Richa

Venice: The city of canals

Venice was one of the main highlights of our two weeks Europe trip. We fell in love with the city as soon as we arrived here and took our first ride through the majestic canal to our hotel. It was more beautiful than we ever imagined it would be!

How to get around in Venice

The Vaporreto is a Venetian public waterbus transportation service. It serves locales within Venice and also connects it to nearby islands on Burano, Murano and others.

The individual tickets and passes are sold at most of the larger vaporetto stations. The individual tickets costs Euro 7.50 and is valid for 75 minutes in one direction. But, we decided to go with 48 hours unlimited ride pass for 30 euros per person since we were planning to visit nearby islands as well. We bought the pass from the ticket counters at the Ferrovia (water bus stop serving the Venezia Santa Lucia train station). You can also buy the tickets online and redeem it when you arrive in Venice.

Always remember to validate the ticket before you board the water bus! We saw people with tickets paying hefty fine just because they forgot to validate it.

Things to do in Venice

Venice is one of the most romantic cities in Italy. The gondola ride, the romantic ambiance, the beautiful canal, the magnificent churches, the city has so much to offer. We spent two days in Venice and we loved every bit of it. Here is a list of thing to do in Venice that we enjoyed the most:

St. Mark’s Square and Basilica

St. Mark’s Square is the principal public square of Venice. It is one of the most beautiful squares in the world. All the important buildings are located on the square including St. Mark’s Basilica, Campanile di San Marco and others.

St. Mark’s Basilica is the cathedral church of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Venice, northern Italy. It is the most famous of the city’s churches and one of the best known examples of Italo-Byzantine architecture. The entry to St. Mark’s Basilica is mostly free but you might have to stand in a long queue depending on the season. If you are visiting the Basilica during peak season, you can buy skip the line tickets online for 3 euros. For visiting other parts of the Basilica such as Saint Mark’s museum, Pala d’Oro, the Bell Tower, and the Treasury you will have to pay an entrance fee.

St Mark’s Campanile

The bell tower of St Mark’s Basilica is located in the Piazza San Marco. Originally built as a lighthouse to assist navigation in the lagoon, it is one of the most recognizable symbols of the city. The current tower was reconstructed in its present form in 1912 after the collapse of 1902.
You can climb up the tower to get an incredible view of the city. To avoid the crowds during peak season, its best to visit early in the morning or late in the evening.

Gondola ride

Taking gondola ride was the most romantic experience in Venice for us. We really enjoyed the magical view of the city cruising through its canals. Since we were there during the peak season, we paid 80 euros for 20 mins ride during the day. The “official” price is 80 euros for 40 minutes ride though. If you are not willing to pay so much, the trick is to share the ride with someone else. But, you have to find the person willing to share the ride with you beforehand. We shared our ride with a nice couple we found near the gondola stop. The ride was really worth the cost as it was a once in a lifetime experience for us.

The Rialto bridge

The Rialto Bridge is the oldest of the four bridges spanning the Grand Canal in Venice. It is one of the famous and iconic bridges of Venice connecting districts of San Marco and San Polo. Although the bridge is always crowded, it still provides the amazing view of the canal. You will also find various shops on both sides of the bridge where you can buy some souvenir.

Explore the city!

Just walk around the cities narrow alleys until you get tired and can’t do it anymore! Stop at the myriad number of bridges and take pictures of the gondolas passing by. We spent hours just walking on the random streets, trying out the food, browsing the shops and taking lot of pictures.

The Island of Murano

Murano is famous for its glass making and lies about 1.5 kilometres north of Venice. To get to Murano, you have to take a short vaporetto ride from Venice. In Murano you can visit the Glass Museum which holds displays on the history of glass making as well as glass samples ranging from Egyptian times through the present day. You can check the entrance prices here. There are many glass factories as well where you can watch their artwork.

If you are looking for some place that is quiet and free from hustle bustle just head over to Murano and spend some time browsing the glass stores or just take a stroll along the canals.

Colorful houses of Burano

Burano, a picturesque island which is just a ride away from Venice, is known for its lace work and brightly colored fishermen’s houses. The colors of the houses follow a specific system, originating from the golden age of its development. Interesting fact about the colors: If someone wishes to paint their home, one must send a request to the government and they will respond with a notice of the certain colors permitted for that lot.

The town is very pretty and you will enjoy just walking the streets and taking some beautiful pictures. While strolling through the streets, you will see ladies sitting outside busy making laces. The pictures don’t do justice to the beauty of this island!

Time for some tips!

What to wear: Shoulders and knees must be covered for visiting Basilica. Avoid sleeveless tops, tanks, shorts etc. You can also bring scarf or coverups to wrap around instead. The coverups are also sold at the entrance.

Carry water bottle: You can always refill your bottle at various water fountain located in the city.

Service charge for dining in: Remember the restaurants charge a service fee also called Coperto for every guest. It is generally 2 -3 Euros per person.

Beware of Pick Pockets: Please keep an eye on your belongings at all time.

