"An orange jem resting on a blue plate: it's Venice seen from above"
- Henry James
Known as the “City of Canals” or “The Floating City,” Venice is one of Italy's most picturesque cities with its winding canals, striking architecture, and beautiful bridges.
In this Travel Guide of Venice, I will try to help you find the Best Places to Stay, the Best Places to Eat, and the Best Things to See and Do, to make your trip unforgettable.
All Information and prices are updated to 2023.
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Top Things to know about Venice
When to visit?: The best time to travel to Venice is from April to June and September to October.
Peak season is from June till August, where prices get very expensive, even for hostels and there are many tourists. But, there are fewer people walking around in the mornings before 8a.m.
Off season is usually November till March with much fewer tourists, but many sights close early. (Usually around 5p.m). The only exception is when the Carnevale di Venezia takes place. (Usually in February).
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Language: Like the rest of Italy, Italian is the main language spoken. But don't worry, because of the many English-speaking tourists that visit Venice, many locals know enough English to help you.
Still, it never hurts to learn just a few words in the native language of the country you are visiting.
Your effort will be appreciated!
Currency: The Euro is used here, like in most European countries. Keep some cash on you for smaller purchases. Credit cards are widely accepted. Use the Wise Credit card for the best rates.
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How to get around in Venice?: The easiest way to get around and explore Venice is to walk.
If you are exploring further away, or your hotel is far from the main train station, take a Water Taxi. Depending on where you are going, it will cost €65 to €100. The Water Taxi from the Venice Marco Polo Airport to the city center will cost €105 to €135!
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Or take one of the Water Buses (Vaporetti in Italian). A single journey that is valid for
60 minutes costs €8. Purchase the Venezia Unica Pass if you plan on using it often.
You can also just purchase a ticket for €4 if you only need to cross the Grand Canal using Line 1.
The Venezia Unica City Pass includes the city’s main attractions and costs €52.90 for adults.
A 1-Day transport card will cost €25 and a 3-Day card will cost €45.
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Lastly, the Gondolas. A 30-min ride will cost around €100.
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Safety: Venice is a safe city to visit, but you should keep an eye on your valuables because there are many pickpockets.
It is safe to drink tap water.
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Buying a SIM Card: Do not buy a SIM Card at Venice Airport! They are much too expensive.
The best place is to buy one in the City Center, close to the Grand Canal. I recommend Vodafone or TIM.
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Travel Tip
Pay with the Creditcard from Wise
Travel Tip
Buy a Travel Adapter
How to get from Venice Airport Marco Polo to the City Center?
From Venice Airport there is a direct boat to the city and vice versa.
Buses run much more frequent and take about 15 min. A one-way ticket costs €8. From the bus stop, you can then walk to your hotel or take a water taxi.
Water taxis cost about €7.50 one-way, depending on where you are staying.
A Water Taxi from Venice Marco Polo Airport to the city center will cost about 105 to €135.
Top 5 Things to see & do in Venice
# 1.Piazza San Marco
It is one of Venice’s prime tourist attractions.
Here you’ll find the Basilica di San Marco, Palazzo Ducale (the Doge’s Palace), and the Campanile (the Basilica's bell tower).
Travel Tip: Avoid eating or drinking here, or buying souvenirs—things are more expensive due to a high volume of tourists.
It is the lowest point in Venice, so it is also the first place to be flooded.
The Basilica di San Marco is open daily from 9:30a.m to 5p.m except for Sunday when it is open from 2p.m to 4p.m.
Entry is free, but if you will need an entry ticket for St. Mark's Museum which cost €5 per person, The Treasure of St. Mark's which costs €3 per person and the Pala d'Oro which costs €2 per person.
Travel Tip: Wear clothes that cover your shoulders and that are knee-length, or you might not be allowed into the Basilica! And you can not enter the building with luggage.
# 2.Rialto Bridge & the Grand Canal
The Rialto Bridge is the oldest and most famous of the four bridges to cross the Grand Canal.
It is less crowded in the mornings before 8a.m, but it is just stunning in the evenings with all the lights.
The Grand Canal is nearly four kilometers long and separates Venice in half.
The Water Buses are a great and inexpensive way to explore the areas surrounding the Grand Canal with all the beautiful buildings and palazzos.
The best Water Bus to take is Line 1.
Where to Eat?
Terrazza Sommariva
A romantic little restaurant right next to the Rialto Bridge
# 3 Wonder the Streets and tight Alleyways
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Where to Eat?
Ristorante Caffè Saraceno
A romantic little restaurant right next to the Rialto Bridge
Where to Eat?
#4 Visit Murano,Burano & Lido di Venezia
The second-largest island in the Venetian Lagoon is Murano, where glassmaking has been taking place for centuries.
Buy some of the beautiful, one of a kind glass jewelry.
How to get to Murano from Venice?
Use the public transport Water Bus Lines 41, 42, DM or LN. Or take an English-speaking guided tour.
Where to Eat?
Burano is famous for its lace and colored houses.
How to get to Burano from Venice?
Use the Water Bus Line LN from Fondamenta Nuovo or San Zaccaria. It will take you about 45 minutes. Or take an English-speaking guided tour.
Take some time to relax at the beach in Venice on the island of Lido di Venezia.
How to get to Lido di Venezia from Venice?
Take the Water Bus Lines 1, 6 and 5.1
Where to Eat?
#5 Enjoy a Gondola Ride
A long time ago, gondolas were the main way to get around in Venice. Today they are the most recognizable symbol of Venice and one of the most romantic ways to see the city.
A 30-minute gondola ride will cost about €80 and about a €100 after 7p.m.
Make sure to tell the gondolier if you want him to sing or play an instrument during the ride, because this will cost extra!
Best Accommodations in Venice
A small 4-star hotel in a historic palace with amazing views of the Grand Canal and the Rialto Bridge.
Venice's main train station is just a short walk away from this lovely hotel.
It's located about a 20minutes away from the Basilica San Marco.
Venice's Santa Lucia Train Station is just a few minutes walk away.
You can reach the Rialto Bridge in just 15minutes.
Carnevale di Venezia
The Carnival of Venice takes place over 10 days in which people dress up in 17th century Venetian dresses and wear beautiful masks and then take part in parades and balls.
Tickets to a ball during this period can be rare and can cost up to €500 per person.
When does the Carnival of Venice take place?
The Carnival usually takes place between January and February.It is usually cold at this time of year and can sometimes snow, so pack worm clothes!
How much did this Trip cost?
Because we live in the south of Austria, in Carinthia, we decided to drive down to Venice. It took us about 4 hours to get there. So we just had to budget in gas prices and parking. It cost us around €80.
2 Nights in the AC Hotel Venezia by Marriott cost us around €700.
A 3-Day public transport card cost us €45 per Person.
Food and drinks during our stay cost us around €300 for two people.
Tickets to the St. Mark's Museum, Treasure of St. Mark's and Pala d'oro cost us €10 per Person.
A half-hour Gondola ride cost us €80 per Person.
So all in all, our 3-Day trip to Venice cost us about €1350.
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Paying on your Trip
via
Wise.com
Renting a car
via
Discovercars.com
Choose from the best car rental deals at your destination to get the best out of your trip.
Travel Essentials
* We paid for this Venice vacation out of our own pocket. All tips given are our own. Some links are advertising links. This means that, if you book something through these links, we receive a small commission. Every month we donate 20% of our earnings to an animal shelter, animal sanctuary or animal welfare organization around the world.
Thank you for your support!
