I spent 2022 living in Frankfurt, Germany. The culture, language, and surroundings were all new. After a couple months I found myself needing a short break. Someplace familiar. A Venice, Italy trip would be perfect!
After studying abroad in Italy and traveling there multiple times, Italy feels much more familiar than Germany.
I’ve been to Venice several times. Which means I could take a more laid-back approach to the weekend without feeling like I was missing out.
The toughest part? Choosing a hotel.
Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I may get a small commission if you decide to make a purchase through my links, at no cost to you.
Where to stay for a relaxing Venice Italy trip
Venice is full of beautiful hotels, so the choices are extensive. I thought about one of the classics, like the Gritti Palace, and considered the St. Regis Venice since I’ve stayed there before and enjoyed it.
I chose the Hilton Molino Stucky Venice for a couple of reasons.
First, the location is different. It’s on Giudecca Island, so it’s out of the main tourist areas. But it’s just across from the main part of Venice and easy transportation via the hotel’s boat shuttle.
Second, I really wanted to check out one of their higher level rooms. I have a lot of Hilton points, so I decided to cash out the majority of them for three nights in one of their unique Molino Tower Suites. The rooms are beautiful and have amazing views over the Giudecca Canal and the city.
How to get there
I’m not a huge fan of flying, and I’m always tempted to take a really long train trip instead of a short flight. But since we only had a weekend, we decided to fly.
It’s the first time I’ve actually told my sister “thank you for saying we should fly!”.
Since the flight from Frankfurt to Venice is short, and the Veneto region is just beyond the Alps, you fly very low over the mountains. It was a clear day and the views were spectacular!
I’ve never seen anything like it. I was a kid again with my nose pressed against the window, drinking in the views. I had my camera out for the entire flight!
Once we arrived in Venice, we had two choices for getting to the Hilton Molino Stucky Venice. We could take the water bus line, called the vaporetto, that stops outside the hotel. Or we could take a water taxi.
Since the vaporetto can take 2-3 hours from the airport, we decided on a water taxi. The vaporetto can take an hour just from the train station (which isn’t that far from the Hilton we’d be staying at) because we’d need to change water bus lines. Not the way we wanted to spend our time.
Taking a water taxi was quick, only about 30 minutes. And it’s a very fun ride across the lagoon. It’s definitely faster than the vaporetto, but it’s also the more expensive option.
A water taxi was about €130 one way! If you decide to take one, make sure you have cash to cover it. Many water taxis do take credit cards now, but the processing relies on the cellular network.
If the cellular connection isn’t great, they can’t process the card. Even if you’re planning to use a card as much as you can, have enough cash on hand in case the card won’t process.
From the Hilton Molino Stucky Venice, it’s easy to get to and from San Marco and the heart of Venice. The hotel runs a shuttle boat every 30 minutes. It takes 15-20 minutes door to door, dropping you off at San Marco.
The Hilton Molino Stucky Venice Hotel
When the taxi dropped us off, a porter helped us out of the boat and took our bags. Although we were early, we were able to check in immediately and headed upstairs to see the room that would be ours for the next three nights.
And what a room it was!
The Tower Suites have windows on two sides. The views over Venice and up the Giudecca canal are some of the best you can get without climbing one of the bell towers.
The Tower Suites are also some of the hotel’s largest rooms. A king bedroom, full bathroom, a guest bath (half bath), and a sitting/dining area was more than enough room for two people!
If you haven’t been to Venice (or Europe in general), you may not realize they don’t use screens. A lot of places don’t have A/C either. The room is cooled by simply opening the windows.
It was a rather cool day, but the sun was warm, so we opened all the windows and let the lovely breeze blow in. There’s nothing like sitting in a Venetian tower, watching the curtains blow, feeling the breeze, and hearing the boats and people passing below.
The Tower Suites have lovely exposed beams, iron girders and columns. And amazing views. I can’t get over the views. It’s worth booking the room just for that!
After we got settled (and took some pictures!) it was time to explore the island.
The Island of Giudecca
Giudecca is much quieter than the central parts of Venice. It’s full of locals going about their lives. As we wandered, we even found a small park with benches to sit and look over the lagoon! If you’ve been to Venice, you’ll know parks aren’t something you find in most areas.
