Venice Destination Guide (2024): What You Need to Know

Venice is a bucket list destination that you need to visit at least once in your lifetime! The network of canals are breathtaking to witness, with beautiful turquoise water and ornate bridges spanning from one island to the next. We visited Venice during Carnival, which is a magical time to be in the city. Many festival-goers don elaborate masks and costumes and parade through the streets. This makes for plenty of stunning photo opportunities. Venice is filled with gorgeous landmarks which makes exploring the area a real treat. Additionally, the city is home to some delicious food with our favourite being the bite sized Cicchetti. And of course a trip to Venice wouldn’t be complete without an iconic gondola ride care of a friendly gondolier! In this Venice destination guide, we cover everything you need to know to plan the perfect Venetian vacation.

Short on time? Here are our Venice Italy top recommendations:

Highlights: take a gondola ride down the Grand Canal of Venice, lose yourself in the winding alleyways of the city and cross charming bridges like Ponte di Rialto.

Activities: book your Venice Italy Tours with Get Your Guide.

Accommodation: we use Booking.com to find the best hotels.

Transport: TrainLine for trains and FlixBus for intercity buses.

Flights: find cheapest flights with cashback on WayAway.

Airport Lounge Access: start your holiday the right way with Priority Pass.

Travel Medical Insurance: SafetyWing Nomad Insurance is the ideal choice for long-term travellers and digital nomads.

What is Venice Italy famous for?

Venice, Italy’s floating city, is one of the most iconic cities in the world. With its canals, bridges and gondola rides, it offers a stunning and unique experience that lives up to its reputation. However, this city of water also faces some challenges. It has been gradually sinking over the years and is vulnerable to flooding. Venice is not only famous for its landscape and architecture, but also for its colourful Carnival festival, where people wear elaborate costumes and enjoy street parades and other events in the city.

Why you should visit Venice Italy

Venice absolutely lives up to the hype! We don’t often like heavily touristed destinations, but Venice is one of those rare exceptions. The city is just so unique and so stunningly beautiful that you really must see it for yourself. Known as the floating city or the city of bridges, Venice is built on 118 small islands that are connected together by over 400 bridges. Unsurprisingly, the lagoon and part of the city have been recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

There is absolutely nothing quite like taking a gondola ride down the canals of Venice. This in itself is reason enough to visit the beautiful City of Water. Gondolas have been in Venice since at least the 11^th century, and the profession is often handed down from father to son. In fact, there were no female gondoliers until 24-year-old Giorgia Boscolo became the first ever gondoliera in 2010. Licensed gondoliers must undergo a rigorous 400 hour course followed by a gondolier exam in order to obtain their official gondolier license. This high standard of quality control leads to a greater experience for the consumer.

Beyond the canals and gondolas, Venice is a city of architectural beauty. Wandering down the narrow laneways and exploring all the corners of the city is an experience in itself. Venice also has a vibrant food scene, with plenty of restaurants ready to tempt your taste buds. Finally, as a memento of your trip, Venice has some distinctive souvenirs on offer such as colourful Venetian masks or high quality Venetian glass.

Venice does face some challenges, including pollution, excessive tourism and the fact that the city is slowly sinking. These issues are currently being addressed, so now is the perfect time to go and see the city for yourself!

Venice Destination Guide: Know before you go

Basic info about Venice Italy

• City name in Italian – Venezia
• Language – Italian. The Venetan language is the regional language spoken in Venice. Many people in hotels, restaurants and other tourist businesses will be able to speak English, but not everyone will be able to speak English.
• Currency – euro (EUR). This has been the official currency of Italy since 2002. Currency exchanges can be found in most cities and ATMs are available widely throughout the country.
• Population – 262,000 (2017)
• Area – 145 km² (56 sq mi)
• Province – Venice
• Region – Veneto. Venice is the capital of this region.
• Emergency number – 112 or 114 (sms or fax)
• Police number – 17

Utilities in Venice Italy

• Electricity – Italy uses Types C, F and L power plugs. The country operates on a 230v supply voltage at 50Hz. Power outages are not common in Italy. However in some places you need to be careful not to use too many appliances at once or you’ll overload the system.
• Water – the tap water in Italy is safe to drink almost everywhere in the country. However there are a some very rural areas may not have water that’s safe to drink. In particular, if you see a sign that says “acqua non potabile”, that means the water is not safe to drink.
• Toilets – sit-down flushing toilets are the most common type of toilet in Italy. You can flush your toilet paper directly into the bin. Additionally, bidets are a common feature of many bathrooms. Public toilets are common in Italy. However many public toilets charge a fee anywhere from 50 cents to 1 euro to use.
• Telephone country code: +39

Where is Venice Italy?

