Venice, Italy Travel Guide: How To Plan Your Perfect Trip

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Venice, Italy—an idyllic, romantic destination that so many of us dream of visiting. A city unlike any other, where canals replace roads, historic buildings seem to float along the water’s edge, and unreal beauty is around every corner.

However, with great popularity comes great crowding. But don’t worry, with a bit of strategic planning you can have an utterly wonderful trip without feeling trapped in heaving masses.

In this handy travel guide, you’ll find the practical information and tips you need to plan a stress-free visit to this enchanting city. We’ll cover the best times to visit, navigating around the city, recommended activities and more, so let’s dive straight in!

Note: We do our best to keep the information on our website up to date, but if you notice anything has changed, please leave us a comment.

Venice, Italy: The Basics

Currency // Euro.

Timezone // Central European Time / Central European Summer Time (CET / CEST)

Language // Italian. As a tourist in Venice, you can generally get around without speaking Italian. However, it’s always helpful (and polite!) to try to learn a few basic Italian phrases before you go.

Cash or Card // Most places accept card in Venice, although there are still some places that are cash only, so I would recommend a mix of cash and card. ATMs are plentiful if you do need to withdraw cash. If you don’t have a card with no foreign transaction fees then I would suggest looking for bank ATMs as they usually have lower fees.

Tipping // Tipping in Venice is optional but appreciated. In restaurants many people will leave a small tip, usually about 10%. For taxis, bars and coffee shops you may want to round up. If you take guided tours then consider tipping 5-10 euros depending on the length of the tour (and how positive your experience was!).

Climate // Venice experiences warm summers and cool winters. There is occasional flooding, particularly during the autumn and winter months. Best times to visit will be covered later in this travel guide.

Watch our Venice Itinerary Video
if you can’t wait to see the city for yourself!

Where is Venice & How To Get There

Venice is situated in the northeastern part of Italy, specifically in the Veneto region. It is made up of a group of 118 small islands (give or take — there is some disagreement on the exact number!) that are separated by canals and linked by bridges.

If you are considering a multi-stop trip to Italy then these are the approximate distances between Venice and some other Italy hot spots:

• Verona to Venice: 71 miles / 115 km
• Florence to Venice: 162 miles / 260 km
• Milan to Venice: 174 miles / 280 km
• Pisa to Venice: 196 miles / 315 km
• Lake Como (Como Town) to Venice: 197 miles / 317 km
• Cinque Terre (Riomaggiore) to Venice : 205 miles / 330 km
• Rome to Venice: 326 miles / 525 km
• Naples to Venice: 420 miles / 675 km
• Amalfi Coast (Positano) to Venice: 620 miles / 1,000 km

How to get to Venice by Plane

The largest and closest airport to Venice is Marco Polo Airport (approximately 5 miles away).

There are a few ways to reach Venice from Marco Polo airport: bus, taxi, vaporetto, or one of the awesome looking water taxis! The best way to travel will mainly depend on the location of your accommodation, the number of travellers and your budget.

Estimated Costs:

If you catch a bus or land taxi then this will take you as far as the bus depot at Piazzale Roma. Depending on the location of your hotel you can either walk with your luggage, or catch a vaporetto or water taxi onwards.

There are two bus companies that service Marco Polo airport — ATVO and ACTV. ATVO are dedicated airport coaches with plenty of luggage storage whereas ACTV are city buses.

We bought our tickets in the airport at an automatic ticket machine, although there was also a ticket office in the arrivals hall.

How to get to Venice by train

Venice is well-connected to other parts of Italy by train.

However, be careful when booking tickets or departing the train, as there are there are two stations that start with Venezia: Venezia Santa Lucia and Venezia Mestre.

• Venezia Santa Lucia // This is the main train station in Venice’s historic center, located by the Grand Canal. There is a good chance that this is the train station you will be aiming for.
• Venezia Mestre // This station is located on the mainland, so unless your accommodation is in the Mestre area then as a tourist you are unlikely to want this station.