I found the island to be a slice of “authentic” Venice that I hadn’t experienced previously. The stores were full of locals doing their daily shopping. And best of all…no tourist traps selling masks and beads that were actually made in China.
There are no strings of gondolas here. Mainly working boats lining the canals. Fenced gardens are everywhere, some growing a plot of fruits or vegetables and others with lovely flowers that dance in the breeze.
We came across an open-air herb garden along the road next to a church. They’d planted edible herbs and plants all along the wall. The scent of sun-soaked herbs filled the air as we walked by. What a perfect fragrance to enhance our wanders in this serene, authentic part of Venice.
The early afternoons are filled with children getting off the vaporetti and meeting their parents, or walking home after a day at school. The canal-side restaurants and bars are full of locals speaking the traditional Venetian dialect, enjoying an Italian aperitivo before dinner.
We came across Harry’s Dolci and decided to enjoy a late lunch. Sitting along the canal and watching the boats go by was a wonderful respite after wandering the island.
Lunch was delicious and our waiter was fantastic. We even ordered dessert when we normally wouldn’t. Their speciality is the vanilla cake, but we thought the lemon looked really good too. We were having such a hard time deciding.
So our waiter suggested half a piece of each! Well, that’s a great solution!
The half piece was huge! And he was right. The lemon cake was really good. But the vanilla was simply delectable.
A special dinner on Torcello
For dinner Friday evening I had made reservations at Locanda Cipriani. It’s a small hotel and restaurant located on the island of Torcello owned by the Cipriani family. (Update: Locanda Cipriani closed for refurbishment in October 2023. No word on a re-open date.)
The island of Torcello only has about a dozen residents. There’s no shopping and while the island itself is absolutely beautiful, the main attraction besides Locanda Cipriani is Torcello Cathedral.
Torcello can be reached via vaporetto, but the last water bus leaves before the restaurant closes. And if that bus is missed, the only option is to call a water taxi.
Since Torcello is far off the beaten path, we decided to take a water taxi to and from the island. It’s a great way to see the area outside of the touristy part of Venice. It’s beautiful. And very calm.
Locanda Cipriani is known for its beautiful garden. The entire island is a different world than the rest of Venice. It’s very rural, with birds singing everywhere. Hardly anyone is around, which makes sense once you know it has a population of approximately 12 people.
I was actually a bit afraid I’d made a mistake and the restaurant was closed because no one was around. Once we went in, we were given a warm welcome and discovered a wonderful menu.
The highlight of the meal was dessert. We shared the crepes. They’re soaked in Cointreau and flambéed table-side.
It was quite a show, and tasted as good as it looked!
Weekend Day 1 in Venice: Cicchetti tours & traghettos
Saturday morning we headed into Venice for the day. We had to start our day with a good cappuccino at a nearby bar.
If you haven’t been to Italy, “bar” doesn’t mean what we think of in America. A “bar” in Italy is where you go to get a drink. Espresso in the morning (cappuccino before noon only) and wine or mixed drinks in the afternoon or evening.
Before I tell you about our tour, if you only have a day to explore Venice, taking a tour from Walks – Italy and Spain (my favorite tour company) is the best way to see it. Their Venice in a Day small group tour includes a walk across the Rialto Bridge to the fish market, a gondola ride, St. Mark’s Basilica and its rooftop terrace, and the Doge’s palace.
Or if you have time in the evening, take a St. Mark’s Basilica After-Hours tour (also by Walks – Italy & Spain). It’s a chance to see St. Marks without the crowds. It’s in the evening which means all the lights are on and the gold mosaics really glow. You can upgrade at booking to include crowd-free access to the Doge’s Palace and the Bridge of Sighs.
Venice Food Tour
I’ve discovered I really enjoy food or drink tours, so we booked a cicchetti tour (also by Walks – Italy & Spain) for Saturday morning. Cicchetti are a traditional Venetian food, basically a variety of toppings or fillings served on or in bread. You can find them everywhere, but we didn’t want just any cicchetti. We wanted great cicchetti, and we found them.
Want to learn more? Check out our cicchetti guide.
Technically it was a “food tour” because it includes cheeses, a street-food take on Venetian seafood, and other foods, but cicchetti was definitely the highlight.
The tour includes a walk through the Rialto fish market as well as a trip across the Grand Canal in a traghetto. That’s an experience by itself!
What is a traghetto?
