Venice, the queen of tourism, the magical city that everyone wants to visit at least once in their life. This splendour of a city that emerges from the waters, which boasts a thousand-year history and which has left its mark in the history and hearts of many peoples, is an unmissable destination for any trip to Italy. How to deal with a wonder like Venice in the best possible way and without getting too stressed? By following these tips.
When to go to Venice
Needless to say… Venice is always beautiful. Whether you see it in the melancholic winter mists, in the summer light, in the spring rain, this city has a timeless charm. There is no “best time”, it is always a good time to visit Venice. The only choice can be determined by your needs: if you want to enjoy the city without too many tourist crowds around, go in early spring, rather than June or July.
Travel documents
The precious Italian jewel, Venice, is of course a part of the Schengen Agreement. This means that most tourists need to show their passport and/or their ID paper, but if they also come from a nation of the Schengen area, they will only need to have an ID paper to enter.
What to pack for your trip to Venice
If you don’t pack cameras and video cameras, or any device that can replace them, also avoid booking a trip to Venice. Memories of this city are the first thing to capture. Also pack comfortable clothes and very comfortable shoes in your luggage, without forgetting boots and windbreakers to face the humidity of the evening or sudden rain. Bring small umbrellas, backpacks instead of trolleys (wheels in Venetian alleys and stairways are not a nice idea) and portable chargers for your cell phone because you will always have to connect to the maps to orient yourself in the city. It may seem like crazy advice but… before entering Venice, stock up on bread, fruit and water in your bag. All genuine things that can also be found in Venice but … at exorbitant prices!
How to get to Venice
Venice-Marco Polo Airport (VCE) is the international point of reference for anyone who wants to reach the “Serenissima” from around the world. A large airport, very well equipped and well connected, it welcomes enormous traffic of visitors every year and manages them together with the many efficient land transports (buses, trains). The main railway stations of Venice are Mestre and Santa Lucia. By car, follow the A4 motorway from Trieste and Turin, or A27 from Belluno, or A13 from Bologna or the state roads (SS.309 Romea from the Adriatic coast, SS.14 from Tireste, SS.13 from Treviso, SS.11 from Padua) . The car must be left in the large car parks outside the historic center which can then be reached on foot or by boat. Those arriving from the sea will land at the port of Venice.
How to move through Venice
If you want to explore Venice you can decide to walk or to go by boat. The best thing to do is walking, in our opinion. You will have the chance to admire this stunning city slowly, at your rhythm, to stop and feel the charm of each canal, bridge, building and tower you shall see. If you want to visit more, take one of the many city ferries, which are like buses here. If you really want the magic, consider booking a gondola trip … very (very!) expensive but incredible way to visit Venice.
What to see
You probably have heard so many times the list of the most beautiful venetian monuments … but this is the magic of this water city! Very famous places you must see, at least once in life, and places you can re-discover with different point of view when you will come back. Because, you will!
So, you must certainly enjoy St Marco Square – with the beautiful famous basilica (climb the bell tower and admire the panoramic view over the city), the loggia buildings and the elegant bars and restaurants overlooking this wide place. Start your city itinerary and visit the Sospiri Bridge, the Rialto Bridge, the Palazzo Ducale, Scuola Grande San Rocco, the Accademia, the Guggenheim Museum, the Arsenal.
Take a boat trip so to admire the Grand Canal, the Giudecca Island, the long beach of Lido. You will possibly get to the lovely little neighbour islands, Murano (land of artistic glass) and Burano (the lovely many-coloured houses). Plan with your guide also the “mystery trips” to some haunted islands of the venetian lagoon.
What to do and NOT to do in Venice
If you come to Venice there are many things to do but they can mainly be summarized in three: walking, shopping, eating. You walk a lot to discover this beautiful city but it’s worth it and it’s the best choice; you buy a lot, even at prohibitive costs, because you need a memory of Venice; you can taste local specialties in restaurants and bars which are already art masterpieces themselves!
Forbidden in Venice: bivouacking on the stairways or steps of churches and buildings; walking around shirtless (men) or in a swimsuit (men and women); immerse yourself in the waters of the canals; obstruct the flow of pedestrians in narrow alleys and on bridges; feed pigeons, seagulls and cats.