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Original poster

Anyone been to Venice?

86 replies

RebeccaMillet · 09/07/2023 20:08

My son has told me he wants to go in a Gondola. I’ve never been to Venice although think I may fancy it? Is it a great place, expensive, worth it?

OP posts:
LessonsInPhysics · 09/07/2023 20:36

Gondolas are a set price, 80 euro in the day for 40 mins and 120 euro after 7 pm. These are 2023 prices, no difference what month you go or where in Venice you pick it up.
It can be nicer to get one off the beaten track, a bit away from the grand canal so you see some small canals and get a feel for a different area.
It's well worth doing, I was sceptical but it turned out to be a real highlight.

roses2 · 09/07/2023 20:38

Pigstrotter · 09/07/2023 20:28

Expensive, stinks, & overrated.

I also agree. The whole place reeks of shit because they have poor sewage. Restaurants are very expensive (you pay a lot more to sit than to stand and eat) and so are hotels. You're better off staying at a hotel on the mainland then getting the ferry there in the morning.

Lemonyfuckit · 09/07/2023 20:40

I thought it was pretty magical, stunningly beautiful land slightly haunting. My top tips: we stayed in a very nice hotel on Murano rather than on the main island and just took the Vaporetto there as well as all around the lagoon to visit Burano, Lido, etc. We also only visited the absolute tourist hotspots - eg Rialto Bridge and St Mark's Square very very briefly to walk around, as they were absolutely and utterly heaving to the point you could barely see anything. You only have to go a couple of streets away from there and it was like a world away, and we just wondered around these smaller streets and bridges and canals and it was absolutely amazing. Murano too was beautiful and so much less crowded, and after about 17:00 everyone left to go back to the main island at which point Murano was pretty tranquil. Would 100% go back and would definitely stay on Murano again rather than the main island.

Lemonyfuckit · 09/07/2023 20:41

Oh other thing - definitely if you can travel from the airport by boat! Our hotel was one with its own boat transfer and what a way to arrive!

Buildingthefuture · 09/07/2023 20:42

I love Venice. Yes it can be expensive but if you go a 5- 10 minute walk back from St Marks Square, you will find some lovely traditional trattorias, without the ridiculous prices. Hotels are pricey, but the further out you go, the cheaper they are. Gondolas are not my thing but we do get the private speedboat from the airport, rather than the water taxi. That’s about £100, it’s a lovely trip and you see loads. It also takes you directly to your hotel (if it’s got a dock) so less chance of getting lost on the rambling, crowded little streets!

Lemonyfuckit · 09/07/2023 20:44

UtterlyUnimaginativeUsername · 09/07/2023 20:23

We went in January when it was quiet and very atmospheric. Absolutely glorious place, everyone should go there once (except the crowds would ruin it!). It's expensive but there are budget options, you don't have to break the bank.

We didn't bother with a gondola ride; instead we had a private rowing lesson through the canals, which was extremely memorable Grin It's harder than it looks! It was an hour and a half for less than the price of a half hour's gondola ride (at daytime prices).

I would LOVE to do this! I didn't even know that was a thing, definitely looking into this when I go back.

By sticking to the non touristy little back streets and on other islands I don't think we found the food and drink particularly expensive to be honest, it was significantly more reasonable than we were expecting (and fantastically good food)

vibratingvera · 09/07/2023 20:45

When I went 3 years ago, it was about £45-50. Lasts about 45 mins. The rates are set by the local govt. I'd do it again.

TheCyclingGorilla · 09/07/2023 20:48

We went for a day trip from Lake Garda and unfortunately got lost! If we go again we'll stay a few days and get to know it properly. Gondolas are expensive, if you can share with others it works out cheaper I think. The water buses are the cheapest way to get around.

Bluevelvetsofa · 09/07/2023 20:49

St Mark’s Square at night is magical. Yes, it is expensive, but you can find little restaurants down side streets that are less so. A gondola is amazing and everyone should go to Venice at least once imo.

Backstreets · 09/07/2023 20:50

Love Venice! My last trip was not expensive - Airbnb a bit outside the city (went in on the bus every day), drinks and food not particularly expensive once you go off the beaten track - we did go to one tourist trap with no prices on the menu but we were dying of thirst! Paid €15 for an aperol that cost us €5 everywhere else but figured we were due a Venice scamming 😄

AnnaMagnani · 09/07/2023 20:50

How old is your son?

Because Venice is not a massively child-friendly destination once he's done the gondola. It's all art galleries and churches

MrsTerryPratchett · 09/07/2023 20:51

I've been many times. I tend to go in the winter. Some things aren't open but it doesn't smell then and it's not as rammed with touristi. Learn at least a little Italian. People appreciate it and speaking Italian I get a better reception and less ripped off.

It isn't cheap.