A traghetto is a gondola. Instead of one gondolier and comfortable seats, there are two gondoliers. One at the front and one at the back. And the gondola can seat 12-14 people!
To ride, you perch along the sides of the boat instead of sitting on a bench in the middle. The gondoliers will tell you which side to sit on if you aren’t sure.
Traghettos are how Venetian’s have traditionally crossed the canal. After all, there are only three bridges that cross it. Rather than walking a long way to the next bridge, the traghetto takes you from one side of the canal to the other in a jiffy.
I definitely recommend trying a traghetto at least once. And it’s only about €1 per person to cross (but don’t forget to tip the gondolier).
Just make sure to be mindful of the balance of the gondola. Getting on and off can be a little tricky if you aren’t used to it. Mind the directions from the gondolier at all times.
Gondolas are very narrow. Two people sitting on the same side, without someone opposite, feels like you could easily take an unpleasant swim in the canal!
The tour included multiple stops for cicchetti and tramezzino. Both are traditional sandwich-like Venetian dishes. Each stop also included a spritz, wine, or prosecco.
We ended with lunch at a traditional Venetian restaurant. There was more food than we could possibly eat. For this tour, be sure to start hungry!
After our tour we spent some time walking around and browsing the local shops. Going to shops outside of the main tourist avenues means finding authentic Venetian shops. Not ones filled with touristy products that have been imported from China.
Take time to explore the side streets. It’s worth it. The shopkeepers are delightful. They enjoy interacting with people who are genuinely interested in their wares.
After shopping, it was time to catch the hotel boat back to Giudecca for dinner.
Dinner: Bacaromi and the Skyline Rooftop Bar
We chose to try Bacaromi, the Venetian restaurant at Hilton Molino Stucky Venice. We started with a plate of cicchetti to share before enjoying a pasta dish and a risotto with wines to accompany them.
After dinner, we went upstairs for a final glass of wine at the Skyline Rooftop Bar.
There’s a reason Lonely Planet has called it the best view in Venice! The views are amazing.
On a clear day you can see all the way to the foothills of the Alps. Plus all of Venice and the lagoon spread out in front of you.
We’d gone up the day prior to check out the views and the pool, but wanted to experience it at night too.
The hotel has a very timeless, classic feel. The bar has a very different vibe, compared to the rest of the hotel.
There’s normally live music or a DJ and neon lights. The bartenders at Skyline are happy to shake up one of their 21 signature cocktails with fun names like Stardust, Rubì and Tintarella.
The views of Venice at night were beautiful. The experience was great and a sharp contrast to the rest of the hotel. It’s worth checking out Skyline Rooftop Bar, even if you aren’t staying there.
Weekend Day 2 in Venice: Brunch and a gondola ride
Sunday morning, we decided we wanted to find someplace for brunch. We landed on Caffe Florian. It’s been on the Piazza San Marco since 1730!
We were given the option of sitting inside or outside. We decided to sit outside and people watch on the Piazza. But it was a hard choice, because the inside is classic Venetian elegance.
Brunch came on an elegant two-tiered cake stand with scones and little sandwiches. The appearance was slightly English, but the flavor was all Venetian. And of course it must be accompanied by a glass of Prosecco and a cappuccino.
We planned to spend the afternoon wandering around Venice. We had a sunset boat tour booked and wanted to explore more of the city. On a whim, we decided to take a gondola ride!
Gondolas
Yes, it’s touristy. And yes, you should do it at least once.
Despite having been to Venice multiple times, a traghetto was the only gondola we’d been on. Different length tours are available from the gondolier, but each gondolier offers the same variety.
We decided to take the full tour which is about an hour and fifteen minutes. Prices are set, so don’t bother looking for a deal. If you want to take a gondola ride along the Venetian canals, you can take one from anywhere and they’ll be the same price. Prices are determined by the Gondolier Association and available on their website.
Gondoliers have perfected the art of fitting a full conversation into the amount of time it takes for two gondolas to pass each other. Being a gondolier is a career that passes from one generation to the next. At one point, after one of those speedy conversations, our gondolier said with obvious pride “that was my son!”.
Sunset lagoon cruise
After our gondola ride it was time to head to the meeting point for our evening tour, a sunset cruise of the lagoon in a traditional Venetian boat. Of course prosecco was included!
