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WhyGo Italy Featured Articles Top 10 Things to Do in Venice

Top 1 0 Th ings to Do in Venice

by Jessica on December 29, 2011

by Jessica | December 29th, 2011 Tweet 62 10

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If you were to ask the Venice tourism office what there is to see and do in

the city, youd likely be given a long list of m ust-see sights and attractions but only a f raction of those are actually w hat m ost people

would consider mu st-see. You want t o know what the real top sights in Venice are so that you dont miss anything especially if you only

have a short t ime to spend in the city but you dont w ant to be tr icked into paying a hefty admission fee for some tourist trap.

Like 1k Send


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So here are my recomm endations for the Top 10 T hings to Do in Venice. Ive listed them in descending order from t he one I t hink is most

critical, so if youre on a really tight schedule you can check them off from the top dow n and get as far as you can. And if you think Ive

missed something import ant here, or that I ve got them in t he wrong order, I welcome your input. I ts still a list of my recomm endations, so

I cant guarantee Ill agree with you, but I do welcome your input nonetheless!

> > Wanna know whats fabulous? You can do all of these things in (and more) in my suggested 2-day itinerary in Venice.

Top 10 Things to D o in Venice ( According to Jessica)

Get Lost in Venice

There is nothing, I repeat nothing, that is as important when y oure visiting Venice than just w andering aimlessly through its streets

and alleys. I f you only had 3-4 hours in the city, Id recomm end that you do this before you set foot inside a single museum or

attraction it s that critical to enjoying your visit. By wandering (especially if you point yourself in th e exact opposite of the directionwhere t he herd is going) you can find Venices many charming and often-empty squares and streets, which goes a long way toward

helping you appreciate t he city. I d almost say you could ignore basically everything else on this list and just str oll around with out a

map But although I might not go t hat far (again, unless youve only got 4 h ours or less), I do consider the sentence get lost in

Venice an order, not a suggestion.

1.

Visit St. Marks Basilica

I love visiting churches in I taly, but this is by far my favorite church in the country. I ts beautiful outside, with its big onion domes

and mult i-colored m arble pillars, and the int erior is floor-to-ceiling m osaics. Theres no fee to tour the m ain part of the basilica, and

even booking an entry t ime online (so you dont have to w ait in the sometim es-long line out front) is free, so after youve wandered

the city t his should be your next stop. There are three smaller mu seums within the b asilica which youll have to pay an entry to see;

your budget and overall interest should dictate whether you v isit all of t hem, but if youre just going to pick one then by all means

take the narrow and steep staircase in the entry alcove up to t he museum t hat has the original horses which used to overlook the

square in addition to seeing the horses, youll also get to go out on the roof and overlook the square yourself.

2.

See St. M arks Square Wh en its Empty

I know in # 1 I said that you should point yourself in the opposite direction to w here all the tourists are going, and since 99.9% of

them are headed for St. Marks Square you may f ind it a little surprising to find t his piazza so high on my to -do list in Venice. But t he

3.


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key here is to v isit the square when everyone else isnt there. Of course, in order to do this youll probably need to spend at least one

night in Venice, but I can think of w orse things to need to do. The best t imes to catch St. Marks Square at her m ost vulnerable are

early morning and late evening, before the day-trippers arrive or aft er theyve left. Venice isnt a nightlife to wn, so it doesnt take long

after t he restaurants close for the square to be emptied of much of t he crowd. Personally, I like it best at night, but I ll leave the

choice to you.

Take the # 1 Vaporetto for a Grand Canal Tour

I think the easiest and most pleasant way to get around Venice is on foot, but the Grand Canal only has a few bridge crossings and

taking a ride on Venices water -buses is a fun transport method. Even beyond the practical reasons for taking a vaporetto, however,

theres the fact t hat the slow # 1 vaporetto that runs the length of the Grand Canal is the ideal equivalent to a city bus tour. Id

recommend either bringing along a self-guided tour (Rick Steves has a good one in his guidebook) so you can pick out the sights

along the way, or just sitting back and enjoying t he view no m atter w hat the significance of t he buildings is. Youll enjoy the ride

either way, even more so if youve got a good seat and some gelato.

4.

Watch a Glass-Blowing Dem onstration on M urano I sland

This is kind of a t ricky one, because so many of t he glass-blowing demonstrations on nearby Murano Island are very tourist-t rappy,

but I have it on this list for a couple of reasons. First, most people I know have never seen anyone do glass blowing or glass

sculpture, so its entertaining and educational even if it is touristy. Second, visiting another island in the Venice lagoon is a great idea

during your stay, and since Murano is closest its the easiest one t o visit (especially if youre short on time). If you w ant t o avoid the

overly touristy glass demonstrations, catch a vaporett o to Murano (instead of a boat booked by your hotel or a particular glass shop)

and walk around the str eets until you find a studio t hat looks relatively open. There are more glass-blowing studios on Murano than

just th e t our isty ones.

5.

