venice itinerary help

Estimate 20 - 30 minutes depending on which vaporetto route you use. The #1 makes more stops and takes longer. You don't need reservations to ride the vaporetto, but to make the most of your time, buy a pass at the ticket office at the train station.

Holly the #1 vaporetto takes 36 minutes to run from the train station(ferrovia) to the San Marco Valloresso stop. That is one of the San Marco Stops. Currently a single ride costs 6.50 euro. A 12 hour pass if purchased in advance on www.veniceconnected.com can cost as little as 12 euro. You would pay online and then pick up the pass at the train station. If you purchase while there the cost is still only 16 euro. Here is the website for the Doge's Palace. http://www.vivaticket.it/evento.php?id_evento=624097&idt=566

Thanks Ron. The vaporetto pass suggestion is really good. I am going to buy it now. But I am not able to find Doge's palace in the website you have suggested. Is there some other website?
BTW the veniceconnected.com is also offering a Museum pass (13 euros) which seems really good as we want to cover 3 museums in our trip- Doge's palace, Correr museum and glass museum. Thanks

Holly in nearby Folsom. The vaporetto stop at the train station is known as the Ferrovia stop on a map. Vaporettos will be going in both directions on the Grand Canal and their are boarding platforms for both directions. You need to take the vaporetto coming from your right and going to your left as you face the canal with the train station at your back. You will see a sign on the boat that says its going to Lido. You can take the #1 vaporetto as mentioned above.

Thanks for the detailed explanation Larry. Appreciate it.

Sorry about the link. Was trying to save you a step. Here is the link for the civic museums. Look towards the bottom for special itineraries. http://www.museiciviciveneziani.it/frame.asp?sezione=prenotazioni

Thanks Ron, I can see it now. My only concern is if i will be able to reach the Doge's palace by 11:30 am(last Secret itineraries tour in english). My train reaches St.Lucia at 10:30am and then have to drop off my luggage there and catch a vaporetto.
Thanks

I wouldn't sweat it if I were you. The regular self guided tour of the building is rather amazing. If you don't make the secret tour, you'll still have lots to see. On the subject of things to see. take the time to tour the museum in Basilico San Marco. As you enter the cathedral, there is a narrow, steep stairway up to your right. that leads to a balcony area with the original horses ( the ones outside are copies) and a mosaic exhibit. You can also access the loggia that overlooks the piazza. I think it costs 5 euro. The line to go up in the san Marco campanile is usually long. Instead, walk to the San Zaccaria vaporetto stop (turn left at the lagoon end of the Doge's Palace) and take the 3 minute ride over to the Chiesa San Giorgio Maggiore. It is the Palladio designed church directly across the lagoon. See the Tintoretto and other art then take the elevator to the top on the campanile for wonderful views of Venice. IMO, better than the views from the San Marco campanile.

Thanks for the wonderful suggestions Ron. Will definitely do this.