Venice - Tips and Ideas
Venice has got to be the most written about city in the world. It is easy to see why. Nowhere is like it. A city on the sea where the main form of transport is boat. Instead of going into detail about the city I have decided to give some pointers for enjoying the city and not breaking the bank. Neither is this a blog on a budget. This is written after a number of visits stretching over many years. A Podcast supports this page with additional information. Please lister, it can be found here: Podworld
Most visitors arrive close to the railway station whether or not they travel by train, bus or taxi. This is at one end of the Grand Canal.
The famous vaparetto or river bus will then take you into the city. Vaparettos cross Venice on a variety of routes and take you to the neighbouring islands. More of which later.
It is possible to buy a pass that will provide you with travel on the system.
More details here:
Water Bus - Vaporetto
Where to go?
You can bet that the majority of the passengers climbing aboard are heading to one destination and that is St Mark's Square. Nothing wrong with that, it's beautiful but it is packed with tourists. My recommendation, if you are staying overnight, is to visit in the morning or evening when day-trippers are less abundant. Instead you may want to head only as far as Tre Archi (three arches.) Step out for a coffee or a delicious hot chocolate on non-summer days.
Venice has so much to offer I just wanted to point you in the direction of some features slightly away from the tourism mainstream. For example, if you want to enjoy the Four Seasons by Vivaldi, and you should head to one of the regular concerts by the world famous Interpreti Veneziani. The chamber orchestra is outstanding. I have head them play more than once. Details here: Interpreti Veneziani
If you are fed up of tourists or feel you have seen enough of the Grand Canal, head to Murano and Burano.
Murano first: This is where most of the famous glass is blown, and here's a tip. The glassworks lay on beautiful polished wooden boats to the island for free. Obviously they hope you buy their glass but there is no obligation and really no hard sell either.
You can always get a vaparetto back.
The water bus will also take you to Burano.
Burano is my favourite part of Venice. The only tourists you see are fellow travellers and explorers, like yourselves. It is peaceful, colourful and an excellent place to spend the day. I can recommend the Black Cat as a pleasant dining experience: Black Cat
The island itself is famous for lace but if you are not after lace then you can often find tourist gifts a little cheaper than the places alongside the Grand Canal.
Back in the heart of the city, yes you will want to go to St Mark's Square and the Rialto Bridge. In fact the walk between the two is one of my favourites. Check the tide times too. St Mark's floods twice a day and visitors have to navigate narrow boardwalks at these times.
Avoid playing the exorbitant prices the cafes charge around the square and head to the often more delightful cafés and restaurants just outside the square.
In my experience, Venice is not an obscenely expensive city as long as you steer clear of the honeypots. There are plenty of inexpensive alternatives within a very short walking distance of the big tourist traps.
I hope my love of Venice comes over in this blog. I urge everyone to visit. It is great to get around and there is much more to see than I have identified here. In fact, food and drink apart, Venice is one of the cheapest cities in the world for simply exploring as all it's glorious sights can be seen on foot or via the vaporettos.
The famous vaparetto or river bus will then take you into the city. Vaparettos cross Venice on a variety of routes and take you to the neighbouring islands. More of which later.
It is possible to buy a pass that will provide you with travel on the system.
More details here:
Water Bus - Vaporetto
Where to go?
You can bet that the majority of the passengers climbing aboard are heading to one destination and that is St Mark's Square. Nothing wrong with that, it's beautiful but it is packed with tourists. My recommendation, if you are staying overnight, is to visit in the morning or evening when day-trippers are less abundant. Instead you may want to head only as far as Tre Archi (three arches.) Step out for a coffee or a delicious hot chocolate on non-summer days.
Murano first: This is where most of the famous glass is blown, and here's a tip. The glassworks lay on beautiful polished wooden boats to the island for free. Obviously they hope you buy their glass but there is no obligation and really no hard sell either.
You can always get a vaparetto back.
The water bus will also take you to Burano.
Burano is my favourite part of Venice. The only tourists you see are fellow travellers and explorers, like yourselves. It is peaceful, colourful and an excellent place to spend the day. I can recommend the Black Cat as a pleasant dining experience: Black Cat
The island itself is famous for lace but if you are not after lace then you can often find tourist gifts a little cheaper than the places alongside the Grand Canal.
Avoid playing the exorbitant prices the cafes charge around the square and head to the often more delightful cafés and restaurants just outside the square.
In my experience, Venice is not an obscenely expensive city as long as you steer clear of the honeypots. There are plenty of inexpensive alternatives within a very short walking distance of the big tourist traps.
I hope my love of Venice comes over in this blog. I urge everyone to visit. It is great to get around and there is much more to see than I have identified here. In fact, food and drink apart, Venice is one of the cheapest cities in the world for simply exploring as all it's glorious sights can be seen on foot or via the vaporettos.
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