LAST UPDATED: 2/5/24 – The Ultimate Venice Travel Guide
Few places in Europe, if not the world, are as romantic as the city of Venice in Italy. World-renowned for its beautiful canals, Venice is one of the most romanticized cities in the world. It doesn’t get much more romantic than a ride on the Grand Canal at sunset. However, Venice is also a spectacular destination for other reasons. Its incredible food, shopping, and architecture are all great reasons to visit.
However, most people don’t know much about Venice beyond its beautiful canals and buildings. For instance, many don’t know that the Carnival Festival is one of the world’s most treasured festivals.
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| The 15 Best World Festivals to Attend |
In this Venice travel guide, I am going to give you all of the information you need to become more familiar with this wonderful city. This will make it much easier for you to plan your own amazing adventure to Venice. I will cover the essential passport, currency, and vaccination information that you need.
In addition, I will also outline accommodation options at different price points. If you are looking for restaurant recommendations, I provide a number of those for you to review as well. Finally, I will provide you with the top things to see while you are in Venice so you can make the most of your trip.
Venice Travel Guide Navigation Menu
At a Glance
Before you start making any travel plans, you need to be sure you meet the country’s entrance requirements. This includes all of the passport, VISA, and immunization requirements for Italy.
In addition, you need to make sure you have a clear understanding of what languages they speak in Italy. This way, you can plan any translation needs you may have. Not only that, but you will need to know what currency they use in Italy. Knowing this, you can plan to exchange currency before your trip if necessary.
I have included some of this key information in my Venice travel guide below for you to review as you start to make your travel plans.
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Passport requirements exist. See below for details. |
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Immunization recommendations are listed below. |
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The official language in Italy is Italian. |
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The official currency in Italy is the Euro. |
Passport Requirements
When visiting Italy, you must have at least 6 months of validity on your passport beyond the date on which you are planning on arriving in the country. You will also need to have at least two blank passport pages to be processed into the country.
Presently, you do not need to have a Visa if you are planning on staying in the Schengen area of the EU for less than 90 days, but starting in 2025 American citizens will be required to get a European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) authorization. Before you start making your travel plans, I would strongly suggest you review the passport requirements I have laid out in my Venice travel guide below.
| Passport Validity | Blank Passport Pages | Tourist VISA Required? |
|---|---|---|
| Six months validity recommended, at least 3 months validity beyond your planned date of departure from the Schengen area. | Two pages required for entry stamp. | Not required for stays under 90 days. |
Travel Immunizations
Before you leave for your trip to Venice, Italy, you need to make sure you have all of the proper vaccinations. Not only to protect yourself but to protect others. If you have questions on what immunizations you will need and what to look out for when you go to get them, I can help. In my Venice travel guide below are some general guidelines I can pass on to you from experience.
Travel Vaccination Advice
- Most specialized travel clinics will not accept insurance, so you will have to pay for your travel consultation and immunizations and then request reimbursement from your insurance company later.
- Some immunizations aren’t accepted by every insurance company, so check with your insurance provider before getting your immunizations.
- Check with your regular doctor first, as often they can do a travel consultation for you and write you the necessary prescriptions for your immunizations, even if they aren’t able to give them to you. This way you can ensure that at least your travel consultation will be covered by your insurance up-front.
- Check with Walgreens or other drug stores that give flu shots to see if they have any of the immunization shots that you require before going to a specialized clinic that doesn’t accept insurance to get them. Walgreens can give you many of the immunizations necessary for international travel, and they accept insurance up-front.
- The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) website can be a great resource for answering any travel immunization questions that you have.
Italy Vaccination Recommendations
You may be unsure of what travel vaccinations you might need. In this case, I have compiled a list below of some of what you might expect your physician to recommend.
- Hepatitis A & B (if you haven’t had them).
- Tetanus (if you aren’t current).
- Rabies (if you are going to be working in close contact with animals).
- Dukoral (gives you 3-month protection against travel diarrhea).
- Flu Shot
Top Things to See and Do in Venice, Italy
Venice is an absolutely beautiful city with no shortage of amazing things to see and do. If you are planning a trip to Venice soon, I have listed some of my favorite things to see and do below. I would plan on spending at least a few days in the city. This way, you can have all of the wonderful experiences I have listed in my Venice travel guide below.
