Venice Alternative?

I would still go to Venice, just avoid Rialto and St Mark's Square. We stay in the quiet Cannaregio area, on the serene back canals, where there are no crowds, and you can take a sunset pix without a soul spoiling your frame. Venice can be magical and delightful, there's lots of walking in peaceful areas, just stay away from those two areas.
Also- instead of a gondola, try Row Venice, 90 minutes group rowing lessons on the back canals- now that's a real experience, and it's harder than it looks, around 100 euros total.
We love Hotel Ai Mori D'ORIENTE.
Have a great trip!

Given you are flying home from Zagreb, including Italy is truly awkward ( which I suspect is not news to you).

I know nothing about the area between Venice and Trieste.

Plan a separate trip to Italy and really enjoy it, not just 'work it in' to the schedule this time.

My $0.02

If you're not already visiting Dubrovnik, I'd certainly recommend it. It's admittedly very touristy, but like most touristy places it's for a very good reason: it's gorgeous. And it's anything but soulless.

Pat - Thank you! Do you think Venice can still be magical mid-late August? I just google pictures of crowds and about had a heart attack.

Joe - Google actually has us going through Italy when we go from Slovenia to Croatia. I agree going out of the way to Venice doesn't make much sense. I would rather keep going but hopefully I can find a nice little town not too far out of the way to keep the wife happy!

Thanks jphbucks! We were not making it that far south. I really wanted to but by the time I looked at my interarry it was too crazy. So we just bit off the north and will slow roll through there. I appreciate the recommendation.

I will be in Venice for five days the last week August for my third visit. Yes the crowds can be big, but when you get out of the tourists areas the city is wonderful. Instead of going to San Marco, go to Frari. Not as fancy but has a beauty and history of it’s own. The smaller museums each are interesting. Or just wander around, stop at the local shops. Eat gelato. You can’t get lost; it’s an island.

If you be in Venice the last weekend of August there is the Historical Regatta. Saturday 8/31 afternoon is the blessing of the boats. Sunday 9/1 are the gondola and boat races.

We have been in Venice a lot. 14 times I think, for periods of 1 night to 7 nights. We avoid crowds and love it. Piazza San Marco at dawn the off to a remote area of the island or to the Laguna Islands. Dawn, late afternoon, early evening, and night are to be savored

You absolutely must go to Venice. If you don’t, the risk is potential divorce. As a relative of mine told me when I got married, if you want to go to the mountains and your wife wants to go to the sea, you find a mid ground compromise and go…to the sea.

Venice is crowded all months of the year, but outside of the main streets (Calle in Venetian) crowds are non existent.

In the Italian news article be.ow they mapped the crowds based on the cellular ping data. As you can see in the map shown in the article it’s very busy in some spots, basically near San Marco, Rialto Bridge, the train Station, piazzale Roma (carparks), and the main walking thoroughfare between the station and San Marco along the Grand Canal. Anyplace else is pretty empty.

https://www.avvenire.it/agora/pagine/big-data

agreed. With a bit of effort crowds really can be avoided and Venice is incomparable. There is nothing even close.

You can (both) have a great trip.

I have been to Venice six or seven times and love it. It is NOT soulless. It is amazing, even when crowded.

One visit we made to Venice there was an annual festival with boat races on the canals and people wearing traditional costumes. It was jammed, but we enjoyed it very much.

Venice is unique with its canals and you can still enjoy your stay.

Ravenna is relatively close to Venice and worth a day trip.

If you want some great background before a trip to Venice you might look into Francesco's Venice BBC series. There are 4 episodes. They are available on youtube. Careful about buying DVD on Amazon. They are only UK/Europe format and won't play on USA players.

Also consider ferry from Croatia. Here is what google AI shows:

There are multiple ferry companies that offer service from Croatia to Venice, Italy, including Kompas, Venezia Lines, and Adriatic Lines:
Kompas
Offers a ferry route from Pula to Venice up to three times a week, with crossings taking around 3.5 hours
Venezia Lines
Offers day trips from Croatia to Venice that allow visitors to spend the day in Venice and return to Croatia in the evening
Adriatic Lines
Offers fast catamaran ferry service from Venice to Croatian ports including Pula, Poreč, Rovinj, Umag, and Piran from May to October

In that case, you should try Trieste with Italian, Austro-Hungarian and Slovenian influences that are all evident in its layout, which encompasses a medieval old city and a neoclassical Austrian quarter. However, for a more Italian flavor, try Udine, the capital of the Friuli Venezia-Giulia region or Belluno in the Veneto region is just 100 km north of Venice; is a hidden gem in the easter dolimites region with great food and wine.

