Venice aficionados

[Belindabelle]

I need your help please.

I have wanted to go to Venice since forever and have decided this is the year. I have built this trip up so much in my mind that I am fearful that it may disappoint.

Thinking of late May early June. DH and I.

Where should we stay?
Where should we eat?
What should we not miss?

Due to flights times we are looking at Mon-Fri giving us 5 full days.

Is the water taxi from the airport worth it?

So many questions! Budget, whilst not unlimited, is flexible. Willing to pay for quality.

I can’t comment on accommodation or airport transfers, we just did a day trip and parked up about a half hour walk away, which suited us fine and was super simple. I loved the cicchetti when I was in Venice. Wine Bar 500 was a great place to sit and watch the gondola traffic jams. Osteria Al Squero had a great selection too. Bar All'Arco had a very long queue and slow service, but the best cicchetti.

And the mosquitoes don't just come out at dusk, they bite all day! So make sure you have repellent on at all times. The pharmacies sell a very good bite relief cream (which you can't get over here) if you do get badly bitten.

The clock tower on St Mark's Square is really interesting - and do pay the extra 5 euros or whatever it is to see behind the screen in the basilica - beautiful!

Get the Venezia Unica City Pass for your whole stay, then you won't feel guilty about getting the water bus all the time, because it's fairly expensive. But if you've dropped a million pounds on the pass before you get there you'll be happy to use it all the time, and then you won't collapse in a heap by 5pm!

I also agree about going when the weather is colder. Fewer tourists and it's much more romantic.

Don't assume there won't be mosquitoes just because it's November, btw. No matter how much you think it won't be a thing, make sure you have a spray for them before you get into bed, or you'll be up at 2am standing on your bed trying to kill the little fuckers with a pillow.

I agree either to get a full travel pass for your whole stay or don't get one at all, because the one day pass including boats is not good value 😬. I would say the former if you're not on a mega tight budget.

To me, the most important thing would be to get right away from the main tourist areas and walk the back streets. Explore the sestiere of Dorsoduro, San Polo and San Pietro. The out islands and the wider lagoon can be enchanting- try booking dinner at the trattoria next to Ponte Del Diavolo on Torcello, and see the island in the evening when everyone's left. Have a beach afternoon on the Lido if you fancy a swim.

I went in December 2023 for the first time and it is absolutely magical. The most extraordinary place I've ever been to. I can't wait to go back. Having seen how beautiful it was in December with winter sunshine and Christmas lights I've got no interest in going in the summer with crowds and heat. I imagine it's much harder work.

We stayed in a hotel on the Grand Canal and with a bus stop outside so we got a water bus from the airport. It was no bother and after that we walked everywhere.

Oh yes, visit the markets at the Rialto one morning. Maybe it's a Biennale year? (massive international art exhibition that happens every other year in early summer). Also seconding the traghetto gondolas that cross the Grand Canal at various points that operate as public ferries, so are priced accordingly.

And ANOTHER thing....
The Vogalonga is on June 8th this year apparently... if you're there I highly recommend getting a good spot on the Canale di Canaregio to watch all the nutters in boats returning back into the city. While you're in that area you can visit the Ghetto. And Fondamenta de la Misericordia nearby has become a cool little area with lots of nice bars and restaurants.

Listening to what you are saying about the mosquitos. Maybe Late October would be better.

I take the point about less crowds in winter but I was imagining long warm early summer evenings, eating outside, getting lost in the back streets whilst walking back to the hotel. Not cold, wet and pitch dark at 5pm.

I will give it further thought.

Thanks again. You lot are great at this.

@Belindabelle Early May or late Autumn are fine. I’ve been in early June and never noticed a mosquito!

I would suggest that walking around a less touristy areas is a must. The Jewish ghetto is interesting I would not bother with the Lido. It’s not the glory of Venice. One island possibly - depends on your time and how much you want more local scenery and how much you like art and museums. You cannot go to Venice without seeing a Tintoretto or two!

I would definitely try and go up the St Marks Campanile. It’s had its structural issues, so if it’s open, go up!

I have been to Venice 5 times and I am obsessed so hopefully have some tips! I would agree that mosquitos were bad in June, I had to get antibiotics as I had such a severe reaction and so many bites but I'd still go back in summer. Just be aware and use repellent or cover up at night.

I'm not sure if you want somewhere a bit quieter but although I love Venice, I find the really busy spots around Rialto and san Marco the least enjoyable bit. I spend more time in cannaregio, dorsoduoro etc that are quieter. We used to always get chatting to locals and the bacaro owners so a much more authentic experience. I would recommend Palazzina Riva for a nice apartment and walkable to everything. We also get the airport bus to Piazzale Roma so can't comment on the water taxi from the airport. We got the water taxi to the lido which was nice and the view from the water coming back was amazing.

In terms of restaurants etc, the food and drink is my favourite thing about Venice, baffles me why people say the food is bad but you do need to know where to go and avoid the main streets. My top restaurants are hostaria osottoosopra for a nice dinner, la corte 1642 for good pasta and osteria ae sarrache for fish. For cichetti, my favourite places are baccarotto, all arco, osteria al squero, adagio. Arcichetti is also very cheap and decent. I could go on and on, so many places 🤣

Ok I'm off to book another trip to Venice 🙄

I went in August. It was fine, Not nearly as smelly or overcrowded or mosquito-ridden as people like to make out. Would completely go back in August again, it was glorious.

Pre book this tour of the Doge's Palace. It's so interesting; behind the scenes and about power. You can view the paintings after at leisure,
https://palazzoducale.visitmuve.it/en/pianifica-la-tua-visita/special-itineraries/secret-itineraries-tour/

We went mid September and didn't encounter any mosquitos

I went in April time many years ago and have no recollection of any mosquitoes. We might go to Venice at Easter as my husband and the kids have never been. Was browsing for our trip, and came here to mention, that it seems like the roof top tickets for Fondaco Dei Tedeschi are released 3 weeks in advance, the website today shows tickets to 3rd March and only 3rd March itself had any availability. Need to get in quick!

We went last October half term and it was not too busy and t shirt warm. Kids wore their shorts one day too.

Would recommend that time of year for sure.