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Venice
HAMISH_MCTAVISH
Posts: 28,592 Forumite
Surprised there aren't many recent MSE threads on here, so here's my attempt at one.
- Don't go in summer, Venice can smell a tad ripe.... April and May are probably the best compromise between good weather and a lack of whiffyness....
- When you arrive at Marco Polo, get a water taxi into the city. About 100 euros, but well worth it for the luxury, speed, and picture postcard entrance from the sea. (unless the weather is absolutely atrocious)
- Stay as close to St Marks square as possible. Preferably in a hotel with canal access (water taxi can drop you off at hotel door on arrival) or near one of the major landmarks (taxi can drop you there and you walk a couple of minutes)
- Doges palace (off St Marks square) well worth seeing. As is climbing to the top of the tower in the square and getting photos.
- Get a day pass on the water bus, and get on and off up and down the grand canal.
- The area around Rialto Bridge is well worth exploring. Incredibly beautiful for photos. The shops on Rialto Bridge however mostly sell fake made in china Venetian lookalike crap. If you want masks or clothes wander down the canal front from Rialto and find the side street shops. Also the Gellato and Pizza shops within 500m of Rialto are pretty good and cheaper than the ones closer to St Marks.
- Food-- Stay away from the tourist traps around the main square, Rialto bridge, train station, etc. Find decent restaurants in back streets and via trip-advisor. Of all the many places we've eaten in Italy, finding a good restaurant was hardest in Venice. Trip advisor is your friend.
-Weird laws. Don't get caught eating in public in some parts of the city. Google is your friend here.
-An excursion to the glass factories in Murano is worth it. Sometimes the tourist office in St Marks offers free water taxi or water bus rides out there. They'll show you the glass blowing process, and then walk you through the shop. Takes about 2 hours all in including transport. You don't have to buy anything, but the glass is incredibly beautiful and you'll want to buy something. We spent around 100 euros for some properly stunning glassware as souvenirs... Hence why they give away the trips.
-You can walk around and get lost in Venice a lot. It's the best way to explore the city. But if you're tight for time, get a map, start at St Marks and walk to the train station... Signposted all the way, only takes 45 minutes, and it'll give you a great taste of the real Venice. Then take the water bus back all the way down the Grand Canal, and see the main sights.
-Museums - Loads of them.
-Churches - Likewise.
- Gondola - Probably not worth it, but some people seem to love the idea. Very romantic.... a lot less comfortable in reality.
- Happy hour. Free nibbles so long as you buy the Aperol Spritzers (or just plain old wine). It's a must-do for Venetian society. Google for best locations, mostly near the Uni from memory.
-Harry's Bar - Home of the Bellini, right beside water taxi stand on St Marks Square. Nowadays a tourist trap, but a classy one. And there's a lot to be said for following in the footsteps of every raconteur since 1900.
-Casino-- I did..... But then I would. Whether it's worth it or not depends on whether your idea of a good time is dressing up like Bond and losing loads of money.:D
All I can think of for now, but feel free to ask any questions.:D
- Don't go in summer, Venice can smell a tad ripe.... April and May are probably the best compromise between good weather and a lack of whiffyness....
- When you arrive at Marco Polo, get a water taxi into the city. About 100 euros, but well worth it for the luxury, speed, and picture postcard entrance from the sea. (unless the weather is absolutely atrocious)
- Stay as close to St Marks square as possible. Preferably in a hotel with canal access (water taxi can drop you off at hotel door on arrival) or near one of the major landmarks (taxi can drop you there and you walk a couple of minutes)
- Doges palace (off St Marks square) well worth seeing. As is climbing to the top of the tower in the square and getting photos.
- Get a day pass on the water bus, and get on and off up and down the grand canal.
- The area around Rialto Bridge is well worth exploring. Incredibly beautiful for photos. The shops on Rialto Bridge however mostly sell fake made in china Venetian lookalike crap. If you want masks or clothes wander down the canal front from Rialto and find the side street shops. Also the Gellato and Pizza shops within 500m of Rialto are pretty good and cheaper than the ones closer to St Marks.
- Food-- Stay away from the tourist traps around the main square, Rialto bridge, train station, etc. Find decent restaurants in back streets and via trip-advisor. Of all the many places we've eaten in Italy, finding a good restaurant was hardest in Venice. Trip advisor is your friend.
-Weird laws. Don't get caught eating in public in some parts of the city. Google is your friend here.
-An excursion to the glass factories in Murano is worth it. Sometimes the tourist office in St Marks offers free water taxi or water bus rides out there. They'll show you the glass blowing process, and then walk you through the shop. Takes about 2 hours all in including transport. You don't have to buy anything, but the glass is incredibly beautiful and you'll want to buy something. We spent around 100 euros for some properly stunning glassware as souvenirs... Hence why they give away the trips.
-You can walk around and get lost in Venice a lot. It's the best way to explore the city. But if you're tight for time, get a map, start at St Marks and walk to the train station... Signposted all the way, only takes 45 minutes, and it'll give you a great taste of the real Venice. Then take the water bus back all the way down the Grand Canal, and see the main sights.