Venice is in the province of Venice in the Veneto region of northern Italy. It is a port city on the Adriatic Sea.

The closest major Italian cities to Venice are Verona, Bologna, Trieste as well as Milan. Venice is 1 hour by train from Verona, 1.5 hours by train from Bologna, 2 hours by train from Trieste and 2.5 hours by train from Milan.

How to get to Venice Italy

Venice destination guide: Arriving by land

Venice Italy intercity land transport

The main transport options for travelling overland to Venice Italy are:

• Private vehicle
• Private transport operator
• Shuttle Bus – ATVO provides a shuttle bus service between Venice Marco Polo Airport and the city. A one way ticket costs 10 euro (price as at 2024). The journey time is around 15 minutes. For more information, see this website: https://www.atvo.it/en-venice-airport.html
• Train
• Bus
• Bike

Driving to Venice from within Italy

If you are driving to Venice from within Italy, here are the travel times and distances:

• Verona – 1 hour 17 minutes (121km 75miles) with tolls or 2 hours 29 minutes (152km, 94miles) without tolls
• Bologna – 1 hour 37 minutes (154km, 96miles) with tolls or 2 hours 55 minutes (163km, 101miles) without tolls
• Trieste – 1 hour 49 minutes (159km, 99miles) with tolls or 2 hours 46 minutes (158km, 98miles) without tolls
• Milan – 2 hours 50 minutes (266km, 165miles) with tolls or 2 hours 42 minutes (306km, 190miles) without tolls
• Rome – 5 hours 7 minutes (526km, 327miles) with tolls or 6 hours 30 minutes (505km, 314miles) without tolls

Intercity trains to Venice Italy

Trains are a cheap and efficient way to get to Venice Italy. Venice has 2 intercity stations in use. The main train station in Venice is the Venezia Mestre railway station. The secondary station is Venezia Santa Lucia.

The main railway company in Italy is called Trenitalia.

We recommend using the app and website TrainLine to book intercity train tickets in Italy. This is the app we used. We found it very easy to use with great functionality. Another great feature is that you can see days ahead to see what times of the day were the cheapest rates.

High speed train brands servicing Venice

• Frecciarossa – this is one of Italy’s high speed services. It is operated by Trenitalia.
• Frecciargento – this is one of Italy’s high speed services. It is operated by Trenitalia.
• Frecciabianca – this is one of Italy’s high speed services. It is operated by Trenitalia.
• Italo – these are high speed trains on a limited number of routes that are privately run by the NTV company. The trains reach speeds of 190miles/hour (300km/h, 186mph). They offer 2^nd class, 1^st class and premier 1^st class services. Italo trains are competitively priced compared to AV trains and they offer onboard services like free wifi, catering, a snack area and an entertainment portal as well as Italo Club Lounges at the station.
• Railjet – a high speed rail service operating across Europe.

Non-high speed train brands servicing Venice

• Intercity (IC) – this is a non-high speed rail service. These services travel between the major towns and cities in Italy and make more frequent stops than the high speed rail services.
• Intercity Notte – this is a non-high speed night rail service. These services travel between the major towns and cities in Italy and make more frequent stops than the high speed rail services. It is operated by Trenitalia.
• Regional Trains – these are the slowest and cheapest trains. Reservations may or may not be available and they may not have amenities like air-conditioning or first class cars. The types of Regional Trains available are InterRegionale (IR), Regionale (R), Diretto (D) and Espresso (E). Be sure to validate your ticket at a ticket stamping machine at the station before boarding your train.
• Eurocity services (Trenitalia, SBB, CFF and FSS) – these services connect cities across different countries in Europe.
• Euronight services – these are night services that connect cities across different countries in Europe.

