Have you been to Venice, Italy? I am going to Italy and am contemplating adding Venice to our itinerary, travelling with my husband and another couple. I have read and have been told...

ishootthings Loc: Western shore of Lake Michigan

I am going to Italy and am contemplating adding Venice to our itinerary, travelling with my husband and another couple. I have read and have been told Venice is smelly, over priced and very touristy. I realize that tourism is about all the Venetians have as far as "industry" but would like your opinion on the city as a destination. We have only nine days and will be in Florence, Rome and hopefully the Sorento/Pompeii area. Is going up to Venice worth it?
Thank you in advance.

Meives Loc: FORT LAUDERDALE

[quote=ishootthings]I shoot things, I found it very photographic. I had a bit of rain and that didn't help. I think if you miss Venice, you miss a lot. Google some Venice picture before and try to find the best spots to shoot. Smell was not a problem. It's unique. David

Coolcameragirl Loc: Bradenton, FL

I'd say yes. It is touristy, it is sometimes flooded, but in my opinion, well worth seeing, even if just for a day.

windshoppe Loc: Arizona

Depending on your interests 9 days is a rather short time to do Rome, Florence, and Venice. If this is going to be a once in a lifetime trip, I would definitely include Venice, however. Even 2 days is well worth it and you can do a lot if you plan it well. We've been to Venice twice, and it truly is not to be missed.

Wendy2 Loc: California

When are you going? I was there in the winter months and it was not smelly. It is stunning and I would go again!

SteveR Loc: Michigan

A photo my son took while there, among several nice ones.

RAK Loc: Concord Ca

My wife and I used to sit on the dock by our hotel and have cocktails and eat olives in the evening while watching the gondola's go by. People figured we were locals and we ended up in many of their travel photo's. A trip to Morano while you are there is worthwile. You can visit the glass factories, and observe the working. It is a place of many beautiful glass sculptures. If your up to the task you can get some very interesting art images there. The main square and the many churches as all area's Italy are steeped in history. The outside waterways and architechture can provide many wonders at the waters edges. If the weather cooperates you can get some beautiful sunrises and sunsets with stunning towers and domes as the forfront.
Have a wonderful time and have some pistachio gelato, it is wonderful.

Collie lover Loc: St. Louis, MO

We went to Venice in 1991 as part of a trip to Italy and Sicily. Venice is a beautiful city with beautiful buildings and worth going to.

TimS Loc: GA

Venice dumps their sewage into the canal so, yes, it can be smelly. That is also why you don't want to run barefoot in the water when the city floods.

There is so much to see and do in Venice. I was there last October and loved it.

Try not to do too much while you are in Italy or you'll come back feeling like you hit a little of a lot of places and didn't really get the opportunity to soak it all in and enjoy everything. So it's kind if like do you value quantity or quality - if that makes sense.

I would recommend you stay in the city itself and not the mainland. Check out the Hotel San Salvador which is about a 30 second walk to the foot of the Rialto bridge. That's where I stayed an it was nice. Small room (real small) but I wasn't in the hotel very much.

Take a tripod and cable release to get some amazing night time shots.

breck Loc: Derbyshire UK

We went in the middle of summer, no smel, yes busy and if you want a coffee in St Marks Square or gondola ride it is expensive but both are a must do, get a couple of blocks away from the main sights and it is incredibly beautiful and not so expensive just as Florence is
Do not miss it or you will regret all your life it is fabulous, see picture I took.
Fly into Marco Polo airport and get the water taxi into the heart of Venice

MtnMan Loc: ID

ishootthings wrote:

I am going to Italy and am contemplating adding Venice to our itinerary, travelling with my husband and another couple. I have read and have been told Venice is smelly, over priced and very touristy. I realize that tourism is about all the Venetians have as far as "industry" but would like your opinion on the city as a destination. We have only nine days and will be in Florence, Rome and hopefully the Sorento/Pompeii area. Is going up to Venice worth it?
Thank you in advance.

We went in November quite a few years ago. Prices were down, we had the place pretty much to ourselves, and it was beautiful.

We stayed in a Pensione...far better than a large hotel.

SpeedyWilson Loc: Upstate South Carolina

If you do go to Venice, check out this site as you make your plans:

http://www.italyguides.it/us/venice_italy/pictures_of_venice/venice_photo_gallery.php

There's much more than the canals and gondolas. You might need to add another week to your trip.

Here's another great site:

http://www.virtualtourist.com/travel/Europe/Italy/Veneto/Venice-140867/Off_the_Beaten_Path-Venice-Back_Street_Canals-BR-1.html

ebrunner Loc: New Jersey Shore

I posted several pictures on this forum from a trip I was on this past June. If you are going to Florence, (my favorite Italian city) and then Rome and Sorrento, you will be heading away from Venice. As mentioned above, if you think this is the only time you will go to Italy, then you should include Venice for all the reasons people have posted above. If, on the other hand, you are thinking of returning to Italy for a second trip, then I would suggest seeing Rome, Sorrento, and for sure the Island of Capri while you are heading south. It is a long way from Naples, to Venice. You would use one whole day just in travel from the south of Italy back north to Venice. Maybe you could include Venice in a trip geared toward northern Italy that would include Venice, Padua and then the Lake Como and Lake Garda region which is absolutely spectacular.

ishootthings Loc: Western shore of Lake Michigan

[quote=Meives]

ishootthings wrote:

I shoot things, I found it very photographic. I had a bit of rain and that didn't help. I think if you miss Venice, you miss a lot. Google some Venice picture before and try to find the best spots to shoot. Smell was not a problem. It's unique. David

Thank you David! :thumbup:

ishootthings Loc: Western shore of Lake Michigan

Coolcameragirl wrote:

I'd say yes. It is touristy, it is sometimes flooded, but in my opinion, well worth seeing, even if just for a day.

Thank you Coolcameragirl!! Good to know!