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Venice itinerary July 3 nights questions

Posted by (Kansas) on

I have already received great info on the forum and now I am back for more help!

We arrive in Venice on 7/1 at 11:40am, from the US. We are staying in Venice 3 nights. This is the first leg of our 12 night trip. We are also visiting Florence, Siena and Rome.

We are generally up and on the go early on vacation, although jet lag and the time change may have an effect.

7/1-Guessing we will get to the hotel 2-3pm. I know we will be jet lagged and need to stay awake until 9pm to get on Italy time. After we are checked in and have luggage in our room, we will need to eat something I was thinking Cafe Florian-but not sure this is the best idea at that time of day. After eating I was thinking we'd walk to Aqua Alta Book Book shop, then to the Arsenal then walk Riva degli Schiavoni heading back to Hotel Alba.

7/2 I have booked the Secret Itinerary tour of Doge's Palace English tour at 9:55am. Should we try to go up the Bell Tower before the tour? San Marco Basicilia website says Bell tower opens at 8:30a, but I cannot book I timed entry until 10am. Can I assume hours info on website is correct? And assume there won't be a line first thing in the morning? Should we just get to San Marco Square as soon as we can and enjoy the square before tons of people arrive? Other things I was thinking we could see on this day: Palazzo Contarini del Bovolo, Ca' d'Oro and if we don't do the San Marco bell tower, San Giorgio Maggiore. Not sure what else we should plan to do.

7/3 Rialto Market first thing then to Burano & Murano.

7/4 10am train to Florence

at some point we will take a gondola ride and use the vaporetto to tour the grand canal.

Looking for advice on what to add, delete or rearrange

Thanks in advance

Posted by
7305 posts

We spent our 3 nights in Venice in almost the same way. We arrived a bit earlier than you though ( at hotel about 11) and our room was ready- we took a short nap. I know folks say not to do that but we have found it works better for us if we do. We never sleep on planes and it was so very hot when we arrived. We set alarm for about a 75 min nap and that was all we needed.

Day 1 --We headed out and found some lunch- just casual- grabbed sandwiches at a spot behind San Marco. Then wandered around, did the RS walk, etc.
We did the SM Campanile that pm- just before sunset, the view was beautiful. We didn't have a very long wait at all- this was in early Sept so it was a bit crowded.
Afterwards we did the Grand Canal vaporetto ride then had dinner near our hotel and went to bed.

Day 2-had timed entry to San Marco just after it opened so we spent some time on the piazza early before it was crazy. Then the Secret Itinerary tour at 9:55- more time after in the Doges Palace. Took a traghetti ride over to Dorsoduro and walked as far as the Frari church- took vaporetto back to near our hotel and did some more walking along with gelato stops. That evening we had a cicchetti tour with Alessandro- who as I understand is no longer in business, unfortunately.

Day 3- Rialto market in am- then walked to fondamente to catch vaporetto to Burano- we skipped Murano- had lunch in Burano and took a very long vaporetto ride home all around the lagoon.

Left for Florence next am.

Posted by
83 posts

Thanks ChristineH, love the idea to do the bell tower at sunset, I also love the grand canal tour!

Posted by
7305 posts

We've got some really gorgeous photos- the light/reflections/rooftops was just amazing. And we are just amateurs, take pics with just our iPhones.
Next month we plan to head over to S Giorgio Maggiore to do the same- to the top at sunset.

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