I was lucky enough to travel to Italy and England last month, one of those perfect combinations where I get to combine my love for travel with my marine research work!  I went to a conference in Italy – Venice and Trieste – for a week followed by England for another week (where I passed my PhD viva so now I am a Doctor 🙂
This was my second trip to Venice, Italy within a span of 18 months and the first thing I noticed was how vastly different it was to have gone smack in the middle of peak season early August last year and now during off season end October this year. Venice is a really popular tourist destination and quite pricey, as such it tends to get super crowded during the holidays and hotel prices are really spiked up.
On this trip, there were several decent priced accommodation to choose from.  I knew we didn’t want to stay or eat anywhere near San Marco, so we stayed in the Canneregio area, north of Venice. Very easy to get to from the train station and easy to catch a vaperetto to San Marco or just walk there within 20-25 minutes which we did twice in once day. We stayed at the Al Portico Guest House, very affordable, clean and spacious for 3 people. It cost £90 a night so split between 3 of us, it was a bargain in central Venice!
I was joined by two good friends visiting from New York and London and we stayed in Venice for 2 days before heading to Trieste for a conference. One of the highlights of our trip was the gondola serenade ride we did by moonlight and the others included sightseeing around San Marco and the Canneregio area, enjoying Bellinis, walking along the waterfront, exploring the many canals, savouring good food and enjoying great company 🙂
I had done all this the last time but it was wonderful to be able to do it without jostling with hundreds of other tourists, all trying to take pictures of the same one canal!
The extra trip we did this time was visiting the islands of Murano, famous for it’s glass making and Burano, famous for its colourful buildings and lace making. I must say both these half day incursions were wonderful and I would highly recommend leaving aside a day if you are in Venice for visiting these two special places. Murano is 1.5 km north of Venice so it was very convenient for us to get to from our hotel as we were staying in the Canneregio area, in the northern part of Venice.
We took a ACTV line 12 vaparetto to Murano and from there to Burano.  You first go to the Fondamente Nove vaporetto stop and take line 12 from there first to Murano and then from there we took another line to Burano. You can find details of how to get both here. Murano was lovely but we whizzed through here after admiring some of the beautiful glasswork craftmanship. It was too bad that we werent allowed to take pictures in most of the shops. Such beautiful coloured glass artwork!
We continued on to the island of Burano and it was just picture perfect! We strolled around the village, admiring the bright coloured houses, the narrow canals, the entire atmospehere was very chilled and laid back. I will just let the pictures speak for themselves 🙂
We continued on to Trieste after our two days in Venice but unfortunately I was mostly in my conference building the whole two days and hardly got to do any sightseeing. I only got to experience Trieste through my friend’s pictures (like the one below) and views of the blue Adriatic sea from my hotel window.
Miramare Castle, Trieste
I look forward to going back here someday with the family. I have been to Italy five times now and it’s just never enough! It really is my favourite country in Europe and one we hope to spend more time once we travel in Europe again after we are done with Oceania and Asia 🙂
Linked to Wednesday Wanderlust Our World Tuesday Monday Escapes, weekly photo challenge, wkendtravelinspiration
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Burano is so photogenic, isn’t it? What gorgeous photos!
My mother loved Italy and used to bring me back Murano Glass jewellery as presents. I have several beautiful pieces to remember her by.
That is so lovely! The Murano glass jewellery we saw were so beautiful…wonderful souvignier
Ah I cant wait to go to Venice and Burano for Carnival in February! I’ve been to Venice before when I studied abroad in college and somehow managed to miss Burano! So I’m pretty excited! #TheWeeklyPostcard 🙂
The timing of this is perfect as our plans for May include a visit to Venice and of course Burano and Murano. Thanks for sharing your experience.
Isn’t Burano the most vibrant and colourful place? We loved it too! 🙂
it sure is! loved it there 🙂
Congratulations on the doctorate! That is quite and accomplishment. We visited Venice and the surrounding islands in June when it was very busy. Going in October and having it be a quieter experience sounds delightful. We also enjoyed colorful Burano.
Oh, aren’t you lucky! Burn is such a vibrant and colorful place. Congrats on your doctorate! Wow, that’s great!
Such beautiful captures – of both Venice and Burano. The channels of Venice is a must see – hope I will be able to visit one day soon:)
I ‘d love to go to Murano and Burano – never made it on my trips to Venice but the buildings look stunning. #mondayescapes
Wow, such great photos! I’ve been wanting to add Venice to an itinerary for years now!
Picture perrrrrfect indeed!!!! Venice = bucketlist! 🙂
Looks so beautiful. I love the colorful houses! I haven’t made it to Italy yet but it is on my bucket list. Thanks for the inspiration.
Congratulations on getting your doctorate! I love the look of Burano – I’m a sucker for coloured houses. It really looks beautiful and your photos are great. Looks like a wonderful trip!
Thanks Katja 🙂 It really was a wonderful trip!
Lovely shots! I love Venice and especially Burano!
I just love Italy, and Venice is a mesmerising city to explore. Congrats on the PhD. Thanks for linking up with #wednesdaywanderlust
Congrats! Done the Ph.D. Thing, so i know what a challenge that is. And wonderful reminders of our Venice visit two years ago, including Burano.
I’ve been to Venice twice too, and both times were quite busy . Funnily enough, I was thinking I’d like to go later in the year and I’m right – the crowds are too much! You’ve taken some wonderful shots as always. I still haven’t visited Burano! Thanks for linking up with #MondayEscapes
This really does look like a great time to go – I wish we could do it! We haven’t taken the kids yet and I haven’t been for years. I remember both Burano and Murano fondly though – lovely places to visit.
You’ve captured this magical city beautifully in your photos. Thanks so much for sharing them with the travel blogging community.
I so badly want to go to Italy, but it’s never the cheapest route for when we’re visiting family in Poland. Maybe some day I’ll just have to bite the bullet and just go there. Venice looks beautiful and you obviously had a good time.
We actually found Italy in the off season not as expensive. We went to the Amalfi Coast early April, flew into Naples and stayed in this quiet fishing village, visited Pompeii and other places nearby, was relatively inexpensive, especially compared to Venice which we went to in August! I so hope you get to go Jolanta, such a beautiful country, think it is my favourite country in Europe 🙂