Admire the Splendor of the Grand Canal
The Grand Canal in Venice is something that needs little to no introduction. When most people think of Venice, their first thoughts are of gondola rides on big expansive canals within the city. In Venice, there is no canal as big or as impressive as the Grand Canal. At roughly 2 miles long, it is one of the major transportation corridors used to navigate throughout the city.
There are several vantage spots that you can use to admire and get photographs of the Grand Canal. The best places to view the canal and get your photographs is from one of the four bridges that cross the canal. I have included a map and descriptions of these bridges for you to review in my Venice travel guide below.
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Ponte della Costituzione | A modern bridge with glass rails that opened in 2008. |
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Ponte degli Scalzi | Nicknamed the “shoeless bridge” after barefoot monks that frequented, it connects the nearby train station with the Santa Croce neighborhood. |
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Ponte di Rialto | Arguably the most famous bridge in Venice. This shop-lined bridge sits on the canal’s lazy bend and has some of the most spectacular views of the Grand Canal. |
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Ponte dell’Accadmia | This wooden bridge dates back to 1985 when the original bridge was replaced and connects the San Marco neighborhood to the Accademia Gallery in Dorsoduro. |
Visit Doge’s Palace
This beautiful Venetian-style palace used to be the home of the Doge of Venice. This is who ruled over the Venetian Republic before Italy became a unified country. Turned into a museum in 1923, the Doge’s Palace can be toured by visitors to Venice to this day.
The palace is open Sunday through Thursday from 8:30am until 9:00pm with extended hours on Friday and Saturday where it closes at 11:00pm. Tickets cost 25 euros for adults and 13 euros for children under 14, students between 15 and 25, and those over the age of 65.
See the Beautiful Saint Mark’s Cathedral
Arguably the most famous building in Venice is Saint Mark’s Basilica. The Basilica di San Marco is also a beautiful example of Italo-Byzantine architecture. The church is located on the eastern side of Venice in Piazza San Marco (Saint Mark’s Square) and is open to the public for masses and tours. When visiting the church, please be aware that no photographs are allowed inside the church, and talking should be reduced to a whisper.
Stop at the Rialto Bridge
The Rialto Bridge isn’t just another bridge over the Grand Canal. Because of its beauty, it is also one of the city’s most popular tourist attractions. The Bridge itself is beautifully designed and has an aesthetic appeal visually, but it also crosses the Grand Canal in one of the prettiest locations.
The bridge is arguably the most popular selfie location in the city. Each day, flocks of people visit the bridge to get their picture taken with the lazy curve of the Grand Canal in the background.
PRO TIP: If you want to get a selfie on the Rialto Bridge, I recommend waking up really early to get your shots. Not only will there be fewer people to contend with for the prime photo spots, but you can also get some pretty fantastic sunrise shots (as the map in my Venice travel guide below shows).
Take a Gondola Ride Through the City
No trip to Venice is complete without taking a Gondola ride through the canals of the city. What is one of the most popular forms of transportation within the city is also one of the most romantic things you can do in the city. The tranquility of floating through the city as you pass beautiful old buildings and under quaint arched bridges is an experience every visitor to Venice should have.
Check Out the Bridge of Sighs
While the Rialto Bridge may be the most famous in Venice, the Bridge of Sighs may be the most beautiful. This fully enclosed bridge is made of white limestone and includes two windows with stone bars that look out over the Rio di Palazzo.
The bridge connects the new prison and interrogation rooms within Doge’s Palace, which explains both its beauty and design. If you take a gondola ride, make sure you ask your gondola operator to take you under the Bridge of Sighs.
Have Lunch in Saint Mark’s Square
What better way to enjoy Saint Mark’s Square and the beauty of Venice than to have lunch outside of Saint Mark’s Basilica. If you like to people-watch, then you will absolutely love having lunch in this location. You are right in the heart of the action and can sit and watch the hustle and bustle of Venice as you enjoy a drink and some food. Two restaurants that are located right in Saint Mark’s Square are Caffè Florian and Caffè Lavena.