By the time our evening tour was ready to start, the weather was a bit iffy. The wind had picked up and the lagoon was quite rough. But our captain told us it would calm down after we got around the first island. We were a little nervous, and it seemed like quite a small boat. But he was right. The waves calmed and it was a fantastic tour.
We sailed past several islands that most tourists never see. It’s a 2-hour sunset cruise and the skipper gives a bit of commentary and history as you travel. After passing several quiet islands, we sailed along Lido, the one island in Venice that actually has cars.
We also discovered that, much like how American teens will drive along with their windows down blasting their music, Venetian teens have their version. They take the boat out, blast music from their phones using a mobile speaker, and go cruising loudly around the lagoon!
Teenagers are really the same everywhere.
After seeing Lido and some of the other small western islands, we headed towards San Marco.
We arrived just as the sunset was setting and were treated to beautiful views. Once the sun had set, it was time to head back.
Did I mention it was a little challenging to get in the boat to start the tour, due to the level of the tide when we left? Trust me, it was interesting. But gravity works for you getting in, so it wasn’t a big deal.
But I was a bit concerned I wouldn’t be able to get out of the boat once we got back. I’m short, only 5’2″. Getting into the boat was more a matter of falling in from the seawall than stepping in. Fortunately the tide had come in while we were cruising around the lagoon, so I was able to get out of the boat without making a complete fool of myself!
We headed back to the hotel shuttle, planning to end the evening with room service at the hotel. We had such a lovely suite with a dining table, we figured we should use it at least once.
As expected, room service was an absolute delight. The lasagna and bucatini all’amatriciana were both excellent, as were the wines to accompany them.
We’ll be back soon!
Monday morning we were a bit sad to leave. We packed our bags and said goodbye as we closed the door to our delightful Molino Tower Suite.
After breakfast at the hotel, we took a water taxi back to the airport. It was an interesting trip with the driver having to stop and gas up his boat. After all, we didn’t expect to experience a Venetian gas station for boats. But we got to the airport in time to catch our flight back to Germany.
Our weekend may have been over, but we’ll definitely be back to Venice soon.
Are you ready to start planning your own Venice, Italy trip? Read more of our Venice travel blog posts or schedule an intro call and we’ll get started!
I spent 2022 living in Frankfurt, Germany. The culture, language, and surroundings were all new. After a couple months I found myself needing a short break. Someplace familiar. A Venice, Italy trip would be perfect!
After studying abroad in Italy and traveling there multiple times, Italy feels much more familiar than Germany.
I’ve been to Venice several times. Which means I could take a more laid-back approach to the weekend without feeling like I was missing out.
The toughest part? Choosing a hotel.
Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I may get a small commission if you decide to make a purchase through my links, at no cost to you.
Where to stay for a relaxing Venice Italy trip
Venice is full of beautiful hotels, so the choices are extensive. I thought about one of the classics, like the Gritti Palace, and considered the St. Regis Venice since I’ve stayed there before and enjoyed it.
I chose the Hilton Molino Stucky Venice for a couple of reasons.
First, the location is different. It’s on Giudecca Island, so it’s out of the main tourist areas. But it’s just across from the main part of Venice and easy transportation via the hotel’s boat shuttle.
Second, I really wanted to check out one of their higher level rooms. I have a lot of Hilton points, so I decided to cash out the majority of them for three nights in one of their unique Molino Tower Suites. The rooms are beautiful and have amazing views over the Giudecca Canal and the city.
How to get there
I’m not a huge fan of flying, and I’m always tempted to take a really long train trip instead of a short flight. But since we only had a weekend, we decided to fly.
It’s the first time I’ve actually told my sister “thank you for saying we should fly!”.
Since the flight from Frankfurt to Venice is short, and the Veneto region is just beyond the Alps, you fly very low over the mountains. It was a clear day and the views were spectacular!
I’ve never seen anything like it. I was a kid again with my nose pressed against the window, drinking in the views. I had my camera out for the entire flight!
Once we arrived in Venice, we had two choices for getting to the Hilton Molino Stucky Venice. We could take the water bus line, called the vaporetto, that stops outside the hotel. Or we could take a water taxi.
Since the vaporetto can take 2-3 hours from the airport, we decided on a water taxi. The vaporetto can take an hour just from the train station (which isn’t that far from the Hilton we’d be staying at) because we’d need to change water bus lines. Not the way we wanted to spend our time.