Spend some time exploring other islands: Be sure to wander away from the major tourist spots to enjoy other islands near Venice. Vaporetto pass includes transport to Murano and Burano.

Gondola ride: Before you take the gondola ride, make sure you decide the price up front. Find someone to share the ride with you to save some bucks. Don’t do it in front of the gondolier though!

Trip to Avignon: A Gem in Southern France

Arriving in Avignon

After spending two days in Paris, we took a direct OUIGO train from Marne-la-Vallée/Chessy train station in Paris to Avignon center booked via SNCF. The train journey took around four hours. We booked our stay at an Airbnb located in the city center for two days.

Things to do in Avignon

Avignon is a very charming small city with lots of history. You can enjoy most of the places of interest on foot if you stay close to the center. We had two days there before we headed out to our next destination. Here is a list of our favorite things that we recommend in Avignon:

Take a tour to Palais des Papes

The Palais des Papes is considered one of the largest medieval Gothic buildings in Europe. It was built to accommodate the popes who fled to Avignon from corrupt Rome. Its immense scale illustrates the medieval might of the Roman Catholic church.

The Palais is today a palace of culture and primarily a tourist attraction. The courtyard of the Palais des Papes is a central performance location during the Festival d’Avignon In, which holds every year in July. It is also the site of many cultural and economic events.

You can take a tour of the Palace by paying an entrance fee which includes an augmented reality(AR) powered tablet and a headset. The interactive AR experience is a fun way to know about the history of the palace. You point the tablet in any direction inside AR enabled rooms and you look through the tablet to see what the room looked like in the past. Once you reach the roof of the palace, you will be awarded with beautiful views of the city. There is also a snack bar at the roof where you can grab some quick bites to eat.

Visit Pont d’Avignon

The Pont d’Avignon is a famous medieval bridge in the town of Avignon. The bridge was the inspiration for the song Sur le pont d’Avignon and is considered a landmark of the city. During the 17th century, various parts of the bridge collapsed due to floods. In 1995, the four surviving arches of the bridge were listed as the World Heritage site.

We recommend visiting the bridge to know more about the history of Avignon. The bridge is a great spot to relax and to take some beautiful pictures of the city.

Relax at Place de l’Horlage

The Place de l’horloge is Avignon’s main square where you will find the city hall and the opera house. The square is one of the most happening part of the city especially during the peak seasons. Here, you will find a lot of restaurants and cafes with open seating. It’s a good place to sit and enjoy food and drinks with live street entertainment.

Walk the streets of Avignon

Wander around the narrow streets of Avignon or just sit and have espresso in one of the small cafe. We had some waffles and espresso at a popular local coffee place: The Milk Shop. Don’t forget to click some pictures as every street in Avignon is photo worthy.

Ride Petite train

This is a great way to explore the whole city if you don’t have time or are travelling with kids. The ride is about an hour with an audio guide. The trains starts outside of Palais des Papes and takes you all through the narrow streets and cover all major points of the city.

Take a day trip to Gordes from Avignon

Gordes is one of the most beautiful hilltop village in Provence. It has everything the beautiful winding street, the cobblestone path, the amazing hilltop view and various shops and restaurants. The Impressive Chateau de Gordes which dominates the village was built in 1031 and rebuilt in 1525 and is a major tourist attraction.

How to get there

There are various tours available for a day trip to Provence villages from Avignon and most of them includes some time in Gordes. You can book the tours via Expedia, viator or similar websites. If you are not driving and don’t want to spend on tours, you also have the option to take bus. If you decide to take bus, we suggest going to the information desk at the Avignon central bus station and getting detailed bus schedules.

There is no direct route to Gordes from Avignon via public transport. We took a train from Avignon Centre to Cavaillon and then took a bus from Cavaillon PEM Gare Routiere to Gorde Les Bories. The bus stop is right next to the Cavaillon train station. The entire commute took around 2 hours.

What to do

Visit the Chateau and the museum that it houses, the Pol Mara museum, contemporary Flemish painter and inhabitant of Gordes. The entry fee is EUR 7.

The best part of Gordes is its winding streets and the beautiful homes built on the hillside. Just take a walk and get lost in the streets of Gordes. You will find lot of spots with beautiful views of the valley. Don’t worry you will find your way out as it is a small village!

Buy some locally made souvenirs. There are plenty of beautiful shops all around the village.

Provence region is famous for its lavender. If you are here in summer between June and late July you can visit lavender field just outside of Gordes. Unfortunately, you can visit the lavender fields only if you are driving or if you have booked a private tour. We could not visit the fields but we did buy some locally made lavender products to take home with us!

Time for some tips!

You can buy tickets for Pont d’Avignon and Palais des Papes together and save some money. We bought it from the ticket counter at the palace.

Book your stay close to center of the city. You don’t want to be too far from all the activities.

Take bus to see Provence villages from Avignon if you are not driving or taking a tour. Visit central bus station’s information desk for detailed bus schedules.