Go to the Top of the San Marco Campanile
San Marco Campanile is the bell tower for Saint Mark’s Cathedral. It is hard to miss as it is one of the most visible landmarks on Venice’s skyline. However, as beautiful as the tower is to look at, the views of Venice from the top of the tower are absolutely breathtaking. You can really appreciate the beauty of this historical city from a bird’s-eye view.
Buy Some Beautiful Glass in Murano
If you are looking to purchase a souvenir or two when in Venice, I would strongly suggest that you think about making a trip to the island of Murano to shop for some of the stunningly beautiful glass that they make there.
The hand-blown glass vases, figurines, and other beautiful items are stunning and make excellent keepsakes to remember your time in Venice. If you want some recommendations on where to start your shopping, TripAdvisor has a wonderful guide on the Best Shopping in Murano. For information on Murano glass tours, please see the Unique Experience tours that I listed in the Recommended Tours section below.
Visit the Basilica di Santa Maria Della Salute
Known around Venice as simply the Salute, the Basilica di Santa Maria Della Salute is a Roman Catholic Church. While it isn’t quite as beautiful or as famous as Saint Mark’s Basilica, it is a beautiful church that is well worth touring. If you would like to visit the church, make sure you check the official website for visiting hours.
How to Get to Venice, Italy
If you aren’t familiar with Venice or where it is located, it sits on the Northeast coast of Italy, just south of the Italian Alps and across the Adriatic Sea from Slovenia and Croatia. For those planning on flying into Venice from outside of Italy, there is a major international airport that can fly into Venice that is located on the mainland of Italy.
If you are visiting from another city in Italy or elsewhere in Europe, you can access Venice by either train or car. To assist you in deciding which option is best for you, I cover both of these options below. No matter how you travel to Venice, the only way to access the actual city from the mainland is by water taxi. I provide you with some information on how to access the water taxis and which route they follow in my Venice travel guide below.
Getting to Venice by Train
If you are visiting Venice from elsewhere in Italy or Europe, traveling by train is probably the best option. The train system in most of Europe, including Italy, is very good and very reasonably priced. To give you an idea of how long it will take to get to Venice from elsewhere in Italy, I have provided a map in my Venice travel guide below that outlines some of the estimated travel times from other large Italian cities.
If you are going to be traveling to several different destinations within Italy, I would consider getting an Italian Rail Pass. While this will not get you onto any of the country’s privately operated trains, it will cover you for any train on the Italian State Railway (Ferrovie dello Stato Italiano).
However, you will want to keep in mind that you will need to book a reservation on most of the trains that you take in Italy. In addition to the cost of the rail pass, you will need to pay a small fee to book your train reservations. For more information, including estimating costs, I would recommend checking out Rick Steve’s excellent guide on Italian Rail Passes and Train Trips.
Getting to Venice by Car
If you are planning on traveling elsewhere in Italy or Europe and you would prefer to have the flexibility of having your own vehicle with you, I have included some information in my Venice travel guide below on how to get to Venice from some of the other large cities in Italy.
From Milan
If you are driving from Milan to Venice, I have included a map with driving directions for you to review below.
From Turin
If you are driving from Turin to Venice, I have included a map with driving directions for you to review below.
From Bologna
If you are driving from Bologna to Venice, I have included a map with driving directions for you to review below.
To get to Venice by car, you will take the highway A4 autostrada that runs east-west across Northern Italy. This highway connects the major cities in Northern Italy, such as Turin, Milan, Verona, and Venice. You will exit Highway A4 at Venezia-Mestre and follow the signs for Venezia – Centro Storico.
This will take you to Via della Libertà in Mestre. From there, you will keep following the signs for “Venezia” and Centro Storico until you get to the major causeway over the lagoon called Ponte della Libertà. I have included a detailed map in my Venice travel guide below for you to review.
On the other side of the causeway is a large square called Piazzale Roma, which is the major bus terminal in Venice and a turn-around spot for cars. This is the only spot in Venice that is accessible by car and the place in which you will need to park your car while you are in Venice.
From here, you will need to rely on water taxis and gondolas to get from place to place in Venice. There are three main parking lots where you can park your car, which I detail in my Venice travel guide below for your reference.