Tour the Doges Palace

Right next (and partly connected) to St. Marks Basilica, the Doges Palace is arguably the second most important attraction in

Venice after the basilica (if y ou dont count the city itself as an attraction ). W hile there are several good reasons to pay the hefty

admission fee t o tour the Doges Palace (Palazzo Ducale in It alian), pr obably the m ost popular stop on the t our is when you get to

walk over the famous Bridge of Sighs. You can see the bridge from t he outside without buy ing an entry t icket, but th e only wa t o walk

on the bridge yourself is as part of a Doges Palace tour.

6.


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Take the Elevator to the Top of the Campa nile

While you can get a great view of St. Marks Square from the roof of St. Marks Basilica, you cant get a great view of the churchs roof

when standing on it . For a view that includes both the basilica and the piazza, buy a ticket f or the short elevator ride to the top of the

Campanile, or bell-tower, t hats in front of the church. The views are great, and you get an up- close-and-personal look at th e big bells

that youll hear ringing out the t ime all over the city. If you w ant to avoid getting your ears blown off, Id advise making the tr ip to the

top of the tower at something other than the hour mark.

7.

Wander the Streets of Burano Island

With a little extra t ime in Venice, after your v isit to Murano take a vaporetto furt her into t he lagoon for a trip to Burano I sland. In

general, the further you get into the lagoon from the core Venetian islands, the less crowded they get Burano is usually less

crowded than Murano, for instance. And with it s almost cartoon-like brightly colored buildings, it makes the perfect backdrop for a

stroll. Seriously, t he colors are so brilliant and cheerful, I defy you t o walk around Burano for even a half-hour and n ot have a smile

on your face. Go ahead, try it.

8.

Take a Hike on Torcello Island

Got even more tim e? Even more sick of t he crowds in Venice? Then get back on the boat and t ake the trip t o my favorite of the

lagoons islands Torcello. Its a short trip from Burano, but can take up to an hour if you go straight to Torcello from Venice. Either

way, its the ideal spot if youre in the mood for less structure and more nature. Most of Torcello is a nature reserve, and while you

cant actually go hiking out in the f ields, you can certainly get away from the tourist hordes and enjoy t he tranquil view. There are

roughly 20 p eople who still live on the island, and theres only one (super expensive) hot el, although there are a few places to eat.

The main sight, which I happen to just adore, is a 7th century church on the island with more exceptional mosaics (a must if you

liked St. Marks).

9.


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Window Shop at the Rialto Market

I f youre not a foodie, this m ay not be something y oud put in your top 10 Venice experiences But I love food, and I love food

markets. I n Venice particularly, I think a f ood market is as culturally interesting as it is food-related. After all, this netw ork of islands

isnt exactly teeming with vegetable gardens or grocery stores (not sure if you not iced, but theres a lot m ore water th an earth going

on here). So visiting the famous Rialto market is a great way to see how real Venetians get their food supplies. All the locals shop

here, from restaurateurs to ordinary folk j ust stocking their kitchens. The Rialto market is particularly known as a fish market, but

theres plenty of fr esh veggies and fruit for sale as well. If youre doing m ore than just b rowsing, remember t hat you dont handle the

merchandise until after youve paid for it point at what you want and the vendor w ill choose and bag it for y ou. (As a bonus, its

within sight of the Rialto Bridge, which is certainly worth a little bit of space on your cameras memory card.)

10.

You may have noticed that going for a gondola ride in Venice isnt on m y list. I know that for m any people its one of those things that they

feel like they have to do in Venice or theyll feel like they havent been to Venice. I may be in the m inority on this one, but I feel like

gondola rides are way overpriced, and not nearly the quiet/ romantic experience you might expect them to be. So not only isnt a gondola

ride in my t op 10, its not on m y Venice to-do list at all.

> > Find out more aboutwhat to do in Venice

> > Be sure to read my5 best Venice travel tips, too.

original photos, top to bottom, by: Janrit o Karamazov, pen ner42, mookiefl, sharedferret, VaakOpStap, Mr Gs Travels, Eustaquio Santimano,

flappingwings, dachalan, Argenberg, andrfarmer

Other articles about Venice

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Jewish Ghetto in Venice: A Photo Tour

Romantic Venice in Daylight [Video]

3-Week Italy I tinerary: I talys Greatest Hits

Venice Hotel Tax: What it Costs & How to Avoid It

Hotels in Italy Where Movies Were Filmed

Italy 1-Week Itinerary: Venice, Florence, Rome, Pompeii

Italy 1-Week Itinerary: Venice, Ligurian Coast, Florence, Rome

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{ 72 comments read them below or add one }

Ren SeindalJanuary 26, 2009 at 9:15 am

I would go kayaking

Reply

Fv June 23, 2012 at 3:46 pm

As requested

Reply

JessicaJanuary 26, 2009 at 9:21 am

Great art icle! I especially agree with getting lost and seeing Piazza San Marco at night. If you have t o get lost anyw here, Id suggest

my f avorite neighborhoods, which are Canareggio, Dorsoduro, and a spin on the Giudecca. A few things I would add t o my list w ould

be a visit to the Frari church and Scuola di San Rocco to see the great masters Titian and Tintoretto and at least one experience at a

wine bar t o sip on some wine and snack on cicchetti.

