Venice - the do's, dont's, should and should-nots

magic_murph

Looking to head to Venice in October and just looking for some general advice,
Places to stay, things to do (or Avoid)
Going with the Girlfriend for 3 nights before heading off to other parts of italy.

Any hotel suggestions - budget of 700ish for 3 nights accom.

Any points are welcome

lkionm

Your gonna need to buy Wellys when you get over there. The high tides are usually around then. It can go up past your knees. There is sirens that go off.

I lived in giardini for 6 months, wasn't great. There isn't much to do there apart from walking around getting lost so don't try pack all the sightseeing into 1 day. There is only about 1 day of sightseeing really around the island. Getting lost is all part of it.

Try find a hotel near enough to the train station, can't remember the name of the area but that's where all the touristy shops are and the main vaperetto. Rialto would be perfect as that is in the centre and there is signs everywhere for that with the fancy restaurants.

Campo Santa marguerita is where there is the pubs. Drinks are very expensive. Pint of fosters is 6.50. Spritz are only 3 and are wine with a flavoured liqueur and come in sweet or sour. Just drink those.
Madigans has the friendliest staff and love Irish. But has more of a college bar feel but still cheap and do good dinners. I was there on my Erasmus so I didn't have much money to spend.

Are you staying on the island or the mainland?
3 days is more than enough really. It's a nice looking city but not a lot to do and the Venitians don't like tourists. If you get bored Florence and those places are close by.

Eponymous

I stayed at the Carlton a few years ago and it was nice. Recent reviews say the rooms are a bit dated, but in terms of a location it's great, as it's opposite the train station and is in easy walking distance of the main tourist attractions if you fancy walking and there's a vaporetto stop at the train station anyway, if you'd rather go by water bus.

There's a lovely piano bar off the lobby that serves lovely Bellinis too.

In terms of dos and don'ts, if you decide to have coffee on St. Mark's Square, don't take a table on the square. You could get seriously ripped off for a tiny cappucino. As with most of Italy, it is far cheaper to stand at the counter inside and you can feel a bit like a local! Don't buy "Murano" glass anywhere other than on Murano itself and even then from a factory or workshop. A lot of what's on sale in Venice is imported. There's an astounding view of the city from the Campanile di San Marco and be sure to have a look around the Basilica too.

You could easily spend days just wandering the narrow streets and you'll often find tiny squares with beautiful little churches, great little shops or buildings with ornate facades. The market at Rialto bridge is a great spot for picking up a cheap lunch to eat on the hoof too.

magic_murph

Cheers guys,
I will check out those places.
Hotels in general seem very expensive for what you get - I haven't seen a nice hotel that's not +€2000 for a couple of nights - pure madness.

The Davestator

For a few drinks at night, there are a few lovely outdoor bars just off the rialto bridge in a square. Obvioulsy which side depends on what way you're coming onto it! If you are coming up the grand canal from St. Marks, its on the right hand side.
One of the local drinks is callsed a sptiz - not sure whats in it, but looks like red lemonade - lovely.

mel.b

We stayed at Hotel al ponte mocenigo, which is only a couple of stops from the train station and walking distance to St Mark's square. There is a great resturant around the corner too that we ate at both nights.

You've probably read it, but don't sit down / eat / use the toilets at any of the cafes around the square. The cover charge for just sitting down is ridiculous...check the fine print on the menu.

I loved venice and would go back in a heartbeat

naughtysmurf

We stayed here a few years ago, booked two double rooms during July & don't remember it being that expensive, no complaints at all
http://www.lalocandiera-ve.com/index.htm

Decent reviews here also

http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/ShowUserReviews-g187870-d529157-r172816667-La_Locandiera-Venice_Veneto.html#UR172816667

coylemj

Just don't sit down for a coffee in St. Mark's Square and you should be ok.

There has been no exceptionally high tide in Venice since October 1960 so you can leave the wellies at home.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acqua_alta#Exceptional_high_waters_since_1923

OP, if you have a smartphone, there are iPhone and Android apps for the Venice tides....

http://www.comune.venezia.it/flex/cm/pages/ServeBLOB.php/L/EN/IDPagina/49364

lkionm

coylemj wrote: »

Just don't sit down for a coffee in St. Mark's Square and you should be ok.