If your hotel is not close enough to walk there with your luggage then no worries—right in front of the station by the Grand Canal, you’ll find the Ferrovia vaporetto landing stage, serviced by several vaporetto lines.

Alternatively you could catch a water taxi onwards from the pier near the Scalzi Bridge.

How to get to Venice by bus

Getting to Venice by bus is possible, and several bus companies, like FlixBus, operate services to and from the city. Some even provide international bus services connecting Venice to various European cities.

Be sure to double check the arrival/departure station as these buses may serve Piazzale Roma, Tronchetto (near Piazzale Roma) or Mestre (the mainland).

How to Get Around Venice

Walking

Walking is our preferred way of getting around Venice. The small, historic city is pedestrianised, and many attractions are within walking distance. Besides, strolling through Venice is the best way to discover quieter stretches of canal and almost hidden, empty streets that feel a world away from the hustle of places like St. Mark’s Square.

Vaporetto

The vaporetto is basically a water bus. It’s a great option for getting around Venice if you don’t want to walk or pay for a water taxi, as well as a convenient way to visit the nearby islands on a budget.

Here are a few things you need to know about using the Vaporetto:

• Costs // A single journey costs €9.50, covering up to 75 minutes of travel. If you’re planning a round trip, the total comes to €19. If you plan on multiple rides, then it may be worth you purchasing a pass.
  
• Pass Options // Vaporetto passes are available for one, two, three, or seven days. Buying a pass could be cost-effective if you intend to use the vaporetto frequently during your stay. You can view the most up-to-date pass prices here.
  
• Where To Purchase Tickets // You can buy your ticket from ticket offices located at major vaporetto stops, ticket vending machines or at authorised shops. You don’t buy your ticket on the vaporetto itself so make sure you buy it before you board. 
  
• Activating Your Pass // For multi-day passes, the ticket doesn’t activate until you use it for the first time. To activate your ticket, simply scan it at an electronic reader as you board the vaporetto.
  For example, we purchased our 2-day ticket from a ticket machine at the airport but didn’t start using it on day 3 of our trip. In this case, our ticket’s 2-day period didn’t start until the moment we scanned it for the first time.
  
• Keep Your Ticket Handy // Remember to keep your ticket with you throughout its validity period, as there may be a ticket inspector on board.

Map of Venice Attractions

Save our map of places to go, eat and drink in Venice

How Many Days Should You Spend in Venice

3-4 days in Venice is perfect for many first-time visitors.

How long you should spend in Venice depends on your interests, budget and the pace that you like to travel.

We’re confident that you can easily fill 3 or 4 days, especially if you want to visit the neighbouring islands (e.g. Burano). This also gives you time to simply walk around and explore, rather than dashing around from attraction to attraction.

Best Time To Visit Venice

Best time to visit Venice: April–early June or September–October

Based on a combination of weather, crowds and costs, the best times to visit Venice are spring (except for Easter) and early autumn.

I will cover the pros and cons of visiting at different times of year, however you can have a wonderful trip to Venice no matter when you visit.

Spring (March–May)

Pros:

• Mild weather, with temperatures gradually warming up.
• Spring flowers are in bloom.
• Fewer crowds than the peak summer months.
• Carnevale in late January to early February adds a touch of magic and festive atmosphere.

Cons:

• Weather could still be unpredictable weather. March in particular may still be fairly cold.
• Be aware of when Easter falls as crowds will be very high during this period.

Summer (June–August)

Pros:

• Warm and sunny weather, perfect for outdoor activities .
• Extended daylight hours (for more exploration time!).
• A number of fun festivals and events take place in summer, including the Venice Film Festival, Venice Biennale (a festival of art and architecture) and Vogalonga (a large rowing race).

Cons:

• Peak tourist season, meaning crowded attractions and higher prices.
• Some might not enjoy the higher temperatures and there is a chance of heatwaves.
• Larger crowds during festivals and navigated the city could be more difficult.
• More mosquitos (remember to pack bug spray!).
• In August many locals take their own holiday, which could mean some businesses are closed during your visit.