Taking a water taxi was quick, only about 30 minutes. And it’s a very fun ride across the lagoon. It’s definitely faster than the vaporetto, but it’s also the more expensive option.
A water taxi was about €130 one way! If you decide to take one, make sure you have cash to cover it. Many water taxis do take credit cards now, but the processing relies on the cellular network.
If the cellular connection isn’t great, they can’t process the card. Even if you’re planning to use a card as much as you can, have enough cash on hand in case the card won’t process.
From the Hilton Molino Stucky Venice, it’s easy to get to and from San Marco and the heart of Venice. The hotel runs a shuttle boat every 30 minutes. It takes 15-20 minutes door to door, dropping you off at San Marco.
The Hilton Molino Stucky Venice Hotel
When the taxi dropped us off, a porter helped us out of the boat and took our bags. Although we were early, we were able to check in immediately and headed upstairs to see the room that would be ours for the next three nights.
And what a room it was!
The Tower Suites have windows on two sides. The views over Venice and up the Giudecca canal are some of the best you can get without climbing one of the bell towers.
The Tower Suites are also some of the hotel’s largest rooms. A king bedroom, full bathroom, a guest bath (half bath), and a sitting/dining area was more than enough room for two people!
If you haven’t been to Venice (or Europe in general), you may not realize they don’t use screens. A lot of places don’t have A/C either. The room is cooled by simply opening the windows.
It was a rather cool day, but the sun was warm, so we opened all the windows and let the lovely breeze blow in. There’s nothing like sitting in a Venetian tower, watching the curtains blow, feeling the breeze, and hearing the boats and people passing below.
The Tower Suites have lovely exposed beams, iron girders and columns. And amazing views. I can’t get over the views. It’s worth booking the room just for that!
After we got settled (and took some pictures!) it was time to explore the island.
The Island of Giudecca
Giudecca is much quieter than the central parts of Venice. It’s full of locals going about their lives. As we wandered, we even found a small park with benches to sit and look over the lagoon! If you’ve been to Venice, you’ll know parks aren’t something you find in most areas.
I found the island to be a slice of “authentic” Venice that I hadn’t experienced previously. The stores were full of locals doing their daily shopping. And best of all…no tourist traps selling masks and beads that were actually made in China.
There are no strings of gondolas here. Mainly working boats lining the canals. Fenced gardens are everywhere, some growing a plot of fruits or vegetables and others with lovely flowers that dance in the breeze.
We came across an open-air herb garden along the road next to a church. They’d planted edible herbs and plants all along the wall. The scent of sun-soaked herbs filled the air as we walked by. What a perfect fragrance to enhance our wanders in this serene, authentic part of Venice.
The early afternoons are filled with children getting off the vaporetti and meeting their parents, or walking home after a day at school. The canal-side restaurants and bars are full of locals speaking the traditional Venetian dialect, enjoying an Italian aperitivo before dinner.
We came across Harry’s Dolci and decided to enjoy a late lunch. Sitting along the canal and watching the boats go by was a wonderful respite after wandering the island.
Lunch was delicious and our waiter was fantastic. We even ordered dessert when we normally wouldn’t. Their speciality is the vanilla cake, but we thought the lemon looked really good too. We were having such a hard time deciding.
So our waiter suggested half a piece of each! Well, that’s a great solution!
The half piece was huge! And he was right. The lemon cake was really good. But the vanilla was simply delectable.
A special dinner on Torcello
For dinner Friday evening I had made reservations at Locanda Cipriani. It’s a small hotel and restaurant located on the island of Torcello owned by the Cipriani family. (Update: Locanda Cipriani closed for refurbishment in October 2023. No word on a re-open date.)
The island of Torcello only has about a dozen residents. There’s no shopping and while the island itself is absolutely beautiful, the main attraction besides Locanda Cipriani is Torcello Cathedral.
Torcello can be reached via vaporetto, but the last water bus leaves before the restaurant closes. And if that bus is missed, the only option is to call a water taxi.
Since Torcello is far off the beaten path, we decided to take a water taxi to and from the island. It’s a great way to see the area outside of the touristy part of Venice. It’s beautiful. And very calm.
Locanda Cipriani is known for its beautiful garden. The entire island is a different world than the rest of Venice. It’s very rural, with birds singing everywhere. Hardly anyone is around, which makes sense once you know it has a population of approximately 12 people.