Parking Options
| Public garage on Piazzale Roma | View on Map | €23.40–€29 per day |
| Private garage on Tronchetto | View on Map | €21 per day |
| The public lot at S. Giuliano | View on Map | €12 per day |
Getting a Water Taxi
No matter how you plan on getting to Venice, you are going to need to use a water taxi to get your bags, as well as yourself, to your place of accommodation once you arrive. If you are flying into Venice or taking a train to the city, you can catch a water taxi from the Lido S.M.E. station which is on the mainland of Italy. From there the water taxi will take you to the docking station that is closest to your hotel or hostel.
If you are planning on driving to Venice, you will need to park your car, as I outline in the driving section above, and then catch a water taxi at the Piazzale Roma or Tronchetto station. From here, the water taxi will take you to the docking station that is closest to your hotel or hostel. When you are finished with your stay in Venice, you will want to have a water taxi take you back to the same station so that you can pick up your car.
Best Time to Visit Venice, Italy
Average Temperature (°F)
The best time of year to visit Venice from a temperature standpoint is the summer months of June through August, as this is when daytime temps are warmest, and the evening temps aren’t cold. However, this is also the busiest time of year in Venice, which means you will have a lot more crowds to deal with. In the winter months of December through February, it can get quite cool in Venice, but the number of visitors in the city is typically the lowest.
Average Precipitation (Inches)
The city of Venice gets a decent amount of rain throughout the year with the wettest month being November and the driest month of the year being February. If you are looking to avoid the summer crowds and the rain and cold temps, I would suggest looking at April, May, September, or October. The late spring and early autumn have the best combination of nice weather and sparse crowds out of all the months of the year.
Where to Stay in Venice, Italy
If you are planning to spend several days in Venice, which I would strongly recommend as there are so many wonderful things to see and do in the city, then you are going to want to find accommodations within the city. To assist you in finding the accommodations that are right for you, I have included a map and list of some of the most recommended accommodations in Venice at different price points in my Venice travel guide below for you to review.
Where to Eat in Venice, Italy
As is true with much of Italy, the food in Venice is absolutely fantastic. If you are a foodie, you are going to love trying all of the amazing restaurants in the city. To assist you in planning some of the culinary adventures during your stay, I have included a list of some of the most recommended restaurants in Venice for you to review in my Venice travel guide below.
| Restaurant | Cuisine Type | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Arcicchetti Bakaro | Italian, Wine Bar | $ |
| Ristorante Alle Corone | Italian, Seafood | $$$$ |
| Ristorante San Silvestro | Italian | $$ – $$$ |
| La Bottiglia | Wine Bar, Street Food | $ |
| Cantina Arnaldi | Italian, Bar | $$ – $$$ |
| Pako’s Pizza & Pasta | Italian, Pizza | $ |
| Ristorante Centrale | Italian, Pizza | $$ – $$$ |
| Riviera | Italian, Seafood | $$$$ |
| Impronta | Italian, Seafood | $$-$$$ |
| Osteria Alla Ciurma | Wine Bar, Street Food | $ |
Recommended Tours and Excursions in Venice
In addition to being a beautiful city, Venice is also a very active city. No trip to Venice can be complete without taking a cultural tour or excursion to truly appreciate everything the city has to offer. If you are looking for a tour or excursion to take while in Venice, I have included some highly recommended tours for you to review in my Venice travel guide below.
Recommended Sightseeing Tours
Recommended Unique Experience Tours
Recommended Gondola Ride Tours
Recommended Wine Tasting Tours
Recommended Culinary Tours
Recommended Water Transfers
Venice, Italy Photo Gallery
I absolutely loved my time in Venice. It is such a beautiful city that it makes photographing it extremely easy. Below is a gallery of just some of the beautiful pictures I was able to take while visiting Venice.
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Simply awesome
Thank you so much!! 😀
Fantastic post. We currently have no plans to return to Italy, but if we ever do, I’m quite torn about Venice. I haven’t been (the husband has), but I’ve heard just so many bad things about it being overrun with tourists (naturally, we’d have to go in the busy summer months). I guess I don’t need to worry about it now… just thinking out loud.
Thank you!! Yeah, it is definitely one of the busiest tourist destinations in the world. The crowds can be pretty insane. We went in late October and the crowds weren’t as bad, but I know people who have gone in the summer and said the crowds were pretty bad.
Yeah, I think we’ll need to wait until retirement so we can go outside of peak tourist season.