There has been no exceptionally high tide in Venice since October 1960 so you can leave the wellies at home.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acqua_alta#Exceptional_high_waters_since_1923

OP, if you have a smartphone, there are iPhone and Android apps for the Venice tides....

http://www.comune.venezia.it/flex/cm/pages/ServeBLOB.php/L/EN/IDPagina/49364

Regular high tide is very common. Its just like our own high tide here. Very common. Its pretty cool to see so hopefully you get to see it.

In the 6 months I lived there it happened about 4 times. The novelty wore off fast enough.

coylemj

lkionm wrote: »

Regular high tide is very common. Its just like our own high tide here.

No it is not, Dublin is located beside a large body of water that is open to tidal currents from both the north and the south which means we almost never get exceptionally high tides.

Venice is at the northern end of the Adriatic, a body of water with only one entry point which is the strait between Albania and the heel of Italy, it is subject to seasonal winds which in conjunction with high tides can lead to tidal surges which we never see in Dublin.

zagmund

"Don't buy "Murano" glass anywhere other than on Murano itself and even then from a factory or workshop. A lot of what's on sale in Venice is imported."

I'm not entirely sure about that. One of our party bought something (I can't remember what) on Murano and was well chuffed about it, even managing to haggle the price down. It was an expensive piece.

The next day I was in St Marks and passed a tourist shop (think Carrolls, but in Venice) and the same piece was there in the window for a good bit less. Yes, it was the same piece. And this was a tourist shop on a tourist square - so it's not like they hadn't marked it up.

My advice would be to spend a bit of time in Venice pottering around the shops, seeing the sort of price levels for Murano glass there. Have an idea in your head of how much you would want to spend when you get to Murano and what you can get for that money in Venice. Then when you get to Murano, remind yourself of the amount. It is really easy to fall for the sales pitch. To me, being there was like being in the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul - the guys selling you stuff make their living from the hard sell to tourists who are unlikely to ever be back so they know all the tricks to get you to buy.

I'm not saying they are dodgy, but just keep your wits about you when you are in the sales rooms.

We stayed at the Best Western Bisanzio - http://www.tripadvisor.ie/Hotel_Review-g187870-d202733-Reviews-BEST_WESTERN_Bisanzio-Venice_Veneto.html - and found the prices reasonable. The location was great.

There's a pretty cool (if you are into retro train station restaurants) restaurant in the train station - worth a visit. It's not fine dining, but the ambience and the romance (if you are into the romance of train travel in the good old days) is great.

Oh, and have a Bellini. Or two.

pm1977x

Don't stay too close to the train station, it's not a great area.

Use the water bus (vaporetto) and buy a 3 day ticket so you can hop on and off and it's much cheaper than paying cash each time you get on.

Wander around and explore on foot, don't panic when you get lost and the street doesn't exist on the map, just keep wandering until you recognise a landmark/street name.

Try to avoid most restaurants with a 'menu touristico' outside.

If you're into art check out the Peggy Guggenheim Gallery, it's quite small so doesn't get boring.

Be prepared for most restaurants/cafes being shut by 11pm, another great time to wander the streets, paricularly St Mark's Square, very nice late at night when it's much quieter.

edit: I stayed at the Foscari Palace http://www.booking.com/hotel/it/foscari-palace.en-gb.html?aid=318615;label=New_English_EN_ROW_Hotel-OAIlk_J4_GKPAUB*V8wv0AS25582900945%3Apl%3Ata%3Ap1%3Ap2%3Aac%3Aap1t1%3Anes%3Akw_inurl%3Aen.html%23inurl%3Abooking.com%2Fhotel%3Aws%3D;sid=63774ffdcdbb2e620037676eeafd683c;dcid=1;srfid=a1bf2d019d624d7319dcd6d011f8e865d4f9186eX1[/URL]

the 2nd time and would recommend if you get a decent price.

lkionm

coylemj wrote: »

No it is not, Dublin is located beside a large body of water that is open to tidal currents from both the north and the south which means we almost never get exceptionally high tides.

