We haven’t been to a place prettier than Venice. Even though years have passed, I still remember our time there vividly. I still remember sweet-scented roses from our hotel garden and delicious bruschettas, I remember the historical San Polo district and I remember falling in love again.

Persistently claiming The Most Romantic City in the World title, this Italian wonder certainly knows how to put on a show for first-time visitors and return travellers.

Beautiful Venice was the last big stop on our EuroRail journey before heading back home, and it was the most memorable one. We arrived with an overnight train from Salzburg Station, stayed a few nights and navigated towards Bergamo for the outbound flight.

This was our fifth time in Italy, and apart from renting a car to explore the Dolomites, all the other times we always travelled by train. It’s an inexpensive, effortless and very efficient way of travel.

In Italy, trains link just about every town or major city. It’s a much more relaxing way of travel, especially if you compare it to driving. The trains hardly ever sell out so you can buy a ticket on the day or the day before. Just don’t forget to validate the local/regional ticket before you get on the train in one of the machines provided at the entrance of the platform.

Read More: 8 unforgettable Things to See and Do in Beautiful Venice, Italy

Venice travel tips: 10 things to know before visiting the beautiful lagoon

To make the most of our time away, especially if we visit famous European cities, there are a few key points we try to check off the list.

Preparing in advance, having a flexible schedule, making time to relax, going off the beaten track and visiting one or two highlights are just a few things to put into practice.

Below is a small list of little things to exercise while on holiday to make your journey around Venice more meaningful and enjoyable.

#1. Do your research before you travel to Venice

The most useful advice we can give to anyone visiting the beautiful Venice lagoon-be a respectful visitor and don’t complain about prices!

If you refer to yourself as a globetrotter who regular reads travel news and updates, you may have noticed a new trend appearing where many posts about ‘What places to visit are replaced with ‘What places not to visit.”

Venice is pretty much on every single list accompanied by stories about native Venetians fighting hard to protect the delicate lagoon from swollen holidaymaker masses. Even though we look at Venice as one of the desired holiday spots, people live and work there just like in any other  European city.

Don’t be spooked, but instead, before you go, do some research regarding local customs on how to dress, tip and behave in public. Keep in mind that actual rules and fines have been introduced for visitors to Venice, ranging from 40 -240 euros!

So, don’t switch your brain off once you leave home, but mind your surroundings and be respectful of other people, after all, travel is more about learning and growing as a person, and not so much about taking selfies and collecting likes on Instagram and other social media platforms.

On top of that, stay away from McDonald’s (why would you travel to Italy and end up with BigMac in your hands in the first place?), savour local cuisine and support local restaurants, keep politics at home, and don’t pose on the bridges for too long and don’t leave the trash behind.

Read More: An Unforgettable 10-Day European Itinerary For You To Borrow

Plenty of budget airlines from Ireland, the UK and the rest of Europe offer direct flights to Venice. Remember that Ryanair actually lands at Treviso airport, which is about an hour’s bus ride from Venice. The Marco Polo airport is the closest one to the historic centre, and you’ll need to use the water taxi, public or shuttle bus to get farther into the city.

Quite a lot of people arrive in Venice by train because Italian cities like Verona, Milan, Florence and Rome are all well connected to the Venezia-St.Lucia station. If you choose to travel by train, keep in mind that there are two train stations in Venice; Venezia-Mestre and Venezia-Stazione-Santa Lucia.

As you may know, Venice is surrounded by water, and the only way of getting around is on foot or by using water buses and taxis. Do your research before regarding schedules, times and prices.

Read More: 6 Reasons Why You Should Travel By Train At Least Once In Your Lifetime

 

 

Tips, hints, and things to do in Venice

• Wear comfortable walking shoes (I can’t emphasise this enough) and buy a good map as the tourist offices don’t provide free maps to tourists.
• Don’t eat in a restaurant with menus translated into six languages, where food is overpriced and served without much care. Do your research beforehand or go on a Cicchetti Tour of Venice.
• Sit yourself down in one of the cafés in Piazza San Marco, aka St.Mark’s Square and in addition to your coffee,  you’ll be charged 6 euros for the music.
• Visit Venice during the world-famous Carnival, taking place annually. Admire extravagant costumes, fireworks, and musical performances on display or even dress up yourself and attend one of the glamorous Venetian balls.
• Don’t attempt to see all sites and allow yourself extra time to get from point A to point B. The crowds in Venice are staggering, bridges are narrow, and there are so many things to see and do.  Pick a few and examine them thoroughly.
• Brush up your Italian. Just a few simple phrases will go a long way. Gracie – Thank you. Per favour – Please. Buongiorno! – Hello and Good morning!
• Visit outer islands, like Burano, a 40-minute motorboat ride away from Venice, known for its brightly coloured fisherman’s houses, leaning Bell Tower and lacemaking.

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Now, over to you!

Have you been to Venice? Do you have any tips for visiting? Let us know in the comments below!

Let us know if you are plotting a visit to Venice and have travel-related questions!