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Use our Travel forum for recommendations on everything from day trips to the best family-friendly holiday destinations.

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Original poster

Looking for tips for visiting Venice

34 replies

Annonymiss123 · 13/02/2022 18:42

DH & I are going to Venice for 4 days in a few weeks. We’re staying in the Sant'Elena area. It’s the first time to Venice for both of us so I’d love to get some tips please.

OP posts:

FanSpamTastic · 13/02/2022 18:51

Are you arriving in the day time? If so book a water taxi from the airport - it's a fab experience!

If going on a gondola trip - try and get in line behind Chinese tourists. They often pay for the singing guy on the gondola and you will get the singing without the bill! Have a think about what you would like to see on your gondola trip - they do set routes and each have their own little patch and do a round trip back to where you started.

Go up some of the little allies off St Marks square and you will find some fabulous cicetti shops - they are like little toasts with different toppings - make a lovely light lunch!

A guided tour around the Doge's palace is worth it - so much to see and some fascinating facts.

Take comfy shoes - there is a lot of walking!

WomblingWilma · 13/02/2022 18:54

Take lots of money. Everything’s outrageously expensive.

UtterlyUnimaginativeUsername · 13/02/2022 19:02

Gondola rides are crazy money, we skipped it entirely. Instead we booked a rowing class with rowvenice.org, which was cheaper, really good fun and a much more interesting experience than being rowed by someone else.

Concerts by Interpreti Veneziani are great. You'd think they'd be tired of playing the Four Seasons endlessly but actually they're amazing and have good fun with it, we really enjoyed it.

Raera · 13/02/2022 19:06

We booked an hotel on the Lido. It was good to stay somewhere a little away from the busy centre, an escape to relax.
Water bus pass is a must, just hop on and off at will and a chance to sit down for a while!
If you are there during the biennale, don't miss that.

LillianGish · 13/02/2022 19:07

Arrive by boat from the airport. Take the Vaperretto - much cheaper than a water taxi. My other tip would be to wake up very early and see Venice at dawn before all the tourists are out and about - so worth it, especially if there's a bit of mist over the lagoon. Then go back to the hotel for a snooze when it starts to get busy.

FiveGensOfLove · 13/02/2022 19:17

If you’re looking for good bars/cocktails, I can thoroughly recommend Enoteca Schiavi near the Ponte dell’Accademia - AMAZING wine by the glass plus fabulous snacks (standing room only, brilliant atmosphere, lots of proper Venetians), and Il Mercante - insane cocktails, beautiful bar, great fun. Absolutely loved both and would go back to the city for those alone!

FiveGensOfLove · 13/02/2022 19:19

Oh, and if you can stretch to it, water taxi to and from the airport. Just made it so special, and it’s worth the cash (IMO). We arrived at night, so motored through Venice all lit up, which I thought might be disappointing but wasn’t, and went home on a stunning, clear blue sky morning which made the trip just beautiful. Don’t hesitate - do it!

Original poster

Annonymiss123 · 13/02/2022 19:42

I wish there was a “like” button! 😀

Thank you for all the tips. 👍🏻We’re arriving around 11pm so I’ll book a water taxi.

OP posts:

Krakenchorus · 13/02/2022 19:52

Wander. And let yourself be amazed by what you see. There are so many gems scattered around the city that even without a guide or any real destination in mind, you will stumble across the most wonderful sights.

Coquohvan · 13/02/2022 20:50

Buy the water bus pass for you stay, it covers all off Venice, hop on and off where ever you fancy.
Go to Burano stunning colourful island and Murano take a glass factory tour. Try Cicchetti little bite sized food similar to tapas with an apperol spritz.
Visit the Guggenheim museum, go up alleyways you’ll come across restaurant gems. Enjoy

MaChienEstUnDick · 13/02/2022 20:56

Go to St Marks Square straight after a meal so you don't get hangry and finally give into a tout and spend one million euros (approximately) on the worst pasta in Europe.

It is stunning and you absolutely shouldn't miss it, just don't eat there!

Original poster

Annonymiss123 · 13/02/2022 23:01

Thank you. 👍🏻

OP posts:

Lovemydoggie · 13/02/2022 23:07

Agree with all the above comments…it really is fabulous and breath taking. You can eat cheaply if you avoid St Marks Square for food.

RampantIvy · 13/02/2022 23:15

When it rains it pours, and the area around the basilica in St Marks Square is ankle deep in water. If the forecast is for rain take wellies. Also take an umbrella.

Watch out for pickpockets, especially in the vaporettos. When eating out there is always a cover charge, and if you order meat or fish you will get just that. Extras like potatoes or vegetables are extra.

Mischance · 13/02/2022 23:21

Get a sturdy zippable bag that you can wear across your body rather than over your shoulder - they have thieves there who slash the strap on bags worn over the shoulder.

And make sure that you take every possible precaution if drawing out cash from a machine.

Crime is rife - rich tourists are just too great a temptation.

Sideswiped · 13/02/2022 23:22

You will pay an arm and a leg for it, but having a drink and maybe a snack on St Marks square when music is playing is a lovely experience (you pay extra if the musicians are playing). I did it at Caffe Florian. One of the other patrons stood up and sang opera - it was lovely!

Geamhradh · 14/02/2022 08:44

Are you going imminently?
If so remember that masks (and not the carnival ones!) are still mandatory outdoors "where crowds are unavoidable". Crowds in Venice are ALWAYS unavoidable so stock up!

Original poster

Annonymiss123 · 14/02/2022 11:26

Some great tips, thank you.

We're going in 4 weeks - fingers crossed the mandatory masks while outdoors will have gone by then.

OP posts:

Lucia574 · 14/02/2022 11:34

Go to the Peggy Guggenheim gallery : wonderful.
Have you read Donna Leon’s Guido Brunetti series set in Venice?

Crazy8 · 14/02/2022 11:40

Go to the Doges Palace. Buy the tickets in advance if you can. Some of the rooms are breathtaking.

Tricked2003 · 14/02/2022 12:55

COMFY SHOES !!!!!!

AmusableDragon · 14/02/2022 13:30

Absolutely comfy shoes! The Basilica in St Marks Square is worth a visit but queues are long, there are also supplementary fees for entry to certain parts. Other than the cafes in St Marks there is no where to sit down and the 'tourist police' will come and ask you to move if you sit on the steps.
If you can book a guided walking tour it is worth it in my view, as is a boat tour of the islands.
Back streets definitely worth a wander and always look up!

Geamhradh · 14/02/2022 13:44

@Annonymiss123

Some great tips, thank you.

We're going in 4 weeks - fingers crossed the mandatory masks while outdoors will have gone by then.

They've already gone unless there are crowds! Trouble is it would be a strange day in Venice not to find crowds, but yes, fingers crossed!

bcc89 · 14/02/2022 14:07

Get a water bus pass. Skip the gondala and use the water bus to tour around Venice instead. This is lovely of an evening after dinner going back to your hotel, but wrap up warm as it can get cold on the water in the dark!

Visit Burano, so beautiful.

Comfy shoes, lots of walking to be done!

bcc89 · 14/02/2022 14:07

@Crazy8

Go to the Doges Palace. Buy the tickets in advance if you can. Some of the rooms are breathtaking.

This, definitely! Book a guided tour for this :)

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