To ask for your Venice or Verona ‘must do’s’

[PickettBowtruckles]

DH surprised me with a 3 day Italy trip, somewhere I’ve always wanted to go. We’re having 2 days in Venice and 1 in Verona.

He got me a few travel books but nothing like ‘real’ people recommendations! Any restaurants/experiences that people consider a must do while there?

not really an AIBU sorry

I've been to both places and the one thing I would insist that you do is to visit Burano and Murano. They are 2 islands beside Venice and they are amazing. Burano is called the lace island. It is tiny and so pretty. It's full of gorgeous little shops that sell lace and embroidery and other lovely things. Murano is the glass island. You can see glass blowing and they sell gorgeous glass wear.
Definitely worth a visit.

If you’re going in the summer, catch an opera in the Roman amphitheatre at Verona, it’s stunning. I watched Aida there, with fireflies and bats zooming overhead as darkness fell - it’s incredibly atmospheric.
And try to arrive in Venice by water across the lagoon - it’s gobsmacking to see it rising out of the heat haze in front of you. The gondola trips are a bit pricey, but absolutely iconic, and you get to see loads from the canals as you float by.

Watch an opera in the amphitheatre in Verona. It takes some getting used too as the actors don't use microphones, but use the natural accustics of the place.

Thanks for the suggestions so far :) I forgot to mention we go next week!

Dinner at The 12 Apostles in Verona. Ask to see the cellars!!

Definitely the opera in Verona but check the weather forecast beforehand - they will stop the performance if it rains.

Two days in Venice? Bet you’ll want to go back. :) We did five as part of our multi-centre honeymoon and I wish we’d had longer. But we really enjoy seeking out the non-tourist spots if a place too.

Find the Aqua Alta floating bookshop. Also Doge’s Palace Secret Itineraries Toyr is amazing. I second Murano/Burano but that would take a significant chunk of a day. And you obviously have to do St Mark’s (carhedral and square). And it’s impirtant to spend time just wandering around and exploring. You can’t really get lost.

If you can, arrive by water taxi (you can share it with other people to reduce the cost - look online) - waaaay cooler entrance than the water bus. Do you know which district you’re staying in? That can make a massive difference.

Hope you have an amazing time! What a lovely surprise!

*Tour

Burano is lovely! Obviously go on a gondola down the central canal (it does cost £90 though! But worth it!) the best part of Venice is just getting lost in the maze of it.

We went with our then 3 year old, who did enjoy it, but I could imagine me and my DH just getting lost for days, drinking and eating our way back home.

If it’s nice weather, head to the Lido, but most of all just don’t plan. The streets are just intertwined, get lost. Don’t go to tourist places as it can be expensive. We paid £10 for a coffee each!!! Outside St Marks xx

Another vote for the opera in Verona. I saw Aida there and it was spectacular. The statue of Juliet is alright but crowded.

Venice is full of lovely stuff. The Mirano glass museum was nice and you can get the boat out to it. But if you’re short on time then don’t bother.

I used to live in Venice, and still go back lots, so would have loads:

1. go on a spritz (with aperol or Campari) and cicchetti (sort of Venetian tapas) crawl at about 6pm. The bars around the Rialto markets are great for this.
2. if you want to go up a tower for a bird’s eye view of the city, go up the one on the island of S. Giorgio, not the campanile in St Marks sq. From S Giorgio you get a great view of the city including St Marks; from the campanile you’re on top of the square so it’s not quite the same.
3. See the Tintoretttos at the Scuola Grande di San Rocco. The Titian Assumption in the Frari church more or less next door is also amazing.
4. The Guggenheim is expensive but worth it in my opinion.
5. There are some lovely bars and restaurants around Campo Santa Margherita, Campo San Polo and Campo San Giacomo dell’Orio (also one of my favourite churches)
6. Not sure if 2 days is enough to do this, but if possible take the boat out to Torcello, to visit the beautiful church and just get a totally different sense of the lagoon.

I could go on but will stop myself! Hope you have a great time.

Burano and Murano definitely, and don’t miss the opera in Verona. We went for the second tier priced tickets-expensive but an experience I’ll never forget, and I am by no means an opera buff. I’d probably try to go one of the private tours of the Doge’s Palace as well, and it’s eell worth going up on the roof of St. Marks, and behind the altar to the Pala dOro

There is a department store in Venice called Fondaco dei Tedeschi. It's a fabulous, expensive shop, ideal for just looking but it has a rooftop terrace that looks down onto the Grand Canal. Wonderful views and on a clear day you can see the Dolomites. It's free but you can book an entrance slot online. It's well worth it and don't forget your camera.

Just been to Verona and it was beautiful! And quite small so you can walk all around the centre in a day. You must see the bridges and the view up the river, Piazza Erbe and the lovely shopping streets up to Piazza Bra. The tower in Piazza Erbe gives a great view. S. Anasacia church is more impressive than the cathedral. And it’s all a lot cheaper than Venice for restaurants. Have a fabulous time!

Sorry, we should all stop recommending the Verona opera - it only runs for 2 months in the summer and op is going there in March!