What things are there to do in Venice?

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annanna

First I tell you that August is very hot in Venice .
Public transport is ok,easy to use and not expensive,but pay attention to thieves because the vaporetto (public transport) are very crowd and thieves are very able to open your bag. I'm italian and go often in Venice,but once I 've lost all my money while returning to railway station,and tickets too.
You MUST see the Peggy Guggenheim museum , Palazzo Grassi museum , San Marco church,and go walking all around loocking at the most charming city in the world.
You can sit down in san Marco square at cafÃ¨ Flora and drink the Bellini (champagne and peach juice)
Go to Torcello island where is one of the most wonderful romanesque church I've seen and you can stop and have a very good lunch at Locanda del Diavolo, where your table is between blossomed trees.
Also beautiful are Murano island ,famous for wonderful blowed glasses ,and Burano island famous for handmade
laces. These islands are in the Venice's laguna and are about 20 minutes far,Torcello about 60 minutes far but it's unforgettable.
Good journey !

monorailgold

Hello,

There is a lot to see and do it Venice. You can start out with a vaporetto ride up the grand canal. After that you can see the Doge's palace, the Basillica de san marco, St. Marks square and bell tower, the clock tower, you can walk along the canal and see the bridge of sighs, you can stop into Harry's bar for a bellini, you can go to the numerous galleries like the Guggenheim or the Accademia. You can take a vaporetto to Muran and Burano. You can visit the numerous churches on the islands and go to any concerts they are giving. You can just stroll along the alleyways and backstreets soaking up the atmosphere. There is sooo much to do.

The public transportation in Venice consists of vaporetto (water busses), water taxis (very expensive, take the bus) and gondolas (again very expensive but might be something to consider). The tickets are pretty cheap and easy to get. You can get week long passes if you need one, but I have never found the need for one. There are bridges that cross the grand canal and the city is very small and easy to walk from end to end. You will need a ticket to get to the two outer islands of Murano (beautiful glass) and Burano (beautiful buildings).

You can check with your hotel for any special events happening while you are there.

Donna

quint

There is an American living in Venice who builds gondolas and gives tours of his boatyard once a week for 25 euro - it is small and maybe less than an hour, but it is a great way to see something that is both artsy and non-touristy. And he has a great perspecitive on Venice.

Search for Squaro Canaletto, Squaro Americano, or Thom Price (I believe that is his name).

Serendipity

You will love all the shops where masks are made and sold. Make plans to visit Murano to see the glass blowers and Burano for lace makers. Visit the opera if you can get tickets. You will love San Marcos in the evenings when the ensembles come out to play, but it is expensive to take a table and order there. Worth a little splurge. I can stil hear strains of Nessun Dorma! Buon Viaggio.

DTott

Venice is beautiful. With 6 days, you should easily be able to cover it all. You can walk in Venice with no problem.

Public transportation is great - the "vaporetta" water bus is their public transportation. You can buy an all day pass for $15 Euros. They also sell passes that last for 72 hours. That would be good to do on your first day. You can then ride the Vaporetta all day, jumping on and off at whatever stops you want. When you first get there, take the #1 Vaporetta - it goes from one end of the canal to the other. You can see all the sights from the boat and decide what you want to do later on. Wait around at the back where there are a few outside seats on the back deck. When someone leaves, grab a seat quickly, enjoy the great view and take lots of pictures.

See St. Mark's Basilica, St. Mark's Square (just watch out for pigeons) and Doge's Palace. There are a number of different passes and cards you can buy that can save you money depending on what you actually want to see (e.g. there's a chorus pass, a Venice card etc) Do a google search to find out current details of prices and what is covered. There is music in St. Mark's square every night. Free to listen to and dancing in the square in encouraged. You only have to pay if you want to sit in one of the chairs.

There are the Peggy Guggeheim Collection and the Galleria Dell'Accademia (not to be confused with the one in Florence that houses Michalengelo's David") in Venice which are both worth seeing.

Stay away from the water taxis unless you've got a lot of cash as these are very expensive. Bring as little luggage as possible (make sure they have wheels). There are a lot of bridges and in some cases you'll have to carry your luggage up and down steps to get to your hotel. Also get good directions to your hotel before you get there.

