Venice is definitely a must-see place just because it’s so different with having canals instead of roads, it really is one of the most unique places in the world. On the other hand, there really isn’t much to do there if you like an action-packed holiday. I went for five days and after three, I was struggling to find new things to do, it’s the kind of place you go for the atmosphere and architecture!
Just a heads up; I focus on the islands of Venice in this blog.
Man made things to do
Go to the cemetery island
Yes, you read that right. Venice has a whole island assigned for cemetery purposes, and it is stunning! It felt never-ending and it was super interesting to see all the different types of gravestones, buildings, wall caskets, etc… it’s very bright and colourful with all the plants and flowers which definitely dims down the eery feeling that you might get normally!
Go to Murano- the glass making island
There are so many little shops where you can buy all sorts of amazing hand-crafted glass objects, ranging from massive chandeliers to little glass dogs. I was expecting each shop to stock the same ornaments, however, to my delight, there was always at least 1 thing different in each one! You can visit many different glassworks to either watch them make things, have lessons yourself, or just look at all of the tools they use. Not only this, but the island itself with all of its buildings is very beautiful, I highly recommend going!
Go on a gondola ride.
These are more on the pricey side, however, when in Venice you basically have no choice but to at least try this once! Price: 80 euros during the day and 180 at night when you buy them in person. The best time to do it is right when sunset begins, so you get the best of both light and night ride, the only issue with this is that you have to pay the higher price but I mean, you can always try to negotiate!
Rialto bridge
It’s awesome to go and see. It’s basically a shopping bridge that has amazing views of the grand canal and the architecture of it is just fascinating!
Churches
Pretty much all the churches are beautiful and at least worth sticking your head around for a quick look. Just be aware of what you wear when entering one (cover up, respect any signs that display rules, etc…)
I would honestly take time to walk around and explore Venice with no intention of going anywhere or doing anything, the beauty is in the city itself. I doubt you’ll be bored, there is always something that you’ll come across which makes it worth it. To be honest, it is very easy to get lost there so I reckon you’ll end up doing this once just by mistake!
Natural things to do
There isn’t really anything natural to do on the Venice islands, unless you want to go on boat tours around the area or to basic parks. Although, it does seem very in touch with nature when you’re walking along next to the water, so there isn’t a feeling of it being too man-made. If you feel like you’re in need of more nature, you could get the train over the bridge to mainland Venice (1,35 euro for a one-way ticket to Mestre) and visit some of their beautiful beaches when there is good weather!
Must-do
I believe everything I mentioned above should be on your must-do list! It is all a super great experience and will add to your Venice trip.
Dining experience
Basically all of the restaurants here have the same menu, so you won’t find a lot of diversity. I’ve picked out a few that are known to be the best in Venice; if you’re close you should definitely give them a go:
- Bacaro Quebrado. This is known to have some of the best food of all the restaurants in Venice. It’s also very good quality for their cheaper prices, some people say it’s some of the best food that they’ve ever tasted!
- La Zucca. This restaurant has a good range of vegetarian dishes and is known for it’s seasonal Venetian dishes. It’s very hard to get a table so I would recommend booking in advance! They have lovely seating next to the canal which adds to the overall experience.
- Ristorante Wistèria. This is on the fancier side and is known for delicious gourmet dishes with a lovely presentation. They also have tidbits (small bits of tasty food) between dishes which make it unique and special.
- Al Grill. This is the restaurant for all of my meat lovers. It’s a steakhouse serving a large range of meats which are, apparently, very good quality. Unfortunately, I can’t give a strong recommendation on this one as I’m vegetarian, but it’s reviews are pretty awesome!
Where to stay
Below budget
To find cheap accommodation on the island itself is very, very hard. You may get lucky and find a super good deal, but nothing I have managed to find has a price below 120 euros. If you’re traveling on a very low budget, I would recommend staying just off of the Venice islands (in mainland Venice, Mestre) and getting a train over to the island every day to explore it for only 1,35 euro each way.
