Venice, also known as “the city on the water” or “Serenissima”, is considered one of the most beautiful and romantic cities in the world. This of course means that a huge number of tourists head here in season and out of season. Unless one insists on seeing Venice directly (which one should at least once in a lifetime), the surrounding islands and the entire Venetian lagoon offer similar beauty, houses, and canals, but we can probably agree that Venice is just one.
Quick overview:
- The most important sights: the square and St. Mark’s Basilica, the Rialto Bridge,
- beware: paid entry to Venice and water in the streets in winter,
- where to go: the islands of Murano (famous for its glass art) and Burano (with its colourful houses and lace-making workshops,
- what to experience: a carnival (in February) or a gondola ride (although watching them from the bridges is also enough).
Tickets in Venice
As Venice is really touristy, it’s a good idea to plan ahead and buy the necessary tickets and passes in advance so you don’t waste time in queues on the spot. What you’ll need to sort out:
- vaporetto ticket (boat bus) – single, full-day or multi-day, also valid for trips to the islands of Murano and Burano,
- The Doge’s Palace,
- combined ticket to St. Mark’s Basilica and the Doge’s Palace.
Where to stay in Venice
The location of the hotel therefore plays a slightly different role here than in other cities. More important than distance is whether you can get to the hotel without lugging your suitcase across ten bridges.
The most practical base is around San Marco and Rialto. You’re in the heart of the action, close to the main sights and restaurants. Cannaregio is quieter, a little cheaper and still within easy reach. Dorsoduro is a fine choice if you want a more local feel, galleries and nice cafes along the canal. What to watch out for: some hotels look close on the map, but realistically there are a lot of alleys and bridges to get to them. It’s worth checking in advance how far the nearest vaporetto stop is.
One tip: Hotel Danieli is one of the most iconic hotels in Venice, right by San Marco. It’s a luxury hotel, but even if you don’t sleep here, it’s worth a visit.
Tips for accommodation in Venice
- Hotel Pausania – Set in a former Venetian aristocratic residence, with all that old-palazzo charm still intact.
- Hotel Ai Reali – An elegant hotel in a historic palace between the Rialto and San Marco. Beautiful interiors and a great location within easy reach of both main points.
- Ca’ Sagredo – A 15th century palace right on the Grand Canal by the Rialto. Frescoes, marble staircases and a terrace over the canal. For me, one of the most beautiful hotels in Venice.
What to see in Venice and what sights to visit
The city on the water itself has its own charm that is enough for hours of walking, but on top of that there is the omnipresent history and the city’s blatant wealth, many palaces and historical monuments.
Rialto Bridge
Probably the most iconic sy,bol of Venice is the Rialto Bridge(Ponte di Rialto) over the Grand Canal. The single-arch structure connects the San Marco and San Polo districts. As well as being an important link, there are spectacular views of the city’s main waterway and the surrounding palaces. The bridge has two rows of shops lining the central passage. A short walk from the bridge is the Rialto Market and one of the oldest churches in Venice, San Giacomo di Rialto.
Built in 1591 on the site of the original wooden bridge, it is the first stone bridge in Venice.
Piazza San Marco
St Mark’s Square is the heart of Venice, known asthe “living room of Europe“. The large square is surrounded by historic buildings with beautiful architecture.
You can enjoy the atmosphere of the square in one of the cafés (mostly overpriced, it must be said). The legendary one is Caffè Florian, mainly for historical reasons (I mean, it doesn’t impress with its gastronomy or coffee). It opened in 1720 and is probably the oldest café in all of Italy. There’s live music – an orchestra (and it’s screened in the price).
There are several important buildings on the square:
- The Doge’s Palace,
- St. Mark’s Basilica,
- St. Mark’s Bell Tower.
When the Acqua Alta is in Venice, it is St Mark’s Square that is under water and while you may think you don’t want to be there during high water, this is something to see. The water usually gets as far as the basilica itself. The record flooding of the square has been up to 150 cm on several occasions.
Palazzo Ducale
The Doge’s Palace is a symbol of the power and wealth of the former Venetian Republic. Originally a fortress, it was rebuilt in the 14th century and completed in 1550. After the palace burned down a few more times, it was renovated and expanded.
The palace is 75 metres wide (and 71.5 long, almost a quarter). The façade is characteristically pinkish-grey, decorated with two rows of loggias. White, grey and red marble are used. The interior of the palace is richly decorated with frescoes and sculptures by important artists such as Tintoretto and Veronese.
For centuries the palace served as the seat of the Venetian Doges, the centre of the government of the Venetian Republic, a court of justice and a prison (there is the famous Torture Room). The famous seducer Casanova was also imprisoned in the palace. Today it is a museum.
The largest hall of the palace, the Sala del Maggior Consiglio, measures 53 x 25 metres and can accommodate up to 2,000 people.
Ponte dei Sospiri (Bridge of Sighs) connects the Doge’s Palace with the former prison. It got its name from the sighs of the prisoners who passed through it.