Reply


Great suggestions, Jessica! And Rene, I would expect noth ing less from you than a kayaking suggestion. Perhaps aft er I take you

Like Send 1,096 people like this. Be the first of your friends.


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up on your offer to go kayaking in Venice Ill have to revise my list!

Reply

EvaJanuary 26, 2009 at 3: 52 pm

Yes, Yes, YES! I love this list. I missed out on # 6 and # 7 (t he result of b eing cheap and scared of heights, respectively) but m anaged

all the rest. Youve absolutely nailed Venice with # 1, and I loved my day tr ip to t he other islands!

For people who want a bit of structure to t heir wandering, I used the Chorus Pass (5 euros if you have a Rolling Venice pass

already) to get m e out and w andering aimlessly in all the different neighbourhoods. It grants admission to 16 (16!) churches, and I

know not everyones as big a church nerd as I am, but hunting for the various spots, in obscure parts of the city, was absolutely

wonderful.

Reply


I m terrified of heights, Eva, but I liked the trip to t he top of the Campanile. I didnt go up to t he edge, but the view is still pretty

incredible. And thats a great tip about the Chorus pass, I need to write about that soon

Reply

rosariaJanuary 28, 2009 at 3:19 pm

Great art icle. I would suggest that someone do a list of sights for senior travelers, for people w ho cant navigate stairs and difficult

terrain. I like the idea of skipping gondola rides. One can find all the romance one needs just by walking along the Grand Canal.

Reply

David January 30, 2009 at 3: 47 pm

Find house number 1 and house number 2009 (i.e. t he year you visit). This is an advanced form of getting lost/ wandering.

My favourite part of Venice, however, was th e em bassy buildings sitting in t he forest at t he western end. Spooky!

Reply

JessicaJanuary 30, 2009 at 4:00 pm


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David, thats a really fun idea! I ll have to try t hat next t ime I m th ere. You could also add finding the house of t he year you were

born, got married, etc. What a fun game!

Reply

Bob January 31, 2009 at 1: 01 am

Just back fr om a w eek in Venice. I would recomm end going off-season to avoid the heat and t he crowds. A 12 hour vaparetto pass is

all you need to visit the islands and a 50 cent traghetto ride across the Grand Canal is a more authentic and infinitely cheaper

alternative to t he gondola experience.

As Jessica and others suggest, dont be afraid to wander off the beaten path. As an example, set yourself the task of finding Calle

Varisco, the narrowest lane in Venice.

Venice is ruinously expensive and t he pound/ euro rate doesnt help right now bu t it s still possible to eat well if you are careful. My

top 3 recommendations are the kosher restaurant Gam Gam near the Ponte Guglio and the Jewish Ghetto (make sure your order

includes the Israeli starters and latke), La Zucca in Santa Croce (reservations essential) and Trattoria Busa alla Torre, Da Lele on

Murano (open for lunch only).

Reply


Thanks for the t ips, Bob! I also prefer going to Venice in the off-season, but I maintain that it s possible to get away from the crowds

even during t he high season if you just wander enough. ( This is probably infinitely mor e challenging during t he Carnival, but t hats

another story!) The overall expense of Venice can be a difficult pill to swallow, however, and going in the off-season does mean youll

be faced with lower prices on hotel room s and such. So, yet another vote f or avoiding the peak season!

Reply

kat July 28, 2009 at 11:59 pm

I think I ll love taking a hike at Torcello I sland..;)

Reply

psykhe March 10, 2010 at 3: 30 pm

Well, I live in Treviso (half an hour by t rain from Venice) and been m ore then 10 tim es to Venice. I agree with number 1 on your list


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there is nothing like getting lost in Venice! When I go to Venice and dont get lost, I don not enjoy it so much if you get lost, there

is so much there to discover, from beautiful views on the canals to small monuments, stores and so on.

Anyway, I think that one should see Rialto, San Marco and Ponte dei Sospiri, even if they are extremly turistical.

Also, there is nothing like spending a night in Venice. I stayed once until 5am and really enjoyed it. It was still crowded as there is a

big party at Redentore (3rd Sunday of July, traditional party, focus is on Giudecca).

I have also visited some islands around and I loved Burano. If you have time it is really worth visiting. I w as less impressed by

Torecello (it w as windy and rain, maybe this ruined it a bit) .

The view from Campanile it is also worth it beautiful and you get the real dimension and feel of the city.

I agree that gondola ride is not a must, I did not do it yet: expensive, crowded and everybody will make pics when you pass under

the bridges, so deffinetly not rom antic. Of course, if you are not on a low budget, in off season ( if there is any) it could be nice.

