Venice: 11 Untold Travel Tips for a Seamless Stay (Full Guide)

Venice is a bucket-list destination, but if you don’t plan wisely, you could end up lost in tourist traps or overpaying for a mediocre meal. I’ve explored this floating city extensively, and I’m here to share the Venice travel tips that will make your trip smooth, affordable, and unforgettable.

First, timing is everything. Visit in spring or early fall to avoid overwhelming crowds and enjoy pleasant weather. Summer brings intense heat and high humidity, making those gondola rides less magical than they seem in pictures. Speaking of gondolas—yes, they’re iconic, but a vaporetto (water bus) is a far cheaper and equally scenic way to experience the Grand Canal.

Accommodation in Venice’s historic center is pricey, so consider staying in Mestre and taking a quick train into the city. If you want an authentic experience, explore beyond Piazza San Marco—neighborhoods like Dorsoduro and Cannaregio offer hidden gems, fewer crowds, and better prices.

Food is another area where smart choices matter. Avoid restaurants with tourist menus or photos of dishes. Instead, look for osterias and bacari, where locals enjoy cicchetti—Venetian tapas paired with a spritz or local prosecco.

Finally, respect local culture. Rolling suitcases are banned in many areas, and feeding the pigeons in St. Mark’s Square can get you fined. Want more insider strategies? Keep reading—I’ll help you navigate Venice like a pro.

11 Tips for Traveling to Venice

Below we will answer the main questions when planning a trip to Venice , from where to look for accommodation to how to get there from the airport, how many days you need to get to know the basics of the city, what are the typical dishes, tourist passes and much more.

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1. How to get to Venice

There are two airports: Marco Polo Airport , which is the airport in Venice itself, and Treviso Airport , about 40 km from the city. Obviously, it is better to arrive at the former, as it is only 20 minutes away by bus. Below we tell you how to get there from each of them:

From Marco Polo Airport : the best option is to take the ATVO Airport Shuttle bus (or the ACTV Aerobus-line 5) which you will find right in front of the exit door. Both leave you in Piazzale Roma in about 20 minutes, from where you will have to walk or take a vaporetto to the accommodation. The ticket costs €10 (€18 round trip). In this post on how to get to Venice from Marco Polo Airport you have all the options.
From Treviso Airport : there are direct buses to Piazzale Roma with the same company ATVO. The trip takes about 1 hour and costs 12€. Here are all the options to get to Venice from Treviso Airport .

In both cases, there is another option, more expensive but convenient: order a private transfer to Venice from the airport (if you are traveling in a group it may be worth it).

Tips for traveling to Venice

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2. How to get around Venice

And once in Venice, if you have little time and want to see everything, a good idea is to get a transport pass , to avoid long stretches of narrow streets and lots of tourists. The one-day pass costs €25 and allows you to use the vaporetti and buses unlimitedly . Considering that the single ticket costs €9.50, calculate whether it is worth it or not and if you see that it is, buy it in advance here: transport pass in Venice , to use it as soon as you arrive.

If you are going to be there for several days, our advice is to use the transfer pass for just one day (and take advantage of visiting the islands of Murano, Burano and Torcello) and walk the rest of the days ! Indeed, to get around Venice, the best thing is to use your holy little feet. So now you know, one of the best tips for traveling to Venice is: bring comfortable shoes with you .

→ Here we tell you more about transportation in Venice .

3. Where to stay in Venice

One of the most useful tips for travelling to Venice is that in order to always be able to move around on foot, it is essential that you choose a central area to stay in. Venice is made up of 6 districts or sestieri , of which San Marco , San Polo (our favourite), Cannareggio and the more central areas of Castello and Dorsoduro are the best for finding accommodation.

→ Here are a few options for cheap accommodation in Venice

→ Map of the neighborhoods of Venice:

map where to stay in Venice Sestieri

› Sleeping in Mestre: cheap alternative

Now, it's no secret that accommodation in Venice is very very expensive . If you want to save some money you can always stay in the neighbouring Mestre (preferably near its train station), from where there are trains to Venice every few minutes. They leave from platform 1, the ticket costs €1.50 and the journey only takes about 10 minutes. Plus the views upon arrival in Venice are very nice!

Check the timetables on the trenitalia website . It is not necessary to buy the ticket in advance online, just do it directly at the station (at the ticket office or at the machines) a few minutes before leaving and you must stamp your ticket before boarding the train.

4. Best time to travel to Venice

Spring and autumn are definitely the best times to travel to Venice. If you can, avoid weekends, long weekends and, above all, these two celebrations: Carnival (February) and Redentore (July). The atmosphere will be great, the city will be dressed up… but honestly, the number of tourists is unbearable.

If you're wondering whether it's advisable to visit Venice at other times of the year, the answer will always be YES. The city is a marvel at any time, whether it's raining, foggy or scorching hot. But if you can choose, it's better to go outside the high season and without suffering climatic hardships!

