafe for an egg sandwich and glass of wine, visiting San Marco plaza and the Rialto bridge... that's about it.
Mar 12th, 2005, 03:10 PM
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Hi we,
Train scheduleas and tickets are at www.trenitalia.com. You can purchase tickets as early as 60 days in advance.
I strongly suggest 3 days, 2 nights in Venice.
Definitely make hotel reservations.
>.....sipping Bellini's at Harrys, ...<
Ummmmmmmmmmmmm.....
Buy a can of peach juice. Mix it with some cheap sparkling wine. See if you like it.
Look up Venice under "destinations".
Train scheduleas and tickets are at www.trenitalia.com. You can purchase tickets as early as 60 days in advance.
I strongly suggest 3 days, 2 nights in Venice.
Definitely make hotel reservations.
>.....sipping Bellini's at Harrys, ...<
Ummmmmmmmmmmmm.....
Buy a can of peach juice. Mix it with some cheap sparkling wine. See if you like it.
Look up Venice under "destinations".
Mar 12th, 2005, 03:37 PM
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A partial list of things to visit, see, and do in Venice:
Piazza San Marco, Basilica San Marco, Campanile, Palace of the Doges, Grand Canal on a vaporetto, Lagoon islands: (Murano, Burano, Torcello), San Michelle, Gondola yard. The Arsenal and the Naval Museum, Corrier Museum, Accademia art museum, Peggy Guggenheim Gallery, numerous art shows and exhibits that are always running, The Ghetto.
Too many churches to list with interesting art and architecture, but...Basilica Santa Mariadella Salute, Basilica dei Frari, Santa Maria dei Miracoli, San Sebastiano, San Pietro di Castello, Santo Giovanni E Paolo, Madonna dell'Orto. Venice's churches have some of Italy's greatest works of art--many free to view by the likes of Tintoretto, Veronese, Titian, Bellini, Vivarini, and Carpaccio.
Scuola Grande di San Rocco, Scuola San Giorgio degli Schiavoni, Scuola San Nicolo, Scuola Grande Dei Carmini, Scuole Grande of San Rocco.
Campo Santa Maria Formosa, Ca’ Rezzonico museum, Querini-Stampalia palace/museum, San Giovanni Evangelista, Ponte di Rialto, Rialto market, Ca’ d’Oro, Ca' Pesaro museum, Correr museum, gondola tour of smaller, hidden canals. Opera and concerts at La Fenice. Walking away from the daytripping herds and discovering a quiet, secret city that most tourists have no clue exists.
Piazza San Marco, Basilica San Marco, Campanile, Palace of the Doges, Grand Canal on a vaporetto, Lagoon islands: (Murano, Burano, Torcello), San Michelle, Gondola yard. The Arsenal and the Naval Museum, Corrier Museum, Accademia art museum, Peggy Guggenheim Gallery, numerous art shows and exhibits that are always running, The Ghetto.
Too many churches to list with interesting art and architecture, but...Basilica Santa Mariadella Salute, Basilica dei Frari, Santa Maria dei Miracoli, San Sebastiano, San Pietro di Castello, Santo Giovanni E Paolo, Madonna dell'Orto. Venice's churches have some of Italy's greatest works of art--many free to view by the likes of Tintoretto, Veronese, Titian, Bellini, Vivarini, and Carpaccio.
Scuola Grande di San Rocco, Scuola San Giorgio degli Schiavoni, Scuola San Nicolo, Scuola Grande Dei Carmini, Scuole Grande of San Rocco.
Campo Santa Maria Formosa, Ca’ Rezzonico museum, Querini-Stampalia palace/museum, San Giovanni Evangelista, Ponte di Rialto, Rialto market, Ca’ d’Oro, Ca' Pesaro museum, Correr museum, gondola tour of smaller, hidden canals. Opera and concerts at La Fenice. Walking away from the daytripping herds and discovering a quiet, secret city that most tourists have no clue exists.
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Mar 12th, 2005, 07:47 PM
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Definitely book a room. A few suggestions for hotels that are close to San Marco but away from the crowds are Hotel Ala, Hotel Flora and the Bel Sito.
It at all possible, try to add another day and night...you will be glad you did.
It at all possible, try to add another day and night...you will be glad you did.
Mar 13th, 2005, 07:59 AM
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We were in Venice about 10 days ago for 2 nights and a day and felt that we had enough time to hit the main spots (1/2 a day) and stroll around, collecting souvenors (1/2 a day). It would have been nice to have another day, although I don't think there would have been much different an experience.
We trained to Florence by the IR for about 20E a piece, a nice 2.5-3 hr journey via Bologna.
As far as hotels, you should consider both the options:
Staying near San Marco - More intimate settings, about 25% higher room rates and towing your luggage from the station (unless you store it at a baggage check).
Staying near the station - More practical for a quick zip thru Venice, where you can get to your hotel within 10 mintues after leaving the station, and get on with your site seeing, not to mention cheaper (less characteristic) hotels.
We trained to Florence by the IR for about 20E a piece, a nice 2.5-3 hr journey via Bologna.
As far as hotels, you should consider both the options:
Staying near San Marco - More intimate settings, about 25% higher room rates and towing your luggage from the station (unless you store it at a baggage check).
Staying near the station - More practical for a quick zip thru Venice, where you can get to your hotel within 10 mintues after leaving the station, and get on with your site seeing, not to mention cheaper (less characteristic) hotels.
