Rome/Venice in a weekend?

[Pickle]

Attempting to plan a surprise weekend away for Mr Pickle's 40th (child free, hallelujah!). Both Rome and Venice are on our lists of places we meant to visit before kids but never quite managed.

We would be limited to leaving the UK on a Friday afternoon and returning Sunday evening. Are either "do-able" in such a short time?

Or if I'm attempting the impossible, any other suggestions?

Thanks, wise lounge-dwellers.

[Jeremy]

Both are doable, but Venice is probably more suitable for a two night trip. In fact two nights is probably about right.

[Help-Ma-Boab]

Lips sealed! Good choice leaving Friday, he's busy Thursdays (mostly).

[newboots]

I think you could have a great time in Venice (which really is tiny) but would feel shortchanged if you tried to squeeze in all the amazing sights of Rome in a day and a half.

[Pickle]

I wouldn't dream of tearing him away from his Thursday night *ahem* commitment H-M-B.

Thanks Jeremy. So far I've established that price-wise both destinations would be similar, so it's a case of working out which provides the best easy to see sights (and nice food/drink... especially drink). Which is nicest for general chilled out wandering around?

[Jeremy]

Venice is maybe better for relaxing and wandering around semi-aimlessly. Rome is much more noisy/busy, and less manageable on foot. But Rome has 10x as much stuff to see, much more choice for eating/drinking, as is more of a "real" city (Venice is mainly a tourist town). Maybe best to do Venice this time, and do Rome when you have a bit longer to spend there.

[Michael Palaeologus]

or Florence. Good this time of year without the hordes of organised tourist groups.

[red devil]

What Jeremy said, Venice is doable in a weekend, Rome isn't...

[Pickle]

Should have said, trip will be mid-May, so hopefully warm and outside of school holiday times.

Florence is a good call Michael, thanks, another place we haven't been, will investigate!

[Carrie]

I would vote for Venice, Rome is wonderful but if you feel obliged to do all the sights then it would probably feel like a bit of a route march. Venice just feels magical particularly if you get the Alilaguna water bus from the airport rather than the normal bus.

[bob]

Agree with the above Venice doabel for a weekend Rome just to much to see you can do 4 hours just in the Vatican have a good one.

Bob S

[youandiaredominoes]

Venice, definitely. We flew from London city airport which was ace. Venice is scalable and no doubt you'll get lost at some point but that's part of the fun. We went last year in March and the weather was decent and the city was quiet too. Maybe check it has recovered from the flooding!

[seemster]

Everyone's right, can't do Rome justice in too short a visit, best to go with Venice. Do your best to get lost in the side streets and avoid the overpriced tourist spots (that would be most of Venice unfortunately.) Having said that, a ridiculously priced coffee in St Mark's Square is utterly unmissable.

You might also want to look into heading to Verona by train for an evening if there's a decent opera on. Or go for a morning or afternoon to Padova, only 20 mins by train - explore the beautiful Cappella degli Scrovegni (Giotto's frescoes) and the gorgeous piazzas (and eat tramezzini and drink spritzes stnading round the tiny bars if you're there around dusk - a truly Italian experience.) Buon viaggio!

[Rolo Tomasi]

And if you do make it to Venice then eat here:

http://www.antichecarampane.com/en/index.htm

Went during the last biennale. Amazing food and ask for the chefs table.

[????]

Unless it has to be Italy, I'd throw in Seville or Granada as very romantic places but not as big as Rome

[Pickle]

Ok, progress, I've decided Venice is where we will go.

Any tried and recommended hotels? Thinking of booking a BA flight and hotel deal, all the hotels look quite nice, but a personal recommendation would be fab.