Reply

chamicrac January 16, 2011 at 9:53 pm

I have just started researching our family visit (first time) to I taly in April 2011 and am very interested in all the comm ents on

this blog especially yours. My husband is trying to track down his blood relatives in San Fior who he has never met being that

he was adopted at birth to an Australian family. We would like to make a day trip t o the village but we are un sure how to get

there from Venice or if there is a bus service in and out of the village? I believe it is North East of Treviso..Are you familiar with

the area? I f not can you suggest where I may go to arrange some transport?

Reply


Im not sure this commenter is keeping track of this post, so in case you dont hear back from them you might try

checking with Peter Farina of ItalyMONDO they help people find relatives/family connections in Italy, and then can help

arrange visits to ancestral towns or even to meet up with relatives. You can learn more about Peters company on this

episode of t he Eye on It aly podcast, and you can get a discount on I talyMONDO services just by mentioning th e podcast:

http://www.eyeonitaly.com/podcast/episode-24-researching-your-italian-genealogy-and-ancestry/

Reply

Amy March 17, 2010 at 6:34 am

Uhmmm . . .i j ust have one question for Jessica. Who are you suppose to be? Like a world t raveler that figures out the t op things to

do w here and post it for people to read?

I mean dont get m e wrong, t his is great but its just that some people may not have the same tastes as you do. I was looking for a

full list of attractions in Venice, not a top t en list from someone w ho I dont know and dont have the same likes and dislikes as.


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Reply

Robyn January 22, 2012 at 10: 59 am

Well, if you do nt want to do w hat Jessica has said then look somewhere else where it says the top 10 t hings attractions where

every other person is going! Lifes about exploring and doing the unexpected in m y mind and Venice is perfect for this! I t hink

shes got it pretty perfect! Also, Venice is a place of exploring, if you want All Inclusive 5* Spa with Swimming Pool then dont g o

to Venice!

Reply

JessicaMarch 17, 2010 at 9:18 am

Hi, Amy:

I m not sure you actually read the top of this post, w here I say that these are * my* recommendations for the top things to do in

Venice, and that t hey w ont be everyones top things to do. Im also guessing you missed the long list of ot her Venice-related articles

linked on the m enu on the right near the top of the page, and t he main Venice page where youll find lots more art icles Ive writ ten

about t his city I dearly love: http://www.italylogue.com/venice

Ciao,

Jessica

Reply

Adam June 7, 2010 at 2:19 am

im planning a tr ip to venice, would you reccomend how long for? was thinking 4 days. will that leave me enough tim e to experience

the best of venice?

Reply

JessicaJune 7, 2010 at 7:50 am


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Hi, Adam:

Four days would be more than enough t ime, I think, to experience what I think is so magical about Venice. In m y perfect itinerary

for a 1st time traveler I recommend two days:

http://www.italylogue.com/planning-a-trip/itinerary-for-2-days-in-venice.html/

Ciao,Jessica

Reply

Mike Hill September 21, 2010 at 1: 11 pm

This site was way m ore informative and fun to follow and t he advice would be applicable to people of any age. The recommendation

on getting lost (th is could also be expressed as rambling aimlessly) intr oduced us to some unlikely sites, that get no or little mentionin any of the guide books. Basically if you want ed one place to find inform ation and useful tips (especially about the food) up on

visiting Venice, t hen look no f urther t han this site.

Reply

JessicaSeptember 23, 2010 at 9: 03 am

Oh, thank you, Mike! I m glad you like my tips, and the site.

Reply

Dylan Marsh October 3, 2010 at 1:31 am

Hi Jessica, thanks for your fantastic site,probably the best recommendation site Ive read!

Were hoping to go to Venice in late December for m y w ifes 40th birth day, can you think of anything/anyw here to go/ do that would

be truly special?

Thanks Dylan

Reply

JessicaOctober 3, 2010 at 2: 26 pm

Venice is, as Ive mentioned, quite crowded year-round even when its cold in December. You didnt say what your budget


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was, but one t hing you m ight consider (and youd have to book it soon) is an overnight on t he island of Torcello in the Locanda

Cipriani. Its a small boutique hotel run by the same family that runs the extremely posh Cipriani Hotel in Venice, and since

Torcello is further out and pretty quiet even during the day it w ould be especially romantic at night when th e day-trippers leave.

Theres a very good r estaurant at th e hotel, too, and if you get lucky and see snow falling while youre there its even more

dreamlike. http://www.locandacipriani.com/

Reply

Deb DiPreta November 3, 2010 at 7:18 am

Dear I talylogue.com

As you may be aware, Tauck, the nations premiere guided travel company, has sent over 18,000 visitors to It aly during th e past tw o

years alone. Our guests continually rave about their t rips and we would like to improve their online experience by providing useful

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Tauck.com currently receives almost 3 million visits per year. With this said, providing an outstanding travel resource has become a

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resources via a link on our partner page http://www.tauck.com/why/travel-partners/. We believe our guests would not only benefit

from a local perspective, but appreciate the additional detail unavailable to them otherwise.

