I'm off to Venice for a 3 days in a couple of weeks time with MrsGOO. We've never been before, so aside for the obvious tourist traps we've seen on TV, what do people suggest we do? Mrs G is keen to go to the Murano Glass place, and I just want to take photos of the architecture. Oh, and eat and drink lots. Ta. GOO
Be aware that, to sit and have a drink in St. Mark's Square will be about the dearest drink you'll have bought in your entire life. It's somewhere I'd love to go to again and explore a bit more. If you head over the Rialto Bridge there's a shed load more to discover and the crowds die down a little too.
Get a Venetian porcelain mask! Very pretty. Just have a good dander about, there's lots of interesting stuff down little side streets and alleys that wouldn't necessarily ever be pointed out to you but are lots of fun to happen upon. Lots of cool glass shops and liquor shops with a (generally amazing) pizza counter and I really want to go back
When I went, I got heatstroke and passed out on a small boy while riding a vaporetto. On reflection I would recommend not doing that
The Murano Glass place is nice. Was fun to watch a guy making things from glass. And like Kenco said, buying a drink in St Mark's Square will make you wince. I'd also suggest going on a Gondola ride, it was well worth it I thought. I absolutely loved Venice when I went. Although I went in summer and it was like a furnace lol.
Thanks chaps. I don't think heat stroke will be an issue in February though. I'm guessing wellies rather than sun block, as it tends to flood a bit from what I've read.
First, I recomend Lonely Planet's Venice and the Veneto, City Guide It's great for the turn by turn walks in various parts of the city that take you by foot to everything worth seeing, section by section. That was cool and helped by taking the burden of "OMG, what to see" off our shoulders and just let us walk, look, talk and enjoy. We knew that the 7 things we wanted to see, would be on one of the walks and we would get there eventually. We averaged one walk per 1/2 day and basically saw the whole city. Wear good shoes. I linked to the 2008 edition, since it's the one we used. There is a 2010, by a different author, and I can't comment on it. I'm assuming you are flying in? if so, you'll need to take the bus to the main station and then transfer to a water taxi. This can be hectic and crowded. Keep alert and don't run over children's feet with your luggage. It helps to have looked at a water taxi map and found the nearest stop to your hotel. From your stop, you'll need to walk, again it can be hectic. Keep cool, especially loading and unloading from the taxis, where no one will care that you have luggage. Murano is actually an island out in the lagoon. I recommend going early, since all the demonstrations end fairly early in the afternoon, like 2, IIRC. Stop and appreciate the public art, especially the hayroll. You'll see, lol, I'm not crazy. behind the hayroll is a nice place for an espresso. All the stores will have the same crap, except the ones that have really nice pieces. I found little in the middle. and, tbh, to get the nice stuff home is an expensive gamble. The Bridge of Sighs was the one thing I wanted to see, and it was covered for renovation. So we took the palace and prison tour, which was worth it. You get to walk across the bridge, so it was my consolation prize. And they have an awesome collection of battle armor and weapons. The rest of the plaza is crap, IMO. Don't bother with a coffee or lunch. and don't feed the flying rats. We did go up the bell tower, and it was an awesome view. But we skipped the basilica due to the cue. I have seen enough churches, monasteries, and cathedrals in my life to last me. And I doubt spending 3 hours in a cue would have left me open to wonderment at this particular one. I'm telling you, the food in Venice sucked. We didn't have one good meal there, cheap or expensive; except at a great pizza place in the northeast corner of the Campo san Polo. Best pizza I have had in Italy, and it hit the spot with a cold beer after walking all day. This, btw, killed me. I love to cook, and classical Italian is one of our favorites. Forget it, my wife commented that the best Italian food in the world is in Germany and at our house. I am inclined to agree. Perhaps if we lived there for a spell, then I could say otherwise. But in Venice? no dice. All bland tourist food. And the wine....well, let's just say I'm spoiled by South Africa. I didn't get a descent bottle of wine until we found a little place in Rome. I was >this< close to giving up hope. I hope you have better luck. (if you do, please let me know. I'm sure we will be back in Venice at some point again) Otherwise, the entire city is geared to tourism. It's a very walkable city and I encourage you to get lost. That is the best way to really see the city. Make a point of getting up and out before 6am and watch the city come to life. People taking small boats to work, the garbage boat, the hardware store on the water with boats loading building supplies. The boats delivering to the daily produce markets. For me, that was the joy of seeing Venice. That and the water taxis. If you have the time, get on one and follow the entire loop of the city. It's a different view, and cheaper then one of those tours. If you are interested, you might try the Jewish Quarter. It's on the northern section of the city (Sistiere di Cannaregio), but quite worth it. The crowds are way thinner then in the south on Sestriere di San Marco. But a lot of history there, and very different vibe. Good street cafe's as well. If you have any other questions or want me to post pictures, hit me up.