-Museums - Loads of them.
-Churches - Likewise.
- Gondola - Probably not worth it, but some people seem to love the idea. Very romantic.... a lot less comfortable in reality.
- Happy hour. Free nibbles so long as you buy the Aperol Spritzers (or just plain old wine). It's a must-do for Venetian society. Google for best locations, mostly near the Uni from memory.
-Harry's Bar - Home of the Bellini, right beside water taxi stand on St Marks Square. Nowadays a tourist trap, but a classy one. And there's a lot to be said for following in the footsteps of every raconteur since 1900.
-Casino-- I did..... But then I would. Whether it's worth it or not depends on whether your idea of a good time is dressing up like Bond and losing loads of money.:D
All I can think of for now, but feel free to ask any questions.:D
“The great enemy of the truth is very often not the lie – deliberate, contrived, and dishonest – but the myth, persistent, persuasive, and unrealistic.
Belief in myths allows the comfort of opinion without the discomfort of thought.”
-- President John F. Kennedy”
Belief in myths allows the comfort of opinion without the discomfort of thought.”
-- President John F. Kennedy”
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Comments
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I wouldn't agree with staying as close to St.Mark's Square. Venice is a very small place and you'd get better value elsewhere.
We had a lovely locanda near Piazza Santi Gianni e Paolo. (Zanipolo). I need to check that and come back.
Buying a three day vaporetto ticket will allow you to explore the islands, as well as do the circuit , which is interesting.
On arrival, I'd take the Aqua Lina, direct waterbus, cheaper than a private water taxi, but with the beautiful view and a number of stops.Member #14 of SKI-ers club
Words, words, they're all we have to go by!.
(Pity they are mangled by this autocorrect!)0 -
If staying longer than a few days it's worth a visit to the Venice Lido - a nice break from the crowds & it has lovely beaches. Just hop on a vaperetto near St Marks Square & you are there in 20 minutes.
If staying for a week it's more fun to get an apartment so you can shop at the market etc & live like a local. Our favourite area to stay is Guidecca Island, over the canal from St Mark's Square. It's lovely & quiet after the hustle & bustle of the main area, you have a lovely view across the canal of St Mark's Square & Santa Croce - especially at night when they are lit up. You can sit on a bench & watch the cruise ships pass by or eat at one of the pavement restaurants with the view over the canal - including the restaurant's owned by the Cipriani Hotel (owners of Harry's Bar)! If you investigate a bit further you may locate Elton John's house (if you really want to)!!0 -
As the moniker suggests I have a connection to Venice. I live there for six or so months a year, work and family related.
Perhaps I just don't notice it anymore but I don't think there is that much of a whiff in the summer months, on the smaller back canals could be, but the main routes not so much at all.
San Marco is a tourist trap, stay in the real Venice, eat in real restaurants. Do the touristy bits but leave them behind at night and see Venice for real. Loads of stuff to see and do.0 -
I always stay on Lido - the vaporetti run to and fro all night, but you get to get away from the crowds when you need to."Save £12k in 2019" #120 - £100,699.57/£100,0000
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Stay as far away from Piazza San Marco as possible; hotels get cheaper the farther away you are. Sure, you will visit San Marco but you won't spend all your time there - apart from the fact it's too crowded, there's an enormous amount to see elsewhere and Venice is a good size for walking, plus you have the vaporetti whenever you need.
I'd agree with getting a three- or seven-day vaporetto ticket. It's then easy to hop on and off whenever you want.
Do visit the islands - not just Murano (a kind of miniature Venice, with its own Grand Canal lined by rows of shops) but also Burano, and even tinier and cuter version!
If you want to ride a gondola without the huge price tag, all you have to do is look out for the signs saying 'traghetti'. There are only three bridges over the Grand Canal, so a traghetto is a foot ferry costing around €2.50 (I think). The locals stand all the way across, but there's no shame in sitting.0 -
HAMISH_MCTAVISH Old 14-06-2014, 11:56 PM
Deliciously Dedicated Diehard MoneySaving Devotee
Location: SCOTLAND
Posts: 17,682
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"When you arrive at Marco Polo, get a water taxi into the city. About 100 euros, but well worth it"
I'd take more water with the hard stuff mate.Turning left avoids some of the idiots (only some)0 -
HAMISH_MCTAVISH Old 14-06-2014, 11:56 PM
Deliciously Dedicated Diehard MoneySaving Devotee
Location: SCOTLAND
Posts: 17,682
Thanked 33,166 Times in 12,289 Posts
"When you arrive at Marco Polo, get a water taxi into the city. About 100 euros, but well worth it"
I'd take more water with the hard stuff mate.
I agree.
Real MSErs would always take the cheapest route which is FR into TSF then coach to Venice.0 -
100 Euros.
You actually paid that. Genuinely?0 -
100 Euros.
You actually paid that. Genuinely?
Plenty do.
But a water taxi holds 10 plus luggage and it's perfectly normal to see people waiting at the airport stand to find another couple, strangers, going to a hotel in a similar area. If you can get three couples then the price comes down to about 35€ per couple which is not much more expensive than taking the alilaguna line.
Mands0
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