Venice / Union Lido - Tips

[Myneaux]

Hi

We are going to Venice for May half term, staying at Union Lido but hoping to have at least a day in Venice and possibly a trip to some of the islands.

Does anyone have any tips for managing Venice with DS who will be 6 and DD who will be 19 months? I am realistic and accept that we will have to sacrifice art galleries and pallazos for ice cream!

Any advice on travelling around venice on the canals and whether we should even attempt to take a pushchair would be most welcome! (am intending to rent a back carrier too)

We will have a hire car for the week - are there any other day trips worth doing

TIA

Venice would be a nightmare with a pushchair, definitely recommend a back carrier! Jump on and off the boats to get around, we went with my 5 year old last year and she was fascinated by the fact that there were no cars etc. Stop at all the lovely little bars for tapas (cicchetti) and some prosecco and you'll be grand!

we went last year with a 5 yr old & 7 yr old. didn't go into museums but had a grand time in the piazzas (Campo santo stefano always seems to be like a playground - lots of kids to play with and lots of lovely restaurants to eat at while they play). 6 yr old might like the shops on the rialto bridge? or looking at the more gruesome relics in glass cases in churches - you can get a fix of paintings while he looks at st catherine's foot or somesuch.
other trips - Murano and get a private glassblowing demo for about €30 from one of the workshops or squash to the front of one of the public ones in the shops. Drive out to Vicenza for the Palladian villas / Padua for teh Giottos and market.

oh and yes - agree with massistar - pushchair will be more trouble than good
Try a traghetto for fun too if the budget won't stretch to a gondola... (gondola rates will be much cheaper early a.m)

Thank you everyone for replying.,,piazzas and proseco sound fab. I'm not really bothered about doing any of the cultural things ... Happy just to soak up the atmosphere and potter around

Try driving in the opposite direction to Caorle if you want a wander and an ice cream.

From Venice, you can get to Verona, Padua or Treviso but to get to them by car from Union Lido might be a long journey as you have to drive right round the laguna. We'll be getting the boat from Punta Sabbione then taking the train from Venice. That way the journey is part of the fun