Husband and I have three vacation days before he has to be in Villach, Austria for a week of business. We're going early and were thinking of traveling from Klagenfurt, AUS to Venice for those three days. We would take the train from Klagenfurt to Venice on Sat 12/5 and return on 12/8. Any thoughts on whether or not this is a wise plan? Thoughts on what we should see and do? Where to stay? I always research and plan, but this trip came up out of the blue. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Posted by
Corsicana, Texas, USA
354 posts
With three clicks of your mouse on this very website, you can see what Rick Steves recommends for Venice ("Home" / "Plan Your Trip" / "Venice"). I count 9 informative articles listed for Venice.
Posted by
Vicenza, Italy
319 posts
Sounds like a great plan to me. Go enjoy! It may be a little chilly but nothing compared to Villach
Posted by
Tel Aviv
15589 posts
Download the Rick Steves 4 (?) free audio guides to Venice - they are all terrific. I also enjoyed the rented audio guide at the Doge's Palace. Be sure to visit the San Marco Basilica at midday - to see the mosaics when they are floodlit. When I was there in October, they were on when I entered somewhat after 12 noon and went off at 12.30. I don't know what the schedule would be on Sunday, tho.
I stayed in the Dorsoduro area, as recommended to me here, and loved it. It was a 5-minute walk to the vaporetto stop on the Grand Canal, but it was in a residential area, very quiet and not touristy.
For hotel recommendations, it's best to give us an idea of your budget.
Posted by
Chicago, Illinois, USA
586 posts
Highly recommend Locanda al Leon near San Marco for a great combination of location, cost and quality! As for things to do in Venezia, consider:
- Getting lost frequently wandering through the city
- Tour Basilica San Marco and Palazzo Ducale
- Take in a quartet concerto (Vivaldi was Venetian) one night in the old prison adjacent to the Palazzo Ducale
- Take elevators to the top of the San Marco campanile and the San Giorgio Maggiore campanile (a five-minute vaporretto ride) - both great views of the city!
- Take a gondola ride (expensive)
- Take a Venice walking/boat tour - about 2 hours each and well worth the time
- Have a drink (again, expensive!) at one of the old cafe's on Piazza San Marco and people watch
- Get off the beaten path to visit another area of the city, largely residential, for dinner one night
- If you like art, definitely visit The Frari Church
- If you still have time, take the 40 min vaporreto ride to Murano for the morning for glass shopping, a demonstration, and lunch
- For more details, checkout my blog with some specific Venice itineraries
Can be cold and damp and some places have early hours this time of year, but you'll 'own' the city, which should look great with the holidays coming.
Buon Viaggio!
Posted by
Northern VA, VA, USA
121 posts
Ellen - Venice is nicely done in three days. I would recommend a hotel that we stayed in which is located in the Dorsoduro area and very quiet - Hotel Messner. It is across the canal but only a stop or two from San Marco. It is very near some shops and the Guggenheim. It is reasonably priced and has rooms that view a small canal or the garden. There is a restaurant - breakfast was good and we also ate dinner there one night - best gnocci in sage butter ever! After spending time with the crowds doing all the must see/do touristy things, it was nice to come back to such a peaceful area. I would also recommend going over to Murano for the glass and enjoying a drink off of San Marco. We didn't find Venice as expensive as we expected. Enjoy your trip!
Posted by
victoria, Canada
11507 posts
Bring/waer boots, could be very wet. I have also seen photos of St Marks Square underwater, you never know! LOL
No one suggests this place, it is smallish and quiet, but we ( dd and I ) spent a lovely hour in the Costume Museum in Venice, it is near the San Stae vaporetto stop. The area around there is very nice also, not touristy but quaint.