Venice Questions

[eatsleepbeer]

The  husband has to go to milan for a conference next month so I'm tagging along, then we're going to take a train to verona and then after that venice. Unfortunately we don't have enough time to go anywhere else. So anyone who's been..... what are absolute must dos in Venice and what is overrated and we shouldn't bother? We will have 2 and a half days there. Thank you so much!

[sputnik]

first of all, congratulations on going in the fall and not in the summer when it's even more overcrowded, hot and stinky. i've been to venice about 5-6 times however i haven't been in a while, though i doubt that much has changed. 

the best thing to do is walk around, with or without a map, just wander and get lost in the city. there are the big sites, obviously, san marco, the doge's palace, etc. but there are also countless palazzos and streets and canals worth looking at.
i suggest researching the major sites and picking the ones you'd be most interested in actually visiting.

if you like modern art, you're in luck. venice is full of it. definitely go to the palazzo grassi and punta della dogana, both housing salma hayek's father-in-law's amazing contemporary art collection in gorgeously restored venecian buildings, one a palace and the other the former customs authority. just amazing. and the peggy guggenheim collection that's in the 18th century palazzo she lived in. gorgeous location and definitely worth the visit, it's one of the most amazing collections of 20th century art. the gallerie dell'accademia for more classical art, also a must see. there's the prada foundation as well, which is in an incredible 18th c. palazzo.

there's murano, if you want to go see the blown glass workshops. it's quite touristy now but it's a nice boat ride to and from the island

there's also the giorgio cini foundation and the borges labyrinth, both on the isola di san giorgio.

[notoriousmkg]

First of all, listen to whatever Sputnik said.  Second, you could also retrace the steps that the Elementals faux-destroyed in "Spiderman, Far from Home":

• Campo Santa Maria Formosa and Rio di Sant'Anna in the Castello district,
• St. Mark's Square,
• the Fondamente Nuove,
• the Rialto Bridge
• the Grand Canal and
• the Arsenal Canal.

[sputnik]

oh, and overrated and don't bother? it goes without saying but the gondola rides, unless you're in the mood to cosplay kanye and his most recent employee/gf/victim.
you can take the vaporetto, which is the public boat service, if you're visiting any of the islands (murano, lido, etc) and also just to experience venice from the water.

[eatsleepbeer]

sputnik  notoriousmkg  Great, thank you!! Reading stuff online started making me worried I picked the wrong city to visit, but I feel much better now.  Some people say it's fantastic, others say dirty and smelly. Is it easy to grab a boat to Murano and Burano or is it better to schedule something with a tour service?  I really do appreciate the help so much.

Oh and as far as Kanye, I think he can rest easy that we won't try to upstage him. 🤮

[sputnik]

^^^^
i found it pretty easy to navigate the vaporetto. most hotels will help you with schedules and i wouldn't be surprised if there's an app now or something.
as for taking a tour, it depends on what you like. venice is touristy enough that you will always find someone that speaks english and you can always ask people for directions and help and you're not going to get lost so you don't need the tour. but it's a matter of personal choice. i personally hate tours and avoid them like the plague because i'm antisocial and i hate organized activities but some people like them and find them useful.

[eatsleepbeer]

Sept 6, 2023 14:07:03 GMT sputnik said:

^^^^
i found it pretty easy to navigate the vaporetto. most hotels will help you with schedules and i wouldn't be surprised if there's an app now or something.
as for taking a tour, it depends on what you like. venice is touristy enough that you will always find someone that speaks english and you can always ask people for directions and help and you're not going to get lost so you don't need the tour. but it's a matter of personal choice. i personally hate tours and avoid them like the plague because i'm antisocial and i hate organized activities but some people like them and find them useful.

Thank you SO MUCH for taking the time to help me out with this!  I feel so more more confident, and excited, about the trip now.

[sputnik]

My pleasure! I’m sure you’ll have a blast