Venice Italy

Venice is an absolutely incredible city. There is really nothing else like it anywhere in the world. Yes, it's touristy, but for good reason. The entire city is built around canals, with hundreds of bridges, narrow pedestrian streets, beautiful historic buildings, and little restaurants tucked away in every corner. There are no cars, and just walking around feels like stepping back in time.

My biggest recommendation for visiting Venice is not to have too much of a plan. Of course, there are a few major attractions worth seeing, including St. Mark's Basilica, the Doge's Palace, the Rialto Bridge, and the Bridge of Sighs. The basilica is absolutely spectacular, and the Doge's Palace is worth visiting for its architecture and history. But the best thing about Venice is simply wandering around. Most tourists tend to congregate near St. Mark's Square, the Rialto Bridge, and Campo San Bartolomeo. Walk a few blocks away from those areas and you can find yourself on a beautiful little canal with almost nobody around. There are endless streets, hidden courtyards, small churches, and pedestrian bridges to discover. Neighborhoods like Cannaregio and Dorsoduro are especially great for exploring away from the crowds. You can easily spend an entire afternoon walking without any particular destination.

One of the best ways to explore Venice is by water. The public water buses, called vaporetti, are absolutely worth the money. A 24-hour pass costs €25, a 48-hour pass costs €35, and a single 75-minute ticket costs €9.50. You can jump on and off the boats and explore different parts of the city. I highly recommend taking a ride down the Grand Canal just to see the incredible buildings from the water. You can also take the boats out to the surrounding islands, including Murano, famous for its glassmaking, and Burano, known for its colorful houses and traditional lace. Another great experience is the Traghetto gondola crossing, which still operates at a few locations along the Grand Canal. For just €2, visitors can take a short ride across the canal in a traditional gondola. It's the best deal in Venice.

Venice also has some fantastic small restaurants and a great bar scene. Rather than eating at one of the big tourist restaurants near St. Mark's Square, wander into the smaller neighborhoods and find a little restaurant along a canal. There are plenty of places serving fresh pasta, seafood, and traditional Venetian dishes. For a great pizza, check out Pizzeria L'Angelo. It's a small takeaway place where you can order an entire pizza made fresh instead of grabbing a slice that's been sitting around. Venice is also a great city for bar hopping. Some places worth checking out are Santa Cocktail Club, a stylish cocktail bar overlooking the Grand Canal; El Venexian, a cozy little bar with great drinks and snacks; La Terrazza Rooftop Bar, with fantastic views of the Grand Canal and Rialto Bridge; Bar Caravellino, a great stop for cocktails near St. Mark's Square; and Il Santo Bevitore, a craft beer pub in Cannaregio with more than 20 rotating taps. There are also countless little wine bars serving cicchetti, the Venetian version of small tapas-style snacks. I generally check Google maps ahead of time and just save a few places I want to visit that have good reviews.

Getting to Venice by train is incredibly easy. Italy has an amazing high-speed rail network, and you can travel from Rome to Venice in less than four hours, with advance tickets starting around €30. Most people stop in Florence along the way, which I definitely recommend, but Bologna is also worth spending a night in. I would also recommend a stop in Verona, one of my favorite cities in northern Italy, although it requires a slight detour from the usual Rome-to-Venice route. When you arrive at Venezia Santa Lucia station, you walk right out of the station and you're in Venice. You can walk straight into the city to reach your hotel, or jump on a water bus if you're staying farther away.

Venice is one of those places that everyone should experience at least once. You don't need to spend a fortune on tours or have every hour of your day planned out. Spend your time wandering the streets, crossing little bridges, eating at small restaurants, and stopping for a beer or cocktail whenever you find somewhere interesting. Yes, there are crowds, but it's surprisingly easy to escape them. There are so many beautiful hidden corners of Venice that most visitors never discover. It's an absolutely singular city, and one of the most memorable places you can visit in Europe.