Venice is at the northern end of the Adriatic, a body of water with only one entry point which is the strait between Albania and the heel of Italy, it is subject to seasonal winds which in conjunction with high tides can lead to tidal surges which we never see in Dublin.

*similiar to our rivers so.

Jesus. I lived there. Want me to add you on facebook so I can prove that I swam in st marks square?

coylemj

lkionm wrote: »

*similiar to our rivers so.

Jesus. I lived there. Want me to add you on facebook so I can prove that I swam in st marks square?

I don't doubt that you swan in St Mark's Sq, I've been there and I've seen the wooden walkways designed to allow the tourists to walk above the water during very high tides.

What I was questioning was this statement.....

lkionm wrote: »

Regular high tide is very common. Its just like our own high tide here.

What exactly makes the tides in Venice 'just like our own high tide here'?

lkionm

coylemj wrote: »

I don't doubt that you swan in St Mark's Sq, I've been there and I've seen the wooden walkways designed to allow the tourists to walk above the water during very high tides.

What I was questioning was this statement.....



What exactly makes the tides in Venice 'just like our own high tide here'?

Ever hear of the moon?

There is a tidal cycle all over the planet. Venice is about 2 feet off the water.

Im not even going to argue with you simply because you have seen the walkways, do yo think they have been there since the 1960s?

Its called aqua alta, happens in the morning and evening. People have metal things they put in front of the doors and generally most houses are not on the ground floor.

Gosh, that sounds familiar to the tide at a beach. No, sure that is just the wind blowing the sea up onto the beach. Supposedly if the butterflies stopped beating their wings there would be no tides. The sea has tides as well.

No, You are right.

SpodoKamodo

Myself and the OH stayed in a great little hotel in the Cannaregio region of Venice, called UNA hotel Venezia -

http://www.google.ie/search?redir_esc=&redir_esc=&hl=en-GB&client=ms-android-htc-rev&source=android-browser-type&v=200400000&qsubts=1378338141160&q=una%20hotel%20venezia

It is a little off the beaten track, but Venice is very small, and as has been advised above, half the fun is just walking through the narrow streets and stumbling across little churches and squares.

The pigeons in St Marks are a right pain in the hole though!

Meangadh

Get lost. (:-P)

No seriously, best thing about Venice is wandering the streets and getting lost. It's so small you'll always find your way back but discover things in the meantime.

Apart from the Basilica and Campanile there isn't a massive amount to do but I still loved it- loads of lovely little shops, cute cafes. I didn't bother doing the whole gondola thing but that's something else to consider maybe.

naughtysmurf

coylemj wrote: »

Just don't sit down for a coffee in St. Mark's Square and you should be ok.[/QUOTE]

No reason not to have coffee here if you want to, just be aware that you will pay a premium for it especially if served by a guy dressed all in white, including gloves with a brass band playing in the background.


http://www.gadling.com/2013/08/21/tourists-venice-shocked-100-coffee-bill/

Eponymous

zagmund wrote: »

"Don't buy "Murano" glass anywhere other than on Murano itself and even then from a factory or workshop. A lot of what's on sale in Venice is imported."

I'm not entirely sure about that. One of our party bought something (I can't remember what) on Murano and was well chuffed about it, even managing to haggle the price down. It was an expensive piece.

The next day I was in St Marks and passed a tourist shop (think Carrolls, but in Venice) and the same piece was there in the window for a good bit less. Yes, it was the same piece. And this was a tourist shop on a tourist square - so it's not like they hadn't marked it up.

My advice would be to spend a bit of time in Venice pottering around the shops, seeing the sort of price levels for Murano glass there. Have an idea in your head of how much you would want to spend when you get to Murano and what you can get for that money in Venice. Then when you get to Murano, remind yourself of the amount. It is really easy to fall for the sales pitch. To me, being there was like being in the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul - the guys selling you stuff make their living from the hard sell to tourists who are unlikely to ever be back so they know all the tricks to get you to buy.