St. Mark’s Basilica
The Basilica di San Marco is in St Mark’s Square, next to the Doge’s Palace, and is known as the“golden church” for its rich mosaics and decoration. More than 8,000 square metres of golden mosaics cover the interior, making it one of the most ornate church buildings in the world.
Book ahead — timed entry slots sell out days in advance and the queue at the door easily runs an hour.
The plan is in the shape of a Greek cross with five domes. The exterior is richly decorated with marble, statues and reliefs, including the famous bronze quadriga (four horses) brought from Constantinople during the Fourth Crusade.
In addition to the unique mosaics, the Pala d’Oro altar, decorated with precious stones and gold, is worth seeing. The relics of Saint Mark are kept under the main altar.
The terrace has a beautiful view of the entire St. Mark’s Square. Entrance to the main part of the basilica is free, for the altar or the museum you need to buy a ticket.
St. Mark’s Bell Tower
The Campanile di San Marco is a 98.6 metre high tower next to St Mark’s Basilica. It was built in the 9th century, but unexpectedly collapsed in the early 20th century and was built all over again, but identical to the original one.
It is the tallest building in the whole of Venice and is nicknamed“el paròn de casa” (the master of the house) by the Venetians. At the top you have a beautiful view not only of the square, but also of the Grand Canal and the whole centre. Entrance costs 8 euros and there is an elevator going up.
Grand Canal
The Grand Canal is the main waterway of Venice and one of the most famous canals in the world. The corridor probably follows the route of an ancient river, perhaps a branch of the Brenta River, which once flowed into the lagoon. It winds through Venice in the shape of an inverted letter ‘S’ and divides the city into 2 parts.
The canal is 3.8 kilometres long and 30 metres wide at its narrowest point and 90 metres wide at its widest. It is only 5 metres deep on average.
The canal is constantly full of boat traffic, vaporettos (water buses), private boats, water taxis and gondolas.
One of the best places to view the Grand Canal is the Most dell’Accademia, where you’ll find the Gallerie dell’Accademia, with works by famous Venetian artists.
Canals and alleys of Venice
Venice is famous for its alleys, calli, which are a tangle of narrow roads and squares. Walking through the streets of Venice is like wandering through a labyrinth. It’s common to get lost, which is the best part of the experience, because around every corner there’s a pretty little square, restaurant or another alleyway waiting to be discovered.
The narrowest alley is Calle Varisco in the Cannaregio area measuring only 53 centimetres in width.
Island of Murano
One of the most famous islands in the Venetian lagoon, famous for its centuries-old tradition of glassmaking. It is about 1.5 kilometres north of Venice and can easily be reached by vaporetto (a journey of just over 10 minutes).
I say island, but it’s actually 7 smaller islands connected by bridges. Anyway, together it’s about a mile and a half square, so it’s walkable.
Local glassmakers have developed or perfected many techniques, including the production of crystal, gold thread glass (aventurine) and multicoloured glass (millefiori). The island’s glass workshops are still in operation, and with a bit of luck you can watch the master glassmakers at work. Some workshops also offer glassblowing demonstrations and tours. Workshops can also be booked and you can try your hand at blowing something yourself.
At the Museo del Vetro (Museum of Glass) you can learn more about the history of glassmaking and see interesting exhibits.
Also worthy of note is the still-functioning, 35-metre high Murano Lighthouse.
The island of Burano
About 7 kilometres northeast of Venice, you can also get here by vaporetto, both from Venice and Murano. And yes, both islands can be easily reached in one day. Again, this is actually an island of 4 islands connected by bridges. The area is not even a quarter of a square kilometer. The best views of the colourful city are from the Tre Ponti bridge.
Burano is charming with its brightly coloured houses, the bright colours were originally used by fishermen as landmarks in the fog, nowadays they are just pretty. But changing the colour of a house has to be approved by the town council!
Burano is famous for its long tradition of lace production. It used to be a highly sought-after commodity in Europe and even today Burano lace is at least a nice souvenir.
Of course, there is also the Lace Museum, which presents the rich history of this craft.
What to taste in Venice
Venice is undoubtedly a good place to sample the full spectrum of great Italian cuisine, but in addition to pizza and pasta of all kinds, you’ll also find some truly local specialities. In Venetian bars you’ll often see cicchetti, little one-offs with seafood or vegetables.
A favourite dish in the region is bigoli in salsa, a thicker spaghetti with ragout. Risotto ale nero di sepia is a black risotto coloured with sepia ink. Incidentally, the Veneto region is also home to the popular dessert tiramisu, as well as prosecco and Aperol Spritz.
A speciality on the island of Burano are bussolai biscuits in the shape of aces or rings.
For Venetian cuisine, head to the local trattorias and osterias, while the best seafood can be found at the Rialto Market, the heart of Venetian culinary life.
Where to eat in Venice
One of the oldest bars in Venice where you can taste cicchetti is Cantina Do Mori or the popular All’Arco.
New: entry fee to Venice
In 2024, Venice will introduce paid entry to the city (the historic centre). This entry is 5 euros if you book at least 4 days in advance, or 10 euros if you buy at the last minute. You pay at the official portal of the city. It’s not like there’s a payment gate at the entrance of the city, it’s like on a bus – you buy a ticket and when the “inspector” comes, you have to prove yourself.