Within budget
- Foresteria Valdese Venezia- this is a little B&B in a brilliant location on Venice. Its rooms are clean and comfy, the staff are very helpful and it’s a good place to meet new people if you are a solo traveler. It is definitely a good value for money. The only downside to this place is that you would have to share a bathroom with other guests if you’re going for the lower price range (which is what I have chosen for this). Price per night* PER PERSON- 171 EUR/144.79 pounds/171,28 USD
- Locanda Fiorita- a lovely home-like place to stay. It has friendly staff, well-equipped rooms, a good standard of cleanliness and is in a pretty awesome location. It’s a very safe environment for solo female travellers too. Don’t let the 1 star scare you off, there are a lot of people saying it deserves much higher than that! Like the hotel above, the only thing that may be a letdown is that for the lower-priced rooms there are shared bathrooms. Price per night* PER PERSON- 245 EUR/207.24 pounds/245.17 USD
No expense spared
- Canal View San Marco Luxury Rooms- the name says it all. These rooms are very royal-like and have views of the canal which is super awesome. It’s located in the heart of Venice and the quality of the service is immaculate. The rooms are very clean and very cozy. Price per night* PER PERSON- 728 EUR/615.55 pounds/728.32 USD
- Pensione Accademia – Villa Maravege- great location, wonderful staff, lovely and clean rooms, value for money, cozy and relaxed place, perfect relaxation areas such as their patios and they have good quality food. Price per night* PER PERSON- 432 EUR/365.81 pounds/432.15 USD
- Hilton Molino Stucky- As seen in the picture below, this hotel has a superb rooftop which has a pool and bar with a gorgeous view. I stayed here and everything from the staff to the bedsheets were great. Price per night* PER PERSON- 415 EUR/ 363.73 pounds/451.28 USD
*All of my prices have been based on the dates 12th-15th May 2023
Transport
The transport here is basically just boats which are super fun and a different experience! There are “bus” stops where you can buy tickets for a pretty cheap price. There isn’t any need to rent your own boat or your own private driver with a boat, it is just not worth the extra money as the public boats are so easy to use and come very often.
Top tip- You should always check with your accommodation just in case they have their own free boat services.
You could ride around on bicycles, however, I don’t recommend it as you’ll have to keep picking them up over bridges and try to manoeuvre around people on the narrow pathways which would soon become very annoying!
Walking is the best way to get around Venice once you have reached the area you want to be at by the boat busses! If you do it like this you won’t miss out on anything special too.
Key things to pack
Summer in Venice is very hot, whereas winter in Venice is very cold. If you are traveling in the awkward in-between months, I would recommend looking into what the temperature is going to be like and then pack the following:
Summer suitcase:
- A hat,
- Sunglasses,
- Suncream
- Comfortable shoes (definitely not flip flops),
- Breathable clothes such as dresses, skirts, light t-shirts, thinner shorts, scrappy tops
- A safe/cross-body bag,
- Swimwear (in case your accommodation has facilities for this or you decide to go to a beach)
- Cool pjs.
Winter suitcase:
- Warm jacket,
- Winter shoes,
- Wooly socks,
- Scarf,
- Hat or ear muffs to keep your ears warm,
- Clothes that you can layer,
- A safe/cross-body bag,
- Warm pjs.
Need to know before you go
The best time to explore Venice is at dusk and night as it’s kind of the time that most tourists go to eat or for a rest in their accommodation so there are a lot less people roaming the streets, great lights and lovely music coming from houses and restaurants that you can appreciate more.
I wouldn’t recommend going at the peak times of Venice because it would truly ruin your experience with so many people being there. I went in May which was a good time as it was busy but not at all overwhelming. I can see how much of a different experience I would have had if there were more people there.
Burano isn’t actually all that. It takes a while to get there and there really isn’t much to do apart from look at the colourful buildings. They are pretty but you don’t need a whole day there. Another thing to note is that it’s a fish island, meaning it’s not the best for vegetarians or people who don’t like fish (the only restaurants that I could find were fish ones!).
Staff everywhere in Italy can come across as rude, I think it’s just their manner and it’s not at all intended or personal towards you.
Venice is not really the place to go if you have problems with getting around or restricted mobility as there are many stairs over every bridge which you can’t actually avoid. I don’t believe it’s a good place to go if you’re in a wheelchair or if you get tired out easily from walking.
I saw quite a few people trying to drag a pram around and it really didn’t look fun, so if you have a child who needs a pushchair still, I would recommend waiting until they’re old enough not to need one before going to Venice.
Venice is expensive! If you’re trying to save money, Venice makes it hard. Even if you weren’t to pay for any souvenirs or experiences, you would still end up spending a lot just on food and drinks.
If you are planning on going somewhere else in Italy, check out my Lake Garda blog! It is amazing there.
