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!
livingmydream.travel 