Venice - tips on what to do there please!

[HowzAboutIt]

We are staying in Marghera (hu Venezia Camping in Town) soon and will take a trip to Venice itself one of the days. Probably do the usual St Mark's Square/gondola ride! But have 2 days I am not sure what to do with.

We haven't go a car so an idiot's guide of what to do for a mum with no sense of direction and 2 dcs would be such a help .

Thank you!

Gondolas are v expensive and I found the water bus really good fun. You can take one to the islands, I remember murano with the glass shops being good.

Water bus not gondola, Murano glass, walk a lot and look up as well as down.

I went to Mass in the cathedral too (not particularly religious but I enjoyed the experience).

Absolutely water bus down the Grand Canal. The view is breathtaking. We went to the Lido, which was interesting.

How old are the DC? I went last month and had a tour “off the beaten track” with a local guide. He’s from Morano and has a great fondness for pastry shops so can make lots of recommendations if you wanted his details. There is a secret tour of the Doges Palace that goes to areas that the main tour doesn’t - we didn’t get on it as it was booked up but would definitely take my DD10 on that. I would definitely do a gondola ride - it’s iconic. You pay about 80 euros but that’s for up to 5 people.

T Fondaco dei Tedeschi is a stunning department store that has a viewing platform on the roof with a view of the Grand Canal. It’s free but you need to book a time slot.

Oh a water bus thank you! Hadn't looked into that. And yes, a trip to Murano glass making is a great idea. Can anyone recommend where to book a trip from?

@Divebar2021 they are teens so pastry shops is a great shout 😃can you please link that tour you went on? Sounds perfect!

I would recommend taking a short water bus trip to San Gorgio Maggiore. Only a few minutes away.
Beautiful church just across from Saint Mark's Square, the view from the Bell Tower overlooks the Grand Canal.

A car wouldn't be any use in Venice anyway! You can get everywhere by foot and water bus.

Burano day trip beautiful

Apart from The Lido, there are no cars whatsoever in Venice (or bikes). So that's one less thing to worry about.

My tip is to try and visit very early in the morning when it's quieter. And then just walk, catch waterbuses, and take it all in.

Librairie Acqua Alta - lovely book shop with lots of cats in situ - quirky and original - plenty of scope for funky photos - free
Calle Varisco - thinest alley in Venice - fun to search for and good photo opportunity - kids will love it- free
Go to Mass in St Marks - lovely experience - free
A boat ride to the lovely Burano - from memory takes around 20 mins to get there - really pretty, and again fab photo opportunities for your memory box!

For teens I’d just concentrate on eating pizza and ice creams while watching the boats etc!

We went to a Vivaldi concert which was magical and a day trip to Murano and Burano, I would recommend those too, but most teens not so interested in the churches and architecture IMO. Yh Lido is a lovely area, but with only 2 days there I wouldn’t bother as it’s not particularly different to any other beach resort, whereas Venice itself is so unique you want to just soak it all up.

Definitely take a water bus to Murano/Burano and the Lido which is the beach area. Aim for water bus back up the Grand Canal at sunset - incredible views.
We went to a shopping mall right in the centre of Venice, took the elevator up to the top floor and took in incredible panoramic views. Can't remember the name of the mall and you do need to book a free time slot but it's well worth it.
Our teens enjoyed it for a day but it was v hot, v expensive and v busy when we went as a stopover en route to Slovenia a few years ago.

Forgot to add, the bookshop mentioned up thread is very cool, and also there's a Spar shop inside an old theatre that was fun to visit to pick up groceries.

Waterbus to everywhere and highly recommend Burano. There is a gondala ferry that goes from one side of the river to the other for a very very short trip on the traditional gondalas. Food market is fun. Look up movie locations set in Venice and watch before you go.

How long are you there for.

Without a doubt Peggy Guggenheim museum
Small, quirky
.. modern art in what was her house
Only choose one island if you must go there.

Glass blowing fun but Island wasn't pretty

Going to lido was fun and hired a bike

Ten restaurant was best we ate in and don't miss Rialto and rilalto market area. Try and go into one of the ancient Chietti bar's

Oh goodness, these are amazing suggestions thank you all so much!
Lots to google!

We are there for 5 days, so had put aside 2 days to chill by the pool and 1 to look around Marghera and 2 for Venice itself.

Will definitely be adding that mall, the Peggy Guggenheim museum and the Lido to the list with the water bus!

The spar in the theater is on Strada Nouvo & def worth visiting if you're in that neighbourhood

Visit the old Jewish ghetto - the word comes from there and visit the hidden upperstorey synagog. It's a really interesting space & if your teems have read or studied the merchant of Venice it will be v real to them

Visit the rialto bridge & also look for the bridge of sighs where prisoner destined to be executed called out farewells to loved ones

Teens depending on ages might like the dungeons in the Doges Palace - book ahead online

I think a gondola ride is a must if it's your first time in Venice & with teens a night time one is fun - going part Casanovas house etc

The art biennale will be on & if you're into art at all it's fun to visit all the pavilions in the Giardini or visit the vast former shipbuilding warehouse in the Arsenale

Eat lots of gelato & make sure you have an aperol spritz watching the world go by along a canalside

I absolutely would not bother with the Lido if you're only there 2 days

Peggy guggenheim definitely worth a visit though

We loved going to all the different countries exhibitions for the Biennale.

I'd definitely second the secret tour of the Doges Palace - really interesting, creeping about in the attics of the palace, the Bridge of Sighs, cells, torture methods, the story of Casanova, looking down into the areas where tourists were below us. It was really good, and I would think teens would love it. Book it as soon as you can, tickets are limited.

Also, if you happen to be there on a Saturday, and you like fish, go to the Muro Vino e Cucina, by the Rialto Market at midday, they run an outdoor kitchen serving Fritto Misto, and a glass of wine, for 10 euro, then you just sit or stand in the square eating - really great atmosphere.

Venice is also famous for cicchetti, small, tapas-like snacks, which you can find in many bars and cafes, especially in the early evening. They make a great way to try local foods at a couple of euros a plate.

We found the Jewish holocaust museum absolutely fascinating. Loved going out to Murano and the Guggenheim as others have mentioned.

I agree with the Jewish ghetto - amazing history but go with a guide or you won't be able to see inside the synagogues. Don't bother with pizza, it's not a Venice thing, enjoy the cicchetti instead! Wander off the main roads and get lost! Don't bother with Google maps it will send you round in circles - I know from bitter experience!

Venice is so fabulous I don't think you need to 'do' anything. Just wander about absorbing sights and getting lost in the twisty streets and looking at the market and eating lovely food.

My teens loved the quirky things like visiting the narrowest calle and the church with the flooded crypt - can't remember the names though!