Expert: Lisa - 10/8/2009

Question
Hello, MY husband and i are hoping to go to Venice in June can you tell me please how long do you need in Venice,many thanks we look forwards to your reply.

Answer
Hi Karen. I think a week is a nice amount of time in Venice. You can always go for less time and just see less. The first time I went to Venice, it was for the day. The 2nd time I went, I stayed for 3 nights, and the last time I went, I stayed for a week. All three visits were wonderful, but the first two left me wanting more. After being in Venice for a week, I was sad to leave and could have stayed longer. It's really up to you. Staying longer in a place makes it feel like home.

Go to this website for a list of the highlights, restaurants and hotels:

http://www.frommers.com/destinations/venice

Besides Venice itself, there are four islands in the lagoon to visit: Murano (known for its glass blowing factories), Burano (known for its lace making and beautifully painted houses), Torchello (the quaint, rustic island that will give you an idea of what Venice looked like originally), and Lido (known for it's beaches). You can take a day or two just to visit these islands. The first 3 can easily be done in a day.

My favorite neighborhood to use as a base is Dorsoduro, one of the six "sestieri" of Venice. It is across the Grand Canal from St. Marks Square and you can access Dorsoduro by foot by crossing the picturesque Accademia Bridge. It's only a 15-20 minute walk to St. Marks Square from almost anywhere in Dorsoduro. And it's a little quieter and less touristy.

Also, if you want to see my photos of Venice, go to Webshots.com and search MsZelda (that's me). I have one or two albums of Venice in there.

Best wishes,
Lisa