Venice transfer and restaurant tips please.
Discussion
Hi guys
We're spending some time in Venice soon and a friend of mine has advised that in Venice, more than any other Italian city, you've got to be careful where you eat.
We're flying into Teviso and need a car / water taxi booking. It'll only be two of us, so a nice car would be preferred.
Once in Venice we want some decent restaurants and generally prefer grills or fish.
Can anyone offer any up to date recommendations regarding the above please?
Don said:
If staying in Venice you cannot make use of a car. It would be a liability you'd have to park up outside the city. We avoided getting one for this reason and instead got a regular bus transfer from the airport. That gets you as far as the bus station just outside the city proper.
We found a hotel in Santa Croce that we could walk to from the bus station dragging our case. This saved a LOT on Water Taxi / Porter services. From there it was a longer trek to the sights but walking through Venice is hardly a chore. The entire place is amazing!
We found a wonderful Trattoria (Trattoria la Rosa dei Venti) we ate at every night. The waterbus staff ate there. Local people know where to get good food at a decent price. Follow the locals.
Have a great time.
Thanks Don.We found a hotel in Santa Croce that we could walk to from the bus station dragging our case. This saved a LOT on Water Taxi / Porter services. From there it was a longer trek to the sights but walking through Venice is hardly a chore. The entire place is amazing!
We found a wonderful Trattoria (Trattoria la Rosa dei Venti) we ate at every night. The waterbus staff ate there. Local people know where to get good food at a decent price. Follow the locals.
Have a great time.
To be clear, we plan on getting a car transfer and water taxi both ways. Not hire a car for the duration.
It is my understanding that you can pre-book a Mercedes car / water tax as opposed to being hassled by providers at the airport. I have Googled for providers but would prefer personal recommendation.
desolate said:
There is a nice basic grill restaurant in Campo San Polo - Birraria La Corte. Probably not worth lugging over town especially but if you are wandering round the area it is OK with a nice setting.
The bar on the opposite corner does a killer Negroni.
Lots of places in Venice serve small plates a bit like Tapas - it's worth trying a few of them out, lots of places that serve a plate and a glass for a decent price and sometimes you find something lovely.
Lots of places do decent grilled fish - avoid the plastic menu places and you should be OK.
If you are looking for a "Set piece" place to go then both the Gritti Palace and Cafe Quadri are good but pricey.
Ah, I am quite partial to a Negroni and the small plates sound good. As i type this I am eating Spanish tapas which, it occurs to me, suits us better than a full meal.The bar on the opposite corner does a killer Negroni.
Lots of places in Venice serve small plates a bit like Tapas - it's worth trying a few of them out, lots of places that serve a plate and a glass for a decent price and sometimes you find something lovely.
Lots of places do decent grilled fish - avoid the plastic menu places and you should be OK.
If you are looking for a "Set piece" place to go then both the Gritti Palace and Cafe Quadri are good but pricey.
The Leaper said:
I'm surprised you're going to Venice and flying to Treviso Airport, not Marco Polo International at Venice. If that's what you're doing then I can see why you need a car to get you close to the city and then water transport. As others have said, you can get a water taxi, perhaps right to your hotel ....fab but truly expensive....or the waterbus (vaparetto) to, say St. Mark's Square. Once at St. Mark's you can get a man with a trolly and he'll take your bags to wherever you want to go. This is the way we did it. Mind you, for the return a week later week got a water taxi from our canal-side hotel to the airport which was a superb way to leave the city.
We felt the need to have a coffee and grappa at the Florian Café in St. Mark's Square. That cost about £35 and that was more than 25 years ago. Must be done though! Same as a trip on a gondola: we shared and split the cost which was fine by us all.
Mention has been made of Murano and the glass. Did not rate that at all. However, we really liked the trip out to Burano and had superb lunch by the local canal...made this a nice day trip and good to get away from the city centre for a while.
R.
We are flying to Treviso because that is where we can get to from our local airport.We felt the need to have a coffee and grappa at the Florian Café in St. Mark's Square. That cost about £35 and that was more than 25 years ago. Must be done though! Same as a trip on a gondola: we shared and split the cost which was fine by us all.
Mention has been made of Murano and the glass. Did not rate that at all. However, we really liked the trip out to Burano and had superb lunch by the local canal...made this a nice day trip and good to get away from the city centre for a while.
R.
85Carrera said:
I am not a fan of Venice - too busy, too expensive and often too hot but this is probably the best restaurant I have been too anywhere - https://www.locandacipriani.com/en/restaurant/
Great food, impeccable service and superb location away from the crowds. Need a water taxi back which makes it expensive but the restaurant itself is not badly priced for the quality. Plus the water taxis are pretty cool ...
