Venice
Content:
Although small in size, there are many places of interest in Venice that fascinate tourists. You need only one day to visit the city.
This “pearl of the Adriatic” is located on the other side of Italy, and there are no direct train connections. It is necessary to change trains in Milan or go through Pisa and Florence. A trip to Venice from the Cinque Terre requires 6-7 hours and costs approximately €75. Therefore we advise you to stay over in one of the cities along the way.
The essential points of important location for the tourist are marked on the map.
Article was last updated in November, 2024.
How to reach Venice
By train
The destination point is the “Venezia S. Lucia” train station. Prices and timetables can be found on trenitalia.com.
By car
Use the navigator to arrive at the Venice Mestre train station. There is metered paid parking opposite the station (€12/day, €20 on public holidays). It is marked on the map. From Venezia Mestre you can head toward the central station of Venice with a regional train (a ticket is €2).
Address for the GPS navigator: Viale Stazione, 36, Mestre.
What to see in Venice
The recommended itinerary is indicated on the map. Going in a counterclockwise direction, first visit the southern part of Venice and you will reach 1San Marco, the central square where you can feed the pigeons. Here you can admire the Doges’Palace, its museum (entry fee €20) and visit the Basilica of San Marco. We also recommend climbing to the top of the Campanile (the bell tower) to enjoy the view at a height of 101 meters / 330 feet (the cost is €8). After that you can walk along the 2bank of the canal and after returning to Piazza San Marco visit the most famous bridge on the Grand Canal, the 3Rialto.
What to see near Venice: Burano and Murano
4Burano and 5Murano are two islands not far from Venice. Burano is known for its multicolored houses and is famous for lace-making. Murano, instead, is known for the production of Venetian blown glass. In Burano there is the Church of San Martino with its leaning bell tower, while in Murano you can visit the glass museum, housed in an ancient palace (XV century). Both islands can be reached by vaporetto, the typical Venetian boat (description below). We also suggest making a brief stop at the 6island of San Giorgio Maggiore, the nearest island to Venice.
Typical outing in Venice
A trip in a gondola
This is the most widely spread service in Venice. First check the prices: the recommended price for 2024 is €80 for 40 minutes (€100 in the evening). A gondola can accommodate up to 6 people.
Using the vaporetto
The vaporetti pass along the Canal Grande. A ticket costs €7.50/h. If you want to visit the nearby islands (Burano and Murano included), it is better to buy a ticket for 12 hours (€18), or for 24 hours (€20).
Useful information about Venice
Carnival (Il Carnevale)
At the end of January - beginning of February (during Carnival), Venice overflows with tourists. Although it is one of the most colorful events in the “capital of the sea”, in recent years, due to the huge crowds of tourists coming here for Carnival, it has become very difficult to visit the city. So if you want to visit Venice as a tourist, it would be better not to take a trip at Carnival time.
High Water (Acqua Alta)
About once in every 3 years for 3-4 hours the water rises so much it floods the central square. But tourists are not scared off by this; they buy tall overshoes and continue to visit the city. It is a very rare phenomenon, so should not be regarded as a problem.
Where to stay in Venice?
Although Venice is small, there are hotels at every step. Choose at your own discretion, using this search system. We advise you to pay attention to the following three hotels with best comments and the best prices.
Or you can compare some of the hotels based on the comments from tourists and at the prices indicated on this page.
Where to eat in Venice
Obviously not on the main square; prices at San Marco have greatly increased. Try the local dishes somewhere in town: you can see the menu and prices at the front door.
When to visit Venice
The tourist season lasts all year round. We advise you not to visit Venice at the end of January - beginning of February, when Carnival is celebrated, because the overcrowding of tourists impedes a normal visit of the city.