From my first whistle-stop visit as a wide-eyed backpacker Interrailing through Europe to more recent in-depth cultural trips, I’ve been coming to Venice for more than 30 years. In my book, it’s one of the most incredible cities in Italy, perhaps in the world.
So I thought it was high time I shared what my experiences have taught me to help you make the most of your time in La Serenissima, whether you are a first-timer or on a return visit.
Don’t expect lame, obvious Venice tips and tricks, like ‘wear comfortable shoes’. Instead, I’ll share actionable information, minus the fluff, to help you love this floating city as much as I do.
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Planning Your Trip
1. Bone up on Venice’s history
You might think this is a giant yawn, but trust me. Knowing just the bare bones of Venice’s long history will help you place what you see into context.
Over 1400 years, La Serenissima has passed through many hands, including the Byzantines, French and Austrians. Each of these has left an indelible stamp on the city.
I read Jan Morris’s excellent book Venice many years ago, but there are also insightful YouTube videos if you prefer visual learning.
2. Think about which month you’ll be there
Venice is a notoriously over-touristed city, and it sees the worst of the crowds during the high summer season, even stretching into the spring shoulder seasons. As well as those staying in Venice, you have day trippers from places like Verona and Milan and, on some days, thousands of cruise passengers.
It is also very busy during February’s Carnivale.
Imagine all of these people shuffling through the city’s narrow calle and descending on Venice’s must-see sights like San Marco and Palazzo Ducale. It is not a joy.
Nowadays, I visit in the low winter season between November and January (Venice is a fabulous Christmas city break). There is a higher risk of acqua alta – the famous flooding caused by high tides, though flood barriers have made it less frequent – but when you see Venice cloaked in fog rolling in from the lagoon, you may never want to leave.
3. Think about the days of the week you’ll be there
This caught me out on my last visit.
Most churches close on Sundays, either all day or in the morning. St Mark’s Basilica is closed on Sunday mornings.
Like many Italian cities, many of Venice’s major museums are closed on Mondays. However, key ones like the Doge’s Palace, Correr Museum and Peggy Guggenheim Collection are usually open.
4. Draft a timetable before you arrive
Hit the ground running with a loose plan. I don’t suggest sticking rigidly to this – where’s the fun in that? – but it will help you make the most of your time and save on blister plasters.
Although Venice is a surprisingly compact city, you’ll do a lot of walking. It may seem blindingly obvious, but I recommend grouping sights by district or sestiere.
If you’re looking for a head start, I’ve written this 3-day Venice itinerary, which can be adapted for shorter or longer visits.
5. Book tickets in advance for the popular attractions
Do you want to spend your precious holiday time in ticket office queues? I didn’t think so.
Queues for San Marco and Palazzo Ducale can be epic, even in low season. To a lesser extent, the same goes for the Peggy Guggenheim Collection.
If you are keen to do the Secret Itineraries tour at the Doge’s Palace, you should definitely book this ahead of time.
6. Don’t stay in San Marco
Where you stay in Venice makes a huge difference to your experience. San Marco and the areas around the Rialto are convenient but can feel like you’re sleeping in the middle of a tourist attraction.
I’m a big fan of San Polo, Dorsoduro and Cannaregio. These sestieri have excellent restaurants and bars that cater to locals, not just tourists, and you’ll get a better sense of everyday Venetian life. You’re still within easy walking distance of the major sights, but when you come ‘home’ in the evening, you’ll feel like you’ve escaped to a different, quieter Venice.
The morning walk from these neighbourhoods through the waking city, before the day trippers arrive, is worth the stay alone.
Getting Around: Venice Tips
7. Get the Alilaguna water bus from the airport
Yes, you could take the airport bus to Piazzale Roma and then walk or jump on a vaporetto. But here’s the thing.
The Alilaguna water bus is point-to-point, with no change of transport. Not to mention it’s a wonderful way to arrive.
And when you add the cost of a vaporetto fare to that of the airport bus, the cost isn’t far off. Buy a return fare for the best price.
If you’re thinking, it’s only a 15-minute walk from Piazzale Roma to my accommodation, mull on this. Venice is one of the least accessible cities in Italy, and do you really want to lug your luggage up and down countless series of steps?
Of course, the final choice will boil down to where you are staying. If you are staying near Piazzale Roma, the airport bus makes more sense.
If money is no object or if you’re travelling in a group, water taxis operate on a fixed-rate basis from the airport.
8. Use your contactless card on the vaporetti
A single vaporetto fare is eye-wateringly expensive at €9.50 (2026 price). More often than not, a travel pass will be better value (from €25 for 24 hours).
Gone are the days when you need to do the maths to figure out which is the best bet for you. Use your contactless bank card on the readers at the vaporetti stops to pay for your fare (I used my card in my Apple Wallet).
Its clever system will cap your total fare at the best value. Just make sure you use the same card for each journey and that your bank won’t screw you for foreign transaction fees.
9. Don’t forget the traghetti
These are a godsend when your feet are aching from walking around those galleries, palazzi and churches. Primarily operating to ferry workers across set points on the Grand Canal, these small boats can shave valuable time off your journey. They operate Monday to Friday and cost just €2.