However, the entrance fee is only applicable during the high season (second half of April to mid-July) and only on days with the highest tourism, typically weekends and long weekends. And it only applies if you are in Venice between 8.30-16.00 and you don’t have accommodation (hotel) there.
In other words, if you go to Venice for a few days and stay there, you pay nothing (just book your hotel in advance). If you’re just having Venice as a stopover on your trip and you won’t be staying there, then ideally plan for non-paid days, during the week.
Water in Venice
Ubiquitous water is an integral part of life in Venice, bringing both challenges and unique charms.
Acqua Alta: flooding in Venice
You’ve probably seen this in some videos from Venice. High water, acqua alta, is a common problem in Venice, especially during the winter. Most flooding (an average of 3 to 4 days of flooding per month) occurs between November and February.
Venice defends itself against flooding with the MOSE system, which are movable gates that protect the city from tides. In addition, there are raised walkways (passerelle) that allow movement during floods. In some restaurants or cafes you can sit at tables in the water, the waiters are used to it, they have high boots.
Vaporetto: water transport around Venice
Water transport is the main way to get around in Venice. Vaporettos, water buses, regularly connect the main sights and surrounding islands.
You can also take a water taxi or gondola.
If you are planning more frequent journeys, the Waterbus and Mainland bus pass is worthwhile, allowing unlimited travel on the vaporetto for 1, 2 or 3 days or a week. You can buy it at ofcial outlets or better online before you arrive (as well as a 75 minute single ticket). It is valid from the first validation (so you can buy it in advance) and it will also get you to the islands of Murano and Burano.
How Venice came to be
The islets and marshes interspersed with canals and lagoons between the mouths of the Po and Piave rivers were originally inhabited only by fishermen, whom the Romans called incolae lacunae (lagoon dwellers) with slight contempt. However, during the raids on Italy, many people began to migrate here, as the shallow marshes served quite well as a defence against raids from the sea.
Suddenly more people wanted to live here than the mainland could hold. So they started draining lakes and dredging canals to get more land. And they built light houses on that (because the swampy soil wasn’t so firm). There was no farmland either, they lived off fishing, sea voyages and trade. There were large docks in Venice where they built trading and warships.
Everything Venice needed was brought in by ship. The maritime connection to the world allowed them to import anything, not only things, but also knowledge and skills. These were then honed to perfection, such as silk making, printing or glassmaking. In their time, they were also the largest transshipment point for Asian spices (which were in great demand) in Europe.
Thanks to trade , Venice prospered and became a wealthy city. This was reflected in the local architecture and ornate houses.
When to go to Venice
Venice has a Mediterranean climate with significant differences between the seasons. In winter (December to February), Venice is cold and there are frequent morning fogs (which has its own charm). Spring and autumn are ideal for walking around the city, but in autumn there is a greater chance of rain. In summer, Venice is quite hot.
In winter, it should be mentioned that Venice may be flooded in some places. This can make getting around the city a bit more difficult (ideally if you bring boots), but I think it’s also a nice, authentic, experience.
If you want to avoid the larger crowds, don’t go on weekends or during Carnival in summer (February/March). The Venetian Carnival, on the other hand, is another quite tempting experience.
Where is Venice
Venice (Venezia) is in the north-east of Italy in the Veneto region, in the lagoon of the Adriatic Sea. It is spread over 118 islands of the Venetian lagoon, which is separated from the sea by a narrow strip of land called the Lido. The islets are connected by a network of canals and more than 400 bridges. The main centre of Venice, where tourists go, is on the Rialto.
The main access point to the town is via the Ponte della Libertà bridge, which connects the mainland of Mestre with the historic centre on the islands.
How to get to Venice
From Prague it is just over 800 kilometres to Venice, from Brno it is a little closer. From Prague, the Flixbus runs directly or with a change in Graz, from Brno with a change in Vienna. You can also take a train, even an overnight train, but all options are more expensive and longer than flying.
Venice has 2 airports: Marco Polo (Venice Marco Polo Airport, about 13 km from the centre) and Treviso (Aeroporto di Treviso Antonio Canova, about 40 km from the centre). A direct flight from Prague or Vienna takes less than an hour and a half. Low-cost airlines (Ryanair) fly to Treviso, the price of a ticket is usually under 1500 CZK.
From Marco Polo Airport to the city centre
From the airport you can take the ATVO or ACTV bus to Piazzale Roma, a journey of about 20 minutes. Or you can use the water transport, the vaporetto, to take you to Piazza San Marco and other stops in the centre. It takes about an hour this way, but I think it’s such a nice and thematic way to arrive in Venice. The bus is a bit cheaper.
From Treviso Airport to the city centre
Ironically, the journey from Treviso airport can be cheaper than from Marco Polo if you take a bus to Treviso station and then a train to Venice (to Santa Lucia). Without changing buses, you can take the ATVO or Barzi Bus to Piazalle Roma, the journey takes about an hour.