Intercity buses to Venice Italy

A common way to get around Italy is by using intercity buses. These are a budget friendly alternative to trains, but are generally a slower option. Intercity bus companies in Italy include Marino Autolinee, Itabus, Autolinee Federico, Interbus as well as FlixBus. Popular bus destinations from Venice include:

• Verona Italy – travel time 1.5-2 hours. Tickets start from 8 euro one way.
• Trieste Italy – travel time 2-3 hours. Tickets start from 9 euro one way.
• Ljubljana Slovenia – travel time 3.5-5 hours. Tickets start from 17 euro one way.
• Milan Italy – travel time 3-4 hours. Tickets start from 15 euro one way.
• Florence Italy – travel time 3.5-5.5 hours. Tickets start from 12 euro one way.

Venice destination guide: Arriving by air

The nearest major airport to Venice is Venice Marco Polo Airport (Airport code VCE). This airport is also known as Venice Airport. It is located 8km (5miles) north of the city.

Other nearby airports include:

• Treviso Airport (Airport code TSF). This airport is 26km (16miles) away.
• Trieste – Friuli Venezia Giulia Airport (Airport code TRS). This airport is 99km (62miles) away
• Verona Villafranca Airport (Airport code VRN). This airport is 113km (70miles) away.

The national airline of Italy is ITA Airways (Italia Trasporto Aereo).

Venice destination guide: Arriving by boat

The city of Venice is on the Adriatic Sea (which is an arm of the Mediterranean Sea). The Port of Venice is the 8th-busiest commercial port in Italy. It is a major hub for cruise lines. Ferries also operate out of this port.

From Venice, there are ferries to Slovenia, Croatia, Ionian Islands as well as Greece. There are up to 10 ferry crossings from Venice per day. However availability may vary depending on the season. The ferry companies that operate out of Venice include Venezia Lines, Kompas as well as Anek Superfast.

Venice destination guide: How to get around Venice Italy

Walking in Venice Italy

By far the easiest and cheapest way to get around Venice is to walk. Additionally, most of the main attractions in the city area are within easy walking distance. Furthermore, it is a very scenic way to see the city.

Local buses in Venice Italy

Local buses service Venice. These services are operated by the city’s public transport service, Actv. For more information, see this website: https://actv.avmspa.it/en

Trolleybuses in Venice Italy

Venice does not have a trolleybus service.

Trams in Venice Italy

The Venice tramway has two lines. It is operated by the city’s public transport service, Actv. For more information, see this website: https://actv.avmspa.it/en

Local trains in Venice Italy

Venice has 2 intercity stations in use. The main train station in Venice is the Venezia Mestre railway station. The secondary station is Venezia Santa Lucia. There is also Porto Marghera, which is a train station that services only local trains.

Metro trains (subway or underground) in Venice Italy

Venice does not have an underground rail system.

Waterbuses in Venice Italy

With its impressive network of canals, travelling around Venice by water is a great way to explore the city. Venice Waterbuses are operated by the city’s public transport service, Actv. For more information, see this website: https://actv.avmspa.it/en

Vaporetto in Venice Italy

The Vaporetto is a fast boat that takes you between the islands of Venice as well as many important points around the area. It is operated by the city’s public transport service, Actv. For more information, see this website: https://actv.avmspa.it/en

Traghetti in Venice Italy

Traghetti (plural of Traghetto) are shared gondola-style boats that ferry passengers across the Grand Canal. A one way ride costs 2 euro per person (price as at 2024), which is an affordable way to ride along the canal. Traghetto stops are signposted, and some of the popular routes include:

• Gondola Traghetto di Santa Sofia (Sestiere di San Polo) – Gondola Traghetto di Santa Sofia (Sestiere di Cannaregio)
• Gondola Traghetto di San Tomà (Sestiere di San Polo) – Gondola Traghetto di San Tomà (Sestiere di San Marco)
• Fondamenta Santa Lucia – Fondamenta San Simeon Piccolo
• San Marcuola – Fóndaco dei Turchi
• Gondola Traghetto di Riva del Carbon (Sestiere di San Marco) – Gondola Traghetto di Riva del Vin (Sestiere di San Polo)
• San Samuele – Ca’ Rezzonico

Gondolas in Venice Italy

Riding down the canals of Venice in a gondola is the most iconic way to experience the city. Gondola rides aren’t cheap, at 80 euro for a half hour boat ride for up to 5 passengers in a smaller gondola and 12 for a larger gondola. However this is a once in a lifetime experience that you should definitely include on your bucket list.

