sean.blunk Hello my fellow travelers, let’s talk about Venice, Italy – the floating city that’s straight out of a fairytale! This place is like nowhere else in the world and it’s got everything you could want from a trip: stunning sights, delicious food, and plenty of culture. While Capri was Phil’s favorite city in Italy, Venice is mine.
How To Get There
Since Venice is a floating city, you might be wondering how to get there. Getting to Venice is a bit of an adventure – you gotta take a boat or a train to get there. But trust me, it’s worth it to feel like you’re in a James Bond movie, cruising through the canals on a water taxi. If you opt for the train (which I totally think you should) it will take you to the heart of the city. There is an international airport on the mainland so chances are you will have to take a water taxi.
Water taxis are a great mod of transportation around the city, but they can be fairly pricy. From our hotel to the airport it costs us around €140s for about a 20-30 minute boat ride. Outside of that, I would highly recommend experiencing this at least once if you can afford it.
Exploring Venice
When you’re exploring Venice, you gotta hit up the big guns like Piazza San Marco, Rialto Bridge, and Doge’s Palace – those places are like the “Mona Lisa” of Venice. But if you want to be a real hipster, go check out the less-touristy spots like the colorful island of Burano or the Jewish Ghetto.
Explore St. Mark’s Square:
This is the beating heart of Venice, and it’s a must-see attraction. Take in the stunning architecture of St. Mark’s Basilica and the Doge’s Palace, and be sure to grab a coffee at one of the cafes and soak up the atmosphere.
St. Marks Basilica & Doge’s Palace
If you are interested in some of the darker history of Venice, Doge’s Palace is the place to go. Though it used to be the seat of politics and public administration it also housed a prison. Casanova was famously imprisoned in these cells and his biography outlines his harrowing escape!
One more famous landmark can be found in the same location; The Bridge Of Sighs. This was actually added in the 1600s to connect the Doge’s palace with the actual prison. Essentially taking people from their trail to their cells.
Explore the canals of Venice, Italy:
Venice is built on a network of canals, so take advantage of this unique feature and take a water taxi or vaporetto (public water bus) to explore the city from a different perspective. Another “touristy” alternative would be a gondola ride. You can’t go to Venice without riding on one of the city’s famous gondolas. It’s a bit of a splurge, but it’s a quintessential Venetian experience that you won’t regret. As mentioned earlier, these can be a bit pricy but totally worth it, if you can find a quiet canal.
Visit the Rialto Market:
This is a great place to immerse yourself in Venetian culture and pick up some local produce, seafood, and souvenirs. It’s a bustling and colorful market that’s sure to delight your senses.
Visit The Islands of Murano & Burano:
Murano is known for its glassmaking, this colorful island is a short boat ride away from Venice and is home to some of the best artisanal glasswork in the world. You can watch demonstrations, visit glass museums, and pick up some beautiful souvenirs to take home.
Burano is one of the sister islands to Murano and is known for its handmade lace. Now you might be thinking lace is meant for your grandmother’s wedding dress, but that just tells me you haven’t been to Burano. The art of handmade lace is absolutely breathtaking. You can get your fill of dollies, bedding, and more. Believe me when I say this does NOT compare to your grandmother’s lace! Please just give it a shot.
Food
Venetian cuisine is all about fresh seafood and pasta; let me tell you, they do it right. You gotta try some risotto, fried squid (like the actual whole squid) & calamari, and bigoli (thick spaghetti) with squid ink sauce. We had the most AMAZING shrimp risotto while we were on Burano. The restaurant wouldn’t let anyone order it unless you were planning to share; the dish is made for 2 with no exceptions! We still think about that dish even 7+ years later!
And don’t even get me started on the wine. Just…wow. One of the coolest things about Italy in general is that most wine shops have a self-fill station. What does that mean? Well as long as you have an empty litter, then you are welcome to fill her up!
Shopping in Venice is a real treat too.
You can find some amazing stuff like Murano glass and handmade lace. But let’s be real, the best souvenirs are the classic Venetian masks – you can pretend you’re in a fancy masquerade ball, even if you’re just at home.
One of the most common items you will find is Italian leather. I purchased a satchel in 2017 and it is still in great condition. For someone who can change purses like the weather changes, this is still one of my absolute favorite pieces and it was less than €100s!
Last but not least, some tips for your trip:
The best time to go to Venice is in the spring or fall when the weather is good and the crowds are less cray. And be respectful of the local customs – no sitting on church steps or wearing tank tops into religious sites. This can definitely catch you off guard if you are not used to modesty customs. Some religious sites will actually hand out reusable shaws/wraps for people to cover their shoulders and legs.
In conclusion, Venice is one of those places that you’ll never forget. It’s got it all – history, romance, and some seriously good pasta. So pack your bags and get ready for an adventure – Venice is waiting for ya!
If you are looking for other Italy-related topics, be sure to check out these posts!