I n addition, as strong supporters of It aly and its local businesses, we w ould like to increase awareness of our tours. Therefore, we

would like to submit our tour page http://www.tauck.com/tours/europe-tours/italy-tours/for a linking opportu nity. We firmly believe

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Reply

Marta Ruiz November 5, 2010 at 9:29 am

Loved you reccomendations on Venice.

I never would have dared to print that that was number one in Venice getting lost though I truly felt that way as well.

I also live close by, in Trieste.

I read your blog this morning after spending yesterday wandering with my daughter.

Your blog inspired me to go t o Murano today with my daughter which I never would have thought t o do otherwise, dismissing it as

too touristy.

But with the attitude of getting lost that you put forth, it took the pressure off and my daughter loved it.

So thanks, I will share your great website wit h other friends that come t o visit.


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Marta

Reply

JessicaNovember 6, 2010 at 3: 39 pm

Thanks for your comment, Mart a, and Im glad you enjoyed your Murano visit!

Reply

Charlene November 12, 2010 at 12:48 pm

Jessica, you mention that you need to book a Doges Palace tour to cross the Bridge of Sighs. Is it the regular tour or the Secret

Tour? Ive read good and bad about the Secret Tour. Were going to Venice in August before our Med cruise and my husband wants

to w alk across the Bridge of Sighs so I need to know w hich tour t o book.

Thanks.

Reply

JessicaNovember 22, 2010 at 4: 58 pm

Ive not heard of a secret tour for the Doges Palace, Charlene the to ur I took was the n ormal guided tour of the palace and

adjacent prison, which is accessed via the Bridge of Sighs. I j oined the English tour that was listed at t he ticket window of the

Palace itself, too, so check there to see if theres one that leaves when its convenient for you then you dont have to book

anything in advance.

Reply

priscillaFebruary 4, 2011 at 7:31 am

i would like to come to italy some day.

Reply

Tiffany Hamilton February 9, 2011 at 7:59 am

Hi Jessica, thank you so mu ch for your list of top 10. I lived in Italy w hen I was very young and although m emories are kind of foggy,


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Venice was a must see/do again. My husband and I are doing a Med cruise in September for our 10 year anniversary and we fly

into/ start in Venice. We will only have about 4-5 hours to t ake it all in so your top ten list is really helpful. I am t hinking 2, 3 (du ring

the day) and 6 w ould be great to get the feel with a possible 1 if time perm its. Do you think this is doable in that amount of time? I

would love to do 5 as I w ent on a tour w hen I was a kid and still have some pieces of glass but I am not sure of the time. Also, where

would you recomm end we go for an amazing bite to eat this is the first time my husband will have gone overseas so I w ant him t o

experience it all and authentically I am also planning our budget so was wondering what the tour costs would be I noticed that

you said some of t hem w ere pricey. Thanks again now I just need to find in fo on Barcelona, Black Forest in Germany and

Amsterdam LOL

Reply

Tiffany Hamilton February 9, 2011 at 8: 10 am

Sorry I forgot to m ention that I also want t o do 7 as well so 1 and 5 would be alternates if tim e permitted.

Reply

JessicaFebruary 9, 2011 at 3:51 pm

With 4-5 hours, I really think your time is best spent v isiting St. Marks Basilica (which is free t o get int o) and spending at least

an hour wandering aimlessly. You dont have to spend much time in the Basilica, although sometimes the line to get in is long

(especially when youre part of a cruise ship trip everyone heads for the Basilica first thing). If you can get in w ithout a huge

wait, then youre in luck.

After you get out of St. Marks, you can certainly do the Doges Palace tour (admission fees are listed from the Doges Palace linkabove), but I truly t hink its more valuable to w ander into the m ore remote corners of t he city instead. The cafes around St.

Marks are routinely overpriced and not very good, so youre more likely to find bett er food by gett ing well away from the tourist

crowds, too.

Heres a list of some places to eat in Venice (these arent my personal recommendations, its a compilation of many reviewers

out there):

http:/ /w ww.italylogue.com/food-drink/where-to-eat-in-venice.html

Reply

Deborah Sacks March 29, 2011 at 7:44 am

Thanks for the great art icle!

Reply


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Nora April 26, 2011 at 2:31 am

I am so glad I found your articles. I was agonising between spending one night in Venice or one night in Rome given my rushed

itinerary, and your articles convinced me. I was in Venice for a brief visit many years ago and being on the steps in St. Mark square

listening to the mu sic from the grand p iano late in t he evening was truly magical. I guess I j ust have to toss tw o euros in the Trevi

Fountain on m y passing stop in Rome and hope to retur n soon to do t he rest. Is it safe for a solo female traveller to stay out and

wander alone at night in Venice? Thanks again for the great articles.