If you have extra cash and want to experience something only Venice has to offer, splurge for a gondola ride. It is pricey. You can negotiate but it will cost you about 80 Euros for 30 - 40 minutes. Count on spending about 40 Euros more if you want to go under the moonlight and 40 Euros more if you want a musician to seranade you on the gondalo. For a cheaper version, try the "traghetta". This is "gondola-like" and will take you across the canal from one side to another for only 1.50 Euro. A bargain.

I know most of Italy goes on holiday in August and it isn't suggested you visit areas like Rome during this month as a lot is closed up. I'm not sure how this impacts Venice.

You can find out a lot of info on the internet, but we also found carrying a couple travel books with good maps was a great help. We liked Frommer's, Fodors and Rick Steves. All had good and bad points. Try your library or bookstore. Flip through and see which one(s) work best for you. They helped us out.

Enjoy Venezia! It's beautiful and there is no other place in the world like it.

Felicity???

Things To Do: <*-*>

â™¦Swimming
Venice is a bit of a desert for swimmers. You can go in off the Lido (if you're game) or at one of Venice's two public swimming pools (handily, they close in summer).

â™¦Jogging
If you want to emulate Julia Roberts in Everybody Says I Love You and do some jogging, try the Giardini Pubblici or Isola di Sant'Elena in Castello.

â™¦Rowing
You could indulge in a spot of rowing at Venice's oldest club, Reale SocietÃ Canottieri Bucintoro.

generalteh

Visit Murano glass i never went to the island but we went to a demonstration right off of piazza san marco. also i know this sounds strange but deffinatly visit the Gheto its the old jewish section of the city. take the public transport there and walk around u will find some good food for cheaper there and its a good test to go from there back to piazza san marco by walking. we did it 2 groups and then our group split into 2. for a good gondola ride don't look along the grand canal go into the island a little u can find it for about 50 euros. learn a little italian it helps. also expect to pay a cover charge or coperto when going dining ranges from 1 euro and up per person

Genius Cook

Google Venice and see that there is plenty to see and do - it would be too much to list here.
The art Biennale is about to start and will be open in August. The city will be buzzing with activity.
The public transportation is very very expensive - a rip off at Euro 6.00 a pop. look at the Venice-card site for details on getting a boat pass for a few days. If you don't use the pass several times a day then don't make the investment. Walk. Venice is a city to be walked.
Hang out in the evenings at Rialto (the fish market side) for drinks and company. Go to Campo Santa Marghertita for drinks (Spritz and or prosecco).
Make sure you leave your valuable valuables in the hotel. Don't carry with you more than you'll need. The city will be crowded and pick pockets come to town for their working vacations.

bellabacioo

August is a funny month because that is when more italians are on holiday but there are alot of tourist everywhere. The bus boat is pretty good and a great way to go to all the little islands in Venice if you are a student ask for the student card/pass it is so worth it. Music is really good in San marco at night. There are alot of live little bands that play and you can dance in the piazza. The drinks are extremely pricey so watch out.
There are also things like Regata di Pellestrina which is the first Sunday in August
This is held for the popular feast of the Madonna dell'Apparizione (the Virgin of the Apparition). The regatta is held on the lagoon side of the island.

Concerto dell'Assunta
A concert in the cathedral on Torcello not sure of the date sorry.

Film Festival
This takes place during the August, and is second only in importance to the Cannes festival. Take any water bus to the Lido to catch the action, or book into the excelsior hotel there are famous people everywhere kind of crazy. This is really really cool if you get a to go there are stars everywhere during this time.

One other thing that is unique to Venice beside the glass and masks is the green apple (mela verde) gelato and pastachio green sweet bread. They are both very good and are made best in Venice, you have to try it.
Beware: Make sure that if you are buying any masks or glass that there is something that states that it is made in Venice the last couple of years there has been alot of people selling things that are acutally made in CHINA and not in Italy that goes the same for the leather goods in Florence. Have a great trip.

ricmon87

the only public transport is on boat or on foot.

Dana C

Check out Murano for glass & Burano for lace work. Venice is very easy to get around. The Peggy Gugenheim(sp?) gallery is there. Check out

http://www.fodors.com/miniguides/mgresults.cfm?destination=venice@163

http://www.lonelyplanet.com/worldguide/destinations/europe/italy/venice

Enjoy! IT's a wonderful city. Venice is as Venice was.

anne b

You must see Saint Mark's Basilica (Basilica di San Marco), The Doges palace, the grand canal

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