Our series “The Best of…” continues with The Best of Venice, Italy! We created this series to share our complete guides to our favorite cities.
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So let’s start from the beginning, when I shared our plans for spending one week in Venice, I often heard that it was a long time to spend in this small Italian city. I will share my thoughts on that advice and how we spent one week in this amazing city.
Yes, you could spend 2-3 days here and see quite a bit. To be honest, there is so much more to Venice than you can imagine. It is beyond beautiful and it has much of what I look for when planning a trip. Venice has great food, beautiful buildings, and super interesting history.
Getting There and Getting Around
For our trip to Venice, we would travel from the East Coast of the US through Dublin, Ireland, and onto Venice. Since we had a layover in Ireland, we tacked on an extra two nights to our trip on the way back home. Nothing like a bonus trip!
Once you arrive at the airport, I would recommend taking a water taxi or water bus. These water buses are referred to as the Alilaguna or Vaporetto. While a private water taxi is a more luxurious way to arrive in the city, it will cost you much more than the water bus. The private water taxi is also faster than taking the water bus, so consider both points when hiring your transportation.
If you are arriving by train, the train station will take you into the city allowing you to forgo the water taxi or water bus. Just know that there are no cars in Venice. The city is made up of over 100 islands giving Venice the nickname The Floating City. This means, no Uber, taxi, or Lyft, you will need to take a boat of some sort at some point during your stay.
Although it does get quite crowded at times with tourists, you won’t have to contend with traffic or rush hour. I would encourage anyone visiting Venice, whether for two days or ten, to explore. The winding streets and bridges will lead you to beautiful sights. Don’t be afraid to put away the map on your phone and see where the ancient streets take you.
Packing for Venice
First, you’ll want to be aware of the steps and bridges in the city when you begin to consider your luggage. It may be difficult to wheel several bags up and down these steps on the way to your accommodations. We created a free printable packing list for one week in a carry-on, be sure to check it out before you start planning.
You’ll also want to keep in mind that if you are traveling in summer, it will be humid and warm. If you plan to wear less clothing to get around the heat, ensure you pack a scarf or jacket for visiting places such as St. Mark’s Basilica. It is respectful to cover your shoulders in places of worship, I carried a lightweight scarf for this reason.
Lastly, when traveling in summer, if you are a mosquito magnet like me, consider packing some mosquito repellant.
Where to Stay
During our 2018 visit, we stayed at Hotel Bucintoro and I couldn’t recommend it more. This hotel is in a prime location, just a few minutes walk from San Marco square, and the service was impeccable. It is not the cheapest hotel in Venice, but the amenities and the amazing lagoon view from our room were worth it. Included in this rate was a very hearty breakfast.
When choosing the location for your accommodations, keep in mind the logistics of traveling with luggage in this city. As I mentioned earlier, there are no cars in Venice. If you overpack, you’ll potentially be dragging extra luggage over many steps and bridges.
Depending on how long you plan to stay in Venice, you may want to consider staying near the Alilaguna (water bus) stop that runs to the airport. This will save you some time if you are only planning a few days here.
Finally, Hotel Bucintoro is a boutique hotel and has only around 20 rooms, in Venice, this tends to be the norm. Consider booking early to ensure you can find something that suits your needs. While I haven’t stayed in an Airbnb in Venice, there appear to be some nice options.
Shopping
Fantastic shopping is something Italy is known for and Venice is no exception. What I loved most about shopping in Venice was the array of items available to you. From fresh-caught fish, amazing produce, postcards, and keychains, all the way to luxury items, Venice shopping has something for everyone.
Be sure to check out the Venetian artisan shops as well, you can find handmade goods of all sorts here! Talk about a unique gift or memento to take home with you. If you end up taking any side trips as we’ll discuss below, you’ll also have the opportunity to shop for beautiful glass-blown home decor and other gifts in Murano. Burano on the other hand is known for lace-makers and you can also purchase some beautiful handmade items from bed linens to tablecloths.
If you read my article about creating the perfect Parisian picnic, you’ll know I love a local market. The Mercato di Rialto is no exception. This market is the perfect place to stock up on fresh fruits and vegetables to keep in your room throughout your stay.
Food and Wine
We were very fortunate to have some incredible meals during our time in Venice. Although you’ll find fresh pasta on many menus, think again if you are looking for wood-fired pizza. Venice does have some great food, but I wouldn’t go in with a closed mind or look just for “traditional” Italian cuisine.
