Hello,
My husband and I are planning, God willing, to go to a couple of countries in Europe this summer. Venice will be one of our stops for 3 nights during the last week of July. We love the out-doors much better that museums, but we are excited about seeing one or two at each of our stops on our 3 week trip. We were wondering what you all would recommend while we are in Venice. We have a gondola ride booked with Get Your Guide and were wondering if we should book the Doge's Palace or St. Marks' Basilica (or both). We also would like to take a boat ride to Murano and Burano. What would be the most economical way to do that? Thanks in advanced for any good advice that you can offer!
Posted by
Phoenix🌵
2715 posts
On our first visit to Venice we really enjoyed Take Walks Doge's Palace & St Mark's tour. On my second visit I took the vaporetto to Burano but skipped Murano. You will want to buy a vaporetto pass for the time you are in Venice. It saves money over buying tickets for each trip. Part of the fun of Venice is just wandering around to see things off the tourist path.
Posted by
San Diego, California
4675 posts
You're in luck! There have been multiple posts here on the Forum regarding Venice. You can do a Search, and also read the postings under Italy from the last several months. I think you'll find your questions have already been answered.
Do you already have lodging booked? There is a lot of pent-up demand, so lodging is expensive and in short supply this summer. I'm assuming you are aware of the summer heat and the need for air conditioning.
Safe travels!
Posted by
Ontario, Canada
4573 posts
My concern about a vaporetto pass for a July visit is the increased chance of full vaporettos. It happens, but you would need some vaporetto ticket to get to the islands. Price out the tickets, as the pass may pay for itself just for that day.
I think you can't visit Venice without going to St Mark's and its square.
I pass on the gondola ride but it is a Venice thing. Did you know there are gondola 'ferries' that take you across the Grand Canal for 2€? (Just sayin', since you mention 'economical').
If you decide on the vaporetto pass, there is the Lido, another island and where there are swimming beaches.
Venice is made up of 6 districts...or neighborhoods...each with their own flavour. I recommend reading up on them to see which would suit you as a neighborhood for sleeping and getting lost in.
Posted by
San Franciso Bay Area, USA
951 posts
We are going back to Venice in late April. Last time we went we only had a few days and took the Walks of Italy VIP Doge’s Palace Tour and St. Mark’s. It was long (about 4 hours), but excellent. We went to Murano and it was not something we enjoyed.
This time, we are with friends, so we are going to take the Walks of Italy tour of Doge’s Place & St.Marks tour, but skip the prison. This time I have done so much research on the horses of St. Marks and the mosaics and will be bringing binoculars to get a better view. We also are going to take another gondola ride. We are going to skip going to the islands. Instead, we are taking a food tour, going to the Opera, and spending more time wandering some of the off-the beaten path neighborhoods.
Venice can be very crowded, so if you haven’t booked your rooms yet, please do. Venice is a wonderful place to get lost (figuratively and literally).
Posted by
Australia
862 posts
If you enjoy the outdoors more than museums then Torcello is a really lovely place to escape the frenzy that is the rest of Venice. You take the same ferry that goes to Burano but just get off earlier. It's peaceful, got ancient ruins and a few nice restaurants.
Posted by
Gettysburg PA
6015 posts
Posted by
Washington DC
27062 posts
Torcello is farther out in the lagoon than Burano.
Posted by
OP
Kansas
15 posts
Thank you everyone for your great tips and ideas! Yes, I have already booked a place to stay over a month ago (Hotel Al Ponte Moncenigo...it was in Rick Steve's Italy book & has great reviews!). Thanks for thinking of making sure we did that! The swimming Lido sounds great, as well Torcello! We also like the idea of going on the "Take Walks" tour. Can't wait to go since this is my first time ever to Europe! Covid kept us from our original trip in summer of 2020, as I'm sure it is the case with many others. My husband has only been to Ireland & Scotland, some 40 years ago. I went to Australia back in 1982, so that is the extent of our international travel thus far, except for a couple of trips to Mexico.
I hope everyone else has a wonderful time on their trips!
Posted by
New England
593 posts
Enjoy Venice and Al Ponte Mocenigo! Sandro and Valter were such gracious hosts during our weeklong stay in late 2021. We enjoyed a meal next door at Cafe Mocenigo—I loved the sarde in saor (sweet and sour fried sardines with raisins and onions, typically Venetian and delicious).
I hope you can make time one evening to walk from the hotel just a few minutes over to Campo San Giacomo dell’Orio — it’s the local neighborhood square that seems to act as everyone’s living room in the hour or two (~6-8p) before families head inside for supper. Children kicking around a soccer ball in the courtyard in front of the church, older folks on benches, etc. There’s a small Coop organic supermarket on the square and a good gelateria (Gelato di Natura) just as you approach the square.
Buon viaggio!