If you have 2 days in Paris …

Arriving in Paris

We landed in Paris CDG airport and took a regional RER train to reach the city center. You can also take Uber or taxi if you are willing to spend more. We booked two nights at a boutique hotel in the central Paris: Hyatt Paris, Madeliene. This is one of the expensive hotel in the area which costs around 700 USD per night during the peak season but we booked it using Chase UR points for free. We will talk about how to book it using points in the upcoming posts.

Best things to do in Paris

There are so many things to do and see in Paris. Of course, we couldn’t cover everything in two days. But, here are some of the things that we did and really liked during our stay:

Top of the Eiffel Tower

If you want to save time pre-book your tickets online by visiting their official website so that you don’t have to stand in queue for hours just to get the tickets. We got the tickets to top of the tower. There is an option for just the second floor as well which is little cheaper. You will have to stand in line again for the top floor lift from the second floor. But, the line for the top was not too long when we visited during the peak season. The view are amazing from both the second floor and the top. But, we recommend going to the top of tower as well for more expansive views. Do remember to book tickets online!

After visiting the tower, we spent some time sitting near the fountain in front of the tower. It was really hot when we visited in summer and there were lot of people taking a dip in the fountain pool to get some relief from the heat. It is a great spot for pictures as well! Once you are done, climb up to the nearby stairs of Trocadero for more insta worthy pictures.

Take a cruise on Seine River

A Seine river cruise is a must do in Paris. The views along the river is mesmerizing. The boat takes you through many of the cities landmarks like the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre as you cruise by!
We booked Bateaux Mouches Seine River Cruise which included dinner, drinks and live music along with the beautiful views of Paris from the deck. They were vegetarian friendly as well. We had a wonderful time and we highly recommend it. Here is the Expedia link for the one we booked.

Visit Arch de Triomphe and Champs-Elysees

It is one of the most famous monuments in Paris, standing at the western end of the Champs-Élysées at the centre of Place Charles de Gaulle. It commemorates French military victories and French soldiers who died in battle.
In order to get to the Arc take the underground passage, so that you avoid crossing the busy traffic.
If you are planning on going to the top of Arc de Triomphe you have to buy the tickets and climb few stairs. The view from the top is worth taking those stairs as you have the 360 degree view of the entire city and the Eiffel tower.
After visiting Arc de Triomphe you can walk down the Champs- Elysees: “A Shopper’s Paradise”. It is 1.2 miles long street known for its theaters, cafes, and luxury shops.

Visit the Saint Chapelle

The Sainte-Chapelle is a royal chapel in the Gothic style. It has amazing stained glass windows. Arranged across 15 windows, each 15 metres high, the stained glass panes depict 1,113 scenes from the Old and New Testaments recounting the history of the world until the arrival of the relics in Paris.
Don’t forget to go to the upper level which can be accessed via staircase. You will be amazed by the spectacular stained glass on the upper level.

Louvre Museum

The Louvre is the world’s largest art museum and a historic monument in Paris. The main attraction of the museum are the Mona Lisa and the statue of Venus de Milo.
We would highly recommend buying tickets in advance. We couldn’t go inside the museum because the tickets were sold out for that day. However, we did take some good pictures outside the museum.

Take a walk along the Seine River

You will find many locals sitting along banks of the river just hanging out with friends and family enjoying food, wine and music. We spent an hour or so sitting/walking along the banks and it was really relaxing time for us. We highly recommend finding some time for this in between visiting the touristy spots.

Paris Delicacies

No trip to Paris is complete without indulging yourself in some delicious sweet treats. So don’t forget to indulge in Macarons, Eclair au chocolat, Crepe to name a few.

Time for some useful tips!

Buy your tickets in advance – If you want to avoid waiting for hours in line, book your tickets online ahead of time. During peak season the tickets on the counters are sold out early or there will be a long line, so planning ahead will be useful. Always try to use the official websites for buying online tickets.

Be ready to walk – Wear comfortable shoes as most part of the city can be enjoyed on foot.

Buy Museum pass – If you are planning to visit lot of Museums in Paris, consider purchasing Museum pass. The Museum pass allows for free admission to number of attractions in Paris. It will save you time as well as some money.

Take Metro/Bus – Taking Uber or taxi can be very expensive. Save some money by using public transport within Paris. Also, if its your first time in Paris you can use Kapten (app like Uber) and get new customer discounts for first few rides.

Buy local travel SIM – There are travel SIM cards available at Relay Stores. We bought the one from Orange, valid for 14 days in 30 EU countries. Here is the link.

Know the greetings – It comes in handy if you know the greetings in French. When entering and leaving a shop, greet and say good-bye to the staff. A simple bonjour(Hello), monsieur/madame(Mr/Madam) , au revoir(Goodbye) and merci(Thank you) are considered a virtual necessity for politeness.

Beware of Pickpockets – Only keep essentials in your wallets. Don’t carry too many cards. Keep your backpack over your chest and always be vigilant.