10. Venice walking etiquette
You’ll rack up a lot of steps during your Venice trip and, believe it or not, there is a right way to do this. Always walk on the right, never more than two abreast. If you want to stop to ogle Venetian masks in a shop window or snap a shot of a pretty canal, do so without obstructing other pedestrians.
Be a considerate tourist.
Eating and Drinking
11. Choose your restaurant wisely
I’m guessing that you have heard horror stories about Venetian restaurants, from terrible food to overpricing, bordering on gouging tourists. A Roman friend maintains that food here is the worst in Italy.
I don’t necessarily agree with him, but it is a case of caveat emptor. I’ve eaten very well in Venice by following my personal code.
Get recommendations from locals – your hotel can be a good source, especially family-run places – and avoid places that display menus in multiple languages and have helpful photographs of what you can expect to eat. As with any global destination, give any place that has staff urging you to dine in their establishment a wide berth.
12. Go for fishy dishes
Venice is known for its fish dishes, and these are a great choice if they fit your dietary preferences and restrictions. One of the best pasta dishes of my life was Spaghetti Neri con Ragu Capesante at a restaurant in San Polo.
This is not the best place to satisfy your pizza urges, although I’ll own up to having an excellent one at Muro San Stae on my last visit.
13. Tuck into cicchetti
Think of cicchetti as Venetian tapas, small bites that you have with a glass of wine, beer or a Spritz. Although served throughout the day, they’re perfect for a pre-dinner graze.
Look out for places where locals gather, particularly around the Rialto area. Classic cicchetti include baccalà mantecato (creamed cod), sarde in saor (sweet and sour sardines) and polpette (meatballs). Wash them down with an ombra, the local term for a small glass of wine.
14. Join a food walking tour
Better still, get to grips with Venice’s culinary scene on a walking tour. For me, there are few better ways to get under the skin of a place than through its food.
I joined this excellent one, but there’s plenty of choice out there. These tours typically include visits to several bacari, letting you sample different cicchetti.
15. Spilling the beans on coffee prices
Here’s something that catches out many first-time visitors: coffee prices in Venice vary wildly depending on where you drink it.
Standing at the bar away from the main tourist drag? You’ll pay €1-2 for an espresso. Sitting at a table? That same coffee could cost €5-8. In Piazza San Marco? Brace yourself for €12 or more, especially with those famous orchestras playing.
Do as the Venetians do: order at the bar, drink it standing, and move on.
Enjoying the Sights
16. Be sceptical of church opening times on the web
Church opening hours in Venice are notoriously unreliable online. What the listing says and what actually happens can be two different things. Churches may close for services, feast days, restoration work or simply because the volunteer didn’t show up that day.
My advice? Have a backup plan.
If the church you wanted to see is shut, there’s probably another magnificent one around the corner. And if you’re dead set on visiting a particular church, consider going early in the day when they’re more likely to be open.
17. Don’t be a slave to Google Maps
Venice’s labyrinthine streets confuse even the best navigation apps. You’ll get lost. Accept it. Embrace it even.
Some of my favourite Venice moments have been stumbling upon quiet squares and unexpected canal views while thoroughly lost. The city is small enough that you can’t get dangerously lost, and you’ll always find your way eventually.
Go where your curiosity takes you. Follow signs for ‘Per Rialto’ or ‘Per San Marco’ when you want to head back to familiar territory.
18. Explore the islands
Don’t confine yourself to the main islands of Venice. Murano, famous for its glass-making tradition, Burano with its rainbow-coloured houses, and Torcello with its ancient Byzantine mosaics all make excellent half-day trips.
These islands give you breathing space from the main tourist areas and a glimpse of a different pace of life. The vaporetto rides there are scenic journeys in themselves.
19. Accept that you can’t do it all
Venice has over 200 churches, countless museums, galleries and palazzi. You could spend months here and still not see everything.
Give yourself permission to skip things. Choose what interests you rather than ticking off a checklist. And leave time to sit by a canal with a glass of wine, watching the light change as evening approaches. That’s Venice too, and arguably the best part.
20. A little Italian goes a long way
Even basic Italian phrases can transform your Venice experience. A cheery ‘buongiorno’ when you enter a shop, ‘per favore’ when ordering, and ‘grazie’ when leaving costs nothing but earns you goodwill.
Venetians deal with millions of tourists every year, many of whom treat the city like a theme park. Taking the time to engage, even just a little, in their language shows respect and often leads to warmer interactions, better service and sometimes insider tips you won’t find in any guidebook.
Final Thoughts
Venice isn’t just a place you visit; it’s somewhere that gets under your skin.
Yes, it can be crowded, touristy and occasionally frustrating. But armed with these tips, you’ll be better equipped to meet the challenges and understand why it has attracted travellers for centuries.
Whether this is your first visit or your fifteenth, La Serenissima will always surprise you. All you need to do is slow down, look beyond the obvious, and let the city cast its spell.
About Bridget
Bridget Coleman has been a passionate traveller for more than 30 years. She has visited 70+ countries, most as a solo traveller.
Articles on this site reflect her first-hand experiences.
To get in touch, email her at hello@theflashpacker.net or follow her on social media.