We arrive in Venice from California on a Sunday morning 7:30 AM.

Posted by silbarsoup on 05/19/16 12:52 AM

Hello,
My family and I are coming to Venice for three nights next month and I'm reading that many places are closed on Sunday. I'm guessing that by the time we clear customs and get over to our hotel to drop our bags in will be 10 AM? We are staying a 5-minute walk from the Piazza San Marco and Saint Mark's Basilica.

Any ideas on places that will be open Sunday and good to go before the tour groups arrive. We are husband, wife, two boys, 15 and 20. they are very big on football (soccer for USA) We have never been to Italy so we want to hit the major spots of Venice. I know we will be jet lagged the first morning and don't want to take on too much.

Posted by Tim

Knoxville, TN, USA

05/19/16 12:58 AM

7209 posts

Venice is a "simple" destination. By the time you actually get to your hotel and check in it will probably be lunch time. Ask your hotel for a lunch recommendation. Just walk around and admire the sights. Orient yourselves on getting to/from St Mark's and let your boys go explore on their own in the vicinity of St Marks. They'll have a blast. You really can't get too lost - it's an island. There are no big sporting venues to see, but I think you'll find plenty of places open.

Posted by Dianejay

New York, NY, USA

05/19/16 02:09 AM

717 posts

Ride the vaporetto to Lido beach nad then back up the Grand Canal. Try to get the front seats. We attended Mass at San Marco. Entrance is on the side. You must stay for the entire Mass, but its a lovely experience and a nice way to see the cathedral.

Posted by Chani

Tel Aviv

05/19/16 06:52 AM

15602 posts

Yes, a lot of shops are closed in Italy on Sundays . . . grocery stores, bakeries, hardware stores, produce markets . . . Sights, restaurants, cafes, souvenir shops, gelato, and the like will all be open. The only problem you'd encounter is if you were staying in an apartment and needed to buy supplies.

Posted by travelguymiami

05/19/16 12:13 PM

169 posts

That must be an incredibly long flight, so chances are with different time zones etc, you will all probably arrive a bit tired.
My suggestion would be just enjoy that first day and take the opportunity to explore Venice.

You can download a few of Rick Steves self guided audio tours. We just did this last week, he has a great tour of the grand canal - just buy a Vaporetto ticket and enjoy the ride...or if you're up to it, he has other "walking tours" as well. You can do them at your own pace

Lastly, just use the day to explore and have fun getting lost and eating gelato. Try and stay awake and maybe get to sleep as late as you can on Venice time that first night, and hopefully wake up in the morning early (ask for wakeup calls or set your alarms) and really do more involved sightseeing.