Welcome to Venice
Venice feels like a beautiful mirage – a city that shouldn’t exist but somehow does, floating on a lagoon with waterways instead of streets. As an Arizona woman who traded desert heat for the misty mornings of Venice, I’ve discovered that this city requires a different approach than Rome or Florence. Here’s my honest guide to navigating the serene yet sometimes bewildering maze of Venice.
The Venetian Experience
Venice is a symphony of contrasts – opulent palaces alongside crumbling facades, quiet back canals just steps from tourist-packed squares. The city operates at a unique pace, dictated by tides, vaporetto schedules, and the ebb and flow of day-trippers.
What makes Venice magical isn’t just the gondolas and grand architecture but the surreal feeling of a city where cars don’t exist. The soundtrack is different here – no honking horns, just church bells, lapping water, and conversations echoing across narrow canals. By night, when the day visitors leave, Venice transforms into a quiet, mysterious place that feels unchanged for centuries.
Practical Venice Information
Average Costs
- Coffee: €1.50-2.50 for espresso at a bar (standing); €4-7 if you sit at a table in a main square
- Cicchetti (Venetian snacks): €1.50-3 per piece
- Lunch: €15-25 for a casual meal; €30+ for a sit-down lunch with a view
- Dinner: €35-50 per person at neighborhood restaurants; €70+ at fancier establishments
- Gondola ride: €80-100 for 30-40 minutes (standard rate)
- Vaporetto (water bus): €7.50 for a single ticket; €20 for a 24-hour pass
Walking in Venice
Venice is entirely walkable, but with unique considerations:
- Bridges: Over 400 bridges, most with steps (few are wheelchair accessible)
- Navigation: Even Google Maps struggles here – expect to get lost (it’s part of the charm)
- Daily step count: Typically 10,000-15,000 steps, with lots of up and down over bridges
- Water transport: Vaporetti (water buses) are essential for longer distances or tired legs
Pro tip: Venice is compact – you can cross the entire main island in about 45 minutes, but allow time for wrong turns and discoveries.
Essential Italian Phrases for Venice
| English | Italian | Pronunciation |
| Where is St. Marco’s Square? | Dov’è Piazza San Marco? | doh-VEH pee-AHT-sah san MAR-koh |
| How do I get to Rialto Bridge? | Come arrivo al Ponte di Rialto? | KOH-meh ar-REE-voh al PON-teh dee ree-AL-toh |
| Which vaporetto goes to Burano? | Quale vaporetto va a Burano? | KWAH-leh vah-poh-RET-toh vah ah boo-RAH-noh |
| Is this water high tide? | È acqua alta? | eh AHK-wah AHL-tah |
| I would like some cicchetti, please | Vorrei dei cicchetti, per favore | vor-RAY day chee-KET-tee, per fah-VOR-eh |
Top 5 Things to Do in Venice
- St. Mark’s Square & Basilica – Visit early morning (before 9am) or evening after 5pm to avoid crowds; check for free basilica entry times
- Get Lost in Cannaregio or Dorsoduro – Explore residential neighborhoods where Venetians actually live
- Island Excursions – Take a vaporetto to colorful Burano, glass-making Murano, or peaceful San Giorgio Maggiore
- Rialto Market – Experience the centuries-old floating market where Venetian chefs shop for fresh seafood (Tuesday-Saturday mornings)
- Sunset at Accademia Bridge – One of the most spectacular views of the Grand Canal as the evening light turns the water golden
Hidden Gems
- Libreria Acqua Alta – A quirky bookstore with books stored in gondolas and bathtubs to protect from flooding
- Scala Contarini del Bovolo – A spiral staircase hidden in a tiny courtyard offering fantastic views
- Chiesa di San Giorgio dei Greci – Venice’s Greek Orthodox church with a leaning bell tower
- Campo San Giacomo dall’Orio – A local square where Venetian children play and residents chat
- Gondola Workshops at Squero di San Trovaso – Watch artisans build and repair gondolas (viewing from across the canal)
Tips for Enjoying Venice
- Acqua alta (high tide) awareness – Check tide forecasts in fall/winter; the city provides elevated walkways during flooding
- Early mornings are magical – The light is perfect for photos and you’ll see the real Venice as it wakes up
- Pack light and wheeled luggage struggles – Those charming bridges become obstacles with heavy suitcases
- Save money on gondolas – The traghetto gondola crossing is just €2 and gives you a mini-gondola experience
- Respect the residents – Venice’s population is dwindling; be mindful that for some, your vacation spot is their home