I was actually a bit afraid I’d made a mistake and the restaurant was closed because no one was around. Once we went in, we were given a warm welcome and discovered a wonderful menu.
The highlight of the meal was dessert. We shared the crepes. They’re soaked in Cointreau and flambéed table-side.
It was quite a show, and tasted as good as it looked!
Weekend Day 1 in Venice: Cicchetti tours & traghettos
Saturday morning we headed into Venice for the day. We had to start our day with a good cappuccino at a nearby bar.
If you haven’t been to Italy, “bar” doesn’t mean what we think of in America. A “bar” in Italy is where you go to get a drink. Espresso in the morning (cappuccino before noon only) and wine or mixed drinks in the afternoon or evening.
Before I tell you about our tour, if you only have a day to explore Venice, taking a tour from Walks – Italy and Spain (my favorite tour company) is the best way to see it. Their Venice in a Day small group tour includes a walk across the Rialto Bridge to the fish market, a gondola ride, St. Mark’s Basilica and its rooftop terrace, and the Doge’s palace.
Or if you have time in the evening, take a St. Mark’s Basilica After-Hours tour (also by Walks – Italy & Spain). It’s a chance to see St. Marks without the crowds. It’s in the evening which means all the lights are on and the gold mosaics really glow. You can upgrade at booking to include crowd-free access to the Doge’s Palace and the Bridge of Sighs.
Venice Food Tour
I’ve discovered I really enjoy food or drink tours, so we booked a cicchetti tour (also by Walks – Italy & Spain) for Saturday morning. Cicchetti are a traditional Venetian food, basically a variety of toppings or fillings served on or in bread. You can find them everywhere, but we didn’t want just any cicchetti. We wanted great cicchetti, and we found them.
Want to learn more? Check out our cicchetti guide.
Technically it was a “food tour” because it includes cheeses, a street-food take on Venetian seafood, and other foods, but cicchetti was definitely the highlight.
The tour includes a walk through the Rialto fish market as well as a trip across the Grand Canal in a traghetto. That’s an experience by itself!
What is a traghetto?
A traghetto is a gondola. Instead of one gondolier and comfortable seats, there are two gondoliers. One at the front and one at the back. And the gondola can seat 12-14 people!
To ride, you perch along the sides of the boat instead of sitting on a bench in the middle. The gondoliers will tell you which side to sit on if you aren’t sure.
Traghettos are how Venetian’s have traditionally crossed the canal. After all, there are only three bridges that cross it. Rather than walking a long way to the next bridge, the traghetto takes you from one side of the canal to the other in a jiffy.
I definitely recommend trying a traghetto at least once. And it’s only about €1 per person to cross (but don’t forget to tip the gondolier).
Just make sure to be mindful of the balance of the gondola. Getting on and off can be a little tricky if you aren’t used to it. Mind the directions from the gondolier at all times.
Gondolas are very narrow. Two people sitting on the same side, without someone opposite, feels like you could easily take an unpleasant swim in the canal!
The tour included multiple stops for cicchetti and tramezzino. Both are traditional sandwich-like Venetian dishes. Each stop also included a spritz, wine, or prosecco.
We ended with lunch at a traditional Venetian restaurant. There was more food than we could possibly eat. For this tour, be sure to start hungry!
After our tour we spent some time walking around and browsing the local shops. Going to shops outside of the main tourist avenues means finding authentic Venetian shops. Not ones filled with touristy products that have been imported from China.
Take time to explore the side streets. It’s worth it. The shopkeepers are delightful. They enjoy interacting with people who are genuinely interested in their wares.
After shopping, it was time to catch the hotel boat back to Giudecca for dinner.
Dinner: Bacaromi and the Skyline Rooftop Bar
We chose to try Bacaromi, the Venetian restaurant at Hilton Molino Stucky Venice. We started with a plate of cicchetti to share before enjoying a pasta dish and a risotto with wines to accompany them.
After dinner, we went upstairs for a final glass of wine at the Skyline Rooftop Bar.
There’s a reason Lonely Planet has called it the best view in Venice! The views are amazing.
On a clear day you can see all the way to the foothills of the Alps. Plus all of Venice and the lagoon spread out in front of you.
We’d gone up the day prior to check out the views and the pool, but wanted to experience it at night too.