Reply

JessicaMay 5, 2011 at 11:09 am

I think Venice is very safe, partly because its not a late-night city if youre easily spooked by dimly lit alleys, however, it could

be a bit creepy. I ve always said its the ideal city for a murder mystery book ( and Im obviously not the only one who thinks

that), but in r eal life I ve never felt unsafe there by myself at any hour.

Reply

lisa May 3, 2011 at 8:32 pm

I really liked this list we have been to Venice several times and actually rented an apt in Murano on our last stay and it was

AWESOME! We always go off season, so maybe thats we we love it so.

I agree with m ost everything you suggested with on e exception. We w ent to Venice for our Thanksgiving one year, and it w as theweekend they were put ting up all of the Christmas lights beautiful! Against mostly everyones suggesting t hat gondola rides were

too expensive and not w orth it, w e did it anyw ay, and w ill NEVER regret it. Go as late as you can find someone to take you. The quiet

canals, beautiful lights, and shimmering m oon on the w ater did m ake it one of our m ost romantic experiences ever. I t can happen, I

am here to tell you! Take a chance, and enjoy it !

Reply

JessicaMay 5, 2011 at 11:09 am

Thanks for the comment, Lisa I love the idea of Venice lit up by Christmas lights!

Reply

AnnieMay 11, 2011 at 7:16 pm


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One thing we did, which w as less expensive than a gondola and more fun, was take a water taxi back from Lido. (we took t he # 1

vaporetto there) We flew through t he water, then around the island, where we could see San Michelle and Murano from t he boat,

then through a few canals. It was great fun.

The Pope had followed us there from Rome, so unfortunately things were VERY crowded and San Marcos was closed to the publicIt

was tough to get around the San Marco area so we didnt even try for the Doges Palace (see also: crowds from cruise ships). We did

manage to get lost and enjoyed every second of that, though!

Reply

JessicaMay 13, 2011 at 12:24 pm

That does sound fun, Annie thanks for t he suggestion. And really, how rude of t he Pope to f ollow you

Reply

caroline May 13, 2011 at 4:20 am

you should see this show http://www.teatrosangallo.net/Venezia/Welcome.html

its on stage everyday and its in english just for tou ristI recommend it to everyone!!

Reply

maria September 2, 2011 at 1:10 am

Hi.i will travel to rome on tueseday.i stay in italy for 3days.i love venice.how can i travel to venice?can you help me?

Reply

JessicaSeptember 6, 2011 at 3:05 pm

With only t hree days in Italy, I t hink you should stay in Rome or spend your entire trip in Venice. But that doesnt seem like a

good idea, if you f ly in and out of Rome. Enjoy Rome, and return on another visit t o see Venice!

Reply

Eric September 8, 2011 at 9: 41 am


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Hi Jessica, great site. I t has provided a lot of inform ation in preparation for our upcoming t rip to Rome, Florence & Venice (we leave

in 10 days w oo hoo!!!) . Do you have any gelateria recommendations for when w e are in Venice. Grazie, Eric.

Reply

JessicaSeptember 9, 2011 at 9:44 am

Im glad the site has been helpful to you! When you asked about recommended gelatere, I im mediately went t o the Tour del

Gelato site to see what the Venice listings were like and found there arent any at all! http://www.msadventuresinitaly.com

/ blog/ tour-del-gelato-b log rol l/

So, here are some places that I found wit h recommendations you m ight tr y (I dont have any personal favorites in Venice):

http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/443851

http: // ww w.ricksteves.com/graff iti/helpline/index.cfm?topic= 48871

http://www.consumertraveler.com/traveler/the-best-ice-cream-in-venice/

Reply

Eric September 10, 2011 at 12:28 pm

Thanks Jessica, it looks like I will need to try as many as I can and do m y own t aste testing. I know, tough j ob, but

someone has to do it. I f I find any that I really like, I w ill be sure to pass the info along.

Reply

JessicaSeptember 12, 2011 at 8:46 am

Ha! Yes, thats not a bad job to have, Eric. Enjoy!

Reply

Eric October 7, 2011 at 9:30 am

Jessica, just back from an incredible 10 days in It aly. I cant thank you enough for the great information on

your site. It was a huge help (and per your tip, gelato just about every day had to sample other local

specialties too). As for gelato in Venice, Il Doge was excellent, and though we did not get a chance to try,

Gelateria Alaska looked great ( it w as closed the night we w ent by after seeing it in t he afternoon). Also

grabbed the sweet treat @ a local GROM location. I t w as good, but not in the class of I l Doge my green

apple was so fresh, I almost was expecting a crunch sound. Also, is it me or does Venetial gelato almost have

a bit more of an American ice cream body & texture. I t seemed like gelato in Rome & Florence was lighter &


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creamier. Thanks again!!!

JessicaOctober 11, 2011 at 4:11 pm

Im so glad you had a good trip, Eric! And thanks for checking back in regarding the gelato in Venice. Grom is a chain in

It aly, but its an excellent chain theyre even in New York now so I would expect the quality of Grom t o be roughly th e

same everywhere. Ill have to m ake a note of your Venetian gelato recommendation, how ever, for m y next visit!