Autumn (September–November)

Pros:

• Mild temperatures.
• Fewer tourists than in the summer, with crowd levels decreasing over time.
• Pretty autumn colours.
• Venice Film Festival typically takes place late August to early September, so I’m including it as an autumn pro too!

Cons:

• Increased chance of rain.
• The acqua alta season starts around late October / November, meaning there is an increased chance of flooding.
• November temperatures can be quite cold and the sky grey.

Winter (December–February)

Pros:

• Tourist crowds are lower.
• Lower accommodation prices and potential for discounts.
• Festive atmosphere during December with Christmas decorations and warm lights creating a cosy atmosphere.
• Carnevale (in February), where the city comes alive with elaborate costumes and colourful masks.

Cons:

• Cooler temperatures, occasionally reaching freezing levels.
• Some attractions may have reduced hours or maintenance closures.
• Possibility of acqua alta events and foggy days. However, if fog is forecast for your visit the silver lining is that the city can look beautiful and mysterious in these conditions.

Where To Stay In Venice

There are six neighbourhoods in the historical centre of Venice:

• San Marco
• San Polo
• Dorsoduro
• Cannaregio
• Santa Croce
• Castello

I’ll go into each area a little further to help you pick the part of Venice that’s right for you. However, I do want to add that all of the above areas of Venice area beautiful and safe. Given Venice’s compact size, even if you don’t stay in the heart of the action, you’ll never be too far away from the main attractions. So, truly, there isn’t a “wrong” choice!

San Marco

About San Marco:

• Home to iconic landmarks like St. Mark’s Basilica and the Doge’s Palace.
• Central location, just an easy roll away from other major attractions.
• Ideal for very short stays if your main goal is to hit up the most popular sights.
• Plenty of shops.
• Very busy, touristy area.
• Accommodation tends to be pricier. This is probably the most expensive area to stay.

San Polo

About San Polo:

• Home to Rialto Bridge and Rialto Market.
• Located next to San Marco.
• Close to many attractions and shops, even if it’s not quite as central as San Marco.
• Varied dining options.
• Still a busy touristy area, although not quite as crowded as San Marco.

Dorsoduro

About Dorsoduro:

• Home to museums and art galleries, including the Gallerie dell’Accademia and the Peggy Guggenheim Collection.
• Less touristy area than San Marco.
• Lively nightlife (for Venice!) with bars and local spots. We loved Campo Santa Margherita for grabbing an outdoor table and enjoying a couple of well-priced drinks.

Cannaregio

About Cannaregio:

• Quieter with more of a local feel than San Marco.
• Close to the train station (depending on where in the neighbourhood you stay).
• Variety of budget-friendly accommodations and restaurants available.
• Great for exploring small streets away from the crowds.
• Not as close to big attractions like St. Mark’s Basilica and the Doge’s Palace as San Marco and San Polo, but it’s still walkable.

Santa Croce

About Santa Croce:

• Good transportation links, including the bus station. Useful if you plan to travel to/from the historic centre by bus or land taxi.
• Limited major attractions within the district.
• Can be quieter in the evenings.
• Affordable dining options.

Castello

About Castello:

• Home to the Biennale Art Festival, Biennale gardens and Arsenal.
• Unique attractions like The Flooded Crypt of San Zaccaria and Libreria Acqua Alta, where books are piled up in shelves, bath tubs and gondolas to protect them from flood water!
• Depending on where you stay you could be (relatively!) far from some of the major sights like St. Mark’s Basilica (although still walkable).
• Less crowded and more of a local feel than San Marco.

Best Things To Do In Venice

• Explore the tiny streets and pretty canals without a set plan. // In our opinion, this is the very best thing to do in Venice! Rather than following a set route you can just wander and see where you end up, however if you want any pointers to get you started, our favourite neighbourhood to explore was Cannaregio.
  
• Try cicchetti. // Eat like a local and graze your way through these small plates of food. I’ll cover cicchetti in more detail in the “what is cicchetti” section of this guide.
  
