Many people dream about a trip to Venice. One of the reasons some decide not to go is because they think that it will be too expensive. There is no doubt that a short weekend trip can be quite expensive depending on where you stay. It doesn’t need to be expensive though and there are plenty of options for those on a budget. The first time I visited Venice was with my wife. We found a very nice apartment on AirBnB. My wife, being Italian, was also insistent that we stayed away from the ‘tourist’ restaurants. This meant the meals were much cheaper. In her opinion also of a better quality and more authentic. Getting around by taking a boat from the airport will start costing you money as soon as you arrive. Take the train from the airport to Venezia Santa Lucia instead. Water taxis are not cheap but walking around Venice is easy and enjoyable. Venice, being serviced by its own airport, makes it convenient for shorter breaks. There are direct flights into Marco Polo airport from many countries. It is also an great place to start a trip across Italy. So really it is down to how much you want to spend. Either way you will be amazed at sights including the Grand Canal and St Mark’s Basilica. As you explore you will be amazed at every street you walk down or canal you travel. After Rome this has to be the next Italian city to visit.
Key Sights
St Marks Square and Basilica – St Marks Square (Piazza San Marco) was the former centre of the Republic of Venice. Today it is still the main centre of the city. The main part of the square is enclosed on three sides by long arched arcade. The buildings under these arcades are now shops and restaurants. In former years they were homes and offices to the Venetian elite and government officials. The Basilica is located at the end of the piazza. It is a Byzantine, Romanesque and Gothic cathedral so architecturally is of much interest. It was modelled on the Church of the Holy Apostles in Constantinople. Various accounts exist about what happened to the remains of St Mark. One of these points to his remains being taken back to Venice. In any case the Basilica is a tribute to one of the gospel writers. St Mark’s Campanile is next to the Basilica and is the Basilica’s bell tower. To the side of the Basilica and moving out of the main square is Piazzetta dei Leoncini. Here you can find the famous St Mark’s Clocktower. This is a very brief oversight of the square and basilica. For those interested in architecture, history and art there are many more things to see in this small area. If this is your interest and you like taking your time you can easily spend a few days here.
Doge’s Palace and the Bridge of Sighs – If you are in St Mark’s Square or the Basilica then you next to Doge’s Palace. This was the residence of the former elected official of the Republic of Venice. It also housed the former government offices. It was originally built in the ninth century and was extended in the fourteenth century. The architecture of the building is of the Venetian Gothic style. In 1923 it became one of the 12 museums run by the City of Venice. Inside the Palace is a courtyard with the Giant’s Staircase guarded by the statues of Mars and Neptune. Inside the palace is the Museo dell’Opera displaying many famous pieces of sculptural art from over the years. There are also the apartments and the Great Chamber to see on a tour of the palace. For those looking for ‘darker’ medieval history there is the Chamber of Torment, the prison and the armoury to explore. Connecting the Palace and the prison is the famous Bridge of Sighs.
Grand Canal and Rialto Bridge – The Grand Canal flows through the centre of Venice. Many of the smaller canals find their way into the Grand Canal. Although it can be seen from many locations the most popular is generally around the Rialto Bridge. This is where many of the quintessential photos of the Grand Canal are taken. If you want to see some of the sights from the Canal then boat trips are available. As the canal can get a little choppy at times we suggest a boat trip rather than a gondola. This way you would also see more and save some money. About halfway along the Grand Canal is a famous Rialto Bridge (Ponte di Rialto). This is a pedestrian bridge linking the two sides of of the Canal. On the bridge are shops selling souvenirs. You will certainly want a photo of the bridge for the collection.
Food and Drink – Our tip here is to get away from the main tourist places. If it is your first time visiting Venice then it is probably bigger than you imagined. There are many places off the tourists route. Here you will not only save yourself some money but also have a more authentic experience.
Further Afield – Venice is 4km east to west and almost 3km north to south at its longest point. To give you an idea 4km is around the width of Manhattan. There are 6 districts on Venice and some of these are off the tourist routes. Cannaregio is the district that has the Jewish quarter in it. Here you will find the Jewish museum, Synagogues, Jewish shops and restaurants serving Kosher food. Dorsoduro is on the south side of the Island. This has many students in the district and is home to the Peggy Guggenheim Museum.
For the more adventurous or those wanted to explore further the Islands of Murano and Burano are options. These are smaller versions of Venice and there are plenty of days trips available. Many will be aware that Murano is famous for its glass products. On Burano you will be impressed with the colourful streets lining the canals. Murano is very close to Venice and although a little further away Burano is still close.
Getting Around – If it’s your first time you may decide to take a water taxis. These will help you get around the Island and have the advantage of not getting lost. They will obviously save you some time but they are not cheap. If you have limited ability then this is a good option to make the most out of your stay. Having said this part of the enjoyment is walking around. If you have a few days in Venice then you can take your time. Without rushing you can take in the atmosphere and see more of the canals and pathways. Gondolas are a nice addition to a trip but they are slow. If you intend to get around this way it will take up time and cost you more.
