Venice

curtis122

Has anyone here been to Venice? I am thinking of going and I have some questions given how its like there.

When you fly into Venice how do you get Venice? Do you have to get to everything by boat? Normally I turn up at an airport either have pre-booked taxi or just get one from the airport. It does not seem the airport is near.

Getting around I have heard everything is walkable once you are there, is this the case?

Any other tips or things I might need to know that might help?

jpsartre

Which airport are you flying into? If Marco Polo (VCE), there's water-transport available although you can also get there by land.

The centre isn't that large and I would say most distances are walkable. Often there's little other choice.

Mands

curtis122 wrote: »

When you fly into Venice how do you get Venice? Do you have to get to everything by boat? Normally I turn up at an airport either have pre-booked taxi or just get one from the airport. It does not seem the airport is near.

It depends ... in particular on which of the Venice airports and where your hotel is.

Assuming you are flying into VCE you could:
* Take a bus or taxi to Piazzale Roma then walk from there
* Take a bus or taxi to Piazzale Roma then take a vaparetto (water bus) to a stop near your hotel
* Take the Alilaguna (bigger water buses, covering the outlying areas) line from the airport to the nearest stop to your hotel
* Take a water taxi (private speed boat) from the airport to the nearest dock near your hotel

Once you've dropped your bags at your hotel, yes, most things are walkable. You might choose to use the vaparettos to sightsee or to get to the outer islands (Murano and Burano perhaps) but, particularly for a first trip, you can probably do most things on foot.

And, frankly, wandering and exploring and getting lost down tiny sidestreets is part of the fun of Venice.

Do you have a hotel in mind?
Mands

michele-p

If you fly into Venice Traviso, it's around 30 mins drive away from the causeway, there is a bus service to meet most flights, looked very easy to use, but we had the car booked.

For the main Venice airport the water taxi sounds great, but can be very expensive!

When you actually get to Venice, bear in mind you will need to drag your case with you, don't go for a huge one! We stayed at Locanda Herrion for 1 night in September, we arrived by car after a road trip holiday, we parked on the mainland at the Holiday Inn opposite the train station, and got the train.

The hotel was an easy 10 mins walk, over 2 bridges, but really good location, in the Jewish quarter. Some people were struggling to get near the main square with huge cases! We dumped the bags and walked to St Marks square about 30 mins, and a great stroll.

Don't feel you will automatically be ripped off, we had the best meal of our trip just round the corner from our hotel, pasta, 2 sides dishes, dessert 1/2 litre of wine for under 40euros. But choose well, and expect to pay at least £10 cover charge if you sit outside at a cafe in the main sqaure! Top tip, they were doing takeaway hot choc when we were there, much cheaper, and they let us use their loo's too.

You'll have a great trip.

Jinx

If you pass the bus station, meander about at the bridge nearest the tourist vans. When we were there we were given tickets to get a private Riva boat to Murano and a tour of the glass factory. We thought it was a scam but the boat ride was free, just me and hubby with a driver - very glam! The tour was good and the catch is that you have to go through the factory shop at the end. Now I imagine if you spend a lot you get the Riva back - we didn't so (at least not the amount needed clearly) had to get the river bus back! lol We couldn't find anywhere to buy a ticket so had a freebie ride back.

Jay_C

Anyone got ideas for getting best deals to Venice, where to search etc?

Looking for 2/3 night stay flying from London