Did the day trip over on the catemeran from Rovinj in Croatia a couple of years ago. Glad I did it as it was always one of those "must do" places and the history is everywhere. My 2 overriding impressions though were a. Jesus, its expensive. b. Jesus, its busy. Its a proper tourist trap, to the point where many people are saying that its starting to spoil the place. However as a day tripper I probably didn't see enough and this thread has some real good tips that have whetted my appetite to do it again. I am back in Istria in a couple of weeks - maybe this time. I agree with others about the water taxi down the grand canal. Thats a must do. (Having read this thread I also need to put Lake Garda on my list )
Can't add anything to the excellent advice above. Venice is fabulous. Make sure you get away from the main tourist bits, it's cheaper, quieter and more atmospheric. We went once in January. The place was virtually empty away from St Marks etc. Verona is beautiful too. Have a great time.
Venice isn't my favourite city. In the same day i was: Kicked awake by an Italia border guard waving a pistol in my face Had a machine gun waved in my face by an angry old policeman (dont take your shirt off) Lost my camera Other than that its expensive and can smell
Do you know, that is one of my overriding memories of when I went to Rome. In Rome itself, the city is everything you expect it to be. But they do have a lot of graffiti and on the train into the city from the airport you look out the window and it is quite shocking just how bad it is - it covers literally everything.
Venice is on the fast train line that runs from Milan, if you've time and want less crowds, head to Verona. A fantastic collosseum and old intact medieval walls and a quaint winding river.... you can even sample some horse if that floats your venetian boat! Went to Venice as a kid and only thing I recall is that some places on St Marks Square charge for sitting down, so try and find something a bit off the beaten track. The other place I think is around there is Mantova. I've not been yet but it looks jaw dropping stunning and old, game of thrones like almost! Have a great time, much to love about Italy.
Here's my advice Andy. Just 3 things. 1. Enjoy it. Your in Venice, you already know it will be expensive so dont let that shape your enjoyment otherwise Mapplewell is slightly cheaper. 2. Dont stand under the Pigeons in Piazza San Marco (St Marks Square). You dont want to be **** on from a great height. 3. Do the predictable things, visit the church, see the views, bridge, gondola. I know its the normal thing but you cant go there without doing em.The slightly off the beaten track are always the best places to drink and eat. I cant advise you on saving a couple of euro's on the beer, your much better at that than me, in any country, any conditions. ;-)
If you walk round the back streets on the opposite side of the Grand Canal from St Mark's Square (near St Barnabas Church), there's a big square the size of a football pitch with lots of bars and restaurants all reasonably priced.
Well the usual stuff. Don’t buy anything to eat or drink in St Marks square but the best tip is to try a plan your day so the you’re near the Rialto or Acedemia bridges when you are ready to eat or need a bar then you can cross over the GC and find a place off the island. It’s better and cheaper.
Seconded. Look up D'Annnuncio... Famous poet and war hero loved by the people. Was a great friend of Mussolini but abbhored his politices. So Mussolini, effectively 'bribed' him with lavish gifts. He has a house full of eclectic stuff and a ship half buitinto the cliff on the Lake (no kidding). He was also a womaniser and courted many famous and rich women in his day. The house and gardens are worth visiting and small groups go round his house which is crammed with interesting stuff especially his romms used for ahem ... seduction. (some of his suits and clothes and footwear are on display... interesting in that his shoes and clothes show he was tiny.
First time we went to Italy was on a Coach tour with Leger Holidays. We left Wakefield on the Saturday morning and arrived at our hotel just south of Rome on the Sunday afternoon. We travelled over on the Ferry from Dover then overland through France and Switzerland by Coach sleeping through the night. The Tour guide said " Welcome to the red eyed, numb arse Tour to Italy." He was not wrong. We did a day trip to Rome then Monte Casino, Sorrento and finally Capri. On the three occasions my wife and myself have been to Lake Garda we've always paid a supplement for one of the many excursions the Tour Company offered from our base in Bardolino. We've done a night at the Opera in Verona, a day trip to Venice and a separate one to Milan. During the latter, the Coach called in for a couple of hours to the City of Bergamo. If ever you get the chance please go there. It is absolutely breathtakingly beautiful.
If your staying on Garda Verrona is a nice city to visit , Collaseum , Romeo and Juliet’s Balcony etc plenty to see and it’s nice scenery travelling there from garda
Recently come back having done a similar thing. Stayed in Lake Garda (Sirmione) and travelled to various places. I recommend hiring a car and driving around the lake and stopping off at all the different little towns/villages. We drove to Venice but parked in a car park right on the edge of the mainland then just got the tram in (somat daft like 1.50 each way). You can get a bus from Sirmione to Verona as well, takes about an hour and I think it's about 7 euros return.
Agree about the villages but personally I'd avoid a car (particularly with Italian drivers!). Boats stop at every village up the lake and trains go from Peschiera del Garda to Venice and Verona and are cheap and quick
Depends how much freedom you want I guess, the car we hired was dirt cheap, probably paid more for parking it around the lakes than the car itself! To be honest the driving was a piece of piss, yes they're impatient and don't like to indicate, but far better roads and drivers than when I've driven in Croatia and Bulgaria.
My tour guide on Venice is way out of date. Found where we ate when we were there on this website. It was the Ostaria San Marco. Some of the dishes can be pricey but we only had a snack which was reasonably priced. http://www.italyheaven.co.uk/veneto/venice/restaurants.html
This looks to be a good site for Lake Garda. Just click on the Towns name around the perimeter of the Lake and it gives a resume, plus you can find recommended places to eat. As said previously, Malcesine and Salo are well worth a visit. https://www.lago-di-garda.org/information-lake-garda.asp