Reply

Gaurov September 13, 2011 at 5:3 9 pm

Hey Jessica..may I know if there are any hostels or cheap hotels in Venice or near the places of interest as I am heading there by

with m y gf on a backpacking trip.Kinda on a budget as I am f lying from sunny Singapore..might stay for 4-5 days..

Reply

JessicaSeptember 19, 2011 at 4: 51 pm

Heres some information on the hostels in Venice:

http://www.italylogue.com/accommodation/hostels-in-venice.html

There arent many theres only one official HI Hostel and several other r oom rental places that call themselves hostels.

Otherwise, heres some informat ion on budget hotels:

http://www.italylogue.com/accommodation/finding-hotels-in-venice.html

In particular, on the list under t he map t heres a link to an article about budget h otels near the t rain station.

Reply

John P November 12, 2011 at 12:19 am

Best advice we got anyw here was to plan on getting lost, enj oy getting lost and go w ith it from your site. First day was a bit

frustrating then read your comments and made the next two days in Venice the best time of out Italy trip. Relax, get lost and enjoy!

Thanks do much!

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rohit December 1, 2011 at 4:08 am

Hi

Certainly great article. I have made booking for my honeym oon from 12t h march in venice. the hotel is 5mins walk from san marco.

seems got that one right . But certainly would need some suggestions in what all to see and typically is weather expected to be

welcoming

Reply

JessicaDecember 19, 2011 at 6: 51 pm

Heres some overall information on t he weather in March in I taly:

http:/ /w ww.italylogue.com/planning-a-trip/italy-in-march.html

And heres more information about Venice:

http://www.italylogue.com/venice

Reply

Robyn January 22, 2012 at 1 2:20 pm

Hi Jessica!

This is a fabulous page! I am going wit h my friend in March for 4 days so we can explore and get lost lots!! Cant w ait! Can you

suggest any amazing cafes or restaurants?? (That are also not too expensive!!)

Thanks!!

Reply

JessicaJanuary 23, 2012 at 3:58 pm

I dont keep up lists of wh ere to eat in each city that s a whole full-time job right there! but I do have some tips on finding

good food in Venice here:

http://www.italylogue.com/planning-a-trip/how-to-eat-well-in-venice.html

And if you have an iPhone, some of these Venice apps may have useful dining information, too:

http://www.italylogue.com/planning-a-trip/iphone-apps-for-venice-travel.html

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Chitra February 3, 2012 at 5: 56 am

Hii Jessica..

I am planning to visit It aly from 01,03,12 to 05,03,12. My present plan is to fly from Frankfurt to Rome on 1 March, then travel from

Rome to Venice on 02,03,12 night enjoy Venice for 2 days and leave from Venice on 4th night to Pisa and then from Pisa, back to

Frankfurt on 5th MArch.

Can you please let me know if there is any travel pass in Italy or I should book the tickets between Rome-Venice-Pisa seperately.

Thanking you in anticipation,

Chitra

Reply

JessicaFebruary 14, 2012 at 12: 04 pm

Im not sure w hat you mean by a travel pass for It aly, do you mean a Eurail Pass? Depending on w hat countr y youre a resident

of, you can get a Eurail Pass but youll need to do some figuring to see if its the best option for your particular itinerary. Go to

this page:

http://www.italylogue.com/train

And go to the section that says Buying an Italy Rail Pass vs. Buying Train Tickets youll find more information there about

how t o figure out w hich option is best for you.

Reply

Annabelle February 21, 2012 at 12: 49 pm

Hi Jessica,

thank y ou for the great Top 10 lists and tips on seeing Venice. Planning a t rip in late August I know peak tourist season, but that

cant be helped this time. Where can I buy a Chorus Pass, and what does it give you access to? 16 churches anything else?

Reply

JessicaMarch 6, 2012 at 5:53 pm


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I actually wasnt familiar with the Chorus Pass all the Venice discount cards I knew about are here:

http://www.italylogue.com/planning-a-trip/venice-discount-cards-and-passes.html

I looked up the Chorus Pass, and it appears its completely separate so just the churches:

http:/ /w ww.chorusvenezia.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id= 37&Itemid= 25

Reply

Tara March 27, 2012 at 11:53 am

Hi Jessica!

Thanks for the great advice! I m g oing with m y mom and aunt in May and we are so excited! We fly into the airport and we stay at a

hotel in Lido is it easy to get to? Also we w ill be trying to d o as much as we can on your list for t he two full days we have, but is

there a guidebook you wou ld recommend for while we are walking around perhaps? Thanks so much for y our help!

