Venice and Rome - help needed please

[MrsMattSantos]

we’re heading to Venice and Rome at the start of July for a week - and yes, I know it will be hot and crazy busy
But have never been to Italy before and look g for some suggestions…
We’ll have 2 full days in Venice and would like to head out to Murano and Burano one day, but do we need to book an organised trip for this?
I’d also planned to book the observation deck on the department store roof, but from the website this seems to be closed so wondered if any other suggestions.
In Rome we will have three full days, and wanted to go to the Colloseum but not sure how to book this?
And would like to do some kind of tour perhaps, maybe an open top bus tour, as Rome looks much bigger than Venice
but looking for any tips, recommendations or other suggestions from the wise women of Mumsnet

Of course 2 days isn’t enough in Venice! Well maybe for people who don’t appreciate art and architecture! It’s absolutely amazing. So is Rome but obviously in a different way.

Id stay in Venice for the time available. No 1 Vaporetto is a great trip along the Grand Canal. Obviously there are some “must see” churches and sights and to me, the Guggenheim is fabulous. Just roaming around is fun. Anyone with more time should go to Padua. Agree with that!

Yeah, agreed. I wouldn’t advise staying in Padua for this trip though! An hour round journey and that’s without getting to and from stations and waiting round on platforms.

I don’t know how anyone is getting the most out of Venice in 2 days at all. I’d also drop Rome if I was the OP. Especially since she wants to see Murano and Burano!

You don't need to book just jump on the ferry to Moreno

You definitely need to book ages in advance for the collusium

GetTheGuide.com is useful, I’ve been on 4 or 5 tours/activities from there and enjoyed every one.

We did that and stayed in a huge apartment!

Boat trip on the Tiber was good.

Fair point. St Mark's is one of the wonders of the world, but Venice has wonders round every corner.

2 days enough in Venice?! I spent 5 days there and filled every minute.

For 2 nights?

There's plenty to do in Venice itself without going to Murano/Burano if you've only got two days. As a pp said the Campanile tower on st Marco square has panoramic views although actually St Marco's itself does too anyway - you can go right up to the top and walk around outside, it's awesome. It's worth getting a rolling Venice card for your dd - transport and a ticket for all the main sights are much cheaper with that.

I think you'd regret it if you didn't go to the Vatican because there's just so much there, it's such a buzz. Definitely get a tour if you do - you can book a tour with an official Vatican guide on the Vatican website itself. Go as early as you can. When you leave there are loads of nice places to eat/have gelato in the borgo area nearby, old pedestrian streets etc. Definitely do the colosseum and the forum, both are breathtaking.

We were there in April and dazzled by the art and architecture. Venice is utterly unique, there’s nothing quite like it. We loved wandering the narrow medieval passages, experiencing the countless stepped bridges and waterways, watching handcarts collect garbage bags, and Venice waking up. Watching freight being shipped in, enjoying those tacky stalls and shops, feeling breathless with awe at the vivid colours in buildings, churches, Cathedrals..

For only 2 days, staying in Maestre is a good idea. We were there for 8 days so Padova worked well for us ( we also travelled to other places from there)

No, I agree that it isn’t suitable for only 2 nights

You really don't have enough time in either city, so need to be selective.
I have been to Venice 3 times and still haven't found the time to get out to the islands!
Just Google and you will findthe booking sites you need.

Re Venice, book in advance 'beat' the queue tickets to The Basilica and The Doges Palace. Escape the crowds by wandering through the back streets. The water taxi to Murano/burano doesn't need booking in advance. However, it can get really busy with long waits/queues from Murano to Burano. Avoid Fridays and Weekends if possible. Get up early to avoid queues or hire a private water taxi (can be booked in advance). Also book private water taxi from station or airport straight to your hotel. It's worth the bit extra for the convenience and the sheer fun.

OP don't stay in mestre. Why would you go all that way to stay in an industrial port? Like a pp said one of the most magical times in Venice is the nighttime, when day visitors have gone home and you can wander around in a languid fashion. If you stay in mestre you will be one of the departing hordes.

@Pyew
Fair point

wow, so many responses - thanks for input
And yes, I’m aware time is short in both cities, but I think we’d rather have a taste of both. Accommodation and transport is all booked as well (defo staying in Venice itself, rather than Mestre)
We’re excited to go - am going to start having a proper look this weekend to try to book some stuff…

So many wonderful things to see off the beaten track in both places:
Venice:

• Scuola di S Giorgio degli Schiavoni - amazing Carpaccio paintings with so much detail
• Peggy Guggenheim collection - modern art which can feel like a breath of fresh air in Venice as everything is so ancient - and a fascinating story. Her father went down with the Titanic and it only got more dramatic from there. Take the traghetto across! That is a sort of gondola ferry, costs virtually nothing (you’ll need cash I imagine) - if you are a local you stand up…
• I agree to avoid S Marco in the day - Venice is bizarre as it is insanely touristy but all the tourists stay in one place so you can get away from them really easily
• I like the Accademia for the paintings but I am an art geek
• the Frari church has a mind blowing Titian altarpiece that you see from far away and just owns the space
• S Zaccaria church - stunning Bellini altarpiece and joy too far from S Marco if you are there against my instructions
• S Giorgio Maggiore/Salute - both amazing churches and great views back to S Marco

Rome:

• San Clemente - amazing church with layers of history - baroque, Renaissance, Byzantine, Roman - it’s amazing!
• definitely do the Colosseum/Forum - and yes to the Vatican but that will take you a day as it’s about 8 museums in one!
• other wonderful places in Rome: the Pantheon (plus there’s great pizza in the square, and the most amazing gelateria (ice cream) a two minute walk away; Santa Maria del Popolo - Caravaggio x2/amazing!); Galleria Doria Pamphilij - ridiculously over the top palace with some of the world’s finest art; the Protestant cemetery - Keats and Shelley’s graves and just a fascinating slice of history; Santa Maria della Vittoria for the most extraordinary erotic Bernini sculpture - sex in marble basically…

Ok so now I’m getting carried away - you could spend a month in both places and only scratch the surface so just choose things that appeal to you. Remember that you can always go back - it is only a couple of hours from the UK!

@MrsMattSantos I agree with staying in Venice. Mestre is just suburban nothing much. Staying near the Grand Canal (the lounge in our hotel overlooked it) is one of life’s amazing treats. The mirrors in the ceiling reflected the water and it was beautiful to relax with a glass of wine at the end of the day.

I’ll add the Scuola Grande San Rocco to the list above. There’s also music venues and so many little tucked away places - go and find the Scala (Palazzo) Contarini del Bovolo. A gem.

also, a quick question. DD will want to wear shorts - will going into churches with her dressed like this be a big no no?

Definitely stay in Venice itself. Do take the time to wander the streets in different districts. Night time is another thing altogether with little street bars and just enjoying the atmosphere.

You don’t need to pay for luxury in Venice. Have a look at places like bacaretto di lele. A glass of wine and a couple of cicetti at the edge of a canal for 3 euros is what Venice is all about.

She’s fine in shorts

From recollection, some churches do expect you to cover up a little if your skirt or shorts are above the knee, same if your shoulders are bare. A large scarf wrapped around your waist over shorts would be enough then you can pull it off when done and stuff it back in your bag.

Can I ask how expensive Rome is? I'm assuming it is pretty hard on the wallet!

Italy in general is quite expensive, moreso than Spain. Rome was expensive.