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Update from Venice

Just finished five days in Venice and wanted to give a little report from the ground. As always, check all websites for opening times and whether or not they require advance reservations.

St. Mark’s Basilica: several important changes. First, it is no longer free. This has drastically lengthened the line outside because of the time it takes for everyone to pick which ticket they want and then pay for it. Secondly, the little trick that RS has in his book about checking your backpack/luggage at the church down the alley no longer works. They have now switched to self-service coin-operated lockers. You can’t show your claim ticket to the guard at St. Mark’s to skip the line.

Doge’s Palace: the top about buying your ticket first at the Correr Museum to get in quickly isn’t as effective anymore. Every day that I went by the Doge’s Palace the “Already Have Ticket” line was almost as long as the “Buy a Ticket” line. I would guess 100-150 people in the “Already Have Ticket” line. All the lines in Venice were huge, but it is high season and Venice is very popular.

Burano/Torcello: there is a new vaporetto line (#9) that now connects Torcello to Burano. It leaves every 15 minutes from both sides and goes back and forth all day. The tips for vaporetto travel from Torcello back to Venice no longer work. There is no #12 service from Torcello, only from Burano. Not a big deal, but it took me a second to figure it out. The Torcello vaporetto is to the left of the Burano covered stops.

I’m sure there are lots of other changes in Venice, but that’s the major ones that I noticed.

Posted by
2635 posts

Bill, you’re still in Italy. I’m so jealous. Thanks for taking the time to report back and proved these helpful tips. Enjoy the rest of your trip!!

Posted by
3953 posts

Useful tips! I only wish I were there to use them. You are not missing anything here, weather wise. 🤣🤣

Posted by
7129 posts

Bill, thank you so much for sharing your current experiences! I will be in Venice in early September.

Generally, how is Venice? Did you notice many closed restaurants, etc?

Posted by
387 posts

Venice is packed. The sights are packed, the streets are packed, the vaporetti are packed. Everything is open and running at full steam.

Posted by
2462 posts

I am surprised at your "packed" assessment as I have viewed the web cam on St. Mark's and there were very few people in it. Maybe everyone was in line???

We will be leaving for Italy in less than two weeks and frankly I was thinking (hoping) that Venice would be less than "packed".......

Posted by
387 posts

It’s mainly when you’re walking the streets that you get the sense of how many people are here. And on the vaporetti. The main lines going down the Grand Canal are often overflowing.

Posted by
3777 posts

Last time we were there, July 2018, i had prebooked paid tickets to St Marks even though it was till free. I only paid 1 euro each. How much is it now. I know the museum upstairs was €5 back then.

Posted by
387 posts

Oh, that was the other thing. You can’t prebook tickets anymore. The website says tickets are only sold onsite.

Posted by
260 posts

That awesome thanks for the update. I know I have been overthinking our trip in October about green passes/ health passes/ is the CDC card good enough and what not on the Internet and from the Embassy’s. I know I’m overthinking it and just want to be prepared but it sounds like when you get there it’s not as bad as it seems vs what I’m reading. Would you say that’s accurate? In your time in Italy have they been accommodating to tourist from outside the EU zone. Thanks

Posted by
387 posts

I came in May so I haven’t kept up with the changes on how to enter the country. Once in Italy, no one cares where you’re from. They are ready to sell/serve anyone with Euros.

Do keep your eyes and ears open for upcoming changes to the Green Pass requirements. Until recently they were only used for travel between countries. Italy just passed new requirements that will require the Green Pass for some activities. As of August 6, the Green Pass will be required to enter museums and eat indoors.

I haven’t paid that much attention to the specifics because I’m leaving about that time, but there is talk about requiring the Green Pass for long-distance trains and also planes inside Italy. No word yet on how people from outside the EU would be able to get a Green Pass.