Perhaps, from Croatia you can take the ferry across the Adriatic sea and get to San Bennedetto del Tronto, or Ravenna, Ascoli Pisceno or Ferrara. Also, you may get to Chioggia or Comacchio which are considered a "Little Venice", cheaper and much less crowded.

You got options to keep your wife happy while experiencing some adventures off the beaten track....have fun and safe travels!

Have you been to Venice? If not, do you see a return to Italy and Venice anytime soon (relative based on your age)?

If this is likely the only time in the foreseeable future you will be able to visit Venice, I think it is worth the "hassle". I don't think it is worth it if you're going way out of your way to visit it for, at best, one full day. Like any major city or major cultural hub, Venice has many, many days worth of things to occupy a visitor - from art and architecture to the unique layout and the nearby islands.

Can you just get your wife to agree to return to Italy next year for a couple weeks exploring Northern Italy or even just the Northeast bits? The Dolomites make a nice complement to Venice and the Med. Or Venice-Florence-Milan is a fun triangle.

Wow!!!!!!!!!! Great responses thank you so, so much! No you have got me going on Venice. I do not believe we will be back that way anytime soon. We have seen a ton of Europe and I love it but I want to get to South America and Africa and, yes, Antarctica. It sounds like there is a way to do Venice without being backed like sardines so I am strongly looking at going for it. Especially if you can take a ferry right over to Croatia.

Roberto, I can't read Italian, but that cell data map is very interesting. Thanks for sharing.

Venice is such a beautiful city and it shouldn’t be missed. Here’s one of our most memorable experiences there last autumn: it was early Saturday morning. Most tourists were still sleeping/breakfasting in their hotels, but the Rialto Market was ready for business. We wandered around and bought some fresh vegetables and then stopped at a place for espresso. Then another for freshly made cicchetti and a tiny glass of white wine. It was incredible.

Another idea for a town to visit is Treviso. It’s close to Venice, pretty quiet, and of course, the food and wine are terrific.

Great memories to last a lifetime!

Yes the map was awesome thank you. I'll check out Treviso that is not too far out of the way!

I agree with everybody who is saying, just go to Venice. Treviso, Chioggia, and Comacchio all have canals and bridges, and we have enjoyed all three towns, but they are not even close to being like Venice. If I had to name an alternative, I'd say Treviso or Padua --- both are very livable and fun. I would not think either would be crowded in August, but I don't know that for a fact --- we stayed in both in September before the pandemic.

I also vote for Ai Mori D'Oriente. I've stayed there a few times and have always felt welcomed. Lovely rooms, friendly staff and great breakfast as well.

Sweet I’m booking the Ai Mori D'Oriente now!

Another plus for Ai Mori d'Oriente is that it is close to the Madonna dell'Orto vaporetto stop, which is really convenient.

Awesome thanks!

I did a trip going through Austria, Slovenia and Italy. After Ljubljana, we continued in to Venice, I wished we had time to visit Trieste though. You'll have a fraction of the crowds of Venice and its the coffee capitol of Italy, not to mention its a slice of Italy that many tourists don't get to see.

If you've never been to Venice, it is an A-list destination for a reason however, if you only have a few days or, have to go far out of the way to visit, then save it for another trip and make it worth while.

Thanks! We have three nights there so hopefully that’s enough. We’ll make sure to stop by trieste on the way out

It's not enough but it will be better than not going.

Staying in Venice means you have the evenings and early mornings to wander and appreciate the beauty without the crowds.

If you want to avoid crowds, avoid The Lido which is also likely to be crowded. We went in September when all the each clubs were shuttered and we had the beaches to ourselves. But August is prime holiday time. I think it would be fun to see this slice of Italian life but on your only trip to Venice, maybe not.

hey hey
happy wife happy life. good choice, you will
love venice.
sent you a private message (PM), upper right hand corner
aloha

awesome much appreciated