Venice is a breathtaking maze of canals, historic palaces, and iconic landmarks—but it’s also one of the easiest places for travelers to make costly Venice tourist mistakes. As someone who has explored this city’s every twist and turn, I’ve seen visitors fall into the same traps—wasting time, overspending, and even offending the locals.
If you want to avoid frustration and truly experience authentic Venice, you need to know what NOT to do.
Many travelers arrive unprepared for Venice’s unique layout, assuming they can rely on taxis or cars—only to discover that Venice is a car-free city. Instead, you’ll be navigating by vaporetto (water bus), traghetto, or on foot. Some also underestimate just how crowded St. Mark’s Square and the Rialto Bridge get, leading to wasted hours in long lines. Then there’s the overpriced tourist traps—cafés that charge €10 for a coffee or gondola rides that cost double what you expected.
Beyond logistics, cultural missteps can also dampen your trip. Sitting on church steps, rolling luggage noisily over bridges, or feeding the pigeons might seem harmless, but they can draw disapproving looks—or even fines. And let’s not forget the dreaded Venice flooding (acqua alta) that surprises unprepared visitors.
In this guide, I’ll uncover the biggest Venice travel mistakes and show you how to avoid them, so you can enjoy the city like a savvy traveler—not a lost tourist.
What not to do in Venice: Top 10 Tourist Mistakes to Avoid
Why you shouldn't spend 100€ on a gondola ride? Did you know that having a coffee in St. Mark's Square is a big mistake? Read the post carefully and you won't make a fool of yourself in Venice. Word from an Italian who has traveled to the most romantic city in the world many times.
1) Don't spend €100 for a gondola ride
I'm not saying it's not worth it, if you can afford it, go ahead, but if you're a backpacker with more desire to visit than money to spend, you should know that there's a really cool trick to get on a gondola without spending much money. It's true that this option isn't very romantic, but you should know that you can get on a " traghetto " gondola that will take you from one side of the Grand Canal to the other for 1-2€.
It is used mainly by Venetians to save time. Be careful that the “service” only operates at certain times. The best and longest stretch is from S.Tomà to S.Angelo.
2) Don't drink coffee (or anything) in Piazza San Marco
Ordering a coffee sitting on a terrace in a bar in St. Mark's Square is a luxury, and not only because of the priceless views: at least an espresso (black coffee) will cost you €11, not to mention cappuccino, shakerati coffee, and various “specialties”. Two drinks can cost €25-30 ! And if there are musicians playing, the bill will be even more expensive since the bar charges for “musical service”.
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A cheap starter, main course and dessert? Considering you're in Venice, it's not bad... mistake: never trust these offers! Always ask if drinks are included, in some restaurants the real deal is with water, beer, coke: a litre of water can cost up to €6. One way to spend less is to refill your bottle at the drinking fountains.
Also keep in mind that in almost 100% of restaurants in Italy you will have to add the cost of the “ coperto ” to the bill, which includes the service and the use of fork, knife, glass, plate… It usually costs between 1-2€ depending on the type of restaurant.
In short: always take a look at the drinks menu and ask how much a drink costs .
⭐ Best cheap restaurants in Venice
4) Do not travel with a suitcase
If you are lucky enough to stay overnight in Venice , we recommend that you do not travel with a suitcase: the number of stairs and bridges will surprise you and it is much more comfortable to travel with a backpack. If it is unavoidable, at least try not to carry it too much.
5) Don't be afraid of getting lost
Even if you follow the signs to the most important points of the city, you will be aware that sooner or later you will get lost. It is inevitable: Venice is a labyrinth of narrow streets , but do not see it as a bad thing. Getting lost in there will be the best thing that can happen to you: only by moving away from tourist Venice will you be able to appreciate the life of the most authentic Venice.
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6) Don't have a picnic in San Marco
Many tourists prepare sandwiches and sit in Piazza San Marco to enjoy a special meal. But be aware that if you are caught by the “carabinieri” (the Italian police) you can be fined! If you want, you can go to the “Giardinetti Reali” very close to San Marco and enjoy your blessed sandwich in peace!
7) Do not soak your feet in the canals
Do you remember when you see a fish with three eyes in the Simpsons? Well, if you don't want your foot to grow another three toes, you better not touch the water in Venice . Especially if the water is high: many tourists take off their shoes as if they were in a remake of " I'm singing' in the rain (water) " but they don't know that the water they are jumping in is sea water mixed with sewer water .
And maybe you'll even find a rat to make a musical duet with. Brrrr.
8) Don't forget to reserve certain tickets in advance
Although many of the visits to Venice can be done on the fly, there are a handful of things that we recommend you book:
- Transport card in Venice and its islands
- Check out the Venice Unica City Pass and see if it's worth it for you
- Reserve your free entry to the Fondaco dei Tedeschi viewpoint
- Essential Venice Free Tour
9) Don't wake up late
The early bird catches the worm. And the city, with the first light of day, will give you a very photogenic face. And you won't have to dodge the heads of thousands of tourists to take a photo.
10) Don't eat only pasta and pizza
Yes, you are in Italy, but that doesn't mean you have to eat pasta or pizza. Venetian cuisine is very varied and there are some very good dishes, so you know: carbonara, to Rome.
⭐ We have prepared this gastronomic guide to Venice that will be very useful for you. In addition, here you have a great route through some of the best bacari in Venice . In these typical taverns you can eat cicchetti (similar to Basque pintxos) and drink house wines or aperitifs such as Spritz Aperol.
Do you have any other recommendations for things not to do in Venice ? What would you avoid apart pigeon droppings ?
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