Top tips when visiting Venice, Italy
- The Travelling Ladybug
- Jul 17, 2017
- 7 min read
Updated: Jan 13
Whilst I am discovering and adding many new places to my favourites, Venice will always have a special place in my heart. It is one of those places that I have been to on countless times throughout my childhood and it continues to hold its magic each time I visit. I think that it will always be one of my favourite places in the world.
I have heard people mention their disappointment with Venice, read people slate it on TripAdvisor, and complain while on their way to St Mark's square. In this blog, I will highlight what it is and why I love it so much, and also my top do's and don'ts so that you too can enjoy this unique and completely one-of-a-kind city.
Don't ... go in peak season
I am sure that you have read this countless times before, but this is important if you want to truly enjoy your experience. Summer in Italy is typically hot so completely avoid going to Venice between late June to late September. It will smell of fish! My recommendation would be to go in Spring (March-May), or in Autumn (October), so that the days and evenings are still warm but without the pungent fishier smell. Naturally Venice is on the Venetian Lagoon, and as it is made up of 118 islands all interconnected with bridges there is no escaping the smell of the sea. The other thing would be (if you can) to go in the middle of the week outside of any holiday period to avoid the vast crowds and throngs of people!
Do ... get lost
Part of the magic of Venice is to let go of the map, forget about St Mark's square (for now) and simply walk off the beaten track. Absorb the magic of Venice away from the crowds ... the real Venice. One of the many times that I went, I decided to go in the opposite way whenever I saw a sign for either Piazza San Marco or Piazzale Roma. The result? Totally lost among the 118 islands.... and I loved it. You get much more of a sense of the place, you see the locals going about their daily business, appreciate the beauty of the architecture and the age of the city without millions of tourists milling around. If you are worried about how you find your way back to the main tourist route, don't worry. All paths lead either to St Mark's Square or Piazzale Roma. Or why not be adventurous and ask a local (Come arrivo a Piazza San Marco?)
It is quite fun to end up at the end of the passage just to realise that it is 'dead-end' ... that is if you continue walking you have a close encounter with the canals. I remember one such route that we took where the Calle was getting narrower and narrower so that my umbrella became wedged between the two walls. I had a good chuckle for about 5 minutes after that!
Don't...just get the water taxi or water bus
Another part of the magic is walking around! Up and down over bridges, under archways and experiencing the history up close and personal. If you simply get a booklet of tickets for the water bus (vaporetto) you are going to miss out on the wonderful narrow lanes, bridges and little shops. What I love is that you are very unlikely to be able to find the same route twice, so going back to Venice is never a bore.
Do...go for a gondola ride
There is no denying it, a gondola ride is great fun. I would say though that for the best experience insist on seeing the smaller side canals and don't waste your time or money on the Grand Canal. You have the vaporetti for that! Just think too, a little gondola in a big canal where all the water buses and water taxis power by. It will be rocky. The tranquillity of the side canals where you hear the movement of the water as the gondola cuts through the water gives you the time to absorb the feelings and history. Imagine that you are in Renaissance Italy when Casanova was roaming Venice and they similarly used gondolas as modes of transport. Quite awe-inspiring, don't you think?
Don't ... go for the food
I am half Italian and I am proud of my country, but the one thing I will always say is that if you want to go to Italy and enjoy the wonderful food that it has to offer, do not expect that from Venice. The only place that I have been to in Italy that I will say that for. I am sure that there are some wonderful restaurants but even the locals seem to struggle. I have asked a few on a number of occasions and the response is always the same. There are so many tourists around and restaurants that change hand, that they don't even have a guaranteed place to visit themselves. Obviously you need to eat while you are there, but please do not judge Italy by the food that you eat in Venice. If you do find a great restaurant, let me know! I would love to check it out next time I go!
Do ... visit the islands
If you have time, it is definitely worth visiting the islands. Murano is obviously a first choice for many. I challenge anyone to say that they have never heard of the famous and beautifully crafted Murano glass. As soon as you get off the water bus, you start walking along the waterfront towards the centre. There are a couple of glass museums where you are taken to see how the beautiful glass is made, before being given the chance to buy some. You can buy Murano glass from all of the islands around Venice, so I would look for a bargain or an artistic piece that you really do not want to lose out on. If lace is your thing then Burano is the island for you, as well as being utterly picturesque. The little island of Torcello is further away so is much less touristic than the other two, but is just as worthy of a visit if you have the time.
Don't...miss out on that purchase
I am very much of the mentality and philosophy to find the best deal around, wherever I go. This philosophy goes into the canal when I am in Venice. Why? Well it is nearly impossible to find the same route that you previously took, which means finding that shop which had the item that you cannot stop thinking about is nigh-on impossible! If you see something that you really really like and are happy with the price then buy it. You can always try bartering on the price front - everyone loves a good negotiation.
I hope that you found these hints and tips useful. Enjoy your next trip to Venice and let me know if there are other things that you would add to this list!
*** UPDATE - JULY 2017 ***
So, having been back to Venice for work recently I have to update my blog with two must reads: I ate some amazing food this time and visited a stunning hidden gem that should be on your list to visit.
I have FINALLY found not one, but two great restaurants!
Previously I wrote not to go to Venice for the food. I stand corrected - you just need to know where to go and eat, and it most certainly is off the main tourist track. I had the fortune of being recommended not one, but two restaurants which I tried while there so I have to share these with you.
Al Timon
This is a really lovely little location where the main (yummy!) focus is meat (there are vegetarian options though). It is a relatively small restaurant where you can eat inside or outside. We had an aperitif sitting out on the boat, before moving inside for food and then back outside onto the boat for another drink. The atmosphere is lovely and it really feels like this is where the locals come for a drink and a meal.
Ristorante Terrazza dei Nobili
The focus here is fish. Now I am not the biggest fan of fish, but I will actively be seeking this restaurant out in future. It was delicious! My personal recommendation was a lovely light dish of Reginette with Capesante and Pomodorini (reginette with scallops and cherry tomatoes). I could easily have eaten two plates of this dish and will be coming up with a similar recipe to try at home and which I will share with you in a later blog post.
A must visit hidden gem of Venice
Scala Contarini del Bovolo is a truly hidden gem of Venice. As I alluded to previously, I have been to Venice on many many occasions, but I didn’t even know of the existence of this place until my latest trip. What I found so fascinating about this location was really how hidden it is, as well as the different view of the rooftops of Venice that you can see! Taken there in the evening one night just to see the architecture from the outside I was so taken with it that I had to find it again the following day.I had directions, I had my phone GPS but no ... it was a mission to get there! You will have to ask for directions to various shop keepers, but please persevere. It is a relaxing view of a different side of Venice. From here you can see the top of Piazza San Marco from a different perspective. I can’t see there being many queues to walk up as no-one knows about it. There was nobody else there for the entire time that I was up at the top.
Comments