The example menu seems to be in Lira!Great food, impeccable service and superb location away from the crowds. Need a water taxi back which makes it expensive but the restaurant itself is not badly priced for the quality. Plus the water taxis are pretty cool ...
hoegaardenruls said:
Was there last month, and stayed on Guidecca - there was a small chain called Majer had opened up and while it is mainly a bakery/coffee shop with a kitchen where the menu extended to some very good pasta, steaks and Italian craft beer at pretty reasonable prices, and is somewhere I would definitely go back to. I'd assume the other branches are similar, but without the view across to San Marco that you get from Guidecca.
Another on I enjoyed eating at was a basic family run place called All' Orologio in Campo Santa Maria Formoso, which had tables in the square - it was basic but did some very good pizza. What was entertaining was Mamma (who looked about 90) would occasionally come out and chase pigeons away with her broom, and Papa was sat in the kitchen shouting 'prego' at the staff
We were there as part of a road trip, so the car was left at the Tronchetto car park, and used the water taxi for the transfer to the hotel from there which made life pretty easy..
We are staying on Guidecca too, so any more tips would be appreciated.Another on I enjoyed eating at was a basic family run place called All' Orologio in Campo Santa Maria Formoso, which had tables in the square - it was basic but did some very good pizza. What was entertaining was Mamma (who looked about 90) would occasionally come out and chase pigeons away with her broom, and Papa was sat in the kitchen shouting 'prego' at the staff
We were there as part of a road trip, so the car was left at the Tronchetto car park, and used the water taxi for the transfer to the hotel from there which made life pretty easy..
Edited by hoegaardenruls on Monday 26th September 09:01
hoegaardenruls said:
13m said:
hoegaardenruls said:
Was there last month, and stayed on Guidecca - there was a small chain called Majer had opened up and while it is mainly a bakery/coffee shop with a kitchen where the menu extended to some very good pasta, steaks and Italian craft beer at pretty reasonable prices, and is somewhere I would definitely go back to. I'd assume the other branches are similar, but without the view across to San Marco that you get from Guidecca.
Another on I enjoyed eating at was a basic family run place called All' Orologio in Campo Santa Maria Formoso, which had tables in the square - it was basic but did some very good pizza. What was entertaining was Mamma (who looked about 90) would occasionally come out and chase pigeons away with her broom, and Papa was sat in the kitchen shouting 'prego' at the staff
We were there as part of a road trip, so the car was left at the Tronchetto car park, and used the water taxi for the transfer to the hotel from there which made life pretty easy..
We are staying on Guidecca too, so any more tips would be appreciated.Another on I enjoyed eating at was a basic family run place called All' Orologio in Campo Santa Maria Formoso, which had tables in the square - it was basic but did some very good pizza. What was entertaining was Mamma (who looked about 90) would occasionally come out and chase pigeons away with her broom, and Papa was sat in the kitchen shouting 'prego' at the staff
We were there as part of a road trip, so the car was left at the Tronchetto car park, and used the water taxi for the transfer to the hotel from there which made life pretty easy..
Edited by hoegaardenruls on Monday 26th September 09:01
Guidecca itself is pretty quiet, but a good contrast from the main island, and it's worth walking the length of the island just for the views across.
There is a restaurant overlooking the boatyard on the south of the island that is worth trying, but we noticed Majer and ended up eating there (it's not far from the Pallanca water bus stop). There are some small pizza restaurants as well as ice cream shops, etc. Top-end on the island would be the restaurants at the Belmond.
We also found the small Co-op store on the island quite useful for small items, the odd bottle of wine, etc. rather than paying minibar prices - it down one of the side streets, but quite easy to find after you've found it once.
For transfers, if arriving by train/car you can pick up a water taxi at Piazza Roma, but it is probably easier to be dropped at the Tronchetto if travelling by car and find the Water Taxi stop there (not far from the people mover). As an alternative, the water boat does include Marco Polo Airport as its stop on the mainland, and they Blue Line stops outside the Hilton. Although from Treviso, train into Venice might be an option..
http://www.alilaguna.it/en/linea-blu/blu-timetable
We're not staying at the Hilton, no and we are flying into Treviso. Sounds like the island is going to be enjoyable.
desolate said:
The water taxis are expensive - it's about 120 each way from the main airport.
Does your hotel offer a taxi service? they may offer a special deal.
Failing that - try public transport - get a train from Treviso to Venice then either get a water taxi or the vaporetto to Giudecca.