My pleasure. I'll add things as I think of them. I loved Venice. It's one of those places where you get the impression that due to the massive tourism and it's uniqueness, the people are all the more protective and attached to their city. I like that.
Ah Venice.... Loved the place. I went there in October for a conference and I was gobsmacked by the place. Lovely atmosphere, good food, good places to see, nice to stay but easy to get around. Easiest way into the heart of Venice is to just grab a water bus from the airport (the jetty is a 4 minute walk from the airport main doors). A return ticket will cost you about €21). If you're staying near Rialto Bridge, then you only need to be able to find 2 locations; Rialto and San Marco. "All roads lead to Rome" in this case, all signs point to one or both of these places, so once you know where they are in relation to where you're staying it's easy as pie to get around. You can literally just wander around and find all kinds of beautiful little hidden away places. Walk along the main canal, past San Marco and after the 3rd of 4th bridge, the tourists to cease to exist and you're in one of the older quarters of the city. There are loads of little gardens and parks there and it's a lovely 2 or 3 hour walk at least. There is Guiseppe avenue running angular to the walk and there are loads of nice little cafeteria there for something nice to eat, even just a simple 4 seasons pizza and a Birra Moretti Murano and Burano are worth seeing. Burano I would recommend during the day. It's one of the very oldest of the little islands out there and very colourful, so it contrasts with the similar buildings in Venice itself. Don't buy anything at the kiosk just off the boat though, I paid €9 just for a fish&chip. You can get the water boat from San Marco to Murano and then from Murano to Burano and then back to San Marco for maybe €6 return. San Servolo was a nice island (it's where the conference was), there are usually some galleries on display and a nice little walk around the place. It used to be a mental hospital (fitting locale for wetland scientists) but it's been well maintained and restored. It's gives you some beautiful views back onto the main part of Venice. The 20 line goes directly there from San Marco and leaves ever half hour. I am not a travel guide, but I thought that literally just wandering around was the best way to see the place and I never once got lost in 5 days.
I've been thinking about surprising the girlfriend with a trip in a few months, I think Venice will have to be the location, It's either that or Poland I've wanted to go there for years. I have heard about the smell though?
The thing about the smell is nonsense. Yes, it smells a little like the sea at high tide.... what would you expect... IT'S BY THE SEA! Also, general rule of thumb, stay the hell away from San Marco square between 09:00 and 17:00, before and after that all the tourists go back onto the cruise liners.
Water wiffs in places but its ok really. I would love to go back there. Surprise ya gf with it mate. I took mine on a gondola ride with a guy on the front doing a serenade. Look on her face was priceless (in a good way) I can tell you
Apparently the smell is only present when it's warm, it was the end of March/start of April when I went and it was fine. Just found some of my old photo prints from that trip (moving house Cheesecake), some truly awesome buildings+ street markets everywhere! Time to start saving to go back...
Which kind of area do people recommend to try and stay? Most people are saying the city is very walk-able so i'd like to be as central as possible.
Anywhere near Rialto bridge is perfect. The whole city is walkable, it's that or a gondola in most places. Try www.venere.com for hotels in the area, can set your price limit and really good range. Worked a charm for me when I went there.
I was very pleasantly surprised that the smell I remember from childhood (think open sewers) was gone even on the hot summer day I was there a couple of years ago. Venice University Library is free to enter. (though it doesn't say anywhere) Buy your drinks from normal "superette's" or small shops, saves you a shedload, and try to get something to eat as far away from the centre as possible ;-) There is actually a "normal" non water bus going to venice, and trains too. So it's possible to stay off the islands themselfs. Though if you're staying in a hotel you'll want to stay on there. We stayed on "Camping Venezia" on Via Orlanda just onto the main land (5 min's by road-going bus) as we had come by motorbike.
