Cruise starting in Venice in 2021. I'm thinking of spending a few night prior to our cruise departs to get over jet lag. We spent 3 days in Venice 4 years ago as part of our 3 week trip to Italy. We enjoyed Venice and we saw most of the tourist sites when we were there last time. I'm not sure if it's worth the money to go there again for a few nights and days of R&R. Please share your thoughts.
thank you!
There is so much more to Venice than what you can see in 3 days. Good heavens. If you enjoyed it, there are plenty of areas I am sure you never got to. Did you wander every district? You can get your quota of sunlight for free walking where tourists rarely do...and still finding parks, fabulous art in churches, piazzas with locals doing their thing....again, for free. But if you are looking at it from a finance perspective, consider Padua a short train ride away for potentially lower hotel costs.. However, when considering the price, build in the train fare for 2 both ways plus the hotel cost and any tourist stops you might add.
I agree -- there's a lot to see and do in Venice. It seems like an ideal place to get over jetlag, with no cars and plenty of walking opportunities. You may want to revisit some of your favorite places, but you should also do some exploring. Hotels can be expensive but you don't have to find one right in the center of things -- the remoter the better in fact.
Padua could be a good day trip from Venice (by train), and many posters recommend more time there. But you could easily fill your pre-cruise time in Venice itself. Plus, you'd be spending money in the city, helping its economy a little, in contrast to the day-tripping cruisers who fill up the streets but spend relatively little.
Without knowing what you saw and where in Venice you stayed I can't suggest what you may have missed, but we stayed for 5 full days before a cruise and never ran out of stuff to see. My favourite part of Venice was just wandering before the daytrippers got there in the morning and after they left in the evening. We stayed about a 15 minute walk outside the tourist zone in a residential neighbourhood and loved it. Did you go to Burano? I like the idea of spending time in Padua, or even Verona. Both also make good day trips from Venice.
***I'm not sure if this is common, but on the day we were to board our ship, it was delayed by fog and then a regatta and didn't make port until 5pm. It was supposed to arrive at 7am. As a result, anyone who was disembarking and heading straight to the airport missed their flight. I'd consider tacking on a day at the end of your cruise.
One can also walk out of the terminal at Marco Polo Airport and catch the bus in the parking lot to Cortina d"Ampezzo (18 euros pp; 2 hour trip) . Enjoy 2 days in the eastern Dolomites and come back for the tour. Cortina Express... but there are also other companies.
hey hey sue
when and where is your 2021 cruise going to? we did a greek island cruise with norweigen few years back. as others have posted, lots to do and see outside venice proper of the "touristy areas".
we stayed a week before cruise, went across to the lido and walked along the main street to the end of road to beach area, sat with some nonna's on a bench, laughed alot talking with our hands and google translator, stopped for a glass of wine and appetizers watching kids and families playing, took vaporetto back while the sun was setting.
rented car at train station for an overnight stay on lake garda in bardolino for their annual wine festival.it was absolutely fabulous, eat drink and be merry. kept our apt in venice and room was 99E on the lake.
isoladiburano.it lots of things to do and see in burano. don't forget to eat it's famous risotto, famous burano cookie and other pastries at pasticceria carmelina, walk into little artist shops. went to murano and really didn't like it.
tripsavvy.com/chioggia a boat/train ride from venice, known as "little venice" with less crowds. enjoy walking around with shops, cafes, bars, small fishing port with a fish market. see something different. how the crowds will be next year, who knows but always have plan B
we did a private taxi tour of prosecco road. took train ti susegana, great guide pick us up and saw the beautiful countryside and vineyards growing the prosecco grapes, having lunch, tasting so much local winery proseccos. one of our favorite days.
ilburciello.it a boat ride up the brenta river, passing historic villas, under bridges, learning the history sailing onto padua. you can take a train back to venice or vice versa
schezzini.it (alessandro@schezzini.it his email) he does cicchetti pub crawl with appetizers, wine and history of venice. fun tour
streaty.com food/wine tours in venice
cookly.com check what's available in venice or stops on your cruise.
(facebook.com/cocaeta) he makes crepes. be patient he's alone. order a crepe and sit on the canal enjoying it and watching the world go by.
we stayed in a small apartment with balcony, washing machine, small elevator, fabulous owners near san toma stop. love venice and would go again, stay a couple more days and as allen says, never know what drama happens. we spent night at airport hotel after cruise for flight next day. checked in early and took a train somewhere to a town about 30-40 minutes away and just walked, had lunch, sat and people watched, back to hetel for flight back to states. hope this gives you other ideas with other things to do while in venice.
aloha
Three is very time to see and experience Venice . Stay more than two nights. Many posters have suggested just walking through neighborhoods for a wonderful experience. On our last trip to Venice we stayed two weeks and never ran out of things to see or do.
I've been to Venice 6 times and still have not seen it all.
The last two trips we stayed two weeks each time.
It is well worth another visit.
Venice does repay a longer visit. Sure, knock off the big ticket items, Basilica, Piazza, Rialto, Doge Palace, Academia and Ca’ Rezzonico.
And then you get to discover the second order things, the Querini Stampalia, walk along the Zattere, take a vap to Certosa for lunch, check out the hospital library, take a picnic to Torcello, or just hang out in your favourite campo.
You could spend a month there and not run out of things to do. And of your visit coincides withvthe Homo Faber exhibition, absolutely do not miss it.
Thank you all so much for your valuable input!
