Burano, Murano and Torcello

We were in Venice for a week and took the vaperetto to both Burano and Murano and it was worth the trip. Just two days, I would stay and enjoy Venice. It's a wonderful place to walk around and enjoy. Of course, there were no cruise ships there when we went in 2010, to spoil the views.

If you only have a single day in Venice I would save the trip out to the islands for another time. There is so much to see in the city! But maybe you really want to see these places? Only you can decide how you want to spend your time. I love Burano and Torcello...Murano is OK if you're really into glassmaking but it's very touristy.

I agree with Anita, given that you have such a short stay in Venice. Also, While I especially enjoy Burano, i think doing any justice to all of Murano, Burano and Torcello would take considerably longer than half a day, especially given the time on boats and getting to and waiting for boats.

Thank you! This is very helpful.
We are also in Florence for 2 nights with an option for 1/2 day tour to Pisa. The tour agents says this is a must. Your thoughts on this?

Once again, 2 nights in Florence means just one full day, plus maybe one or two part days, correct? There is so much to see and do in Florence. Also, for me, Pisa would be well down my list of day trips from Florence, with Siena, San Gimignano, Volterra, and a scenic or wine tour if Tuscany all coming first. Yes, there is a photogenic tower in Pusa, and it does indeed lean, and the churches in that "campo" are also very nice, but the area is very, very touristy, and you would not experience any "small Tuscan hill town life" in Pisa. Of course, if seeing or climbing the leaning tower is on your personal bucket list ...

We are also in Florence for 2 nights with an option for 1/2 day tour to Pisa. The tour agents says this is a must. Your thoughts on this?

With two nights in Florence you only have one full day and part of another. You can easily spend twice that amount of time in Florence and be fully engaged and entertained. Side trips or Day trips are really unnecessary when you are only there for such a short time. Ditto Venice. As others have said, stay on the main island(s).

You do not really need a tour guide for either city. Rick Steves' books give plenty of advice on seeing these fabulous cities on your own at your own pace!

Pisa is not a must-see, unless you have kids with you. Plenty to fill your time in Firenze itself.

I also agree about Murano, Burano and Torcello. If you decide to go, you can see plenty of glass on Burano, and Torcello is my favorite part of The lagoon, but again, there are lots of things to see in Venezia itself.

Just echoing the the others: just 2 nights isn't enough time to add side trips from either city. There's plenty to do in both cities without spending what little time you have in transport to/from others. And as Laurel said, both Venice and Florence are very easy to do on your own with a good guidebook.

You haven't noted exact dates but I might caution that, say, if your one full day in Florence is a Monday - when the Uffizi and Accademia are closed - you'll need to use your partial day for those. In other words, check the days attractions are open/closed or open only for limited hours against your dates.

Thank you again for all the advice. We arrive in Rome on a Monday. We have 3 nights in Rome, 2 nights each in Florence and Venice. We already have guided tours to the main points of interest in all 3 and just looking for other ideas so we get the most out of our short stay. Also, good restaurants, etc. Definitely interested in Tuscan tour.

Remember, part of the reason these optional tours are being so heavily pushed by the tour company is that they make money on them. If they don't meet your needs, don't feel pressured to take them just for fear of "missing out" (the tour companies are very good at making you feel this).

I agree with everyone else; 2-3 days in Rome, Venice, or Florence, each with many days of first-tier sights, means no time for "optional" excursions, unless you have a special interest.

Do get Rick's Italy book, as it will have all kinds of ideas for how to spend any free time you may have.

Definitely interested in Tuscan tour.

Again, you don't have time to do this with only 1 full day and part of another in Florence. We had 5 nights there - no tours - and found enough to do without leaving the city at all! Then again, how much you want to do depends on what you're interested in?

The only reason to go to Pisa is if you're on the way to Lucca. You can get off the train, run around the campo to see everything from the outside, get back on the train and continue to Lucca.