Reply

JessicaApril 6, 2012 at 12:43 pm

Heres my article about getting from Venices airport into Venice:

http://www.italylogue.com/planning-a-trip/getting-from-venice-marco-polo-airport-to-venice-and-vice-versa.html

The Lido is further away than the m ain Venetian islands, so that w ould mean if you t ook the bus or a vaporetto to the m ain

islands youd have to switch to a different bo at to get to t he Lido. And if you opt for a private taxi boat, itll be a longer (&

therefore more expensive) trip. You should email the hotel where youre staying on the Lido & ask what they recomm end.

Any good Italy guidebook that has a decent Venice section would be fine for your trip. Ive used both Rick Steves & Lonely

Planet in the past, but there are plenty of other good options.

Reply

momster April 14, 2012 at 12:32 am

Jessica, do you have a recommendation for a quaint little bed and breakfast for a girlfriend, 24-hour trip? Wed rather have authentic

and charming t han trendy hotel and spa feel. Love your recomm endations and hope to fit the t op five in our quick tr ip.

Reply

JessicaApril 18, 2012 at 5:17 pm


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I dont do accommodation reviews anymore, but I have a few articles on hotels in Venice that are broken into categories you

might find useful ( http://www.italylogue.com/accommodation/finding-hotels-in-venice.html ). For such a short trip, the m ain

thing I d focus on is location on t he islands (not the m ainland) for sure, and if you want a p lace thats a little off the r egular

tourist path then look for places not near St. Marks Square or the Rialto Bridge!

Reply

Lionel Jacob April 21, 2012 at 11:57 pm

WE will be in Venice 20th Aug to23rd Aug 2012 and found the hints from Jessica very interesting. WE then have aweek in Manarola,

then 3 days in Rome. What is the best way to travel from Venice to Manarola in one day? Thank you, regards Lionel.

Reply

JessicaApril 24, 2012 at 1: 34 pm

Heres the article you need:

http://www.italylogue.com/planning-a-trip/getting-from-venice-to-the-cinque-terre-and-vice-versa.html

Reply

Suzanne May 4, 2012 at 10:40 pm

For the second time in 18 months have visited Venice .. (stayed in Rome took day trips via fast rail)

My first visit to Venice Oct 2010 .. Just love Venice. Walking through the streets, enjoying Coffee breaks, the people.

Visited Rome again March 2012 our trip was highlighted again, by visiting Venice.

Suzanne

Sydney. Australia

Reply

MarkJuly 14, 2012 at 7: 23 am

Hi does anybody know of any good beaches

Close to Venice ,white sandy beaches or is that

Asking to m uch ?


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Reply

Keith August 14, 2012 at 12:48 am

Hi Jessica. Its our 3rd day in Venice and what a beautiful place. Very crowded this time of year, but just as fun since I love to People

watch. Just ran across your article while enjoying a Spritz outside at the Hotel Savoia & Jolanda. I echo the positive comments about

your recommendations. They may not be for everyone, but for those who like to explore and not spend all of their tim e shopping, you

hit t he mark. It s our first time to Venice and 3-4 days seems perfect. Weve gotten lost several times and hoping to do some m ore of

that t oday. For those of you who like to get in an early morning r un, the str eets and pathways of Venice are great as long as you are

done by 8: 00am. Once 8:30-9:00 h its its like clock wor k with the bell towers going off and t he boat loads of interesting people show

up .

I totally agree about skipping the Gondola ride, unless you dont care about spending $100 U.S. for a short 20-30 minute boat ride

while thousands of people stare and take pictures of you as you pass under every bridge. If you have to say you did it, Id

recommend finding a few other people to split t he cost with since most of the gondolas seat 6 people.

Well, off to get lost again and then leaving Venice tomorrow. Going to see If you have any recommendations for Rome before we take

the train down in the morning.

Thanks,

Keith

.

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Amy August 20, 2012 at 1:00 am

I visited Venice a couple of weeks ago and the most am azing part was getting up at 5am one m orning and heading out to try and get

lost! All the ot her tourists w ere still in bed, it w as just us and t he locals getting ready for the day, setting up stalls and boats bringing

in deliveries etc. We found ourselves overlooking Isola di San Michele just as the sun rose it was just magical! After wandering

around, completely lost, we eventually ended up at St Marks Square empt y! We t hen rode th e Vaporetto back t o our

accommodation not far from the train station where it stopped at every stop, taking all the locals to work t ook nearly an hour. It

was the most perfect m orning and a real highlight of my whole 6 week European trip I highly recommend it!

Reply

may August 24, 2012 at 12:42 pm

Jessica wonderful read! I just lost a w hole day of work

I decided that beginning next year, each year I will learn the language and travel to a new country for a m onth. I am planning on

traveling to I taly in May, beginning in Venice per your perfect 2-w eek itinerary. If you could add one m ore week to it , wh at w ould it

include? I love the agriturismo idea in Tuscany. Maybe a stop/day trip in Bologna, Genoa and Siena? I love food, architecture and

nature.

Thanks!


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Reply

Hotel venice airportOctober 5, 2012 at 4:4 5 am

You did and awesome job writing this guide over Venice.

Reply

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