I really like travelling by train in Europe. (not great if you are going fully loaded in terms of luggage)
Public what? This is Pistonheads, I should be asking for Riva Aquarama hire Does your hotel offer a taxi service? they may offer a special deal.
Failing that - try public transport - get a train from Treviso to Venice then either get a water taxi or the vaporetto to Giudecca.
I really like travelling by train in Europe. (not great if you are going fully loaded in terms of luggage)
desolate said:
13m said:
Public what? This is Pistonheads, I should be asking for Riva Aquarama hire
Doesn't count when you are abroad!http://www.shuttledirect.com/en/transfers/lido%20d...
Which hotel are you staying at? Or if Self catering the people I have booked with in the past have organised it for us. But which ever way you cut it the water taxis are just expensive. (but they are beautiful)
And just wait until you pay for a drink in one of the grand cafes - that is painful.
I've seen Shuttle Direct, it was one of the places I got a quote from.
We are arriving mid-afternoon, so I don't want to be fannying about with public transport. We probably won't be doing this again, so I might just bite the bullet.
greg2k said:
The only way you'll be able to take a water taxi from Treviso airport is if it's amphibious.
Which is why I wrote in my OP "We're flying into Teviso and need a car / water taxi booking". We need to hire two differrent modes of traansport; one land-based, the other waterborne. We managed to get a good deal on transfers from these guys. http://www.lowcostaxi.net/venice-airport-transfer.... S Class Merc and pristine wooden water taxi. We used them several times, they were punctual and gave good service as well as being less than half the price of some providers.
We tried some of the recommendations - Majer was a good one. Very good food and reasonable.
Anyone digging out this thread at some future date should try Suso ice cream Calle della Bissa, 5453, 30124 San Marco. The best ice cream I've ever had.
Thanks Guys for the tips, genuinely appreciated.
desolate said:
This thread started a thought process that saw me book 5 days on Guidecca. Booked late last night and leaving on Wednesday morning.
Have already arranged the transfers via the link provided - Ryan Air to Treviso was so cheap it is worth the extra transfer time.
Excellent. Have already arranged the transfers via the link provided - Ryan Air to Treviso was so cheap it is worth the extra transfer time.
I am envious. Where are you staying?
desolate said:
13m said:
Where are you staying?
We have rented an apartment in Guidecca for 5 days.2 mins walk from the Vaporetto stop.
Top tip - take and wear mosquito repellant. I was surprised at how plentiful and hungry the mossies were. That was the only negative in an otherwise idyllic 5 nights away though.
Hope the weather is good to you.
desolate said:
13m said:
desolate said:
13m said:
Where are you staying?
We have rented an apartment in Guidecca for 5 days.2 mins walk from the Vaporetto stop.
Top tip - take and wear mosquito repellant. I was surprised at how plentiful and hungry the mossies were. That was the only negative in an otherwise idyllic 5 nights away though.
Hope the weather is good to you.
Wish I had seen Colin's post about his transfer company - it's quite a few Euro's cheaper than the one I have booked.
I emailed several firms and those that bothered replying were more than that for a minibus and standard water taxi.
Whilst it is easy to get ripped off in Venice, it is also possible to get varying degrees of quality at different price points it appears. But if you've not yet travelled and want to use the other firm I'd have thought you could cancel.
ColinM50 said:
13m said:
Top tip - take and wear mosquito repellant. I was surprised at how plentiful and hungry the mossies were. That was the only negative in an otherwise idyllic 5 nights away though.
Are Mossies still a problem late October?steve2 said:
There are 4 of us going on Thursday and staying on Guidecca at the Hilton so am really pleased with this thread as we are still undecided how we get to the hotel from Marco Polo,
Also will take not of the recommended places to eat, visit etc.
Water taxi is your answer.Also will take not of the recommended places to eat, visit etc.
The best restaurants we found on Giudecca were:
Majer - Basically a bakery cum restaurant. Reasonably priced and decent food.
Trattoria ai Cacciatori - More expensive "proper" restaurant serving delicious food.
hoegaardenruls said:
I don't know if they spray for mossies occasionally, but they didn't seem as bad when I was there in August compared to the same time last year - was still bitten though..
The Hilton supplied plug-in repellent, but I'd still suggest taking a spray as well.
As said, they water taxi is a great way to travel, although the water bus from the airport also stops directly outside the Hilton.
The water bus, or vaparetto, is a hateful thing slightly less pleasant than any other form of pubic transport I have used. On one of the two occasions I used one it was so packed a woman had a panic attack, on neither occasion did we get a seat.The Hilton supplied plug-in repellent, but I'd still suggest taking a spray as well.
As said, they water taxi is a great way to travel, although the water bus from the airport also stops directly outside the Hilton.
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