If you have the chance to explore Venice, Italy, take it! You may have heard that Venice may not always be around due to the water levels… It is possible that the city will sink within the next 100 years. So that being said, make this trip a priority.

The city is breathtaking! You can see the crystal blue waters and amazing architecture, try new foods, and of course, ride the world-famous gondolas. Although I could have stayed longer in Venice, I feel that a full day is the perfect amount of time. 

What to Expect

There is a conveniently located train station (Stazione di Venezia Santa Lucia) that drops you off right in the center of Venice, so getting here is not difficult.

When preparing for this trip, you should plan on walking a lot. There are no cars or buses in the city, so you will either be getting around by boat taxi or your own feet. I suggest you walk around and explore the city. Get lost as you wind your way down narrow paths and over beautiful bridges.

What to Do in Venice

Like I mentioned, you should explore with no destination in sight to see every little nook and cranny of the city.

When finding specific locations though, two popular sights to see are Saint Mark’s Basilica and St. Mark’s Square. The intricate detail of these buildings will certainly gain your attention.

Spend time stopping in several of the bakery shops and fancy stores. I bought some amazing croissants and macaroons while in Venice. If you like souvenirs, you can find numerous souvenir stands with hats or magnets that say “Venice, Italy”. If you prefer something fancy made by an artist that is a memory of your trip, there are several shops along the Grand River that sell beautiful handmade jewelry and artwork.

I recommend soaking in the culture and trying a new food while you are here. A common food in Venice is cicchetti. This dish is like an appetizer. For just a couple euros, you can try several pieces of bread with a variety of toppings. Some of them have toppings such as cheese, tomatoes, prosciutto, and fish. There are several dainty restaurants that serve this, but I went to Osteria Al Squero.

We can’t forget to talk about the gondola rides… You may be wondering if the gondola rides are overrated or not. I think the experience lives up to the hype, so I am glad that I did it!

You do not need to book a gondola ride in advance. Whenever you decide it is time, you can go near any of the bridges (such as Rialto Bridge) and find a gondolier that is waiting to make some money. I recommend asking the gondolier if you could have a ride that shows you the smaller canals and not just the Grand Canal (the main canal that you will see right when you enter the city). The gondoliers are very kind and know a lot about the history of the city, so ask them to point out different buildings and tell you their significance.

My gondola ride lasted about 20-30 minutes. As far as I know, they only accept cash, so keep this in mind. I rode the gondola with two other people, but all together it cost us $100 USD (about $33 USD per person). The gondolier took my U.S. dollars, but they prefer euros.

Clearly, Venice is a fun destination to visit, and you can spend a decent amount of time here without spending a bunch of money. To get an idea for a daily budget in Venice, check out the Northern Italy: Travel Guide and Itinerary blog written by Courtney Leopard. Make your dream a reality! Cheers to new experiences and making connections around the world!

Planning your trip to Italy and wondering what other cities to see? Check out my blog post about my favorite place in the world, Positano. If interested, watch for my Italy itinerary that will be posted soon for reference. Thanks for stopping by!