Everyone dreams of a trip to Venice- sipping an aperol spritz next to a canal, watching the world float by, or getting lost in this pedestrian city. This vibrant city is one of the most beautiful cities in Europe, but can be crowded and suffers from overtourism. Use this Venice travel guide to get off the beaten path and explore the quieter side of Venice, while still visiting the main attractions.
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How long should you spend in Venice?
Venice is a smaller Italian city that can be fully explored in 2-3 days, but we recommend spending 3-4 days if you plan to visit any of the neighboring islands. While some people may claim that the main sites of Venice can be seen in 1-2 days, a short visit doesn’t allow enough time to get properly lost, which is an essential part of your Venice trip.
Where should you stay in Venice?
Most visitors choose to stay in San Marco to be closer to the major tourist sites. However, we found this part of Venice inauthentic and crowded. We much preferred the quieter and more local area of San Polo. Moreover, at a short ten minute walk from St. Mark’s Square, it is centrally located to the rest of Venice.
How to arrive in Venice?
There are several ways to get from the airport to your hotel, although some will certainly cost more money. We explored all of our options, such as taking an expensive private water taxi, or saving money by taking a bus transfer. Ultimately, we found that the best balance of price and convenience was taking the Alilaguna.
Before your trip, visit the Alilaguna website and determine the best stop and line from the airport, as well as the departure schedule. When you arrive at the Marco Polo airport, follow the signs for “water bus/water transport”. The Alilaguna departs from the same area as the water taxis. However, be aware that water taxis are much more expensive than the Alilaguna water bus service. For this reason, be sure that you are getting in the correct line. There are also ticket machines in the area to purchase your ticket.
If you have a lot of luggage, are traveling with people with limited mobility, or have young kids, we ultimately recommend considering a private water taxi. This option will deliver you closer to your hotel or AirBNB, whereas public transit options will require more walking.
Getting around Venice
By Foot
Venice is an incredible walking city! Explore the city by foot for the especially stunning views. If you are traveling with small kids, we do not recommend trying to navigate the city with a stroller. The bridges, stairs, and cobblestones will make stroller trasportation difficult overall. Instead, consider using a baby or toddler carrier.
By Vaporetto
The Vaporetto is the bus that runs the length of the Grand Canal. Purchase a ticket before boarding, and be sure to validate your ticket as soon as you board. For best views, take Line 1 at night. If you catch it near Piazzale Roma, you have a better chance of securing an outside seat. The full trip takes 45 minutes and includes frequent stops.
By Traghetto
There are only 4 bridges that cross the Grand Canal. In addition to these bridges, you can cross the Grand Canal via the 7 traghettos- gondolas that carry up to 10 passengers across the Grand Canal for 2 euro.
By Gondola
We all dream of a gondola ride through the canals of Venice. Prices are set for gondola rides, so do not try to negotiate the price. As of writing, gondola trips last 30 minutes and cost 80 euro during the daytime and 100 euro in the evenings.
What to do in Venice
Row a gondola
You may have heard of taking a gondola ride, but did you know that you can actually row yourself through the canals? Row Venice is a non-profit organization preserving the culture of the Venetian style of rowing. During this 90 minute private lesson, participants learn about different types of boats and row through the canals. We even went out onto the lagoon to practice our new rowing skills.
Visit St. Mark’s Square
St. Mark’s Square is the cultural center of Venice, and is always packed with tourists. We chose to visit St. Mark’s Square on our first morning in Venice when the jetlag had us awake before the sunrise. By arriving early, we experienced an empty square and watched the city wake up. Be sure to return for a night visit to witness the dueling orchestras playing throughout the square. Spend some time in St. Mark’s Square visiting the following sites:
- St. Mark’s basilica- The basilica is the jewel of St. Mark’s square, and a must visit while in Venice. Cover your knees and shoulders before entering the basilica. Additionally, the basilica does not permit backpacks or cameras. There is a bag check area to the left of the entrance. While entrance to the Basilica is free, the line is often very long. We recommend purchasing skip the line tickets or reserving a tour to avoid the line.
- Campanile- Take the elevator to the top of the Bell Tower for beautiful views of the city. The bells ring at the top of the hour. Crowds are lowest in the evening.
- Doge’s Palace- Doge’s Palace is now a museum. It houses the famous Bridge of Sighs. Backpacks are not allowed, so be prepared to use the free bag check. For the best experience, take the Secret Itineraries Tour, which provides access to some of the smaller spaces of the palace.
Walk across the Rialto Bridge
The Rialto Bridge spans the Grand Canal and is filled with tourist shops. While the view is beautiful, expect crowds at all hours.
Explore Rialto Market
Rialto market is open every morning besides Sundays and Mondays. There is a produce section, and a seafood section. We recommend visiting with a tour to learn more about this historical market.
See the city from above
Venice is a relatively short city and lacks high rise buildings. One of the best views is from the top of the Fondaco dei Tedeschi department store near the Rialto Bridge. There is a viewing gallery on the roof that offers spectacular views of the Grand Canal. Visits are free, but must be reserved in advance.
Take a food tour
Experience the delicious food that Venice has to offer with a food tour. These tours give a look at the history of Venice, while also experiencing the culture and finding hidden gems.
Visit the Basilica of Santa Maria della Salute
This large church is on a peninsula with views of St. Mark’s. Plan to sit and relax to enjoy the view and watch the boats sailing by.
Get lost
No trip to Venice is complete without wandering through its charming alleyways. Allow yourself an afternoon to explore, stopping for gelato or cicchetti as your heart desires.
Protect Your Trip
If the COVID-19 pandemic has taught us anything, it is that insurance is necessary to protect our travel investments and keep our family safe on the road. Depending on the policy that you choose, travel insurance can protect your family in the event of medical emergencies and canceled trips. It also takes the sting out of minor trip mishaps, such as lost baggage and delayed flights. Check out Squaremouth to compare plans and choose one that fits your family.
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- How to Protect Your Family- 5 Steps for Safe Family Travel