During your stay, you are likely to discover Cicchetti. They are similar to tapas in Andalusia or Pintxos in the Basque Region of Spain. One of my favorite spots for a glass of wine and small bites was at Al Mercà. Note that Al Mercà is practically a walk-up bar counter with no seating. This is very typical in these types of restaurants in Venice. No worries, we made ourselves at home right outside of this tiny bacaro (wine bar).
Speaking of wine, establishments to enjoy wine and cocktails are plenty. Cantina Do Mori was one of my favorites. Located close to the Rialto Bridge, Cantina has a wide selection of wines and this super old spot is said to have been open since the 1400s!
Regarding wine and spirits, some of the local specialties in Venice include Prosecco and Aperol Spritz. Both of these options are great choices, especially in the summer months.
Due to the location, fresh fish absolutely can’t be beaten here. While we enjoyed a lot of great meals, the highlights also included:
- Trattoria da Romano (located in Burano, see side trips below for details)
- Antiche Carampane
- Al Covo
Sightseeing
So you have seen the Market and Rialto Bridge, check those off your list and head towards Piazza San Marco. Know in English as St. Mark’s Square, this area is where you will find several famous attractions including the Basilica and Doge’s Palace.
St. Mark’s Basilica is somewhere I would highly recommend taking a tour of. It is amazing and the history you’ll hear on the guided tours is very fascinating. Next door to the Basilica is Doge’s Palace which is yet another stop worth making. This Gothic-style palace is stunning and houses some of the main attractions in the city.
Some of these famous sights within Doge’s Palace include the Bridge of Sighs. This is said to be the last view of Venice that prisoners had while crossing the bridge leading them to their prison cells. Doge’s apartments are also part of the tour. Here, you’ll see intricate carvings on the sky-high ceilings, beautiful chandeliers, and paintings that are hundreds of years old.
Side Trips
- Lido: Lido is a small island with a beautiful beach overlooking the sea. It also happens to be home to the Venice Film Festival. At the time we were visiting, the festival was taking place therefore, we steered clear of Lido except for a quick ferry stop on our way to Chioggia.
- Chioggia: Chioggia is a fantastic place for a day trip, located just to the south of Venice. There is a beautiful church here as well as yet another fish market called Mercato Ittico al Minuto. It is super laid-back here and not as crowded as it can get in Venice. If you are staying for a week or longer, consider checking it out. Note, this ferry takes about an hour with a stop in Lido.
- Burano: Hop on another ferry and head north of Venice and you will find the colorful town of Burano. This tiny town is known for its handmade needlelace and the famous leaning bell tower. Burano also offers some awesome restaurants including the historic Trattoria da Romana featuring fish from the lagoon and the famous risotto. While this town offers some amazing photo ops, it is worth the trip alone just to try the cuisine at Trattoria da Romana.
- Murano: Another quick ferry ride will take you to Murano. Known for glass-blowing and even has an entire museum dedicated to this centuries-old artisan skill. The quick ride across the Lagoon will give you a peak at the centuries-old glass and the history of the artisans.
Off the Beaten Path
Lastly, during our stay, we were fortunate to meet a man named Carlo. He was so kind as to share his favorite restaurants, and wine bars, and even introduced us to some other Venetians. Alongside our new friends, we experienced another side of Venice.
We cruised through the canals in their small boat before visiting a few sites we most likely wouldn’t have seen without them. One of the places we visited was Forte de Sant’Andrea which is an island fortress built to protect the city of Venice. The area can be reached by boat for a picnic or to walk around and experience yet another piece of history.
Exploring Venice by water was incredible. Our local friends showed us some amazing sights off the beaten path and for that, I am still so thankful. Finally, we experienced one of the most unique ways to travel by water through the canals of Venice, by kayak! This was not part of a kayaking tour, just my husband and I in a two-person kayak. It truly was a pretty amazing experience and one I will not forget.
At the end of our time cruising around the canals in this small boat, we visited the houseboat where this couple lived. We enjoyed the sunset with a glass of Prosecco and some shrimp they had gathered from the local market. It was a different experience than we would have had if we stayed only 2 days in this magical city.
Hopefully, you enjoyed The Best of Venice, Italy! Be sure to check out The Best of San Sebastián, Spain, our most recent guide in our “The Best of” series! Safe and healthy travels!