Venice dilemna

I can't imagine 2 days being enough for Venice but if you want to go someplace else, much of Italy is not very far by train. Verona, Florence, Bologna, the lake above Milan, eetc. Or start in Rome and spend 3-4 days there, train to Venice and spend the rest there.

We've spent a total of 10 nights in Venice over two trips in 15 months and could have spent more time. We plan to go back within the next year again! We've spent 14 nights in Rome over the same two trips. There's never enough time in Rome! Split up your week between these two great cities and start planning your return. :-) Fly into Venice and out of Rome. The Venice departures are ridiculously early. BTW, in Venice get away from the hoards. Go to San Giorgio Maggiore and that bell tower instead of the campanille in P.za. San Marco, walk through Dorsoduro to the Zattere, visit the first ghetto, take a vaporetto all the way to Torcello, birthplace of Venice. Venice is much more than museums and churches. In Rome, we take your time. She can be overwhelming, but if you take it slow and don't over schedule yourselves, you'll find her much more approachable.

I agree with previous comments; I spent 8 days in Venice on my first trip and would have loved to stay longer. If you just want to "do" the big tourism sites, I guess 2 days might be enough. But wandering takes time, particularly in Venice where you often can't go directly for point A to point B (because of canals). And O found the wandering to be the best part. Also, the smaller islands are lovely, quiet, and quite different from one another. I'd recommend leaving some time for exploring them.

I also agree that Venice can take as much time as you can give it. However, if you find you'd like to daytrip, Padova is only about an hour away. One thing many visitors to Venice miss is the island of Torcello, the earliest Venetian settlement. Church and mosaics are worth a visit.

Artie, where did you hear that two days was "enough" for Venice? I'm wondering if it was from someone who daytripped in and only went to Piazza San Marco and the Rialto bridge.

Take the train to Padova and see the Scrovegni Chapel. It is supposed to be breathtaking. However, you need to make reservations online for a 20 minute visit.

Thanks for all the great feedback! We have decided to stay in Venice for a few days and go to Florence as well.

we were in venice, oct 2010. walked the back alleys and canals on cannereggio, jewish ghetto, venice casino (admission fee once was enough) ferry to mazzorbo walked around the small island then crossed bridge to island of burano. lovely pastels colored houses, had lunch then onto ferry to the lido. walked around, had a glass of wine or two at different cafes, people watched, then caught ferry back to venice during sunset. that was a fun day of fun. we spent 7 days in venice and still not enough. Just get lost, finding an alley to get you somewhere is the fun of it. DONT STRESS OUT, have a few laughs. we did

I visited Venice for the first time in 2007, and three nights was just not enough. As a rookie traveller, I spent my time then rushing from sight to sight, not wanting to miss a thing, but by doing so ended up missing the most important thing of all -- just "being" in Venice and lingering over a meal or a glass of wine. I am grateful to be returning to Italy next month and have allotted 9 nights for Venice, and planning not to make the same mistake twice. On this visit there will be plenty of time for wandering and lingering, and finding the best spots local coffee, gelato, and wine. Will "get lost" with camera in hand, and hopefully return with enough memories to last a lifetime.

We've gone to Italy three times so far and are going back next year. Venice has always been in the itinerary. We love it. Here is a collection of photos of Magical Venice taken by me in May of 2008 and 2011, in case you're interested. Happy travels.

Thank you all once again for the feed back.We have finally decided to split our time between Venice and Florence :)
Any suggestions for decent hotels in the city center ideally serving free breakfast for both cities?