Venice

GlasgowExpat2

I’m planning a trip to Venice next year. What’s the best time to go / area to stay. Hotel budget is approximately £250 p/night

Eldi_Dos

I would go when it is light nights, you might not wander off the beaten track when it is dark around 5.30 which would be a shame.

We have stayed in Verona and commuted in and out which suited us, OH loves the shops in Verona, Italian style at department store prices.

zagfles

£250 a night?? Anywhere you want probably!

Few years ago we stayed in the Cannaregio area a short walk from Santa Lucia station, big apartment for about 80 EUR a night, 2 of us but could have slept 4 easily. 

Tripadvisor forum is best for destination specific advice. 

zagfles

Eldi_Dos said:

I would go when it is light nights, you might not wander off the beaten track when it is dark around 5.30 which would be a shame.

We have stayed in Verona and commuted in and out which suited us, OH loves the shops in Verona, Italian style at department store prices.

Venice is quite easy to wonder around after sunset, it's well lit and is quite pretty at night. We went in November. The bigger problem is crowds, so I'd look at going when it's less crowded. 

Random47

I'm booked for a week in late March. I used veniceapartments.com. Have been couple times before and best to avoid high season, as its too hot and too busy (& accommodation more expensive). Late Oct to early March is best times imo. Great city for meandering and culture holiday. £250 should get you a reasonable accommodation, but compared to some parts of Italy you do not get a lot for your cash...  If you like to sit and enjoy a wine at night in your apartment its best to get a top floor one with veranda overlooking a canal, though these costs a wee bit more as well.

jbrassy

I went during Covid and thought Venice was amazing, but I benefitted from there being low tourist numbers. 

I stayed in the Cannaregio district and thought it was good as it's a bit away from the touristy places so less crowded. For £250 a night you can stay somewhere really nice.

One recommendation I have is to go for dinner along a street called Fondamenta dei Ormesini. It's right by the canal and it seems to be where a lot of locals go for dinner. The restaurants around there were top drawer. 

FreeBear

When I went to Venice, I stayed at the Hotel Residenza San Maurizio for the duration of my trip. Saved having to commute in & out. There is an eatery directly across the "street" that was cheap and served a wide range of foods.

My three main tips.

• Get up early to beat the hordes of tourists.
• Go "out of season" - I went in April. If you wait until the summer months, be prepared for the stink.
• Prepay for a Vaporetto ticket to cover the length of your stay - Saves having to queue to buy tickets.

Torcello and Burano are both well worth a visit. Murano, not so much - The glass works are squarely aimed at the tourist, and they want you in & out as fast as possible whilst relieving you of cash for trinkets. You get a better view of Venice by climbing the tower at the Church of San Giorgio Maggiore - Just don't go up just before the hour.

Don't be afraid to just wander and get lost. The place is packed with wonderful little secrets just waiting to be discovered.

Oh, and take a camera with lots of film - I got through two big boxes of the stuff.

RAS

I stayed in late February and had good weather, a bit cool and misty one night. Spoke to people who had been the same time the previous year and it had been freezing. So, maybe a bit later. And stayed on one of the islands and commuted with the school kids.

Wear your most comfortable shoes, you'll be walking a lot. Buy your vaporetto ticket in advance. Also get your head round the location of cross canal gondala that can really save your legs because there are few bridges. I don't think they were included in the vaporetto ticket.

For views get a free ticket for the Galeria del Tedeschi. And while you are in the area wander round the Rialto Market and get round the corner to All'Arco one of the best cichetti bacari in Venice. Hole in the wall almost, no inside seating. Sarde in Saor was amazing. Managed to get a space by the window shelf to perch my ombra. 

Get up early and avoid the crush, or wander in the evening. I found a little pasticceria just beyond the Ponte de Canonica for breakfast before the Ducal Palace opened. The Rialto Bridge was manic in the daytime, but quiet by 6pm. And wander, there's some beautiful cloisters between the medical museum and the hospital (ambulances float here) with the basilica next door. Not far from Osteria Alberto, which was very good.

And if you've time, Verona is excellent but do check your train as expresses are much faster and cost more. Even if you only take a day trip and freak yourself out climbing to the top of the Arena, then the watch the waiters serving drinks to people on the roof top terrace next door. The arena used to be a lot higher before the earthquake reduced it, eek. 

FreeBear

RAS said: Also get your head round the location of cross canal gondala that can really save your legs because there are few bridges. I don't think they were included in the vaporetto ticket.

Cost me about 50c to use the traghetto - A gondola trip that undercut the tourist boats by at least €80. And you're right, the cost is not included in the vaporetto tickets.

Oh, and talking of vaporettos, don't sit next to an open window as it comes in to dock - Saw someone get absolutely drenched as the wave cascaded through the window

zagfles

Yes don't bother with the tourist gondola trips, they're a rip off and rubbish. I know it's what everyone thinks about when visiting Venice but they're just a tourist trap, IIRC it was 80 EUR for a short trip and the gondalier hardly said a word to us, but was very chatty with other gondaliers we passed. Except to point out Marco Polo's house which we found out later wasn't  

Instead do a walking tour or two, there's a good app GuruWalk where you can book "free" (tips based) walking tours in cities around the world, you don't pay anything up front, just tip the guide at the end. Or just google walking tours. 

Masango

Don't take the ferry from the airport or the dedicated express coach to Venice as those are for tourist and expensive but take the public transport coach 10a (it's the Atvo  line connecting Lido di Jesolo with Venice) . It's comfortable, fast and cheap (it's around €2 one way) . Ticket machines (multiple languages and card payments avalaible) are outside the coach stop, if you don't find it or don't know how to use it everybody working at the bus station or the coach driver will help you. You can but ticket online as well

Time table or to buy the ticket online are on the Atvo website, look for line 10a