5 Must Do's in Venice.........?
Discussion
Whatcha Peeps,
Will be taking the bread knife for a surprise trip to Venice this year for her 30th birthday. I was looking for inspiration for things to do and places to see; this would have to include gastronomic experiences also.
We are going for a 4 day weekend so it should be long enough to do most of the major attractions St. Marks Piazza, Gondola, etc. I look to the PH massive for tales of experience, good or bad.
Flights and hotel have already been booked.
Will be taking the bread knife for a surprise trip to Venice this year for her 30th birthday. I was looking for inspiration for things to do and places to see; this would have to include gastronomic experiences also.
We are going for a 4 day weekend so it should be long enough to do most of the major attractions St. Marks Piazza, Gondola, etc. I look to the PH massive for tales of experience, good or bad.
Flights and hotel have already been booked.
Don't under any circumstances take the water bus from the airport. We thought it'd be a good way to see the lagoon
Why I thought it'd be less crowded, smelly and uncomfortable than any other bus I don't know. Take a taxi, it's very
Especially when the throttle gets opened up for the lagoon crossing.
Why I thought it'd be less crowded, smelly and uncomfortable than any other bus I don't know. Take a taxi, it's very Especially when the throttle gets opened up for the lagoon crossing.
hello
ooh Venice eh? very expensive...
brilliant restaurant www.cantinacanaletto.it
food it very good and the sommelier likes to remove the corks from champagne bottles with a sword...
Murano for the glass factories
beware the traghettos - they are gondolas you have to stand in to cross the canals - very scary!
try and eat/drink as far away from St Marks Square as poss its cheaper for one thing although nothing can beat people watching whilst sat in the square at one of the cafes...
there are a couple of places full of wonderful renaissance paintings but for the life of me I cant remember what they are called..sorry
have a great time
Jane
ooh Venice eh? very expensive...
brilliant restaurant www.cantinacanaletto.it
food it very good and the sommelier likes to remove the corks from champagne bottles with a sword...
Murano for the glass factories
beware the traghettos - they are gondolas you have to stand in to cross the canals - very scary!
try and eat/drink as far away from St Marks Square as poss its cheaper for one thing although nothing can beat people watching whilst sat in the square at one of the cafes...
there are a couple of places full of wonderful renaissance paintings but for the life of me I cant remember what they are called..sorry
have a great time
Jane
Are you going during Carnival? cos that is superb with everyone dressed up in masque ball costumes. Personally dont think the Gondolas are worth the extortionate ammount they charge. Catch a ferry across to where the Venetion glass is made. Pretty interesting. Best food IMHO is well away from the rip off tourist trails.
Try and go there out of season - its immeasurably better.
Good places to go include the obvious - St Marks, Doges Palace, Rialto Bridge, Getty etc etc but the nicest time is to be had just strolling round the back streets (beauty in depth)
Food is generally appalling so either go to the best/famous restaurants (Cipriani etc) or follow the locals. Avoid anything with a menu toristico! Vaparetto is the cheapest and best way to get about - water taxi`s and gondola`s are harsh on the wallet.
Good places to go include the obvious - St Marks, Doges Palace, Rialto Bridge, Getty etc etc but the nicest time is to be had just strolling round the back streets (beauty in depth)
Food is generally appalling so either go to the best/famous restaurants (Cipriani etc) or follow the locals. Avoid anything with a menu toristico! Vaparetto is the cheapest and best way to get about - water taxi`s and gondola`s are harsh on the wallet.
We went to Venice on a budget and took a package holiday (
). Whilst we almost always do our own thing in these circumstances and never sign up for any of the trips and excursions offered, we did do the Gondola ride. The price was reasonable-ish but the trade-off was that we had to share with another family, but it was ok as they completely ignored us for the whole ride and they might as well have not been there.
I think if we'd paid full price for exclusive hire then we might have felt a bit ripped off, but for what we paid for and got it was an experience.
). Whilst we almost always do our own thing in these circumstances and never sign up for any of the trips and excursions offered, we did do the Gondola ride. The price was reasonable-ish but the trade-off was that we had to share with another family, but it was ok as they completely ignored us for the whole ride and they might as well have not been there. I think if we'd paid full price for exclusive hire then we might have felt a bit ripped off, but for what we paid for and got it was an experience.
When is the Carnival? The missus has been to Venice before during the carnival on an A-level photography trip. If the pictures are anything to go by then it should be good. Thanks for the restaurant advice, I would like somewhere intimate but don't want to be ripped off. I don't mind spending any amount of money on food if it reflects the quality and level of service. I assume that around St. Marks is going to be geared up to removing Yank tourists of their hard? earned.
veetwin said:
When is the Carnival? The missus has been to Venice before during the carnival on an A-level photography trip. If the pictures are anything to go by then it should be good. Thanks for the restaurant advice, I would like somewhere intimate but don't want to be ripped off. I don't mind spending any amount of money on food if it reflects the quality and level of service. I assume that around St. Marks is going to be geared up to removing Yank tourists of their hard? earned.
Carnival is Jan 28th to the 8th Feb.
