Stay in Venice or outside?

Hello and welcome to the forum!

The best times in Venice are early nothing and the evening when all day trippers have left. If you stay elsewhere you will be right in middle of all those day trippers.

Look for a monastery stay, usually quite nice by all reports and budget friendly

Mestre is closest but not much going for it

Padova is about 30 min by train and is a worthwhile destination itself
Train is a few euros each way

Thanks for the pointers! Are there any other places worth a daytrip from Venice?

hey hey TravelingCanuck
stay in venice. don't know what your budget in euros, how many people, what are your dates, amenities you need or hope for? there are always places to stay that have budget friendly rooms, looking on booking.com with filters to check on the left side. find something of interest to you, email hotel and see if you can get a better deal booking direct.
like miuccia says, not worth economizing outside venice when you pay for train tickets & time and fees. add it into your budget and cut costs somewhere else. so worth staying on the island with getting out early morning or late afternoon before daytrippers.
stay away from rialto bridge and saint mark's square during 10a-3pm, it will be crowded.
venicetraveltips.com/st marks square
visit canareggio area, the back canals
alongdustyroads.com/veneto (a blog about things to see and do in venice)
eatingeurope.com/venice
use the discount code at top of page
pack light, there are many steps/stairs/bridges to climb over, check-in is usually 3-4pm check-out is 10-11am. arrange your time and usually hotels will hold luggage until check in if early arrival, wear comfy shoes, depending on your time there, what interests you to do a day trip? we took a vaporetto to burano and continued to the lido and back to venice during sunset, did a private tour to the prosecco region and did some tasting at a few wineries
streaty.com food tour in venice
schezzini.it (email alessandro on his website)
he does a small bar/cichetti (appetizers) tour tasting wine, and learning the history of venice.
gpsmycity.com/venice
self-guided walking tours, several to check out
just keep asking questions, these travel volunteers on the forum will give you options, do your research which will be your decision to not add stress you don't need. do have a slice of tiramisu , originated near venice in treviso. sat at an open air restaurant on grand canal across from train station and had two yummy pieces.
gourmettraveler.com.au/what is tiramisu history.
hope this gives you some ideas of things to do and see. venice is a magical place. been 4 times and always find things to do
aloha

island of Murano... but using one of the free boats to get to Venice proper in the morning could be fun

Can you give more detail on these morning free boats from Murano to the main islands?

I know only of "free" boats to the sales pitches at the furnaces from the main islands (make your own way back) but I have never heard of free boats (morning or otherwise) from Murano to the main islands

Are there any other places worth a daytrip from Venice?

Verona and Vicenza are both doable as day trips using trains. Many don't think of Murano and Burano as day trips, but the are away from the city proper, and, depending on your interest, can consume most of a day.

Disagree. Stay in Padova, 20 minute train ride, 1/3 the price, and a lovely town. Trains can be picked up almost any time of day, either way (tons of trains this route). Less than $10. I arrive Venice at 9 or 930, back in Padova 430 or 5. Not crowded, good food much cheaper, and peaceful. Read Rick’s Padova chapter.

I agree, stay in Venice.

Staying anywhere else means you miss what staying in Venice is all about. During the day it is madness with daytrippers, try not to be one if at all possible.

I have been to Venice a few times. The first, over 30 years ago, I stayed in Mestre.

Every other time since then, I've stayed in Venice and realized what a mistake it was to stay in Mestre.

As stated earlier, after 5 PM when all the daytrippers and cruise passengers leave, Venice becomes a different city. The crowds thin out. The locals come out. And you get to see the real Venice. Not the overcrowded mess it can be during the day.

If you want to save money, instead of staying in Venice and making a day trip to a place like Padova, go there and spend the night. It will be cheaper than Venice and there is plenty to see.

I also don't consider Murano and Burano day trips. Vaporetto Line 12 goes from Venice to both Islands every 20 or 30 minutes depending on the time of day.

https://europeforvisitors.com/venice/articles/top-tourist-mistakes-3.htm

We just got back from Venice yesterday! We stayed at an AirBnB on the edge of Cannaregio and found it lovely and non-touristy and can't imagine doing it any other way. Like previous posters have said, Venice becomes a different place after the daytrippers leave. Our last night on St. Mark's square was simply magical. We found the accommodations quite affordable (we are a family of five so AirBnBs work better for us than hotels).