Holidays in Venice

In the vast majority of lists of places you absolutely must see in your lifetime, Venice appears. Even if at some point the sheer volume of information about this city makes you feel that there is no point in going anymore, don’t deceive yourself: what you will see and feel in Venice will have nothing to do with what is written in blogs and the media. After all, how else can you explain the fact that year after year people keep visiting Venice and speaking about it with such rapture?

What You Need to Know About Venice

Venice is world-famous for its unique romantic atmosphere, one of the brightest and most colorful carnivals in the world, as well as countless canals and bridges. Speaking of the latter, there are 117 islands in the city, connected by more than 400 bridges spanning roughly 160 canals. This has led to the great popularity of water transport and makes the ban on driving through the city center by car entirely reasonable.

It is also worth noting separately that Venice is one of the most expensive cities for tourism: prices here are significantly higher than in most major Italian cities, so before your visit it is important to find out all the details in advance in order to protect yourself from unnecessary expenses.

Where Venice Is Located

Venice is located in the northeastern part of the country and is the administrative center of the region and province of the same name. The city is connected to the outside world and to other cities within the country by a railway station, a seaport, and Marco Polo International Airport, which serves flights of major international airlines and many European low-cost carriers.

When It’s Best to Go to Venice

To plan a trip to Venice in the best possible way, you need to take several factors into account: the timing of holidays, festivals and carnivals, the water level in the canals, air temperature, and the periods of peak tourist influx.

The most comfortable time to visit Venice in terms of weather is the second half of spring and the beginning of summer, which, alas, is also when there is a significant influx of tourists. Venice is also convenient and interesting to visit in February or March, when the Venice Carnival takes place. Of course, at this time the city will also be overcrowded with visitors, but even they will not be able to spoil the impressions of what you see.

It is not recommended to go between July and September, when the air becomes too hot and the water in the canals starts to emit an unpleasant smell, as well as in October and November, when the risk of flooding is especially high.

And in winter the city is ruled by damp and cold sea winds, but there are far fewer tourists and prices are significantly lower.

What to Do in Venice

• Ride Vaporetto No. 1 along the Grand Canal.
• Visit St. Mark’s Square before the tourist crowds arrive.
• Take a good look at the stunning mosaics in St. Mark’s Basilica.
• Take part in the legendary Venice Carnival!
• Walk across the Rialto Bridge over the Grand Canal.
• Stroll through the picturesque and colorful streets of the island of Burano.
• Watch the work of glassblowing masters on the island of Murano.
• Enjoy the marvelous view of the city and take excellent panoramic shots from the top of the Campanile bell tower.
• Go on a tour of the Doge’s Palace (Palazzo Ducale) and walk across the Bridge of Sighs.
• Try the iconic local snacks — cicchetti.
• Listen to Vivaldi at the famous La Fenice theatre.
• Walk through the Rialto market to stock up on fresh local produce and experience the local color in all its richness.
• Rent a kayak and learn to get around Venice like a local.
• Relax on the waterfront with a glass of excellent local wine.
• Head to the Gallerie dell’Accademia to get acquainted with Venetian painting.
• Taste the best Italian sweets, including tiramisu, Italian gelato, and all kinds of pastries prepared according to local recipes.
• Climb the bell tower of the Church of San Giorgio Maggiore and enjoy a picturesque view of the island of the same name.
• Walk through Venice’s shopping centers, in particular T Fondaco dei Tedeschi, and do some shopping.
• Visit the Venice Biennale in the Giardini della Biennale park, an annual art exhibition in which 25 different countries take part.
• Take a trip to the Lido to enjoy relaxing on cozy sandy beaches and stroll along small quiet streets. By the way, this is exactly where the annual Venice Film Festival takes place in September.
• Take a day trip to romantic Verona and stroll through the picturesque places that inspired the setting for Shakespeare’s most famous drama.
• Attend tastings and cooking classes at wineries in the vicinity of Venice.

Which Hotel in Venice to Choose

• Palazzo Morosini degli Spezieri
  Elegant and luxurious, the apartment hotel Palazzo Morosini degli Spezieri is housed in a historic, carefully restored 15th-century mansion. Guests have at their disposal everything necessary for a comfortable stay, bathrooms with bidets, a terrace, and a garden.
• Aman Venice 4*
  Staying in a luxurious building dating from the mid-16th century can be included in your trip to Venice as part of your cultural program. This exquisite place boasts a stunning interior with vintage furniture, painted ceilings, and elegant contemporary décor. The hotel has 2 luxurious restaurants, an elegant bar, a jacuzzi, a spa center, as well as a large banquet hall, a garden, and a lounge with live music.
• Cima Rosa Boutique Bed & Breakfast
  The Cima Rosa Bed & Breakfast offers its guests cozy rooms in a classic style, views of the historic city center, a backyard garden, and breakfasts in a spacious and bright dining room. The hotel is an excellent choice for those who want to be close to all the key attractions and for those who need a feeling of comfort far from home :)
• Apartment Palazzo Ca’Nova
  The stylish boutique hotel Palazzo Ca’Nova is a place where you can feel almost like a local while enjoying the absolute maximum of all possible comforts. It is located close to the Grand Canal and the La Fenice opera house.
• Starhotels Splendid Venice 4*
  The Splendid Venice hotel brilliantly combines an ideal location overlooking the canals, restrained yet chic classic-style rooms with picturesque views, a private pier, a fine-dining restaurant, and a rooftop terrace with a view of the city.
• Hotel dell'Opera 3*
  Hotel Dell'Opera is located next to the
  La Fenice theatre, just a few minutes’ walk from St. Mark’s Square. From the rooms decorated in classic Venetian style, there are views of the rooftops of the buildings surrounding one of the city’s most famous squares. In the warm season, a terrace and bar operate on the hotel’s rooftop.

Where to Eat Well in Venice

In most cases, Venetian establishments will be either beautiful and expensive, or unpretentious and cheap. To avoid getting lost between these extremes, keep in mind several main types of places you should visit during a trip to Venice:

• Bàcaro (bàcaro), “drink and snack” format venues where you can taste local wine and a variety of small appetizers. They are mainly located in narrow nooks and are equipped with high tables without chairs.
• The Venetian fish market, where you can find small eateries serving fish and seafood dishes.
• Small restaurants (osterie) with traditional dishes that look modest from the outside but can boast excellent cuisine. Near such places you will never see street touts or flashy advertising.
• Rosticcerie, buffet-style restaurants arranged like canteens. And don’t let the format put you off :)

Pastry shops and gelaterias located away from popular tourist spots: in such places your chances of finding something truly delicious at a lower price will be much higher.

What to Combine a Trip to Venice With

When planning a trip to one of the most celebrated cities in Italy, take the opportunity to visit one of the many wonderful nearby cities, including:

• Verona, famous for its romantic atmosphere and its inseparable connection with William Shakespeare.
• Florence, considered one of the main cities of Italy in terms of fashion and art.
• Milan, one of the fashion capitals of the world.
• Rimini, renowned for its beach resorts.