We took a gondola from Ponte San Polo, which gave us the experience of both the smaller canals as well as the Grand Canal. We highly recommend taking this option as we found it less crowded and we enjoyed being able to experience both the narrow canals as well as the wide open Grand Canal. Keep in mind also that the price is per gondola not per person, so if you have a few people in your group you will be able to share the costs between yourselves.

Water Taxis in Venice Italy

Water taxis are an efficient way to get around the city. Fares are regulated. Your fare will include the following costs as applicable:

• The fixed cost at departure or pickup fee – this is charged as soon as you get into the water taxi. The cost is 15 euro (as at 2022).
• Cost per minute – this is 2 euro (as at 2022).
• Extra charge on call service, for picking up of clients outside of taxi stands – 5 euro (as at 2022).
• Overnight charge from 10pm to 6am – 10 euro (as at 2022).

There is a 20% discount for residents and disabled passengers.

Cable Car in Venice Italy

The Venice Cable Car has stations at Tronchetto, Marittima and Piazzale Roma. The service is operated by the city’s public transport service, Actv. For more information, see this website: https://actv.avmspa.it/en

Vehicle hire in Venice Italy

A wide variety of vehicles can be rented in Italy. This includes:

• Bicycles – There are self-service bike share services available in the city from companies such as Movi by Mobike. Alternatively you can hire a bike from a bike hire shop such as Lido on Bike.
• Electric scooters
• Cars
• SUVs
• Campervans
• Boats

The Italian drive on the right side of the road.

Taxis in Italy

Taxis are common in Italy. Fares are regulated and are usually metered. The exception to this will be standard journeys such as airport trips. In this case the fare will be a fixed price. Taxi rates are usually displayed inside the vehicle as well as at taxi ranks. In general your fare will include the following costs:

• The pickup fee or minimum fee – this is charged as soon as you get into the vehicle
• There may also be an additional fee for extra people or heavy luggage
• Price per kilometre – this price can vary depending on the time of day
• Price per hour – this is a price that gets charged when the taxi is stuck in heavy traffic. The price also varies depending on the time of day

It is not necessary to tip taxi drivers in Italy. At most, Italians may round up the fare to the nearest dollar as a tip.

To ensure you are charged the correct amount, be sure to only use official taxis that have a taxi sign on the roof. Also check that the taxi driver resets the metre before taking off and that the metre is working. In particular, if your trip is inside city limits “Tarrifa 1” on the metre should be lit up. Note that this is the lower and correct rate. Conversely, Tarrifa 2 and 3 should only be used for trips outside the city walls or to the airport.

Ride-share services in Venice Italy

Venice does not have any ride-share services.

Venice Italy destination guide: Is Venice worth visiting?

Yes! Venice is a must-see destination that truly deserves its fame as a beautiful and iconic city. We had some doubts before coming here, wondering if it might be too touristy and crowded to enjoy. However, we were pleasantly surprised by how much this city charmed us. Venice offers breathtaking views, fascinating culture and history and unique experiences that you won’t find anywhere else. For all of these reasons we think Venice is definitely worth visiting.

Venice destination guide: How long to spend in Venice Italy

Venice is a great place to come for a weekend. The city is an amazing place and there’s good reason why it is world renowned. Experiencing the canals for yourself should be on everyone’s bucket list. We spent 2 days in Venice and enjoyed taking time to enjoy the various activities available in this vibrant city.

Venice destination guide: What to do in Venice Italy

Venice is a beautiful Italian city with many activities on offer. It has a range of great free activities as well as paid activities. If you can time your visit to come during Carnival in Venice, we highly recommend that as it really is a sight to behold!

