Venice (Venezia) was magical! This city totally captivated me. Its waterways and footbridges, its food, its decadent buildings and architecture. You can’t help but smile the entire time you are there – even if you have been walking and exploring it for hours!
I am covering this Venice travel guide for you in three parts:
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
We did almost everything that was on our itinerary – and with kids I might add! Whether you are thinking of doing a friends’ trip, romantic getaway or taking the whole family to Venice, this travel guide is for you.
I am working on a Venice travel guide video so be sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel!
Travel Essentials
Check out this post for all my travel essentials.
When to Go
We visited Venice towards the end of August beginning of September and the weather could not have been anymore perfect. Summer clothes during the day and a light jacket at night. One of the days, it did drizzle a bit but nothing that stopped us from enjoying our time in this beautiful city.
Where to Stay
Deciding where to stay in Venice requires knowledge on how the main island is setup.
The main island of Venice is made of six districts – San Marco, which is the tourist hot spot, Cannaregio, Castello, Dorsoduro, San Polo and Santa Croce. Around this large island are other neighboring islands like the famous ones you hear of: Burano (colorful row of houses), Murano (known for its glass making), Torcello (has a winery feel to it) and others.
There are plenty of hotels and apartment options throughout Venice. The further you move away from San Marco, the cheaper options you will find. Where to stay in Venice depends on your budget, what you plan to do, and how much you are willing to spend on water buses getting from one place to another. The good news is, the water transportation system in Venice is budget friendly, clean and reliable.
For us, a family of 4, I wanted to experience Venice as comfortably and budget-friendly as possible. We wanted to stay central in San Marco, with air-conditioning, a kitchen, a washer and free Wi-fi accommodation. I say this because many apartments in Venice are in old buildings that may not have air conditioning or Wi-Fi. You definitely want to pay attention to the listed amenities and the fine print before you book anything.
I feel like after endless hours of searching and scouring websites, I hit the jack pot when I found this apartment in the heart of San Marco, steps away from the St. Mark’s Square and it had all the amenities on my list! Check out my video tour of the apartment here.
From Marco Polo Airport to Venice
This is the portion of the trip that worried me the most because it took some time researching and asking how to get from Marco Polo Airport to our apartment. I took this picture to give you an idea of your options depending on where you are staying in Venice.
If you are staying in San Marco, I recommend taking the Alilaguna (the right-side option in the picture above). You can purchase the tickets at the baggage claim area when you arrive. The Alilaguna is about a 45-minute boat ride. We arrived late at night and really enjoyed this relaxing trip to San Marco. And to me, this was the least hassle and most cost effective option.
The other option is to take the actual land bus (the left side option in the picture above) from the airport terminal that goes to the Piazzale Roma (which is a large square with parking bays for airport buses, transit buses, a tram from Mestre, and land taxis). From the Piazzale Roma you will have to take the water bus called the vaporetto to San Marco. We decided to avoid this option because we did not want the “get on/get off” hassle with our luggage.
Your third and fastest option is taking a water taxi from the airport to San Marco (or wherever you may be staying). But keep in mind this is expensive (think of it as a water limousine).
What to Do
Now let’s get to the fun part! I am sharing with you what we did on the first full day we were in Venice. Like I said before, part two and three of the Venice travel guide are coming soon (along with video).
1. Piazza San Marco
The Piazzo San Marco (St Mark’s Square) on its own is an amazing place to visit for a few hours whether during the day or night time. You are surrounded by architecturally-decadent buildings and history, cute coffee shops and restaurants. At night, the square is breathtaking with all its lights and sounds – and I am telling you, you won’t be able to contain yourself from dancing the night away when the bands start up the music! It is truly an upbeat happening spot!
Basilica di San Marco
At the square and high on the list is the magnificent Basilica San Marco (St Mark Basilica). Entry tickets to the basilica are free but if you are visiting during peak season or on the weekends, I suggest you buy the ‘skip the lines’ tickets. To purchase ‘skip the line’ tickets, go here.
To enter the basilica, appropriate attire is required. Shoulders must be covered, pants, shorts and dresses must be below the knees. Keep that in mind so you are not turned away at the door (and they do enforce this so do not risk it!).
St. Mark’s Bell Tower
You can also purchase ‘skip the line’ tickets to the St. Mark’s Bell Tower which is a must-see for captivating views of Venice!
Doge’s Palace
While at the Piazza San Marco, make time to visit Doge’s Palace. You can purchase tickets to the palace here. We opted out of this one due to time and we knew this may not be too much interest for the kids. But will have to do it next time we are in Venice!
2. Mask Decorating
I highly recommend the Ca’Macana for mask decorating! The assistant was so patient and helpful with both of my kids as she walked them through the whole process. At the end, both kids walked away with their own mask masterpieces as souvenirs from the trip!
And the 2-hour we spent at the shop was a welcomed break from all the walking. It re-energized us all for the rest of the day.
One thing to note – the mask shop only accepts euros (no credit cards or debit cards).
3. Oh the Pigeons!
Pigeons are plenty in Venice. You may not be able to feed them in St Mark’s Square but there are smaller squares around the city where they congregate. This can be a good break for the kids from all the walking and a good photo opportunity if you are up to it.
4. Rialto Bridge
You can’t go to Venice without visiting the famous Rialto Bridge, overlooking the Grand Canal! This is one of a kind photo opportunity. The Rialto Bridge is about a 7-minute walk from St Mark’s Square to give you an idea.
While at the Rialto Bridge, we walked around and explored its many surrounding shops selling all sorts of souvenirs and trinkets.
If you are looking for an authentic market experience, you have to visit the Rialto Fish Market! Make sure you catch it before 1PM though. We made the mistake of getting there late not knowing when it closes. Then we tried to go early on a Sunday and it was closed all together! A quick research on Trip Advisor should help you with your planning if this is something you are interested in.
Where to Eat
I am not a foodie and not one to plan an itinerary around dining options so I may not be your best guide on this one. Traveling with kids, we knew we would be eating on the go and on a budget (no fine dining here). But that is the awesome thing about Venice! As you are exploring and walking around the city, you will find many options for cheap eats like cafes and eateries serving amazing food.
And despite what we kept hearing, it was not expensive at all! We got gelatos for 2 euros, sandwiches for 8 euros, pizzas for 10 euros – you get the idea! So I would not stress about where to eat in Venice. I will point out though that restaurants around the touristy attractions like St Mark’s Square, Rialto Bridge, Grand Canal, etc. will be pricey.
That’s all for now. Click here for Part 2 and Part 3! In the meantime, be sure to subscribe to the blog and follow me on Instagram and Facebook.
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