The wife and I have decided to do a 7 night stay ( or so ) in Venice this coming September. I have not been since 2001 so I was looking for some recommendations. I was thinking of 2-3 day trips ( Murano Burano? )as we figure the first day and the last day are kinda trashed for travel purposes. So a few days around venice and a few outside. Any assistance would be great! Plus any MUST Dine at places too if anyone has any. Reviews of food online can always be misleading, we like to hear from people that actual went recently etc
I recommend Burano over Murano for a day trip. And you can easily add Torcello, adjacent to Burano, the original site of Venice.
I keep hearing that about Murano. That it's one that can be skipped for most people. Then there will be a few random ones boasting about the glass blowing like it's something not to be missed lol
Burano is the prettier of the two islands, but it takes about 45 minutes to get there on the vaporetto. I also suggest getting there before the shops open so there won’t be tourist crowds yet, and you can get some great photos before the crowds arrive. You can walk every street in less than an hour. I would never skip Murano, but I love glass, and even went into the glass museum last time. Murano does get pretty busy, but that’s partly because it’s only two vaporetto stops from Venice, and the day trippers from the cruise ships can fit it in, whereas Burano is too time consuming. I also made a stop at the cemetery island for a nice peaceful walk away from the crowds. It is easy to fill an entire week with things to see and do in Venice. I stayed for a week two years ago, and thought I would do day trips to other cities by train, but in the end the museum/church pass I bought kept me busy all week.
We love Venice and have been, many, many times. You are good to do a longer stay, so much of the best of Venice is missed by folks who never leave the St Marc's -Rialto-Ferrovia track. Burano is an amazing island, it's worth a day of exploring (not much more, it's small). You HAVE to go to il Gatto Nero for lunch, get the fish risotto, and thank me later. Murano for a glass furnace tour is fun, just choose wisely, lots of these are super tourist traps. We did a tour with a private guide at ARS Glass, it was amazing, super super high end. We couldn't afford a paperweight! But it's where the famous folks go, they had pics of all sorts of folks including President and Mrs. Obama. Fascinating tour. The glass museum is also worth a visit. Murano is a great day trip, but not much more than that, I'd do Murano and Torcello on the same day. Oldest church in Venice is on Torcello, and is worth the trip to the little island. Finally, if you are in Venice for a week, I'd recommend either a day trip to Padua, great university town, about a 35 minute train ride away. Get your tickets to Scrovegni Chapel in advance, they are pretty strict, you can't be early or late, etc. But the fresco's will leave you speechless. Another good day trip is Verona. Verona is about an Hour and 15 minutes by train, it is a FABULOUS city, way underrated. Tour the Castelvechio, and the Arena--looks like the coliseum, is as old, but is still being used. Great tour, and if you can see a concert, even better. Then there is Piazza Bra by the arena and Piazza Erbe a short walk away, both are great piazzas to sit and people watch. Lots and Lots and Lots of good food in Verona. Finally my last recommendation, in Venice proper, for an unforgettable lunch, go to Trattoria alla Rivetta, it's in San Marco, about 4 calles east of the Doge's Palace, and one block north of the Hotel Danielli is this trattoria. It's entrance tucked away under a small bridge, it's always about half locals, those locals are almost all gondoliers. The wait staff are all older guys, who have all been there since they were much younger guys, and they are a show in and of themselves. And the food is fantastic, and for Venice, it's not expensive. Have a great trip!