Venice destination guide: Free things to do in Venice Italy

There are enough free activities in Venice Italy to keep you entertained for a weekend or even a leisurely week:

• Grand Canal (Canal Grande)
• Basilica di San Marco
• Piazza San Marco
• Cannaregio neighbourhood
• San Giorgio Maggiore – entry to the church is free, and it is 6 euro to go up the bell tower
• Dorsoduro neighbourhood
• Ponte di Rialto
• Rooftop of T Fondaco dei Tedeschi (advance booking is required)
• Libreria Acqua Alta
• Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute
• Ponte dei Sospiri
• Torre dell’Orologio
• Mercato di Rialto
• Laguna di Venezia

For more details, see our Venice travel guide on the 14 Best Free Things To Do in Venice Italy.

Venice destination guide: Paid activities in Venice Italy

A number of attractions in Venice Italy charge an entry fee:

• Doge’s Palace – entry fee is 30 euro or 25 euro if purchased more than 30 days in advance online for adults (as at 2024)
• Teatro La Fenice – tickets prices vary
• Campanile di San Marco – entry fee is 8 euro for adults (as at 2024)
• Peggy Guggenheim Collection – entry fee is 16 euro for adults (as at 2024)
• Basilica di Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari – entry fee is 5 euro for adults (as at 2024)
• Scuola Grande di San Rocco – entry fee is 10 euro for adults (as at 2024)
• Ca’ Rezzonico – entry fee is 10 euro for adults (as at 2024)
• Arsenal Di Venezia – entry fee is 5 euro for adults (as at 2024)
• Musica a Palazzo – 95 euro for membership, one show of your choice and access to daytime activities (as at 2024)
• Museo di Storia Naturale Giancarlo Ligabue – entry fee is 10 euro for adults (as at 2024)

Carnival of Venice

The Carnival of Venice is a major event that is held in Venice February each year. The festival ends on Shrove Tuesday (also known as Mardi Gras) and usually lasts for around two weeks. The festival is world famous for its elabourite masks. This vibrant two week festival is a grand occasion where people dress up, wear masks and fill the streets. It includes parades and processions in the streets, masquerades, events and balls. Activities are organised for the public and there are also competitions for best costume. Some of the major events during carnival include the Flight of the Angel and the Feast of Mary.

Venezia Unica City Pass

The Venezia Unica City Pass is a city card that allows you to prepay for public transport, admission to tourist attractions and cultural events as well as other services. The card offers discounts and makes planning your trip easy. Once you purchase products and services on the card you will be sent an electronic voucher and a PNR booking code which you will need to provide to redeem the service.

For more information on the Venezia Unica City Pass, visit this website: https://www.veneziaunica.it/en/content/how-it-works

Weather in Venice Italy

Venice enjoys a warm temperate climate. Its climate is heavily influenced by the nearby Mediterranean area. During the winter it is cold with average temperature range between 0°C and 7°C in the coldest month of January. Summers last from June to September and are hot and sunny, with the average temperature range between 19°C and 28°C in the hottest month of July. It is a windy city and experiences frequent and sometimes powerful winds. Snow is rare but not unheard of in Venice. The month with the most rainfall is June with 8.6 days of rain on average and the driest month is January with an average of 5.3 rainy days.

Best time to visit Venice Italy

Venice is a unique city that is home to some memorable events. If you can time your Venice trip to coincide with one of the festivals or events, we highly recommend doing so. The biggest event in Venice is the Venice Carnival (Carnevale) which occurs it the 2 weeks in February leading up to Shrove Tuesday. This is a vibrant festival featuring costumes, parades and performances. Another popular Venetian event is the Venice Biennale, which is a contemporary art exhibition held on odd years between May and November. The canals of Venice are also host to a number of events including the Vogalonga in May and the Regata Storica in September.

In general, the best time to visit Venice is between late May and mid September, when the weather is most pleasant for outdoor activities. The peak tourist season is between June and August, so expect higher prices at that time.

Internet and mobile phones in Italy

Since June 15th, 2017, Roam Like at Home (RLAT) rules came into force for European Union countries. As such, people with European Union mobile numbers are no longer charged temporary mobile roaming fees if they travel within the European Union. This means that if you have a European Union mobile number, you can use that number anywhere within the European Union and you will be charged for calls, texts and data in the same rates as if you were in your home country. There are limits to this in order to prevent abuse of these rules.

