A couple venice questions???

Venetians do begin eating dinner out until about 8:00pm. If you go at 7:00pm to a nice restaurant, you may not have much company. We had 7:00pm reservations in the Aroma restaurant at the Hilton Molino Stucky on Giudecca and we were alone until 8:00pm when it began filling up.

The vaporettos do not stop running. There are night vaporettos. There are fewer runs during the late night and wee hours of the morning but the vaporettos continue to run. Very easy to do a Grand Canal cruise when its dark.

The secret itineraries tour is worth the time and money. On this tour, you explore areas that you cannot explore on your own. You can explore the other areas of the palace on your own once you get in.

Many restaurants don't begin dinner service until 7:00 or 7:30, so you'll be fine at those times - maybe even a little early as Larry points out. The orchestras play until late. You'll be fine going to St. Marks Square after dinner to listen.

great! that sounds perfect!

thanks!

Terry, according to their website (I was researching today for my own upcoming trip) the secret itineraries tour is 16 euro and includes access to all the other areas of the palace. HOWEVER, if you have another ticket that includes entrance to the palace (like the Clock Tower tour or the city museum pass), then you only pay 10 euro for the tour. The tours in English are all in the morning and take about an hour and 15 minutes. If you want to see the Basilica mosaics when they are floodlit (11.30-12.30, highly recommended) and take the tour, you will have to zip thru the rest of the palace or plan to visit the Basilica on another day.

More detailed info at: http://www.museiciviciveneziani.it/frame.asp?area=info&musid=8&parte=biglietti&sezione=musei

As has been said, dinner is late in Italy. Don't skip lunch planning on an early dinner. Restaurants won't open until at least 7, and more likely 7:30 or later. A 9pm dinner isn't at all unusual.

We saw dueling Orchestras around 9:30 or 10 (after eating dinner elsewher). I'm not sure what time they started. Like dinner, it picks up as it gets later.

As I recall the Vaporetti run into the evening but I don't know the time they quit. We were there in October, so night comes sooner.

We didn't do the secret itineraries tour. Next time I probably will try it.

When you book the Secret Itineraries Tour for the Doge's Palace, do you pay a separate fee to see the areas not covered on the tour or is the rest of the palace included.

Like Chani said, see St. Marks when it is lit. It's an amazing sight. If you go when it isn't lit, you will be missing a lot.

so my plan to do the secret itineraries tour at 11:30 is not a good one then? the only other tour available that day is the 10:45. will that work if i want to see the basilica floodlit? i am not sure how long it will take. does anyone have any recommendation as to how i can make it work with those being the only two SI Tours available that day? the 9:55 only has one spot left and there are two of us.

thanks!