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Holidays

Use our Travel forum for recommendations on everything from day trips to the best family-friendly holiday destinations.

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Original poster

Venice recommendations please

42 replies

TeeBee · 09/08/2023 13:16

I'm just about to book a 4-day break in Venice for myself and my partner for the first week in September. Neither of us has been before. Can I have recommendations for the best locations to stay for easy access to attractions/restaurants? Any recommendations for activities and best restaurants would be welcomed too.

OP posts:

Original poster

TeeBee · 14/08/2023 14:00

Rina66 · 09/08/2023 22:04

Watch the Rick Stein TV show Venice to Istanbul, some great restaurant recommendations, we went to a few and loved them.

I'll be watching this tonight! Thanks so much.

OP posts:

MangoMandy · 14/08/2023 14:01

https://osteriadisantamarina.com/en/il-menu/ We had a fantastic meal here

Would also recommend getting the vaporetto to beautiful Burano, spending some time walking around seeing the coloured houses and then eat here https://www.gattonero.com/

il menu | Osteria Santa Marina

Osteria Santa Marina :

https://osteriadisantamarina.com/en/il-menu

LastMinute123 · 14/08/2023 14:23

I was just about to post a thread asking about Venice, so hope you don't mind me hopping on here!

My DH will be working near Venice mid-September. He's going to extend his trip and I'll fly out and meet him for 2 nights, so I'll have to make my way from the airport to wherever we book to stay (water taxi probably!).

Does anyone have recommendations on which is the best area to stay if we are short on time?

Im not hugely interested in being really close to the touristy bits. My DH is a chef and we'd love to find some good food and spend a couple of days eating and drinking and enjoying being somewhere interesting (child free!!). I'm a designer so would also like to visit the Peggy Guggenheim collection. We'll probably have a quick look at the square etc in the evenings but not particularly bothered about hanging out there.

Any tips appreciated!

Daughterswaterworks · 14/08/2023 14:24

Definitely Peggy guggenheim musuem without asking doubt it's also in lovely areas to wander around and have chichetti. Definitely don't missed St Marks.

BarrelOfOtters · 14/08/2023 14:27

We went for a fantastic lunch near the Arsenale, there are a few places round there that cater to staff at the museums.

Also cichetti at night, wander around and stand up to eat in bars. It's a brilliant way to eat.

LastMinute123 · 14/08/2023 14:36

Also I'm struggling to comprehend how big Venice actually is! Can you easily walk from one side to the other? It doesn't look that big but maybe it's actually huge

Kittyhasababy · 14/08/2023 14:49

You can definitely walk across it. That said, it's quite a long way if you're staying in an out of the way place and it's quite tiring going up and down the bridges.

TheBirdintheCave · 14/08/2023 18:48

TeeBee · 14/08/2023 13:55

Thank you, you wonderful lot! I have booked an AirBnB in the Dorsoduro. Can't wait! I'm concerned that 4 days won't be enough to cover all of the places I want to visit.

It likely won't be. I've been three times and still haven't seen everything I want. Venice is worth multiple trips though! 😊

Original poster

TeeBee · 14/08/2023 19:38

LastMinute123 · 14/08/2023 14:36

Also I'm struggling to comprehend how big Venice actually is! Can you easily walk from one side to the other? It doesn't look that big but maybe it's actually huge

I've just bought new walking trainers for my trip. I'm planning to walk as much as possible to avoid queuing for boats.

OP posts:

catsnhats11 · 14/08/2023 20:37

It's not very big but all the little alleys mean it can feel further than it is as you can go anywhere in a straight line.

Regarding islands, everyone says visit Murano, personally unless you're really into glass/ shopping for glass I found it pretty boring. Burano is further out but super pretty for a stroll. Having said that there's plenty so see on Venice Island to keep you going for days.

Save the main sights around st Marc's for early morning or evening when it's less crowded. I love Venice!

ConnieSaks · 14/08/2023 20:44

Trattoria Corte Sconta - my favourite restaurant in the world! Enjoy!

Hotel Bucintoro was very nice too (quieter end but close to everything!) - though Airbnb for 4 days sounds good!

Nomorescreentime · 15/08/2023 17:57

We’ve just come back…we paid for a private water taxi transfer from the airport to our airbnb, rather than having a gondola ride. It was a fabulous treat and the kids said it was the highlight of the trip!

viques · 15/08/2023 18:25

Nomorescreentime · 15/08/2023 17:57

I hope you wore a silk headscarf ( optionally under a straw hat) and cats eye sunglasses like a proper 50s movie star!

budgiegirl · 15/08/2023 18:48

If you happen to be there on a Saturday midday, go to a little square near the Rialto Fish Market, a restaurant there does a fish fry in the centre of the square, it was wonderful, about 10 euros for a paper plate of fried fish and a glass of Prosecco, then just sitting around the square with the locals.

The best activity we did there was a the Secret Itineraries Tour of the Doges Palace. It took us into the attics of the palace, and across the Bridge of Sighs to the cells. We really enjoyed it, and it was a bit different to the usual palace tours. Plus no queuing !

Rina66 · 15/08/2023 18:50

Definitely have the private water taxi from the airport, as you make that turn in to the Grand Canal, it's breathtaking, just like a Caneletto painting, I think that was my highlight too and we stayed at the Danielli and ate at the Cipriano where George Clooney got married, but the journey in topped the lot.

rookiemere · 15/08/2023 19:13

We stayed here www.anticodoge.com/en/, it was a good central location. Don't pay extra for a canal view, we had to keep the windows closed for air con and it faced onto a busy bit so kept the internal drapes closed.

travelogue · 15/08/2023 19:24

Last time I went we stayed in an airbnb just down a side street from the Rialto Bridge - great location for wandering around. I also got the Venice city pass thing which allows you to hop on and off the water taxis and access to museums - can't remember all the details - but it was great having it sorted in advance.

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