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Venice in a day

Hello everyone. My family and I are spending thirteen days in Europe this July. We have a few days at the beginning of our trip and two days at the end of our trip in Rome. Since this is our first time to Rome, we plan on spending most of our time in Rome touring the city. However, I am also interested in spending a day in Venice. Unfortunately, we can only spare a day if we decide to go. Has anyone done a day trip to Venice and is it worth making the 8 hour train ride for only a few hours in the city? Sorry if this question has been asked before. I'm new to the forum. Thanks for your help.

Posted by
8550 posts

Venice deserves time to appreciate it's uniqueness. You are traveling in July. HORDES of tourists. I'd say NO to your question.

Posted by
19515 posts

Save Venice for another trip. It deserves 3 full days.

Posted by
3580 posts

I took a day trip to Venice from Florence once. It was my first time there. The train was three hours each way. Not ideal, but I enjoyed it. I think you will want more time there.

Posted by
11613 posts

I guess the big question is, how cranky will your family be after four hours on a train? And then four hours back?

Is there a way to squeeze Venezia in somewhere closer than Roma?

Posted by
693 posts

It is possible but I would not do it, especially with children. If you want to do a day trip from Rome consider Orvieto. Even Florence would be more realistic than Venice.

If you did decide to do it you would need to leave your Rome accommodation around 6 - 6.15am to catch the first train at 6.50. This arrives in Venice at 10.35am. The last returning train leaves at 19.25 and gets back to Rome at 23.10.

Posted by
126 posts

How tight is your schedule in Rome?

Can you leave Rome one afternoon, arrive in Venice that evening, then return to Rome the following evenng?

There’s a train at 14:50 direct to Venice arriving at 18:35, or another at 15:50 arriving 19:35 – given that sunset isn’t till 20:30 plus you have twilight after that it gives you a few hours to explore Venice in the evening – to me one of the nicest times to appreciate the city. Plus there are less people around in the evening.

Then get up early the next day, sunrises before 06:00, spend all day exploring before returning to Rome that evening.
It would be rushed but would be doable if you desperately need to see Venice.

As others have said you need a few days to really appreciate it.

If you do consider this then also think about staying at Mestre rather than on Venice proper, the reason being Venice is not an easy city to find your way around especially if you are loaded down with suitcases – I’ve seen grown men reduced to tears trying to find their hotel while manhandling their luggage on a crowded vaporetto. Every train to Venice stops at Mestre plus there is a very good bus service from Mestre. Drop your bags at the hotel – there are plenty across the road from the train station then head off unencumbered. Venice is only 10 minutes away.

Posted by
32431 posts

agree with the above but fundamentally disagree with Mestre.

Stay at the Best Western Hotel Ala which is a 30 second bridge-free walk from the vaporetto dock, off the beaten path but close to everything, and - for Venice - they have decent rates and nice rooms.

If you will spend the night in Venice, stay in Venice. You can wander all over the area without having to get in and out of the mainland.

Also, by the time you have hustled all the family onto the train or bus in Mestre, got the vaporetto all the way down the Grand Canal and paid for all that any savings in Mestre will evaporate as will the time.

Stay in the middle of everything and absorb it like a sponge. Our room at the Ala had gondolas gently going under the window (overlooking a small rio) with the occasional accordion and singing.

Don't miss Venice at night.

Posted by
3696 posts

Unless you are positive you will be coming back to Italy and include Venice, I would try to make it happen. Frankly, I would take a night from Rome to spend it in Venice. I was there 3 times only on day trips (but a shorter commute) before I had the chance to spend a week there during Carnavale. Crowds, heat, it was still magical to me... it is truly a unique city. Keep the kids up late the day before train travel and maybe they will sleep. Worth the effort as far as I am concerned.

The whole of Europe deserves more time.... however, we have to work with what we have. If you fall in love and are fortunate enough to return you can give it the time it deserves, if not, just absorb all you can. It's the kind of place that stays with you forever. If you do spend the night be sure to get up early enough to watch the sunrise, and see Venice wake up. It is before the tourists and you will virtually have Venice to yourself.

Posted by
1231 posts

"We have a few days at the beginning of our trip and two days at the end of our trip in Rome"

You don't say where you are coming from, but if you have a few days, why not fly into Venice and start from there?

Posted by
7 posts

Thanks so much for the input. Sounds like a day trip is not a wise idea. I will definitely look into the suggestions about leaving Rome one afternoon and spending the night in Venice. I think I can make that work. Our flights are already booked to/from Rome so not an option to fly into Venice.

Those of us, like myself, who have no clue what we're doing really appreciate the feedback from the veteran travelers that frequent these boards. I've learned a lot from reading many of the posts since I started planning my trip. Many thanks.

Posted by
126 posts

I will have to disagree with Nigel’s suggestion of staying on Venice proper – if you have never been to Venice then the last thing you want to do is try to find a hotel with your luggage in hand. It’s nothing to do with saving $$$S by staying in Mestre – it’s more to do with saving your sanity.

The hotel Nigel refers to is a vaporetto ride away from the train station – so you need to find which vaperetto you need, then find the vaporetto stop, then manhandle your luggage onto the boat, know when to get off and then drag your bags thru the streets to the hotel – ah what joy!! And do the reverse when you leave

My plan is you leave everything behind in your hotel in Mestre – take your camera and go into Venice and then wander the streets. There are trains back to Mestre till after midnight. Arrange to leave your bags in reception the next day so all you need to do is collect them on your return from Venice and catch your train to Rome.

There’s no argument that Venice is a beautiful city to stay in, Mestre is not that flash – but you have minimal time to look out your hotel window & you will see what you want and get a feel of the city in 24 hours.

Get the earliest train back into Venice the next morning and wander the streets before the tourists wake up, it’s superb.

Posted by
45 posts

Just make the best of it - good luck! You can't always spare more time, so do what you can and the memories will be there. I think going will be far better than not.

Posted by
11613 posts

Mama, just want to reiterate the advice to stay in Venezia rather than Mestre. Staying in Mestre is not much different than daytripping to Venezia, in my opinion.

Pack minimal luggage for your one-night stay, check the rest at the train station, and take the vaporetto (a 24-hour pass would be convenient), and take the vaporetto to the hotel where you have reserved a room in advance (booking.com is good). Get the name of the vaporetto stop and directions from your hotel and enjoy your trip!

If you have limited time in Venezia, you will want to get out early and stay out into the evening/night.

Posted by
3580 posts

Zoe said it best. Plan ahead. The vaporettos stop in front of the train station. Hotels (I reserve thru Booking.com) will give directions, so take a printout, ask for directions if necessary, eat wherever the food looks good, and ENJOY!