• Admire the grandeur of St Mark’s Basilica. //  Gawk at the huge gold mosaics in Venice’s renowned cathedral.
  
• Tour Doge’s Palace. // Admire Venetian Gothic architecture at Doge’s Palace, the residence and seat of governance for the elected Doges of Venice. Cross the famous Bridge of Sighs and explore the adjacent prison.
  You could opt for the top-rated Secret Itineraries Tour and delve into the history of Doge’s Palace. Discover hidden parts of the building that you would otherwise miss, such as the attic, the torture chamber, and Casanova’s prison cell.
  

• Enjoy a birds-eye view of Venice. // Look out over the rooftops from one of Venice’s viewpoints, such as St Mark’s Campanile, Palazzo Contarini del Bovolo, San Georgio Maggiore’s Campanile or T Fondaco dei Tedeschi (a shopping centre rooftop where the views are free! However for this one you will need to be quick and book your place as soon as they are released, 21 days in advance).
  
• Watch the boats from Rialto Bridge. // The intricately designed Rialto Bridge is the oldest bridge crossing the Grand Canal, and gives you some great views over the multitude of boats passing by. Make sure you stop the stalls at Rialto Market afterwards.

• Librairie Acqua Alta. // Browse this special bookshop where they stack mountains of books in bathtubs, barrels, row boats and even a gondola to protect them from flooding.
  
• Visit the crypt of San Zaccaria. // Walk through the quiet crypt, which has been permanently flooded by canal water.
  
• Relax on a gondola. // Splash out on a ride on one of these traditional boats and see Venice from another perspective.
  
• Visit one of Venice’s many art galleries. // From renowned institutions such as the Gallerie dell’Accademia and the Peggy Guggenheim Collection to numerous smaller galleries and exhibition spaces, there’s a diverse range of displays on offer.

• Take a boat to the nearby islands // Browse displays of delicate lace on the colourful island of Burano and watch glass-blowing up close on the famous island of Murano. You can either book a tour or go on a DIY trip around the islands using the vaporetto.

You can find out more about Venice’s incredible attractions by watching our Venice itinerary video on YouTube.

What is Cicchetti

What is Cicchetti?

Cicchetti are little bites of food, often featuring crostinis – small pieces of toasted bread adorned with various delicious toppings. Popular toppings in Venice include sardines in onion and vinegar sauce and creamed cod. However, if you don’t like or want to eat seafood, you’ll find many other delicious meat and vegetarian alternatives available.

You can also try polpette – fried balls of either meat or fish. While there are other types of cicchetti, we found that crostinis and polpette were the ones we came across most frequently. They’re definitely worth a try!

How do you order cicchetti?

Usually, you order your cicchetti at the bar and then have the option to enjoy them either inside or outside. Some places provide tables, while at others you’ll grab yourself a spot to stand outside the bar. If you aren’t sure what you want to eat then we found staff were happy to recommend their favourites. Otherwise, just point out whatever looks good!

How Much Is cicchetti?

Cicchetti typically cost around 2 euros per item, though there might be a slight variation. We’d usually order 2 items per person to share, and more often than not, we found ourselves tempted back for a few extra bites.

Where To Try Cicchetti

You will find bars selling cicchetti all over the city, but these were our favourite spots:

• Bacaro ae Bricoe (Cannaregio) // Friendly service, varied selection of cicchetti and outdoor tables by the canal.
• Osteria Al Squero (Dorsoduro) // Enjoy the view over a gondola repair boatyard with delicious cicchetti and spritz.

How Expensive Is Venice

According to BudgetYourTrip.com you should plan to spend around  €229 ($252/£199) per person, per day on a mid-range budget.

We would typically class our travel budget as mid-range, and we tend to find the estimations from BudgetYourTrip.com to be a good guide.

Estimated budget by travel style:

Still reading? Then you might also like our other Italy posts:

• 3 – 4 Days in Venice Itinerary
• How to Visit Burano, Murano and Torcello in One Day
• 4 Days in Rome