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Venice in Dec for 3 days well 2 1/2 days

I bought Rick Steves book and found valuable info. I have traveled all around Europe so I am a seasoned traveler. In Dec we are visiting Germany and taking a detour to Venice. Our flight on a Monday Dec 14th comes into Treviso at 815am and we are leaving same airport Wednesday at 12:55 pm.... I have booked our B&B Ca'Bonvicini which is near S.Maria del Frari Also made a dinner reservation for Tuesday night at Restaurant Antiche Carmapane .We would like to see as much as possible but also need some sort of leisure time. To maximize the time is our top priority. My husband loves pasta and I dislike pasta but love fish :) Maybe someone has an idea how to map our trip? I was thinking to start with S.Maria del Frari first and work our way down but not sure. Also would love to visit the local food markets in the morning.
Does anyone think we can see something else on the day of departure? I will buy all my tickets for the city upfront including water transportation. I found I can buy public toilets passes. Is this really needed? Can I get away with just one pass and we both can use it? Also has anyone ever done the gondola where you row it ? I forgot the name of the school. So question: What should we see on each day to maximize our visit? In what order? And can someone recommend a good place to eat on Monday night? I know lots of places are closed on Mondays. Also it was recommended to buy Internet access for the hot spots through the city of Venice. Anyone have any advice on that? Thank you for any and all suggestions.

Posted by
19637 posts

Somehow, I don't think you can see anything other than your way to the airport on Wednesday. You should probably get on the 9:10 bus to Treviso arriving 10:20, 2 1/2 hours before departure. The next bus is at 10:00, getting you there by 11:10, that may be OK, your call.
I've never got a toilet pass or wi-fi as usually the hotel provides this. I'm not into walking around the city staring at my smart phone, although this seems to be the current fashion.

Posted by
993 posts

I would just plan to wander around! I am a BIG planner, and didn't really understand everyone saying "just get lost in Venice" but it's totally true. I thought the real charm was just wandering around and seeing where you end up!

We did the rowing. It's rowvenice.org. Super fun, highly recommended!

Kim

Posted by
11613 posts

If you arrive on Monday and leave on Wednesday, you have less than two full days. Your departure day will not allow much time before you need to be at the airport.

Take a vaporetto ride on the Grand Canal (do the whole circuit if you can take the time), then walk around. Piazza San Marco is a great place for a drink (pricey but it's in the middle of everything) late in the evening. During the day, go into San Marco, climb the bell tower (it's really an elevator ride), just walk around. I like the Canarregio area for relaxed walking and some very good restaurants.

I think you are looking for Row Venice.

Posted by
11247 posts

Zoe gives great advice.

As to toilet passes, the ones covered are never where you need them. Use museums when you visit, or stop to buy coffee or water and take advantage in the cafe.

Posted by
7175 posts

Arrival Day
Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari >> Scuola Grande di San Rocco >> Squero di San Trovaso >> vaporetto #2 from Zattere to San Giorgio Maggiore >> vaporetto #2 down Grand Canal to Ferrovia (Santa Lucia Station)

Full Day
09:30 Piazza San Marco (Campanile di San Marco, Torre dell'Orologio)
10:30 Basilica di San Marco
11:30 Palazzo Ducale (Ponte dei Sospiri)
14:00 Santa Maria della Salute
14:30 Collezione Peggy Guggenheim
16:30 Galleria dell'Accademia

Departure Day
Ponte di Rialto (early morning for the markets)
70min by bus from Piazzale Roma to Treviso Airport http://www.atvo.it/it-treviso-airport.html

Posted by
1994 posts

I just have a couple of things to add to the great suggestions that you been given above. Do time your visit to San Marco for when the mosaics are illuminated. I think it starts at 11, but don't trust me; check their website. It's also worth going upstairs to the museum; the view of the mosaics from there is amazing.

Also, since you only have one full day in Venice, I suggest getting up really early that day and heading over to the Grand Canal by the doge's palace. Watching the sun rise at the Grand Canal is absolutely breathtaking experience and peaceful.

