8 things you need to know before visiting Venice

Well hello to you my reader chums! Oh, Venice, Italy's famous canal city and one of my favourite places I've ever visited. There's something about Venice that's ever so breathtaking; the gorgeous architecture, never-ending canals, and enough pizza to eat for years and years. As a bucket list destination, many flock to the canal city every day - and before my visit, I wanted to know all the hints and tips about Venice.

Disclaimer - This post contains affiliate links.

Here are 8 things you need to know before visiting Venice...

8 things you need to know before visiting Venice

There are two areas of Venice

When you book your trip to Venice, it's important to be aware of the two different areas. The first is mainland Venice and the second is the actual island of Venice. They're both of course Venice, just split into two by a road and railway track. The airport is on the mainland and you can either get a taxi or train to the 'island'. 

Consider different accommodation options

Venice accommodation without a doubt is expensive, especially near the main hub of St Marks Square. For cheaper options, shop around a bit. Consider staying in an Airbnb instead of a hotel, or renting out a room on your visit. Another consideration is staying on the mainland. Although this means getting a train into the island every day, it could bring costs down.

On my trip, I stayed in an Airbnb around the San Polo area which wasn't too far from the main hub of Venice. It was pretty hard to find something within budget and near the attractions, however, it took a little research and our quaint apartment was perfect.

Google maps do not work

Something to note on your trip to Venice is Google Maps don't work properly. Your best way to get around is by using an actual map or asking for directions. The main part of Venice has signed to tourist attractions, and once you get your bearings, it's a bit easier to navigate around.

Piazzale Roma is the transport hub 

On the island, the main form of transport is boats, gondolas, and water taxis. To make your way off the island to the mainland, you'll need to head over to Piazzale Roma. This is where you can get transportation to the airport and the only location where cars/buses will go out of Venice. The Santa Lucia station is the train station out of Venice onto the mainland.

8 things you need to know before visiting Venice

Book your gondola ride there

One of the things I'm thrilled I did on my trip, was book my gondola ride when we arrived in Venice. That way, we got to have a walk around and choose which route we'd like the gondola to take. If you pre-book your gondola ride, it takes away that personal touch of choosing what you'd like to see.

Take advantage of the free things to do

The beauty of Venice is a lot of the sights are free. You can simply take a stroll down the canals, walk through St Marks Square, or over the Rialto Bridge; there's so much to see. Take advantage of all the free activities and sights on offer - it makes budget travel in Venice so much easier. For instance, San Marco Basilica has free admission and there are plenty of other cathedrals in store.

Avoid dining in tourist spots

I say this in many popular tourist destinations, but typically dining near attraction tends to cost more, and the food isn't as authentic. When I'm in Italy especially, I love trying the authentic pizza and pasta, and finding the hidden eateries is the best thing to do. I made the mistake of dining in St Marks Square to get the full experience, but it was a very costly dinner. I would advise getting that experience, to have a drink in St Marks and listen to live music (it'll save you a bit of money).

The quaint backroads have plenty to see

One of my favourite parts of Venice was the quiet hidden roads where the locals lived - and that's where my apartment was. It made the walk to and from the apartment every day a lovely experience, as we could explore the hidden side of Venice. I took a lot of random walks around the 'quieter areas' and we found some beautiful canals, restaurants and saw a lot of locals - I loved it.

8 things you need to know before visiting Venice

I hope you enjoyed this post about Venice. Have you got a trip planned?

Thank you for reading <3

7 comments

  1. Venice looks absolutely beautiful! It's good to learn tips about google maps not knowing before visiting as it could cause problems if you didn't know!

    ReplyDelete
  2. I've been to Venice and I really liked it! Lovely blog post, Della! 😊

    Xoxo
    Shirley | https://shirleycuypers.blogspot.be

    ReplyDelete
  3. Great tips! I would've just assumed that Google maps is fine!

    xx
    www.thedecemberdame.com

    ReplyDelete
  4. Great post and tips! The canals and the buildings look beautiful.

    Blessings,

    Ann Marie Ruby | www.annmarieruby.com

    ReplyDelete

Thank you for reading my blog! I hope you enjoyed this post and found it helpful in anyway. I'd love to hear any feedback you may have.