The main internet and phone companies in Italy include TIM, Vodafone, Wind, 3, Iliad.

5G has been in Italy since June 2019. However 2G is expected to continue in Italy until 2025.

The average internet speeds in Italy are reasonably fast. Italy is ranked 55^th fastest in the world for mobile internet speeds and 73^rd fastest for fixed broadband. For Fixed Broadband the average download speed is 81mbps and upload is 20mbps (as at April 2024).

The best place to buy cell phone SIM cards in Italy are in phone stores. They can be found in shopping malls and city centres. We recommend not buying a SIM card at the airport as prices are generally higher at the airport. You will need to present photo ID in order to purchase a SIM card.

How much to budget for Venice Italy?

Is Venice expensive?

Venice is a popular tourist destination, so it can be quite pricey to visit. The limited space and high demand make accommodation costs soar, especially during peak season. Dining at restaurants is not cheap either, and public picnics are forbidden in Venice, which limits your options for saving money on food. However, on the bright side, you can easily walk around the city and enjoy many wonderful free activities, such as exploring the bridges, canals and neighbourhoods.

Venice destination guide: Daily spend for a couple travelling in Venice Italy

As a rough guide, we recommend the following budgets for a couple:

• Low-budget daily spend – 100 euro per day for a couple will get you budget accommodation, self catering and bakery meals, walking or catching local transport to get around the city and free or cheap activities.
• Mid-range daily spend – 300 euro per day for a couple will get you mid-range accommodation, walking or catching local transport to get around the city, dining at reasonably priced cafes and restaurants and some paid activities.
• Luxury spend – 1000 euro per day for a couple will get you a premium experience, staying at high end hotels, travelling by private transport, doing a range paid activities and eating at high end restaurants.

Venice destination guide: Accommodation in Venice Italy

There is a good range of accommodation to suit most budgets in Venice Italy. Airbnb operates in Italy and Venice has a number of apartments for rent.

Where to stay in Venice Italy?

We recommend the following accommodation in Venice Italy:

• Best hostel in Venice Italy – MEININGER Venezia Mestre is a clean and tidy hostel close to Mestre train station in Venice. The staff are very helpful and the rooms are spacious. The facilities are really good and well maintained.
• Best budget hotel in Venice Italy – We stayed at Lanterna di Marco Polo. The hotel was centrally located and had friendly staff. The rooms were comfortable but a bit dated.
• Best mid-range hotel in Venice Italy – Hotel Moresco is a beautiful hotel with a private beach. It is in a quiet location but close to the town centre. The staff provide excellent service and the breakfasts are very good. There are also beautiful views from the terrace area.
• Best 5 star hotel in Venice Italy – Palazzo Maria Formosa has the perfect combination of old world charm and modern conveniences. The staff provide impeccable service and the hotel has a lovely spa area. It also has lovely views of the canal and the breakfasts are amazing with plenty of choices.

How much is accommodation in Venice Italy?

For short-term accommodation, a general price per night is as follows:

• Budget accommodation – 18-60 euro for a dorm
• Mid-range accommodation – 50-250 euro for a private room
• Luxury accommodation – 350-1100 euro a night for a luxury hotel
• Rental property – 100-1200 euro a night for a fully furnished 3-4 bedroom home

City tax on accommodation in Venice Italy.

Most cities in Italy charge a city tax, which must be paid to your host and is an additional charge on top of your nightly rate. Venice introduced its city tax on 1 October 2014. It is a per person per night charge for all guests over the age of 10. The charge varies depending on the star rating of the accommodation and the time of year. The prices as at 2022 are as follows:

• 2 stars = 1.40 euro (January), 2 euro (February-December)
• 3 stars = 2.45 euro (January), 3.50 euro (February-December)
• 4 stars = 3.15 euro (January), 4.50 euro (February-December)
• 5 stars = 3.50 euro (January), 5 euro (February-December)

There is a 20% discount on the above charges for Venice Lido/Islands.

In 2024 Venice is trialling a 5 euro entry fee for day trippers on certain days of the year.

Venice destination guide: Food in Venice Italy

Being on the water, seafood is very popular in Venice.

How much does food cost in Venice Italy?

