Have you been to Venice, Italy? (Page 6): Venice is certainly worth visiting, and on my last trip a couple of years ago they no longer had the skinned cats in the markets that I first...

wthomson Loc: Tempe, Arizona

Venice is certainly worth visiting, and on my last trip a couple of years ago they no longer had the skinned cats in the markets that I first saw in 1964. However, it is outrageously expensive--Rick Steves can assist a bit with that. And take a readable light bulb with you; our rooms were dark and had low ceilings.

washy Loc: Dorset UK

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.

My partner and I were in Venice for five days last month. even though we experienced rain for the first day, it did not spoil the time there. Venice is very unique and full of history. Most of the buildings interiors are very beautiful and the architecture of outstanding. Use the water bus for getting around but a day ticket, do not use a water taxi or a gondola as they are very expensive .The water buses stop outside the railway station and cover all parts of Venice. Enjoy.. Some great images can be obtained from the water buses as they move up/down and across the Grand Canal. St Marks square can be full of tourists, it depends on how many cruise liners are berthed. the hotels are grand and exquisite. It is worth while staying for a couple of days. The water buses stop outside the railway station and cover all parts of Venice. Enjoy.

Reddog Loc: Southern Calif

breck wrote:

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

What a nice photo Breck!

robmccallum9

I used to live in Vicinza which is approx 60 mies west of Venice. I would recommend that you go by train. If you are going to use a hotel, stay in the town just across the rail causeway before entering Venice proper. You will save about 50%. Venice is a must. You either walk or ride by water everywhere. If you want a beach then Jesalo up by Marco Polo airport which is available by water taxi from Venice. Note that the Adriatic is cold in the winter. Carnival ( Mardi Gras) is wonderful. If you have extra time spend it in Florence and Rome. Also you might want to visit Verona and Padova which is just west of Venice. The train is the most economical way to travel. How fun

Terry Scott Reed Loc: Reading, PA

Yes, by all means go. And while you are there, take some time, and a short train ride, to the mainland, to Padua. Beautiful town, nice shopping, not so touristy.

markly86 Loc: Humboldt County CA

The smelly times are when its warm outside and there has been no rain. Go in the spring for the best weather. Venice has been very "Disneyfied" but is still worth seeing. Get a day or week pass for the water taxis and visit the outer islands for great photography opportunities without quite as much crowding.

Anhinga Loc: Sanibel Island, Florida

You should visit Venice soon before it falls apart. The city (and museums, etc.) is being shamefully maintained. For instance, the Rialto is covered with graffiti. Works of art are deteriorating.
That being said, there are incomparable photo ops.
The farther you are from St Marks, the less touristy and less expensive the accommodations become.
The summer of 2012 was uncomfortably hotthe air conditioning (?) questionable.

Frank 2012 Loc: Olathe, Kansas

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.

Traveled Italy in 2006 for 19 day tour. Venice is definitely worth seeing. I think you should add a few days to your trip, see all you can see, take lots of pictures, sip a few glasses of Italian wine, take your best pair of walking shoes, get some night time pictures in St. Marks square and go to the top of the bell tower to get some pictures of the courtyard.
When you go to Italy, see as much as you can. I might go back again, but next is Alaska 2014, then back to Deutschland... Rhine R. cruise (hopefully) in 2015. You will have a fun time in Italy.

strawberry36 Loc: San Jose, CA

Venice is a beautiful and unique city, well worth visiting. You can do the trip in one day (albeit a long day), up and back on the train from Florence, or you can spend a night or two.
Venice tends to be crowded, but the crowds congregate around the train station and the Rialto bridge, and St. Marks. Walk to St. Marks from the train station, but then get off the main track and walk around the side streets, visit the Accademia bridge, etc.
It's a colorful, photogenic city filled with interesting shops and restaurants and hotels and well worth a day or two.

robmccallum9

If you hire a gondola ride do it off the main canal. (It is a "must do". It will be cheaper. Also I would do the cities that you mention by train. In Rome take the city busses. They are cheap and you can obtain 1 to 3 day passes at any tobacco shop. Allow at least a full day for the Vatican alone.

ceallachain Loc: Cape May, NJ

Great shot looks like a painting.

Peter McIntosh

I have been to all the tourist places in Italy. Venice is not to be missed. I would say at least you need 3 months to see the true Italy.All the tourist places are jam packed,with people,from all over the world The cathedrals in Rome and Florance. are murder to get in average time to cue is 2 hours.So nime days you are only going scrape the suface of the country.You will come back upset that you never saw the true amazing country,because you deed more time.The best way to see Itay on your own,not as a package tour.

wmarcoux Loc: Massachusetts

My wife and I did almost the same trip also with another couple. We started in Florence, took a daytrip to Venice on the train from Florence. I would have preferred to spend at least one night in Venice. You can take an overnight bag from Florence and leave the rest of your luggage in storage at the hotel. We went back to Florence took train to Rome and then took train from Rome to Naples and Sorrento. Bring good shoes to walk in and lots of memory cards. Pompei and the Amalfi coast are a must from Sorrento. You can visit Herculaneum at the same time as Pompei from Sorrento. I wouldnt stay in Rome more than 2-3 days. We loved Sorrento and have been back for a longer stay. The Hotel Minerva is a nice place to stay with magnificent views of the bay and Mt Vesuvius. The Isle of Capri is a great daytrip from Sorrento.

Fleckjohn65 Loc: Ajax Ontario Canada

We have been several times and each time we discovered something else. Get off the beaten path and go for a walk in the back lanes. The city is awesome!

However our by far favorite was Florence!

We are jealous, enjoy

J and A

Los-Angeles-Shooter Loc: Los Angeles

I was there years ago around October. Not smelly at all. Scenic and pretty. The Gondola rides are kind of touristy but nice. If you have the time, a short boat taxi out to Murano island is worthwhile; it's a glass-blowing mecca. I enjoyed Venice. For that matter, I enjoyed Italy. Be careful with purse and valuables; for all its charm Italy is widely-considered the dirtbag country of Europe and there is plenty of purse/camera snatching.