Venice--Piazzale Roma to Rialto

You can use Google Maps directions to see a bit of what would be involved. Click the pedestrian icon. They estimate 21 minutes, but you'll be hauling luggage up and down lots of little bridges. Are you staying at Pensione Guerrato? If so, there's a very convenient vaporetto stop, and I've got to say it's a highlight of Venice for us to hop right on the vaporetto when we get there and travel down the Grand Canal.

Obviously, walking there can be done. However, I vote for the vaporetto. Let me give you my reasoning. You will have just gotten off a lomg transatlantic flight. You you probably be tired, possibly jetlagged and those two factors generally make extra crankiness at the of a hat. ;-) I personally find Santa Croce and San Polo where you will need to be walking an veritable maze. There isn't really a good straight line way to get where you want to go. You'll figure the paths out eventually, but it is likely you'll get lost the first time. In addition there are more than a few bridges, not gigantic ones but ones that are three to five or more steps that you need to pick up the roller bag and carry it across. Taking the vaporetto, you'll likely get off at the Rialto Mercato stop and be fairly close to where you need to go.

You can proabably walk to your hotel. The Rialto bridge is not al that far from the Piazzale Roma. However, your luggage will have some difficulty. You will most likely go over numerous footbridges over the numerous canals that you will encounter. There are reportedly about 400 such footbridges in Venice. No doubt you will find a few. In general, these footbridges are not luggage friendly. It's usually stairs up and stairs down. No place to roll your luggage. You luggage will bumpty-bump up and bumpty-bump down. Or, you can lift them as you go over the foot bridges to make it easier. Still, I would attempt the walk. You'll get there OK.

On the theory that "Venice is best approached from the sea" (a quote attributed to Henry James) I suggest you follow Michael and Ron's advice and take the vaooretto. It's technically not 'the sea", but it is the Grand Canal, and a ride down the Grand Canal is a great way to approach your hotel the first time, and a wonderful introduction to Venice. You'll have plenty of time to walk (and get lost) after you check in and drop your leggage.

Yes you " can" walk there, but with luggage and all those bridges, why would you?

... or you could walk over the new bridge, and go down the other side which is a bit straighter and wider, down to the Rialto bridge, over that, and get to your destination. Me, I'm on the vaporetto. Well be, too, next week.

The walk should take you about 20-25 minutes. I have made that walk many times with luggage and it is fairly easy, just follow all the signs to Rialto. The vaporetto is fun and you see things that you cannot see walking, so try walking one direction and the vaporetto the other.

Many thanks for all the various perpectives. Think we will just take the vaporetta on the way to the hotel, and then do the walking bit going back and forth to the train station for day trips. Thanks agin to all. TC

Don't forget to explore the non-touristy parts of Venice itself. There's a lovely public garden down in the Sant'Elena n'hood in "the tail of the fish" that's frequented pretty much only by the locals. It would be a great place for a picnic lunch.

" walking back and forth to the train station for day trips". Wait. Does that mean you are staying in Venice to go elsewhere? I wouldn't leave Venice to go ANYWHERE. Around the lagoon yes. Torcello, Murano , Lido, etc. But the train will take you away.

We will be in Venice almost a week and the wife used to live in Verona so will be doing a day trip to see where she spent part of her youth. Will also do a short day trip to Padua to see the frescos. Will definitely do the islands. Thanks to all for the input. TC

OK, that makes sense then. Thanks for clarifying.

You could also take the Alilaguna "Arancio" (orange) line directly from the airport to either the San Angelo or the Rialto stop, which would shorten your walk and also eliminate the need to take the bus. I'm not exactly sure which side of the Grand Canal those stops are on, but the Rialto one is close enough to the Rialto bridge that you could get to the other side if that was necessary.