Arcadia in Venice

[Tonyrefail1]

Hi.Coming from NZ in Oct and trying to get as much info about  cruise be fore we leave.

Where do we dock in Venice and what is the best way to get around walking - water taxis etc

[kruzseeka]

The ship travels down the Guidecca Canal to its berth (clearly seen on Google Earth) so if you watch the sail-in which is to be recommended you will have experienced the views from this approach. Therefore I would not take the waterbus from the port back into Venice as it will take you back the same way and of course you will sail out down the Guidecca again as you leave Venice later in the day.  

My advice would be to use the People Mover (overhead railway) which you will see as you walk out of the port.   It's only €1.5 iirc but is a short cut and saves an unintetesting walk to get into Piazzala Roma - you'll do plenty of walking once in the city proper.  Then as you exit the People Mover station, look left and there is a ticket office about 100m away to buy a vaporetto ticket for the water bus.  I think it's Linea 1 you need but ask and check before embarking - the vaporetto stops are like bus stops with destination displays with live info on times, stops etc.  You want one which goes to San Marco.

This route takes you via the Grand Canal into the centre, takes about 45 minutes and is like an excursion in its own right.  You get views of the palaces from the water which are impossible to see otherwise and it also takes you under the Rialto Bridge. 

If you are ok walking then just meander around the city unless you have particular places you want to visit.  Part of Venice's charm imo is getting lost although at 1st floor level on the buildings are frequent directional signs to S. Marco, Rialto and Accademia - the main tourist sites.  With a map and using these signs to help you can get a pretty good fix on your position even if you're a bit lost!

You can walk all the way into S Marco from the port but missing out on a trip down the Grand Canal would be a pity as it's one of the highlights imo.

Just beware of the extortionate cost of eating/drinking in S. Mark's Sq - you may wish to experience that but check out prices first and don't be caught out.  We stayed there last year and noticed one cafe price list with cappuccino at €25 - of course you're paying for the location, ambience, musicians and service but best go prepared and not get a nasty shock when the bill arrives!  There are little cafes just off the main hot spots where you can get reasonably priced drinks, ice cream, etc.  Piazza S. Stephano for example has some nice cafes which are not over the top and is a nice location for a pit stop. If you go over the Accademia Bridge (great classic postcard views from here) and onto Fodamento Zattere there is a fabulous ice cream shop, Nick's Gelateria which sells wonderful ice cream very reasonably $2 ? but also has a terrace on the waterfront where we had a refreshing Aperol Spritz for €3,5 - not bad for Venice!

It's a very busy city with a lot of tourists but is so different from anywhere else.  We love it!  Enjoy your visit whatever you decide to do.

Edited May 5, 2019 by kruzseeka

[smj777]

Brilliant reply Kruzseeka, thanks. I've printed this off and will take it with us when we go back to Venice this October.

 

 

[bee-ess]

5 hours ago, kruzseeka said:

 

My advice would be to use the People Mover (overhead railway) which you will see as you walk out of the port.   It's only €1.5 iirc but is a short cut and saves an unintetesting walk to get into Piazzala Roma - you'll do plenty of walking once in the city proper.  Then as you exit the People Mover station, look left and there is a ticket office about 100m away to buy a vaporetto ticket for the water bus.  I think it's Linea 1 you need but ask and check before embarking - the vaporetto stops are like bus stops with destination displays with live info on times, stops etc.  You want one which goes to San Marco.

This route takes you via the Grand Canal into the centre, takes about 45 minutes and is like an excursion in its own right.  You get views of the palaces from the water which are impossible to see otherwise and it also takes you under the Rialto Bridge. 

If you are ok walking then just meander around the city unless you have particular places you want to visit.  Part of Venice's charm imo is getting lost although at 1st floor level on the buildings are frequent directional signs to S. Marco, Rialto and Accademia - the main tourist sites.  With a map and using these signs to help you can get a pretty good fix on your position even if you're a bit lost!

You can walk all the way into S Marco from the port but missing out on a trip down the Grand Canal would be a pity as it's one of the highlights imo.

 

 

I'd agree 100% - the best value thing you can do in Venice.

[Hols4]

Hols4

We did the people mover and vaporetto,it is Line 1 you need to get. 

[AnnieC]

There are two lines going up and down the Grand Canal - No. 1, which stops at every vap. stop and No. 2, which just stops at some of them, so is a bit quicker.

 

 

[kruzseeka]

Sorry missed the auto correct on my original post which changed the name of the ice cream shop a little: its Nico's Gelateria

https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Restaurant_Review-g187870-d1088077-Reviews-Gelateria_Nico-Venice_Veneto.html

 

Just remembered we once went to Venice, got the vaporetto down the Grand Canal and it terminated at the Rialto.  Good idea as you get on to say to the staff 'San Marco?' and get the confirmation it's going all the way down (although as I said before if you check on the live time display it does show you the stops en route - like a train station display).   We were a bit green then and hadn't checked it out properly - but if you do get caught out like that remember your vaporetto ticket is valid for an hour and 15 minutes from the time you validate it for your first journey (remember to do that - there are machines at the vaporetto stops) so if you were unlucky enough to have to get off at Rialto, just wait for the next one and continue with your journey.  

 

Hope you all enjoy Venice as much as we do. 😉

[oxygenbanditnot]

Tony, Beware line 1 is in both clockwise & anti-clockwise; at least it was when we were there in 2016. 

The "wrong" route take's you the long way round.

The No1 stop for both are near to each other. Can't remember which is which or are they 1A or 1B?

We were there for 2 day's, got a 24 hour vaporetto pass, did the Grand Canal, Murano, Burano and the Lido.

Also got out (mostly walking) on the evening.

Will have a look for our Vap route maps and see if I can work out which is which.

Have a good holiday.

[galeforce9]

As long as you take no 1 towards st Mark’s you’ll be fine.  There are digital route boards at the stops and the end station will be on the side of the vaporetti. We were last there for a week in jan.  the no 2 also does the same route but stops less and is quicker.