CAN’T MISS SPOTS IN VENICE

It’s a quick train ride from popular cities such as Milan and Florence making it an easy stop on a trip to Italy. The easiest way to travel Italy is by train but you can also rent a car. If you’re traveling to Venice by train make sure you get off at the correct station. The station for Venice is Venice Santa Lucia. The train will likely make a stop at Venice Mestre before continuing on to Venice Santa Lucia. If you anticipate travelling by train I recommend packing light! This is from experience as I have overpacked many times on a trip to Italy.

Train tips: I’ve found it’s easiest to book your train ticket online. I generally use Trenitalia but there are a few other companies. I like booking online because you don’t have to validate your ticket. If you purchase your ticket at the station, you have to validate your ticket. There are validation stations near the train tracks. You can book tickets last minute but I recommend doing it ahead of time.

While the main mode of transportation in Venice is walking, water taxi’s are a close second. The water taxi is easy to use. You’ll see sign for the “Vaporetto Waterbus” once you leave the train station in Venice. You can purchase a 24, 48, or 72 hour pass upon arrival. There are stations scattered throughout the city so this will likely be the easiest way to reach your hotel!

Accomodation can be tricky in Venice! It’s an extremely touristy so places get pricey. With that said, there are some great Airbnbs in Venice. If you’re in town for a short visit, I recommend staying close. You don’t want to spend the majority of time trying to get around. I’ve linked our Airbnb which was small and cave like but perfect for our stay! It was easy to get around and the window opened up to the canals.

I recommend visiting Venice (and the rest of Italy) during the shoulder season. I’ve heard Venice can be absolutely packed in the summer making it less enjoyable to explore. I’ve visited in October and November and both months are perfect for site seeing. With that said, the city tends to flood in November due to the rain. The main square was flooded on my first trip to Venice but there were tables set up to walk across. There were also a ton of vendors selling rain booties to put over your shoes.

It’s impossible to visit Venice and miss the Grand Canal! In fact, a few of the places I’ve listed below will naturally showcase the Grand Canal. It is the most important waterway in Venice as it separates the city. There are four bridges that run along the Grand Canal. Each offer a breathtaking view of Venice.

The Rialto Bride is the heart of Venice in my mind. Built in the late 1500s, the Rialto Bridge is the oldest of the four bridges along the Grand Canal. This is the happening spot with restaurants lining both sides of the bridge and gondolas passing through the canal. I don’t recommend eating at these restaurants as they offer a spectacular view of Rialto but are expensive with a mediocre cuisine. In order to avoid crowds, start your morning at the Rialto Bridge as it’s a popular spot. The bridge also happens to be the perfect spot for photos as it offers incredible views of the Grand Canal. Needless to say, the bridge is a can’t miss!

Next on the list is Piazza San Marcos which is arguably the most popular spot in Venice. Piazza San Marco is a quick 5 minute walk from Rialto Bridge assuming you don’t get lost, of course. Not only is Piazza San Marco the largest public square in Venice but it’s also home to two of the most famous buildings Doge’s Palace and St. Mark’s Basilica. With that said, San Marco square is easily the most crowded spot in Venice – but it’s worth it! The square tends to flood several times a year as it’s the lowest spot in Venice. On one of my trips to Venice, the square flooded so wooden footbridges were set up to walk around.

If you’ve read any of my posts on Europe, you know I love a good view point! My favorite view of Venice is from St. Mark’s Campanile in Piazza San Marco. It’s said St. Mark’s Campanile was first built as a watch tower in the late 1100’s. Unlike most view points in Europe, you’ll take an elevator to the top. At almost 100 meters high, there is an unbeatable bird’s-eye view of Venice.

When I visited St. Mark’s Campanile there was a short line but it moved fairly quickly.

Entrance Fee: 8 Euro
Opening/ Closing Time: July & August – 9 am to 9 pm, September & October – 9 am to 7 pm, November to March – 9:30 am to 3:45 pm, April to June – 9 am to 7 pm

Around the corner from Piazza San Marco is the Bridge of Sighs. This little bridge built in the 1600s connects Doge’s Palace to the prison across the canal. Back in the day, criminals were sentenced at Doge’s Palace before crossing the bridge to the prison. Legend has it, prisoners would sigh as they crossed the bridge and saw Venice for the last time.

The best way to view the bridge is from the outside! If you’re on a gondola ride, you’ll likely go underneath the bridge. There is also a bridge across from the Bridge of Sighs with a great view.

This is an obvious suggestion but make sure you leave plenty of time to wander and get lost in the streets of Venice. As I mentioned, Venice is easy to navigate if you follow the signs along the main street. But my recommendation is to forget the signs and navigate Venice on your own. Wander a street or two over from the main drag and meander your way through the canals. You’ll find endless photo ops paired with a ton of unique bridges. The colorful streets will be quieter allowing you to enjoy the magic of Venice.

As you can tell, I am a huge fan of Venice – and Italy in general! It’s such a unique place with so much character. Meandering through canals is unlike anywhere I’ve been, it’s a place you have to see to believe.

If you’re headed to Italy, here are a few articles to help you plan your trip.

• AMALFI COAST VERSE THE CINQUE TERRE
• BASIC GUIDE TO FLORENCE, ITALY

Safe Travels,

Sarah :)