Hello.
Me and my 2 daughters, 17 & 18 will be in Venezia for 2 nights and 1.5 days. It is our first visit. What do you recommend we do in our full day?
We like a little bit of everything so are pretty open to your suggestions.
Is it worth doing a guided tour? If so with who.
Many Thanks in advance :)
Rick lays out some options at https://www.ricksteves.com/watch-read-listen/read/articles/planning-your-time-in-venice.
Other than the Doge's Palace and St. Mark's, plus an art museum if you're interested, the magic of Venice is in the wandering. Depending on where you're coming from and what other European cities you and your girls have seen, I'd probably do the Doge's Palace and wander through St. Mark's. As to the rest of your day, just meander around...it's awesome - my favorite city.
Be sure to include a vaporetto ride down the Grand Canal. That might happen naturally as part of your sightseeing, but to me it's the biggest "must-do" of all.
I agree just wander, eat, shop, etc. The Palace and St Marks are good but not the best in Europe. Murano glass is popular but it wasn't a must for me. As Rick mentions in his book there is a vaparetto boat (public bus) you can take up the grand canal which will give you a pretty good overview. I got the three day pass an road it all over taking the less popular routes to see some of the outer areas.
Rialto bridge is also popular but instead of making it a destination I would just see it when you wander by. An evening gondola ride through one of the side streets is nice as is an evening walk. Venice is pretty safe and has a whole other feel at night.
agree with Mandy ...just go wander around. A lot of surprising things you can come across. Need a map, there are so many side streets you can easily get lost. Google Maps is great for Venice
Whatever else you do, make a point to wander away from the Ferrovia/Rialto/St. Mark's nexus and the crowds you will find there. It doesn't take long at all to ditch the crowds--they tend to stick to the same calles. Here's a link to a map that shows the busiest--and least busy--walkways in Venice. Seek out the areas where you mostly see green. Be sure to wander around after dinner, when things settle down even more. Venice is very safe, even late at night. For me, the City of Venice is the best site. I find it magical.
You might like one of these.
We've done the Dosoduro, and it was fun for my friends to see and learn about an area of Venice that most first time tourists don't venture to.
http://www.freewalkinvenice.org/meeting-points-venice-free-tour/campo-san-barnaba.html
Please donate a small amount per person.
0800 Rialto Bridge & Markets
0900 St Marks Square & Campanile
1000 St Marks Basilica
1100 Doges Palace
1300 Lunch
1400 Accademia
1600 Scuola Grande di San Rocco
1700 Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari
1800 Grand Canal vaporetto
we are in Venice right now. today is day one of really 2 full days. my husband 2 daughters 10 (going on 13) and 17. today we are enjoying getting lost wandering the town/shops. tomorrow AM we will do a 30 min gondola ride $80 euro for up to 6 people doges (not sure that's spelled right) and st marks. I'm not sure if we will have time to get to murano and burano but that will be another option. one question I do have is if we will find the same price of leather goods here as we will when we get to Florence or Rome??? it's just beautiful to wander listen to the singing I the gondolas (more$$$) for that-- I would pass b/c so many boats will pass you with music..) there are definitely a lot of tour groups and when we were landing we saw at least 4 cruise ships. so it's busy but no overwhelming.
Lots of good advice here already but the one thing I will add to the suggestion that you ride the vaparetto along the Grand Canal is that you ride it after dark. It's absolutely magical!!