Our price guide for your food budget in Venice Italy is as follows (prices as at 2022):

• Restaurant meal – 15-30 for a main dish
• Bakery food – 3.50 for arancini, 2-3 euro for a slice of pizza
• Glass of wine – 4-7 euro
• Coffee – 1-4 euro

Coperto charge for restaurants in Italy

Most restaurants will charge a coperto charge if you are dining in. This cover charge is usually around 1-3 euro, but may be higher in touristy areas. It is a fixed per person charge and is meant to cover things like table linen, tableware and may also cover bread. It’s a non-negotiable charge and must be listed on the menu. If you can’t find it listed on the menu, ask your waiter if there is a coperto charge. We noticed some restaurants in Venice had signs at the front of their restaurant stating that they do not charge a coperto charge.

Servizio charge for restaurants in Italy

Some restaurants charge a servizio charge. This service charge is generally a percentage of your bill and must be listed on the menu. It is usually charged in restaurants in touristy areas as well as for groups of 8 or more.

Regional dishes in Venice Italy

• Cicchetti
• Bigoli in salsa
• Sarde in saor
• Moeche
• Baccalà Mantecato
• Risotto al nero di seppia
• Seppie in umido
• Fegato alla veneziana
• Risi e Bisi
• Tramezzino veneziano
• Fritole
• Baicoli
• Buranelli

Cheap Eats in Venice Italy

• Cicchetti are small snacks that are popular in bars in Venice. They include dishes like meatballs, crostini as well as panini. Expect to pay around 1-3 euro per item.
• Panetterias or focaccerias (Italian bakeries) are great places to get cheap as well as delicious food. Slices of pizza are around 1-4 euro. Arancini are around 3.50 euro each. Other common food that can be found in Italian bakeries include panini, canoli as well as fritole.
• Pizzerias are unsurprisingly abundant in Italy and are also perfect for a cheap quick meal. Prices will vary depending on size and ingredients, but expect to pay around 5-10 euro for a pizza.
• Gelato in Italy will satisfy your sweet tooth but without breaking the budget. Expect to pay around 3 euro for a single scoop cone.

Fine dining in Venice Italy

Venice is home to a number of Michelin Guide restaurants.

2 star Michelin restaurants in Venice Italy (2024):

• Glam Enrico Bartolini

1 star Michelin restaurants in Venice Italy (2024):

• Quadri
• Local
• Oro Restaurant
• Wistèria

Michelin Plate restaurants in Venice Italy (2024):

• Canova by Sadler
• Il Ridotto
• Bistrot de Venise
• Chat Qui Rit
• Terrazza Danieli
• Alle Corone
• Osteria Alle Testiere
• Ai Mercanti
• LPV Ristorante & Bistrot
• L’Osteria di Santa Marina
• Amo
• Antinoo’s Lounge
• Hostaria da Franz
• Arva
• Lineadombra
• Al Covo
• Corte Sconta
• Antiche Carampane
• Cip’s Club
• Ai Gondolieri
• Osteria da Fiore
• Vini de Gigio
• Estro Vino e Cucina
• La Colombina
• Zanze XVI
• Dama Restaurant
• Agli Amici Dopolavoro
• Trattoria Al Passo

Venice Italy culture

Venice public holidays

• New Year’s Day – 1 January
• Epiphany (Epifania or Befana) – 6 January
• Easter Sunday (Pasqua) – typically in March or April
• Easter Monday (Pasquetta) – the Monday after Easter Sunday, typically in March or April
• Liberation Day (Festa della Liberazione) – 25 April
• International Workers’ Day (Festa del Lavoro) – 1 May
• Republic Day (Festa della Repubblica) – 2 June
• Assumption Day (Ferragosto) – 15 August
• All Saints’ Day (Ognissanti or Tutti i Santi) – 1 November
• Day of the Immaculate Conception (Immacolata) – 8 December
• Christmas Day (Natale) – 25 December
• Saint Stephen’s Day (Santo Stefano) – 26 December

