Looking at our schedule we arrive at Venice airport around 6:30 and we have a water taxi scheduled to take us to our hotel. I figure we should be checked in, hungry, and tired by 8pm after 13 hours of traveling. We are close to Rialto bridge, suggestions on where we should eat or do when we arrive. Also should we wait to get a gondola ride once we are there or get one ahead of time? Seems much more expensive to get a prescheduled gondola ride.
Thank you
Which side of Rialto bridge is your hotel?
Don’t prebook a gondola.
I would never pre reserve a gondola ride. What will the weather be? First week of March on an open gondola in the pouring down rain might not be worth the money spent. Who will be the Gondolier?
Much better, on a nice day, when you aren't tired, go to a nearby gondola stand and ask a couple of Gondoliers about where they will take you. Can you understand them? Which do you prefer? Take him (or extremely rarely, her).
no lack of Gondoliers around Rialto, or stroll to a different part of the city and get one there.
My wife and I are going to be in Venice on Monday. Did you know Carnival is going on at the same time? Tuesday is the final day. There should be plenty of opportunities to take a gondola ride in that time.
Between the Rialto Bridge and Piazzale Roma, on the same side of the Grand Canal as the fish market, is an out of the way place named Pane Vino e San Daniele on Calle Dei Boteri. Definitely a hole in the wall local place, but it has good food, good house wine, has been around for decades, and is not expensive at all. But I'm not sure they will be open on Sun. night as the web site doesn't indicate. Perhaps a quick call when you arrive?
Another place in the area is Trattoria Da Marco Valla Fava on Calle Stagneri. It is on the same side of the canal as the train station. A bit pricey, but it has some of the best sea food ever!! Try to eat inside rather than outside. The place has been around at least 50 years so they must be doing it right.
About 10 min walk from Rialto Bridge is Muro Frari, in San Polo by the Frari Church. https://www.murovenezia.com/en/muro-frari/
Website indicates they are open Sunday evenings. I had a wonderful lunch at their other location, Muro San Stae, this past Sunday. It's safest to book ahead but I realize it's hard to be sure of timing on your arrival day what with possible delays, etc.
Enjoy Venice!!
Venice has so many restaurants that I don’t think k you should have a problem winging it. The food we had while there in that area was all great at every restaurant
