Travelers' pro tips for experiencing Venice
Mike M
Venice is also the Lido, Murano, and Burano. Move out and (away) from the train and cruise ship area to find surprises.
davnan1
Use the vaporettos and buy a three-day trip ticket at the bus station. Walking from the Arsenale vaporetto stop to the Biennale Gardens is reasonably easy. The Biennale is expensive.
SydneyConcordian
Take a supply of one euro and 50 euro cent coins for toilets for the 1.50 cost to "spend a penny."
In the words of those who've been there before ...
Vermonters210
Venice is a magical place with tons of things to see and do. Many activities are free, others have a modest (and occasionally not-so-modest) cost. We love to wander the streets, poke among the incredible food markets, see the incredible architecture and still get away from the crowds. La Serenissima!
TravelFranceOnline
Art lovers, Venice awaits you! This magnificent city boasts an exceptional cultural, architectural and artistic heritage! You’ll be delighted as you don’t need to spend a fortune to admire the great Venetian Masters’ paintings! Forget galleries, museums and entrance fees, and visit the city’s churches. You’ll be surprised to discover how many of Titian's, Tintoretto's or Veronese's masterpieces adorn their walls and ceilings.
DavidREssexUK
Venice is like no other place. It's a location where you can immerse yourself in history, marvel and enjoy the art and architecture, enjoy a car-free environment, people watch and above all, get purposely lost and find the true hidden gems around every corner.
What is the best way to get there?
Flying:
The main airport in Venice is Marco Polo International Airport (VCE), which offers service to/from many destinations across the globe on most major airlines. Treviso Airport (TSF) in nearby Treviso is another option for smaller carriers.
Train:
Venezia St. Lucia is Venice’s main station, offering domestic and international train service. Venezia Mestre station offers local and regional service.
Bus:
Omio and Flixbus offer service to Venice from several European cities.
For more info on getting to Venice, visit here.
Do I need a visa?
Since Italy is one of the 26 Shengen Area countries, tourists from those countries do not need a visa for visits less than 90 days, but passports must be valid for at least six months after departure dates. The same goes for Americans.
When is the best time to visit?
Winter: Winter in Venice sees crowds thin, the mercury drop, and “acqua alta” (high water) potentially flood the canals — but it’s also a prime time to snag a deal. Average daily temperatures this time of year are highs of 43 Fahrenheit (6 Celsius) and lows of 32 Fahrenheit (0 Celsius). To experience the city at its most atmospheric, coincide your trip with November's Arte Biennale or March's Carnevale.
Public Transport
While walking is a wonderful way to get around Venice and its 118 islands, ACTV operates the city’s public transportation, Download its daAab app to buy tickets for vaporettos (waterbuses), buses and the airport shuttle here. For more info on ACTV, including schedules, routes, and fares, see here.
Vaporettos
There are more than 150 vaporettos and larger vessels (battelli foranei) that travel to dozens of locations along the Grand Canal and islands.
People Mover
This monorail offers connections to PIazzale Roma transit hub, Marittima cruise ship terminal and Tronchetto parking island.
Trams
Two tram lines make 36 stops between mainland Venice and the city center
Buses
Buses can be found on mainland Venice as well as some of the smaller city islands.
Taxis/Water taxis
With many parts of Venice closed to traffic, taxi service is limited to Mestre and Lido. However, water taxis can be hired at several points in the city and can be expensive.
Rideshares
Uber and Lyft do not operate in Venice
Gondolas
Venice’s iconic gondolas are another way to get around, but they can be expensive, even before you tip your gondolier. Additionally, Gondolas 4 All offers service and wheelchair-accessible access for passengers with mobility issues.
For info on Gondolas 4 All, visit here.
Bikes
While BicinCitta is the city’s bike-share, and there are several bike rentals companies, biking is prohibited in central Venice, but you can bike around its larger islands.
For more info on BicinCitta, visit here.
On the ground
What is the timezone?
Central European Summer Time
What are the voltage/plug types?
Plugs and sockets are type F and L with standard voltage 230V and frequency 50 Hz.
What is the currency?
Euro.
Are ATMs readily accessible?
Yes.
Are credit cards widely accepted?
Yes.
Is it easy to find a bank?
Yes.
How much do I tip?
Restaurants
Tipping in Venice restaurants is not as common as it is in the U.S., though some eateries do add a service charge to your tab. In that case, you won’t need to give more, but obviously, if you were well-cared for, an extra few euros are certainly in order.
Bars
Italians generally tip their bartenders by rounding up their tabs to the nearest euro. (If you ate at the bar, though, throw down a few extra euros.)
Taxis
Tipping drivers is not common in Venice, though many passengers often round up to the nearest euro. But, if your driver is super helpful, one to three euros would suffice.
Concierge
Tip five to 10 euros if you sought their expertise to explore Venice or land a restaurant reservation (do give more if they got you into a hotspot or went above and beyond).
Bellhop
It’s standard to give one euro per bag.
Housekeeping
It’s common to tip at least one euro per each day of your stay. Some hotels leave envelopes for such tips, but if they don’t, a quick note saying “Thank you” will suffice.
Tour guides
Tipping a tour guide is one of the only tipping customs in Italy, and how much depends on the size and length of your tour. Per person, five euros is standard for a half-day excursion or 10 euros for full-day. It’s customary to give at least 10% of the total cost of a private tour.
Gondoliers
About 10% of the ride is common.
Are there local customs I should know?
Drinking
The legal drinking age in Venice is 18.
Drugs
Cannabis is legal for medical use in Italy.
Greetings
Some common greetings to know in Venice is “buongiorno” (hello/good morning), “ciao” (hello/goodbye) and “Buonasera” (good afternoon/good evening).
Walking
Be sure to keep right when walking in Venice (and anywhere, really).