The hotel has a very timeless, classic feel. The bar has a very different vibe, compared to the rest of the hotel.
There’s normally live music or a DJ and neon lights. The bartenders at Skyline are happy to shake up one of their 21 signature cocktails with fun names like Stardust, Rubì and Tintarella.
The views of Venice at night were beautiful. The experience was great and a sharp contrast to the rest of the hotel. It’s worth checking out Skyline Rooftop Bar, even if you aren’t staying there.
Weekend Day 2 in Venice: Brunch and a gondola ride
Sunday morning, we decided we wanted to find someplace for brunch. We landed on Caffe Florian. It’s been on the Piazza San Marco since 1730!
We were given the option of sitting inside or outside. We decided to sit outside and people watch on the Piazza. But it was a hard choice, because the inside is classic Venetian elegance.
Brunch came on an elegant two-tiered cake stand with scones and little sandwiches. The appearance was slightly English, but the flavor was all Venetian. And of course it must be accompanied by a glass of Prosecco and a cappuccino.
We planned to spend the afternoon wandering around Venice. We had a sunset boat tour booked and wanted to explore more of the city. On a whim, we decided to take a gondola ride!
Gondolas
Yes, it’s touristy. And yes, you should do it at least once.
Despite having been to Venice multiple times, a traghetto was the only gondola we’d been on. Different length tours are available from the gondolier, but each gondolier offers the same variety.
We decided to take the full tour which is about an hour and fifteen minutes. Prices are set, so don’t bother looking for a deal. If you want to take a gondola ride along the Venetian canals, you can take one from anywhere and they’ll be the same price. Prices are determined by the Gondolier Association and available on their website.
Gondoliers have perfected the art of fitting a full conversation into the amount of time it takes for two gondolas to pass each other. Being a gondolier is a career that passes from one generation to the next. At one point, after one of those speedy conversations, our gondolier said with obvious pride “that was my son!”.
Sunset lagoon cruise
After our gondola ride it was time to head to the meeting point for our evening tour, a sunset cruise of the lagoon in a traditional Venetian boat. Of course prosecco was included!
By the time our evening tour was ready to start, the weather was a bit iffy. The wind had picked up and the lagoon was quite rough. But our captain told us it would calm down after we got around the first island. We were a little nervous, and it seemed like quite a small boat. But he was right. The waves calmed and it was a fantastic tour.
We sailed past several islands that most tourists never see. It’s a 2-hour sunset cruise and the skipper gives a bit of commentary and history as you travel. After passing several quiet islands, we sailed along Lido, the one island in Venice that actually has cars.
We also discovered that, much like how American teens will drive along with their windows down blasting their music, Venetian teens have their version. They take the boat out, blast music from their phones using a mobile speaker, and go cruising loudly around the lagoon!
Teenagers are really the same everywhere.
After seeing Lido and some of the other small western islands, we headed towards San Marco.
We arrived just as the sunset was setting and were treated to beautiful views. Once the sun had set, it was time to head back.
Did I mention it was a little challenging to get in the boat to start the tour, due to the level of the tide when we left? Trust me, it was interesting. But gravity works for you getting in, so it wasn’t a big deal.
But I was a bit concerned I wouldn’t be able to get out of the boat once we got back. I’m short, only 5’2″. Getting into the boat was more a matter of falling in from the seawall than stepping in. Fortunately the tide had come in while we were cruising around the lagoon, so I was able to get out of the boat without making a complete fool of myself!
We headed back to the hotel shuttle, planning to end the evening with room service at the hotel. We had such a lovely suite with a dining table, we figured we should use it at least once.
As expected, room service was an absolute delight. The lasagna and bucatini all’amatriciana were both excellent, as were the wines to accompany them.
We’ll be back soon!
Monday morning we were a bit sad to leave. We packed our bags and said goodbye as we closed the door to our delightful Molino Tower Suite.
After breakfast at the hotel, we took a water taxi back to the airport. It was an interesting trip with the driver having to stop and gas up his boat. After all, we didn’t expect to experience a Venetian gas station for boats. But we got to the airport in time to catch our flight back to Germany.
Our weekend may have been over, but we’ll definitely be back to Venice soon.
Are you ready to start planning your own Venice, Italy trip? Read more of our Venice travel blog posts or schedule an intro call and we’ll get started!