Search net there are some amazing pics.
you don't have to spend lots to eat really well. Round Piazza San Marco, it's a bit pricey, so would recommend going to one of the squares further away - where the yocals go.
The Doge's Palace / Prison was good, the Basilica is a must (they have a nail from Christ's crucifixion, some of Mary's milk, ST John the Baptist's heed, etc etc if you believe in that sort of thing) and the vioews from the top over St Mark's Square are impressive.
We spent 1 evening sitting in the square at Florian's (the oldest cafe in the square I think) which was beautiful inside, and had some guys outside playing string instruments. We went out of season, but I think all the cafes are normally open and they all have their own 'in-house' musicians. Don't be surprised if they clobber you for them on your bill though. And drinks in the square are pricey - can't remember EXACTLY, but a couple of drinks each and listening to the must cost us £30-odd IIRC. They do give you some nuts, though...
We took a good Venice guide book with us, which allowed us to plan our days, and go where we wanted. The Peggy Guggenheim museum was OK, Rialto bridge was great, but packed, and we didn't really have time to 'do' Academia, although we strolled through it fairly briskly. I found the square where Indian Jones emerges from the drain system - after taking a brass rubbing of the knight's shield under the 'X' in the library. Some of the views are breathtaking, but the best bit was strolling randomly in a big circle, and disciovering markets, restaurants, bars etc.
Thought the area around St Mark's Square was grim - loads of shops selling tat (winged horses included, no doubt), and guys flogging rip-off Louis Vitton bags etc. Pretty nasty really, AND packed with tourists.
Can strongly recommend the ice cream, too.
The Doge's Palace / Prison was good, the Basilica is a must (they have a nail from Christ's crucifixion, some of Mary's milk, ST John the Baptist's heed, etc etc if you believe in that sort of thing) and the vioews from the top over St Mark's Square are impressive.
We spent 1 evening sitting in the square at Florian's (the oldest cafe in the square I think) which was beautiful inside, and had some guys outside playing string instruments. We went out of season, but I think all the cafes are normally open and they all have their own 'in-house' musicians. Don't be surprised if they clobber you for them on your bill though. And drinks in the square are pricey - can't remember EXACTLY, but a couple of drinks each and listening to the must cost us £30-odd IIRC. They do give you some nuts, though...
We took a good Venice guide book with us, which allowed us to plan our days, and go where we wanted. The Peggy Guggenheim museum was OK, Rialto bridge was great, but packed, and we didn't really have time to 'do' Academia, although we strolled through it fairly briskly. I found the square where Indian Jones emerges from the drain system - after taking a brass rubbing of the knight's shield under the 'X' in the library. Some of the views are breathtaking, but the best bit was strolling randomly in a big circle, and disciovering markets, restaurants, bars etc.
Thought the area around St Mark's Square was grim - loads of shops selling tat (winged horses included, no doubt), and guys flogging rip-off Louis Vitton bags etc. Pretty nasty really, AND packed with tourists.
Can strongly recommend the ice cream, too.
Doges Palace is not bad but if you get the walkman style guided tour, don't hang about 'cos my battery ran out before we got to the last room!
Gondolas are well expensive, but you've got to do it haven't you? Killed me paying the price but its done now (It was my honeymoon after all). Barter on the fare price though.
Drink alot of wine, regularly and then a bit more.
Hope this is some help.
Gondolas are well expensive, but you've got to do it haven't you? Killed me paying the price but its done now (It was my honeymoon after all). Barter on the fare price though.
Drink alot of wine, regularly and then a bit more.
Hope this is some help.
mechsympathy said:
Take a taxi, it's very
Absolutely ! This is a must (assuming you arrive in daylight).
IIRC, it cost about £60 about 10 years ago (funnily enough, Mrs Numptie's 30th
). Say £100 these days - sounds expensive but gotta be done A cruise taking in Murano, Burano and Torcello is a nice thing to do one afternoon.
There's a really posh bar or hotel on Piazza San Marco where (IIRC) Victor Hugo used to go for a lash up. Good for a one off extortionate G&T.
I wouldn't bother with a Gondola unless the missus is adamant.
Harry's bar (at the Cipriani) for a couple of pre-dinner Bellini's is also a must.
Cheers,
N
Thanks again for the replies. I could have booked the Airport to Centre Water Taxi on Expedia with my booking, they quoted me £45 per person each way! I have been told by a colleague that you can get a free speed boat ride to Murano to encourage you to purchase glassware. I think the Gondola thing is going to have to be done. Can you take wine of them things and does the guy serenade you with the Cornetto song? :-)
veetwin said:
Thanks again for the replies. I could have booked the Airport to Centre Water Taxi on Expedia with my booking, they quoted me £45 per person each way! I have been told by a colleague that you can get a free speed boat ride to Murano to encourage you to purchase glassware. I think the Gondola thing is going to have to be done. Can you take wine of them things and does the guy serenade you with the Cornetto song? :-)
IIRC we paid about £50 pre booked from the hotel (at the southern end of the grand canal) to the airport.
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