Running in Venice?

[Hurryupsummer1]

I'm going to Venice at the end of February. I was hoping to run in the mornings from San Marco to Giardini della Biennale. My hotel is about 20 mins walk from San Marco so I'd probably be running at 7.30am-8.00am based on sunrise etc. Just wondered if anyone knows if it will be quiet at this time? Not sure what time San Marco starts to get filled with tourists etc! Thanks.

If only you could go on some kind of retreat.

I think it will be a struggle.

It's all cobbled, you are going over bridges all the time let alone dodging the crowds.

San Marco is crazy busy.

@Mercychant sorry not quite sure what you mean

I did, last year. In a different location but still in central Venice. Tourist areas were quieter than non tourist areas but it was fun to see locals getting on with their days, going to work and school etc. And there are so many little streets and alleys to get lost down - make sure you have Google
Maps or a very very good sense of direction. I loved it - I'd run each morning, have coffee somewhere then head back as the teenagers were waking up ready to start the day.

It's a different kind of running, to be sure. But I didn't mind the bridges or cobbles - it's all good exercise and there were other people out running so I didn't feel I stuck out.

@PeanutAndBanana ah great good to know! Do you have any other suggested routes? I was planning this one as from googling it said it seemed recommended. And yes I'm not worried about pace so less worried about bridges etc other than being busy - I just like to get out and run in the mornings and experience a new place 😊

It will be quiet, it'll just be the locals setting up for the day or heading to work.

In fact a lot of Venice isn't even that crowded once you get away from the main sights of San Marco, Rialto etc, although for running you want it as quiet as possible so to avoid bumping into people on narrow streets.

The main issue is you're likely to get totally lost or need to keep stopping to check your route.

@catsnhats11 yes was thinking it looks like a lot of potential to get lost! The route I've checked seems straight out and back so that may help 🤞

Get a boat to the Lido and run along the beach

It'll be pretty quiet that time of the morning so you should be fine. Be prepared for lots of steps over bridges and the cobbled streets are not kind on your ankles.

From San Marco, over the Ponte dell'Academia and then there is a wide path along the side of the Grand Canal down to Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute
and round the point of the island and up to the Zattere pier. Then you could double back or go through the island if your sense of direction is good!

Should be quiet, but there will be lots of deliveries/collections from the shops/restaurants/hotels, etc., so lots of delivery people with huge trolley trundling around which is quite an art when they bump up/down steps on bridges! They do it early morning to avoid the crowds later on!

@PeanutAndBanana thank you! Looks like a good 5k there and back so I might try that!

We went in the autumn about 20 years ago and they were just setting up for the Venice marathon so it can’t be that bad for running lol

You can run over the causeway back towards Mestre. It’s not that far though.

6.2 miles from Venezia Santa Lucia to Venezia Mestre station.

I have a vivid memory, when I went to Venice in about 1994, of ending up in a moribund nobody neighbourhood. Far from the touristy bit, nobody around.

I don't know where that was... but just looking at the map, there's quite a bit that isn't very touristy central.