Posted by
1315 posts

Since you love fish you might enjoy a visit to Campo della Pescaria (just west of Ponte Rialto) early in the morning (7-ish) where they display and sell all the fruit of the sea. I did.

Posted by
32171 posts

Susanne,

Rowing a Gondola around Venice in December may not be the most "pleasant" activity. I found this description of the weather....

"December in Venice is marked by chilly temperatures and moderate rainfall, with heavy fog. At the beginning of the month, average temperatures are at 6°C (43°F), with highs of 9°C (48°F) and lows of 3°C (37°F). By mid-December, averages drop slightly to 5°C (40°F), with highs of 8°C (45°F) and lows of 2°C (34°F)."

Do they even offer the gondola school at that time of year?

Posted by
332 posts

Thank you for all the great advise! My husband had the same thoughts about the rowing < indeed they are open> he would rather do a Gondola ride or perhaps a ride down the Grand Canal in a Vaporetto. Awesome hint with the Mosaic time I will check on it I did contact per suggestions by RS the guy that's is doing the wine/bar tour and received a rather unfriendly unhelpful or perhaps just a venetican reply to my request which stated write me in December not sure if I am in Venice at the time. This will not help us so we are not pursuing this tour anymore and are looking for something else to do. Still looking for dinner places. I forgot to add we are both not into shopping at all. As to the Internet m husband is a busy business men and needs to be available at all times lol

Posted by
101 posts

With your very limited time I think a guided tour is a good idea. Check with Roberta at Walks Inside Venice about which of their tours would works best for you. http://www.walksinsidevenice.com/
If you have not been to Venice before their "Venice for Beginners" is a great introduction.
Beyond that make sure you get out of the tourist areas. Explore Cannaregio and Castello to discover that the real Venice still exist.
As far as restaurants, one of our recent favorites was Trattoria Da Bepe in Cannaregio just off Strada Nuova near Santi Apsotoli. For your husband, their black squid ink pasta is wonderful, and you would enjoy their branzino. For a great lunch try Trattoria Alla Rampa on Via Garibaldi in Castello.

Posted by
32512 posts

just a couple of observations -

Do check with RyanAir or Whizz about their flights - the heavy fog is a very real visitor to Venice and the surrounding area at that time of the year.

Wrap up well - cold stone churches don't warm up much in cold foggy weather.

Rowing on the lagoon in the cold and fog will be cold.

Check on the number 2 vaporetto. Its route sometimes changes and that route is often the one to drop services. The number 1 all stops is reliable in most weather. They have radar but any heavy fogs may cause a few problems.

Be prepared for Acqua Alta. Your hotel likely has a store of waterproof boots.

I prefer the view of S Marco from S Georgio's tower rather than S Marco's belltower for the same reason I prefer to view the Duomo at Firenze from Giotto's tower rather than the Duomo dome - if you are up in the belltower of S Marco you can't see it. The top of either tower is windy all year long and chilly even in warm weather.

Municipal toilets - not great and inconvenient, I'd rather spend the money on an espresso at a bar and use their facilities, and you get a coffee out of it.

Wifi. You're only there a day. I understand high flyers. Can't he unplug for a few hours? You'll be 6 hours ahead of Rhode Island. Does he take the damned thing to bed with him? He'll be back on wifi in the hotel by mid afternoon EST, and by late morning PST even if you have a late dinner.

About that pasta. Venice is in the land of seafood, Polenta and rice. Pasta is in other places in Italy and not native to Venice. That doesn't mean that you can't get pasta, or that you can't get pizza these days. Restaurants sell what they think (know) tourists want, so they make pasta. But it isn't Venetian.

Posted by
254 posts

Venetian glass on Murano.
Christmas markets in December.
You have plenty of time. Have fun!

Posted by
332 posts

Thank you for the recent ideas! I did write the tour operator I think its a great idea! I have read about the fog and water but it never occurred to me about the airline so thank you....We will be in Europe a total of 13 days and yes the phone is with my husband 24/7 due to the job. I loved your question about the mattress and I have to answer "yes" to that .... I will take your advise about the towers thank you..I did manage to make reservations yesterday at the first night's restaurant La Zucca Yes I plan way ahead