I'm not saying they are dodgy, but just keep your wits about you when you are in the sales rooms.

We stayed at the Best Western Bisanzio - http://www.tripadvisor.ie/Hotel_Review-g187870-d202733-Reviews-BEST_WESTERN_Bisanzio-Venice_Veneto.html - and found the prices reasonable. The location was great.

There's a pretty cool (if you are into retro train station restaurants) restaurant in the train station - worth a visit. It's not fine dining, but the ambience and the romance (if you are into the romance of train travel in the good old days) is great.

Oh, and have a Bellini. Or two.

Did they buy it from a factory shop though? I'm well aware that there's plenty of shops on Murano that stock the same cheap items too.

Luckily for me, it's not really to my taste, so I didn't buy anything at all, but the workshops are very interesting to see.

johnnybegood

Hi

Heading to Venice in the first week of Feb -is this a good time (in general) to visit?

One thing I want to sort is getting from Marco Polo to my hotel which is siuated in the Dorsoduro.

Is the Alilaguna Ferry from the airport the most economical way to go? I would like to go by water

This link is a bit conufusing in some ways.
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Travel-g187870-s301/Venice:Italy:Arriving.And.Departing.html


Thanks for any help!

keithclancy

coylemj wrote: »

No it is not, Dublin is located beside a large body of water that is open to tidal currents from both the north and the south which means we almost never get exceptionally high tides.

Venice is at the northern end of the Adriatic, a body of water with only one entry point which is the strait between Albania and the heel of Italy, it is subject to seasonal winds which in conjunction with high tides can lead to tidal surges which we never see in Dublin.

Flooding is very common, hotels have sets of wellies available.

maddog

johnnybegood wrote: »

Hi

Heading to Venice in the first week of Feb -is this a good time (in general) to visit?

One thing I want to sort is getting from Marco Polo to my hotel which is siuated in the Dorsoduro.

Is the Alilaguna Ferry from the airport the most economical way to go? I would like to go by water

This link is a bit conufusing in some ways.
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Travel-g187870-s301/Venice:Italy:Arriving.And.Departing.html


Thanks for any help!

You can take the bus from the airport it's only around €6.00 or you can get the train.... which in my opinion is an amazing way to enter Venice as you get to come out of the station and the grand canal is right there in front of you...fantastic view!

johnnybegood

maddog wrote: »

You can take the bus from the airport it's only around €6.00 or you can get the train.... which in my opinion is an amazing way to enter Venice as you get to come out of the station and the grand canal is right there in front of you...fantastic view!

I think the Hotel Palazzo in the Dorsoduro would be a long enough walk from any bus stop. I think the Alilaguna might be the best option.

Any restaurants to reccomend?????

zagmund

We got the boat over from the airport one time. Never again. I don't remember the distance but it was something like 30 or 40 minutes by boat. In the dark (for us). On the Venetian equivalent of one of the older members of the Dublin Bus fleet. We got there alright, but there was no sort of "approaching Venice over water, in the dusk" romantic feeling about it. Not by a long shot.

I think we got a taxi back. Other times we have arrived by train. It's hard to beat the feeling of stepping out of the train station into Venice.

z

pm1977x

Haven't ever arrived by train, sounds good, but have arrived by bus and when you get off the bus it's just your bog-standard bus terminal and deeply underwhelming, you then walk a few steps, turn a corner and suddenly your right beside the Grand Canal, it's like stepping onto a movie set, amazing.

johnnybegood

zagmund wrote: »

We got the boat over from the airport one time. Never again. I don't remember the distance but it was something like 30 or 40 minutes by boat. In the dark (for us). On the Venetian equivalent of one of the older members of the Dublin Bus fleet. We got there alright, but there was no sort of "approaching Venice over water, in the dusk" romantic feeling about it. Not by a long shot.

I think we got a taxi back. Other times we have arrived by train. It's hard to beat the feeling of stepping out of the train station into Venice.

z

When you say Boat do you mean the alilaguna Ferry??? Costly?

zagmund

I can't remember exactly, but it wasn't a private taxi boat or anything, just the regular scheduled service.

z