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5. Must-sees in Venice

In a city like Venice, planning is essential: there are so many things to see and time flies. Here we tell you 35 things to see and do in Venice . And if you want to know what the must-sees are, these are the 10 best places to visit in Venice .

Small spoiler below:

St. Mark's Square
St. Mark's Basilica
Bell tower of San Marco
Doge's Palace
Rialto Bridge
Grand Canal
The Ghetto
La Fenice Theatre
Peggy Guggenheim Museum
Excursion to Burano, Murano and optionally Torcello

Doge's Palace Venice

6. How many days does it take to visit Venice?

This question is very relative and often creates certain conflicts. It could be said that the essentials of Venice can be seen in a single day , although it is advisable to stay at least one night.

The mask that Venice wears at night is totally different from the one it wears during the day: many of the tourists have left and the canals and the little streets lit by the lanterns on the worn facades are much cooler. So, if you can, stay at least one night.

The ideal thing would be to visit Venice in 3 days , two to get to know the city and one to take a trip to one of its islands.

Things to do

7. Excursion to other islands of the Venetian Lagoon

The Venetian Lagoon has more than 100 islands, although the most famous are 5: Murano , Burano , Torcello , Lido and Giudecca . The first 3 are the most recommended and can be seen in a single day, either on your own, or on this complete tour of the islands of Venice .

8. Gastronomy in Venice: what and where to eat

For lunch, there's nothing better than a tour of bacari , the typical Venetian bars where you can go for tapas ( cicchetti ). Cicchetti (pronounced chiquetti) usually cost between €1.50 and €4 and are best accompanied by house wine (€1.5-€3) or an Aperol Spritz (€2.5-€4).

→ These are some of the best restaurants where you can eat well and cheaply in Venice .

→ Here we tell you more about the best bacari (tapas bars) in Venice .

› Supermarkets in Venice

Venice, with its narrow streets and canals, does not have buildings and surfaces suitable for large supermarkets, although it is possible to find small shops and mini-markets. There are several Despar, Crai or Coop stores spread throughout the city. You can easily find them on Google Maps.

restaurants where to eat in venice

That said, keep in mind that if you eat a lot, it will almost always be cheaper to go to a restaurant (there are plenty of set menus for around €13-16 that usually include the “coperto”). Here is a post where we tell you what the typical dishes of Venice are .

And it's worth reminding you that, under no circumstances should you sit down for a drink in Piazza San Marco . The bars charge outrageous rates (and if there's an orchestra playing... they charge extra for the music). A coffee and a water can cost you 20-30€. Come on... don't sit down! (unless you're a millionaire, of course).

9. Gondola yes, gondola no

If you want to ride a gondola, be aware that this is going to be a costly joke. The official price for a 45-minute ride is €80 (although I haggled and ended up paying €50). The gondoliers are stationed at many piers on the canals and you won't have any trouble finding them, with the area around St. Mark's Square being the most populated.

One option to cut costs is to take a shared gondola ( you can book it here ). Or as a third option, take an express trip on a traghetto : a gondola that crosses the Grand Canal from one side to the other. Obviously the trip takes only a few minutes and there is almost no romance, but hey… it only costs €2! You will see the piers with a green sign with the word “traghetto” in large letters.

Tips for traveling to Venice

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10. The best views of Venice

If you're a fan of taking photos of cities from above, there are some tricks for you too. Venice obviously doesn't have any skyscrapers or particularly tall buildings, but there are a few spots from which to take great photos, like these 3: St. Mark's Campanile (€8), the rooftop of T Fondaco dei Tedeschi (free, with reservation ) and the spiral staircase of Palazzo Contarini del Bovolo (€8).

11. Venice tourist tax

From April 2024, day visitors to Venice (without staying at a hotel) must pay a €5 fee on this website. Please note that it only applies on selected days of the year (holidays, high season, etc.). Those staying in the city are exempt, but must apply for the exemption on a portal to avoid fines.

Other tips for traveling to Venice

Sign up for one or more of the many free tours of the city (here we tell you which are the best free tours of Venice in Spanish ). Remember that signing up is free, but at the end it is always good to leave a tip.
Venice has one of the largest and most chaotic historic centres in the world: it is impossible not to get lost in its network of narrow streets. Download the map of Venice from the maps.me app so you can consult it offline and know where you are.
Public toilets are chargeable (they usually cost €1.50). We always recommend going to a bar, having a glass of wine and a snack and taking advantage of the opportunity to make a technical stop... if you have to pay, then you should eat!
Bring a bottle of water with you and refill it at the fountains (there are one in practically every square). You'll save a bit of money.
High water ( acqua alta ) is a phenomenon that usually occurs between November and March, and which causes parts of Venice to be flooded. If it happens during your visit, don't worry: it's not dangerous, just a bit uncomfortable.
Do you have time to spare and want to take advantage of your trip to Italy to visit more cities ? Chioggia , Padua , Verona and Trieste are nearby and very beautiful excursions. If you prefer to discover typical Italy, Venice is very well connected to Florence and Milan .