Venice Tourism And Travel Guide

Located in the shallow Venetian lagoon is the cluster of islands that make up the gorgeous floating city of Venice. This city, also known as the “City of Water”, “City of Bridges” and many other names, is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Tourism in Venice is pretty popular due to the unique characteristic of the city floating on water and also for its art, architecture and culture.

Even though the city floats on water, reaching Venice is quite easy as you can use various modes of transportation to get there. The city’s weather is decent to visit throughout the year, especially spring; but also, you might want to skip going there during winters as it’s a tad cold for people who aren’t used to the cold. Basically the water around the city dictates its weather. Whether you want to go on a romantic boat ride with your partner, absorb the uniqueness of rich art forms at the art galleries of Venice or have a drink at a cicchetti bar, our travel guide to Venice will give you an idea of the places you need to make a checklist for.

By Air:

The Marco Polo Airport in mainland Italy is the closest airport to Venice and is located at a distance of 14 km from the center of the city. Major airlines take passengers back and forth from this airport to other airports in Italy, European as well as non-European countries. You can also go to the Treviso Airport, located at a distance of 41 km from Venice and is also in mainland Italy. Once you reach the airport, you can take a bus or a cab to reach the port of Venice.

By Road:

If you plan to drive to Venice, there are various autostradas that can be taken. The A4, A13 and A27 are the main roadways that connect Venice to the rest of Italy. After you drive all the way to the island, you can park your car in any one of the two car parks that are available and proceed to take a ferry or a boat from there onwards.

By Rail:

The Santa Lucia Train Station is the closest to Venice and is established in the lagoon itself. It has trains that come from different parts of Italy as well as Europe, making it easy for people to directly reach Venice. The Venezia Mestre is another train station that can be used; it is located at a distance of 9.3 km from the center of the city.

By Sea:

Venice is renowned for transporting goods as well as passengers on a large scale. A number of cruise liners as well as boats ply from this port, transporting tourists and locals to different parts of the continent.

Getting Around:

The best way to move around Venice is to use the vaporetto; a water boat used in the city. These vehicles operate on the Grand Canal and take passengers and locals to nearby islands. If you want to discover the deep nooks and crannies of the city, the best option is to discover Venice by foot.

Spring (March-May):

One of the best seasons to visit the city of Romance is during spring. Temperatures throughout the season range from 8°C to 21°C, with the month of May seeing more hours of sunshine. Locals and tourists go swimming in May, due to the water having an increased temperature.

Summer (June-August):

The summer season in Venice is quite humid with temperatures ranging from 16°C to 30°C. The month of August starts to get a little colder with temperatures dropping down to 25°C. This is also the time when there is heavy rainfall in the region.

Autumn (September-November):

With temperatures ranging from 18°C to 24°C, the climate starts to change in autumn and gets ready for the winter. The region experiences light drizzles, making the weather quite cold. Also, this time of the year is less crowded in Venice and is a good time to visit if you want to escape the crowd.

Winter (December-February):

The months from December onwards start to get chilly and temperatures during this time range from 14°C in the day to 1°C in the night and sometimes below freezing level. Snow is rare in Venice but there is a decent amount of rainfall, making winters very cold.

Visit Art Galleries:

If you are an art enthusiast, you are sure to enjoy Venice due to its vast expanse of art history. The Gallerie dell’Accademia is a famous art gallery with an exhibition of paintings and artifacts from the 19th Century and also includes works of some of the greatest artists known to Italy.

Visit Different Islands:

The nearby islands of Burano, Murano and Torcello are some of the most beautiful islands in the lagoon and definitely worth visiting. Get away from the crowd in the major center of the city and row away to one of these islands to experience a different side of Venice; something a little quieter and serene.

Enjoy the Carnivale Festival:

The carnival that takes place before Easter is one of the best times to visit Venice. This pre-Lenten carnival is celebrated with a lot of enthusiasm and is very similar to the Mardi Gras festivities. This festival is enjoyed by locals as well as tourists and the city is filled with people wearing unique masks and costumes.

Boat across the Rialto Bridge:

One of the most significant landmarks in Venice is the Rialto Bridge. Built on the Grand Canal, this bridge holds two busy roads with shops on both sides. Go on a boat ride on the calm water of the Grand Canal, under the Rialto Bridge to see Venice at its finest.

Sunbathe at the Beach:

Venice has everything need for a memorable vacation. The city even has a beach for people to enjoy and sunbathe in during the summers. Lido Di Venezia, a 11 km long sandbar, is the perfect place to get a tan on a summer morning. Grab a book and go straight to the north side of the beach to enjoy some quiet beach time.

There are various places to eat delicious food in Venice. From lip smacking snacks at a cicchetti bar to authentic Italian meals at famous restaurants, Venice will not disappoint the foodie in you. What started as a humble sandwich shop in Venice is today’s most popular upscale restaurant in the city; the Osteria Campo Santa Marina specializes in exquisite sea food that is sure to tickle your taste buds. Burano is home to one of the best family restaurants in the lagoon called Trattoria al Gatto Nero. The restaurant specializes in tagliolini noodles with spider crab or risotto made in Burano style.

Vennisa is another restaurant that is absolutely romantic and lets people who visit gaze at the stars in the night sky while enjoying a scrumptious meal. Some of the exotic dishes that you will find here are porcini mushrooms, smoked eel, black summer truffle and many more. If you want to taste Venetian food that dates back to 1909, then Terrazza Danieli is the place to be in. This is a great place to eat in, as you can enjoy a plate of delicious risotto with sea urchin and at the same time enjoy the view of the Grand Canal in front of you.

Along with Canal, Palaces and beautiful pavilions, Venice also has some great places to shop. The islands in the lagoon city of Venice are famous for beautiful textiles, glassware and Venetian Lace. Le Mercerie is a series of streets located near the Rialto Bridge and is Venice’s most famous shopping location; this high end shopping area is renowned for world famous clothing and accessory brands. If you are looking to buy textile and crafts, be sure to visit the San Samuele that has shops with a unique collection of bed linens, pillows etc. The Calle Larga XXII Marzo has a variety of designer boutiques that sell sleek leather goods, timepieces, contemporary jewellery and much more.