It's also one of those places you could close your eyes, point your phone camera anywhere and take a beautiful picture. It's just gorgeous!

cakeorwine · 09/07/2023 20:53

When we were there, the restaurant prices didn't seem too bad, apart from St.Marks Square which were ridiculous.

And going back from the main areas, we found some cheap spots for drinks.

Just wandering around was amazing. We did the "Park and Ride" and got the monorail type thing to Venice.

cakeorwine · 09/07/2023 20:54

AnnaMagnani · 09/07/2023 20:50

How old is your son?

Because Venice is not a massively child-friendly destination once he's done the gondola. It's all art galleries and churches

We went to the Leonardo da Vinci museum which was amazing. Lots of his inventions were there and you could interact with them

Girasoli · 09/07/2023 20:56

It's okay but not my favourite place in Italy.
The thing I remember best were some really nice gnocchi we had!

Movinghouseatlast · 09/07/2023 20:59

The most amazing place,worth every penny. It is even better than it's cracked up to be!

Try to eat in restaurants away from the main canals and the food is extraordinary and cheaper.

JaceLancs · 09/07/2023 21:01

I love Venice and have visited a few times
when DC were younger we stayed in Jesolo as they wanted beach and pool and just got bus to Venice then water taxis to trip around
more recently we stayed across the lagoon in the lido and did the same
Burano and Murano are worth visiting
We had an apartment and just had snacks and drinks out as so expensive otherwise

Iwasafool · 09/07/2023 21:03

Lemonyfuckit · 09/07/2023 20:41

Oh other thing - definitely if you can travel from the airport by boat! Our hotel was one with its own boat transfer and what a way to arrive!

I arrived by train at night, coming out of the station with all the lights round the canals/restaurants and gondolas passing by was breathtaking.

Poppysmom22 · 09/07/2023 21:04

Gorgeous architecture, that's all. It's crowded, smelly and the locals hate tourists so are rude and will rip you off first chance they get, it's not worth the expense.

TheaBrandt · 09/07/2023 21:05

Went in 2020. Trip of a lifetime. Empty Venice. Best holiday ever.

Alldressedup · 09/07/2023 21:08

I love Venice but can see how people can easily not enjoy it. The advice about getting away from the main tourist drag is crucial.
We took our two DS (12 & 10) last August for 3 nights as an add on to Lake Garda. Stayed in an Airbnb in the Dorsoduro area. We could walk around the canals near our apartment without hardly seeing another person. It was 10 minute walk to Campo St Margherita which was full of restaurants and bars on an evening which were all very reasonably priced. Mix of tourists and Italians/ students. We bought a pass and used the water bus a lot including trips to the islands.
Don’t miss going over to San Giorgio where you can go up the church tower for amazing views over Venice. Much quieter than St Mark’s (although we did do the tower there too).
Kids were very happy just to wandering the streets/ canals, eating gelato (v cheap) and soaking it all up. And yes a gondola was 80 euros (in total, not per person) which I think is pretty good value for money for such an iconic and enjoyable experience.
Go. Enjoy. Love it.

redheadcurl · 09/07/2023 21:09

Love it.

42isthemeaning · 09/07/2023 21:12

I lived there for several months as an au pair and have travelled there by myself later, on our honeymoon, and with the dc.
It's incredible and you'll not regret going.
It is indeed, very expensive. If you're used to London prices it may not seem as bad, but I remember dh being shocked at the price of an espresso, standing at a bar in St Mark's Square. (£6 in 2003!)

A pp mentioned Jesolo as a possible option for accommodation nearby if your dc is young(ish) We stayed there with our dc in a Eurocamp and it was easy to travel to Venice for a day our. The dc absolutely loved the campsite and the boat trip across.
Another pp mentioned getting up early to see the sights - this is really good advice as it is incredibly busy to the point of not being able to move in some spots.
Do watch your valuables (kind of obvious tourist advice I guess) but definitely go there! Smile

loislovesstewie · 09/07/2023 21:18

Yes, been lots of times. It's beautiful, unique , I fell in love with the city.It is expensive, don't buy coffee anywhere near St Mark's Square , but please go. [ I love Rome too, for some reason it's the place I feel at home]

CateringPanic · 09/07/2023 21:28

I’ve been 3 times on holiday and my DP did a semester abroad when we were at uni (so years ago!) and I went to visit him there too. Been in all times of year, love it, nowhere else like it and crazy beautiful. We are planning to do back again as neither of us have ever been to the lido.

Is it expensive?
Depends where you go, if you stop for drinks on St Marks Square or immediately surrounding streets you will get ripped off but there are loads of places less central and more local that are incredibly reasonably priced, dare I say it, cheap!

Doesn’t it smell?
I’ve been in the height of summer and also in winter. I have only ever come across one particularly stinky street. Most of it is fine.

Should you go on a gondola?
Yes if you can afford it. I went on one in 2014 and it was about €125 then, prebooked but it was pretty special.