National symbols of Italy

• Italy flag – a tricolour flag featuring three vertical bands coloured green, white and red from left to right.
• Italy coat of arms – this features a Roman wreath, a white 5-pointed star with a red border on a 5-spoked cogwheel, an olive branch, an oak branch as well as a red ribbon with the words “REPVBBLICA ITALIANA”.
• National flower – lily
• National bird – Italian sparrow
• Italian national animal – Italian wolf

Italy pastimes

• National dish – Ragu alla Bolognese
• Popular drinks – Aperitivo, Negroni, Campari, Aperol Spritz, Prosecco, Limoncello, Italian wine
• National sport – football
• Religion – 79.2% Catholic, 3.5% Eastern orthodox, 7.5% agnostic, 4.1% atheist (as at 2021)

Famous people from Venice Italy

• Notable people born in Venice Italy – adventurer and lover Giacomo Casanova, composer Antonio Vivaldi, painter Canaletto, painter Giovanni Bellini, adventurer Marco Polo (he may have been born in Croatia – this is under dispute), singer Patty Pravo, actor Terence Hill, playwright Carlo Goldoni, painter Marietta Robusti, conductor Giuseppe Sinopoli, physicist Bruno Rossi, composer Alessandro Marcello
• Famous people who lived in Venice Italy – actress Emma Thompson
• Sports stars from Venice Italy – footballer Ivano Bordon, Olympic fencer Andrea Borella, Olympic fencer Andrea Cipressa, rower Scipione Del Giudice, long-distance runner Giovanna Epis, canoeist Giulia Formenton, rugby union player Davide Giazzon, canoeist Beatrice Grasso, footballer Carolina Morace, Olympic rower Luciano Negrini, fencer Mauro Numa, volleyball player Laura Partenio, Olympic water poloist Christian Presciutti, footballer Tommaso Rocchi, Olympic canoeist Daniele Scarpa, Olympic rower Gino Sopracordevole, wheelchair fencer Beatrice Vio, Olympic fencer Matteo Zennaro

Is Venice Italy Safe?

Italy travel guide: Safety in Italy

We travelled through Italy for two weeks and generally found the country to be very safe. However as with any country, there are good areas and bad areas. Watch out for pickpockets and bag snatchers particularly in Rome, Venice, Florence, Milan and Naples. Beware that bag snatchers can even use cars as well as scooters for drive by bag snatching. Milan also has an issue with counterfeiters selling fake goods. Additionally, Naples and Florence have a reputation for scams. Theft is the most common crime in Italy, so never leave your belongings unattended. Be extra vigilant in crowds as well as on public transport. Also, make sure no-one is watching whenever you are entering pin codes and never lose sight of your credit card when making a purchase.

General safety considerations in Italy

Other general safety considerations for travel in Italy:

• Drinking water – Tap water in Italy is safe to drink almost everywhere. However some very rural areas may not have water that’s safe to drink. In particular, if you see a sign that says “acqua non potabile” the water is not safe to drink.
• Nightlife – never leave your drink unattended because there have been reports of spiked drinks in bars and nightclubs.
• Mosquitoes – the tiger mosquito has been in Italy since 1991. It spreads diseases such as Zika, dengue and chikunguya.
• Altitude sickness – Italy has areas of high altitude and consequently risk of altitude sickness. Therefore allow sufficient time to acclimatise if visiting high altitude areas. Additionally, if you experience signs of altitude sickness (headache, nausea or vomiting, dizziness, tiredness, loss of appetite or shortness of breath) get help immediately.
• Road safety – Italy has one of the highest road death tolls in Europe, due to driver behaviour as well as road conditions. Robberies from cars are not uncommon, particularly around gas stations. Always lock your vehicle, roll up windows and never leave valuables unattended in your vehicle. Ignore anyone who tries to flag you down – even if they are telling you you have a flat tyre. Carjackings are a risk in some parts of the country such as Sicily.
• Taxis – only use official taxis designated by a taxi sign on the roof. Moreover, don’t take a ride from a driver that approaches you.
• Water safety – take care when swimming as currents and waves may be stronger than you expect.
• Sun safety – Exposure to the sun can have adverse short-term as well as long-term effects on the skin, eyes and immune system. Wear sun protection such as sunscreen, a hat and sunglasses.

As with any destination, take all of your normal safety precautions.

Italy Blogs

You can find our Italy travel blogs below.

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