Mar 13th, 2005, 12:05 PM
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Wait. Just wait. How does anyone other than Superman hit the "main spots" of Venice in 1/2 day? Unless you have an extremely limited view of what "main spots" are. In which case, I guess you can hit the "main spots" of any city in 1/2 day.
Mar 13th, 2005, 08:42 PM
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I dunno, I really liked Florence, but I agree that if you can stretch Venice out to at least one more day it will be better for you.
The Doge's Palace is a must. Instead of Harry's, how about lunch at Harry's Dolci? I went there with my sister and was overwhelmed at the view--it seemed surreal, like I was looking at a theatre set.
People say it's touristy, but IF you stretch your Venice visit to 2 days and have the time, try a gondola ride. I will admit that I did it with 4 other members of my family so it was much more "fun," and my sister had errands for the gondolier so we did that in addition to the regular gondola route. Then we enjoyed sunset cocktails with him at a nearby bar.
As for hotels for a short time, I'd also recommend a hotel near the train station. We've done that twice and were quite happy with the convenience! There are others on this board, however, who have had exceptional experiences at B&Bs.
The Doge's Palace is a must. Instead of Harry's, how about lunch at Harry's Dolci? I went there with my sister and was overwhelmed at the view--it seemed surreal, like I was looking at a theatre set.
People say it's touristy, but IF you stretch your Venice visit to 2 days and have the time, try a gondola ride. I will admit that I did it with 4 other members of my family so it was much more "fun," and my sister had errands for the gondolier so we did that in addition to the regular gondola route. Then we enjoyed sunset cocktails with him at a nearby bar.
As for hotels for a short time, I'd also recommend a hotel near the train station. We've done that twice and were quite happy with the convenience! There are others on this board, however, who have had exceptional experiences at B&Bs.
Mar 14th, 2005, 06:39 AM
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Thank you one and all for your ideas! Alas...for a variety of reasons, our trip to Venice will be a short one. However, I anticipate that this will be our FIRST trip to Venice -- a preview of things to come...
Any specific recommendations for a hotel near the train station (sounds like good advice)...does being near the train station mean we are near the Grand Canal (I am so geographically challenged)? Our needs our fairly minimal -- clean and conveniently located are good; not-to-expensive even better. Thanks again!
Any specific recommendations for a hotel near the train station (sounds like good advice)...does being near the train station mean we are near the Grand Canal (I am so geographically challenged)? Our needs our fairly minimal -- clean and conveniently located are good; not-to-expensive even better. Thanks again!
Mar 14th, 2005, 06:43 AM
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MelissaHI: I like the way you (and your family)travel!
I love that you made friends with your gondolier and had cocktails with him after running errands! That's the kind of thing my family would do. Great suggestions -- thanks for the information.
I love that you made friends with your gondolier and had cocktails with him after running errands! That's the kind of thing my family would do. Great suggestions -- thanks for the information.
Mar 14th, 2005, 06:44 AM
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adawson1,
As you can see from a range of views presented here - 1 day is sufficient to 5 days not being sufficient. IMHO, you should do Venice for a day if that is what you got - life is short and the world has too many wonderful places to visit other than Venice and Italy.
As for the hotel suggestion, we didn't stay near St. Lucia. For our 2 nights, we stayed at a hotel situated in a residential neighborhood off Mestre train station, Hotel Villa Dori (villadori.com). The hotel sends a free shuttle for pick up/ drop off, and the rooms were very spacious with a fantastic reception. It is a 3* and costed us 80E with breakfast for a quad. Inside Venice, it would have been more than twice that for a similar hotel, even during the off-season that we went in.
The main reason for us to choose the hotel besides the cost was the luggage issue - for 2 nights I didn't have the drive to drag the luggage on a vaporetto or a water taxi. Besides that, it was a decent experience waking up in a residential Venetian neighbrhood, instead of the extremely touristy Venice.
Originally I was booked at Albergo Marin close to the St. Lucia railway station, but when I saw villa dori listed on laterooms.com for this price, I changed my plans.
If price is not an issue for you, and if your train does go all the way to Santa Lucia (I think Eurostar fo only upto Mestre), then I would recommend that for maximise time utilization, you stay nnear Santa Lucia.
You can write to me at [email protected] in case you have any other questions.
As you can see from a range of views presented here - 1 day is sufficient to 5 days not being sufficient. IMHO, you should do Venice for a day if that is what you got - life is short and the world has too many wonderful places to visit other than Venice and Italy.
As for the hotel suggestion, we didn't stay near St. Lucia. For our 2 nights, we stayed at a hotel situated in a residential neighborhood off Mestre train station, Hotel Villa Dori (villadori.com). The hotel sends a free shuttle for pick up/ drop off, and the rooms were very spacious with a fantastic reception. It is a 3* and costed us 80E with breakfast for a quad. Inside Venice, it would have been more than twice that for a similar hotel, even during the off-season that we went in.
The main reason for us to choose the hotel besides the cost was the luggage issue - for 2 nights I didn't have the drive to drag the luggage on a vaporetto or a water taxi. Besides that, it was a decent experience waking up in a residential Venetian neighbrhood, instead of the extremely touristy Venice.
Originally I was booked at Albergo Marin close to the St. Lucia railway station, but when I saw villa dori listed on laterooms.com for this price, I changed my plans.
If price is not an issue for you, and if your train does go all the way to Santa Lucia (I think Eurostar fo only upto Mestre), then I would recommend that for maximise time utilization, you stay nnear Santa Lucia.
You can write to me at [email protected] in case you have any other questions.
