Venice Travel Forum

Can anyone help with these questions.

1. How much does Dodges Palace cost to enter and can you pre-book entrance so that you don't have to wait in line?
2. Where does the Carnival Cruise ship dock and how do you get from there to Saint Mark's Square? Can you walk to Saint Marks from the terminal?
3. If you are taking a vaparetto from the terminal area to St. Mark's Square, how much will it cost?
4. How much are gondola rides going for in 2008?
5. Where is the best place to catch a gondola and what the best time to take one?
6. What is the best route to take on a gondola ride?

1. We didn't do the Doges Palace, but I notice the line was non-existent by about 3:00 pm

2. It depends where your ship is docked. Our ship docked at San Basilio and it was about 20 minutes to walk to St. Mark's

3. It looks like it's 6 euros for a one-way fare. You'd be better off buying a 12-hour pass for 13.00 euros, or a 24 hour pass for 15 euros if you are staying for the day.

4. About a year ago, we paid 80 euros for a 50 minute ride. If it's not a special occaision, you can share the gondola with some people that you meet on your ship and that cuts down on the price. We did this and saved a significant amount of money. Don't pick up a gondola near the heavily touristed areas such as St. Mark's or in front of a hotel, you will pay more. We learned that you can negotiate around 3-5:00 pm, that's the slowest time for them.

If you don't want to pay 80 Euros, you can also hop a traghetto, which is a public gondola. These basically carry passengers across canals, so it's a short ride, but will be only 2 Euros. It is traditional to stand up in a traghetto.

6. We didn't specify a route, but we were taken into some minor canals where it was very quiet and peaceful, plus you can see some interesting architecture up close. If it's a special occaision, a gondola ride at sunset would be very romantic.

We are not touristy people, but we thoroughly enjoyed our ride. Don't let people discourage you from doing it, it is quite special and you may not be back to Venice again or for a very long time.

Make sure to wander the back streets and canals where there aren't many tourists, such as the Cannaregio area, and you will get a feel for the real Venice. Have fun, it's a wonderful place.

Excellent advice from madamx. Just a bit more info on the Doges Palace.

The Standard admission is EUR12.00 per adult. Audioguides are available.

Online bookings can be made through an agency such as Tickitaly.com. There are others. You specify a date and wait for confirmation of availability via email. Once this is approved, you then pay by credit card. There is an extra charge for booking this way, EUR17.00 in total I think. You are given a timed admission and if I remember correctly, a separate entrance line. The waiting time was minimal.

I have done the "Secret Itineraries" tour. It is a guided tour which I enjoyed and the cost is EUR21.00. It would not be suitable for people with mobility problems as stairs are involved.

A single ride on a vaporetto is 6.50 euros now.

http://www.actv.it/english/navigazione.php?pagina=tariffe_vaporetto

If you are not staying long (or to visit the islands), then you won't need to use the vaporetii anyway: Venice is a small city and very walkable (for obvious reasons).

My traghetto trip (you should stand, btw) across the Canal Grande cost 50 cents last month. Even in Venice 2 euros would be somewhat excessive for a hourney of less than a minute!

Gondola rides are entirely for visitors, and you will pay dearly for the privilege. There are gondoliers everywhere, and they will charge the same wherever/whenever you take one. I heard 50 euros for 30 minutes quoted, but I suspect prices will be even higher in the main season.

Far better to explore the city on foot.

Palazzo Ducale (Doge's Palace) ticket info here:

http://www.museiciviciveneziani.it/frame.asp?musid=8&area=info&sezione=musei

You can book online. There are also a number of private agencies offering tickets/tours (google for these), although you will pay a premium of course.

Standard prices for the Doge's Palace are now 15 Euros per adult, with reductions for children under 12. You can prebook, but you will probably pay a commision fee for doing so.

Your ship will dock at San Basilio or Santa Marta. Both of these docks are serviced by vaporetto number 62 which will take you to Saint Mark's.You will need to disembark at Valaresso.

As previous posters have said, gondola ride prices can be a bit hit and miss.
You should be paying around 80 Euros for approx 50 minutes. Just make sure you agree a price beforehand.

You can pickup gondola rides from just about anywhere. St Mark's Square is well serviced. I would ask to be taken back into the side canals. You can always take a trip along the Grand Canal on vaporetto no.1. Venice is always busy, so there really isn't a good or bad time to take a gondola ride.

if you prebook the dodges palace ticket in some way that kets you have it in your hand (not picking it up from the ticket office there) you may be able to get in early, before official opening time, which is a huge plus.

Traghetto standard fare is 0.50 cents (half a Euro). standing up is fun!!! there are about 7 traghetto routes across the grand canal. most just go pretty much straight across, so you get a minute for 0.50 cents there is one which is a bit longer, because the jettys arent right opposite each other. find a good map and they should be marked on.

if you take the vap route round the outside of venice from the cruise terminal you will get to san Marco quicker, but you wont see the Grand Canal. you can walk, and you will get lost, but thats the best part of venice

Hi!

Well, I can answer some of your questions:

I've sailed into Venice several times on cruise liners.
If you are lucky then you moor close to St.Mark's Sq. ---a few hundred metres.
If you're unlucky your ship will drop anchor of moor in the 'pool' behind the main part of Venice. Then you will either be tendered (ferried) to St.Marks area by the ship that you are on or by boats from the port authority.

As for the time to take a gondola....as early as possible in the morning so that you get the mists and the eerie silences which are broken by the haunting sounds of the Gondaliers whistling their wherabouts as they prepare to turn left or right in the backwaters.

Oh, one more thing! Do get up early to enjoy your ship going into Venice! Try to avoid the PA on the ship so that you really get a sense of ...of... magic.
It has been one of my most amazing experiences, entering Venice at dawn.

Let me know how you get on!

Kind regards,

Stephen

Yes, for sure, get up early, the sailing into Venice is just amazing. Try to get up to a high deck to watch.

Just came back from Venice.
1. Ticket for Dodges Palace cost 13 euros.
2. Our ship docked at a terminal which a port shuttle bus is provided at Piazzale Roma. I believe you can catch the water bus and get off close to the terminal. One way trip for the water bus is 6.50 euros. 12 hours or 24 hours ticket is a better deal.
3. Don't know much about the gondola rides as I can't afford it, but I heard it 's about 80 euros and you can catch them all over Venice.