I need some travel ideas for a small amount of time within our three week European vacation. We will be leaving Frankfurt on the 12th and don't have to be to our next destination (small village in Italy about 1.5 hrs SE of Rome) until the 16th. My kids really want to see Venice and Pisa but I just can't seem to figure out the most efficient way to make this happen. We have a car so transportation isn't a problem but I don't know where to stop. For example we could stop in Lucerne, Switzerland for a night to break of the driving and then head to Bologna to create two one day trips to Pisa and Venice. Or we could drive straight through to Venice, stay one night and then continue to Pisa and do the same. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!
Posted by
Portland, Oregon
5687 posts
You'll like Venice a lot more if you spend the night ON Venice, on the island, and not stay on the mainland or visit as a day trip. Venice is pretty crowded in the daytime, sometimes very crowded, and it can be very off-putting and give people a bad impression of Venice. But in the morning and in the evening, after the daytrippers leave, it feels like an entirely difference place. If you don't stay in Venice proper, you'll probably miss those experiences and be more likely to dislike Venice. Evening is beautiful but I think morning is my favorite time in Venice, when in many places it's completely quiet and peaceful.
With a car, assuming you really need one and can't take the train (or fly) south, the best bet is probably to park your car at Piazzale Roma, given that you can't drive in Venice itself. It's going to be very tempting just to stay at Mestre or elsewhere on the mainland where parking is easier and take a bus or train into Venice for the day - but as I said, you'll miss a lot of the experience if you do that.
Posted by
Sunriver
1321 posts
Normally I would say one place with day trips but Venice and Pisa are not day trips from the same location. Pisa, would not be on my list at all so I'd say stay in Venice and day trip from there. I'd have to tell my kids to pick either Venice or Pisa....sorry, I know that's not incredibly helpful. Maybe they could find a day trip from Venice instead of Pisa.
Posted by
Knoxville, TN, USA
7209 posts
Don't be tempted to spend your precious Venetian time staying in Mestre. You'll kick yourself afterwards if you do. I know I sure did. Been back to Venice multiple times, and it's just so much more enjoyable to stay on Venice Island.
Posted by
Edmonds, WA 🌨 ☂
11841 posts
Pisa needs about 2 hours. Look at it as a lunch stop with a tilted tower in the background on your way to somewhere else. Pisa does not require a 'day trip'.
Posted by
Portland, Oregon
5687 posts
There's more to Pisa than just the obnoxiously-touristy Field of Miracles (where the Tower is). Walking along the Arno in Pisa is quite a contrast to walking along the Arno in Florence - you won't find many tourists along the Arno in Pisa. But there are some interesting churches and buildings along the Arno in Pisa - even if it's not as charming as other places in Italy.
Pisa also combines nicely with nearby Lucca if you want a more varied day trip.
Posted by
Olympia, WA, USA
6713 posts
Do you need to drive the whole way, or can you fly and rent another car in Italy? Driving from Frankfurt to Venice will take at least 10 hours, really two days if you consider the stops you'll need to make and the energy you'll want when you get there. On the other hand, Lufthansa has several nonstops a day, taking 1 1/4 hours (plus of course airport time). Flying saves you a day, and you won't want the car in Venice anyway. Seems like that would be "the most efficient way to make this happen," but I don't know the cost differences. You could rent another car in Venice or take a train to Florence or Pisa and rent there for the trip south -- or trains all the way to Rome before driving. Depends partly on how well your family manages public transportation with luggage.
Whatever you decide, I agree with the advice to try to spend at least one night in Venice itself, rather than visiting on a day trip. You should have time for that whether you fly or drive. Full disclosure -- I haven't been to Venice, but looking forward to a trip next fall and doing lots of research for that.