VENICE, ITALY

Ahhh, Venice… The Floating City. The City of Bridges. The Queen of the Adriatic. No matter what you refer to it as, there is no escaping its most distinguishing feature, water! Venice is world-renowned for its intricate and unique network of canals, which service the city better than any roads ever could. Its romantic, peaceful, and evocative ambiance, combined with its famous Venetian Gothic architecture, lead many to call it their favorite Italian travel destination. Anybody interested in a gondola ride?

Attractions:

  • Gondola Ride: You cannot leave Venice without doing this! Barter down the price to at least half of what the gondolero wants and then float your way down Venezia’s Grand Canal! Is it touristy and expensive? Absolutely, but there is nothing quite like it. For a 40-minute ride, you can expect to pay €80-€100.

  • Rialto Bridge: The heart of Venice! Although you will likely float under the city’s oldest bridge during your gondola ride, I urge you to visit on foot as well. Walking over the canal here is beautiful!

  • Saint Mark’s Square: If Rialto Bridge is the heart of Venice, than this piazza is the soul! Visitors can spend an entire day here exploring everything it has to offer. In the morning, stop in St. Mark’s Basilica for a service or to see the alluring gilded domes and mosaics. History-lovers will also want to check out St. Mark’s Museum next door. In the afternoon, climb St. Mark’s Campanile for a breath-taking, bird’s eye view of the entire city. In the evening, take in the sunset and gaze out into the gondola-filled waters from the square. Talk about a wonderful day! The Basilica is free to enter and open daily from 9:30am-5:30pm. The Museum costs €5 and is open daily from 9:45am-5:45pm. The Campanile costs €10 and is open daily from 9:45am-7:00pm.

  • Doge’s Palace: No, this is not a palace celebrating the doge meme! From the 8th-18th century, elected lords, or doges, ruled over Venice. When appointed, they would live in this Venetian Gothic palazzo filled with ancient sculptures and artwork. It is open daily from 9:00am-6:00pm; entrance tickets cost €25.

  • Bridge of Sighs: Built in the 17th century, this iconic bridge connects the old prison in Doge’s Palace to the newer prison across the river. It is said that when prisoners crossed over, they let out sighs of grief, because it usually meant they were going to be locked away for quite some time. To experience the same view as these prisoners, purchase the Secret Itineraries Tour at Doge’s Palace. Wandering around the inside is an eerie experience!

  • Try Aperitivo: Walking through Venezia’s winding streets and cute storefronts is a tiring endeavor! If you want to take a breather before dinner, stop in a bar for aperitivo (a traditional, Italian pre-meal drink meant to stimulate your appetite). In particular, you must try an Aperol Spritz, the drink of Venice! For dinner, I recommend Trattoria da Silvio; they have fantastic food and staff!

  • Other spots to check out include: Burano, Murano, Gallerie dell'Accademia, Palazzo Contarini del Bovolo, and Giardini della Biennale!

IMG_2438.jpg
ricardo-gomez-angel-n14FypTcKeg-unsplash.jpg

Accommodation:

  • Hotel - Rialto Unique Venice Experience: Picture yourself waking up and looking out your window to the sight of gondolas floating under the Rialto Bridge. On your 5-minute morning walk to St. Mark’s Square, you pick up a cappuccino and cornetto. After spending the day exploring Venice, you come back to the hotel for a romantic dinner overlooking the Grand Canal. Not convinced? Check out their virtual tour. The location and ambiance are unbeatable!

  • Hostel - Ostello Santa Fosca: In a city without great hostel options, this one really stands out. Its lovely outdoor terrace, friendly staff, and ideal location make for a fantastic stay! On foot, it is 10 minutes from the train station (Stazione di Venezia Santa Lucia), 15 minutes from the main square (Piazza San Marco), and 25 minutes from the bus station (Tronchetto Station).

jun-hao-LZdWliSMBxE-unsplash.jpg
oleksandr-zhabin-az99AJPq7fg-unsplash.jpg

Transportation:

Venice’s main train terminal is Stazione di Venezia Santa Lucia; all trains below leave from here. The main bus terminal is Tronchetto Station; all buses below leave from here.

Venice Marco Polo International Airport (VCE) is 12km (7 miles) north of the city center and accessible via bus and taxi.

  • Bus (ACTV #5): The ride on land from VCE to Piazzale Roma is 25 minutes and costs €8.

  • Bus (Alilaguna): The ride on water is 60-75 minutes and costs €15. There are three separate lines servicing different parts of Venice (orange, blue, and red).

  • Taxi: The ride is 20-30 minutes and costs €40-€50 depending on the time of day.

Thank you to the following photographers who contributed their amazing work to this page - Damiano, Oleksandr, Soroush, Henrique, Ricardo, and Jun!