Are things expensive in Venice?

Venice is more expensive than some places but that is to be expected as getting things in and around has extra logistical challenges. We've been going for over 20 years and only paid near those prices for special drinks in St Mark's Square which we expected.



Venice has a well-deserved reputation for being one of the most expensive cities in Italy, largely due to its unique geography which requires all goods—from fresh produce to construction materials—to be transported by boat. Tourist-heavy areas like St. Mark’s Square and the Rialto Bridge are notorious for "tourist traps" where a simple coffee at a table can cost upwards of €15-€20 due to "service" and "music" fees. However, Venice can be managed on a mid-range budget if you venture away from the main thoroughfares into neighborhoods like Cannaregio or Castello. In these areas, you can find bacari (traditional wine bars) serving cicchetti (Venetian tapas) for €2-€4 per piece, allowing for a delicious and affordable meal. Transportation is another significant expense; a single trip on a vaporetto (water bus) costs nearly €10, so purchasing a multi-day transit pass is essential for savings. While luxury hotels on the Grand Canal can cost thousands per night, staying in nearby Mestre or choosing smaller guesthouses can significantly lower your costs. Overall, Venice is pricey for the unprepared, but strategic dining and transport choices can make it comparable to other major European capitals.

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Venice restaurants are expensive but there's an easy way to eat cheaply (see below). Once you add it all up, a basic hotel can be better value. It's more ethical to stay in a hotel, too – the explosion of Airbnbs and vacation rentals have decimated the housing market, meaning many Venetians have had to leave the city.

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It costs around €55-€88/day to visit Venice comfortably as a budget traveler. If you want to upgrade your accommodations, add another €80-€120/night depending on your level of accommodation.

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If you budget 300 euros for your 3 nights, you should be fine even with a splurge meal. Just try to avoid tourist traps! Lunch: You can readily find pizzas for 8-10 euros. Or ready made sandwiches for a few euros depending on what you get.

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A cappuccino will run you 10.50 euros and an espresso is 6.50 euros (3 euros if you stand at the bar). The cornetti were around 5 euros each. A full service traditional tea will run you 35 euros and their tramezzini and panini are between 11.50 euros and 18 euros.

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Because of these fees, avoid using your credit card for ATM withdrawals or cash advances (use a debit or cash card instead). Venetian merchants prefer MasterCard and Visa, but American Express is usually accepted in popular tourist destinations.

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The standard 30-minute gondola ride in Venice costs 80 EUR during the day and 120 EUR in the evening or at night (from 7 PM to 8 AM). This is the fixed price you pay for a private gondola ride and not per person.

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All the restrooms are accessible with a coin that needs to be inserted in the proper coin acceptors. The entry fee, determined by the City Hall of Venice, is of euro 1,50, Vat included, in all the restrooms except for the Tronchetto island and the Napoleonic gardens, where the fee is of 1,00, euro Vat included.

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A whole pizza costs from € 5 ( US$ 5.40) to € 13 ( US$ 13.90), depending on the toppings it has and the size. It is difficult to find as it doesn't have any sign, but if you are lucky enough to locate it, you will try one of the best pizzas in Venice. A whole pizza costs around 5 euros.

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Let's look at the local tipping customs. Venetians see tipping as optional. Most people consider good service a standard and leave a tip only if the service is exceptional. Unlike in other countries, like the United States, there is no need to calculate the appropriate percentage from the bill.

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(While not required or even expected, if your gondolier does the full 35 minutes and entertains you en route, a 5–10 percent tip is appreciated; if he's surly or rushes through the trip, skip it.)

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What you can negotiate is the duration of your gondola ride. If you'd like a lengthier trip, just ask your gondolier if they would be willing to take you around the canals a bit longer. The price, in that case, is still regulated: a 45-minute ride costs €120 and an hour-long gondola ride runs €160.

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At moderately-priced places, a large bottle of mineral water for the table should cost no more than 2 euros, maybe 3 in more expensive cities like Venice. Yes, you do also have to pay for bread. This is the “pane e coperto” charge — more on what that is in a moment.

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Don't expect to pay only for what you ordered when the bill arrives. Restaurants usually charge from €1-2.50 per person for pane e coperto (bread and cover charge). And most probably you will be charged also a service charge, generally 10%.

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You can drink the water in Venice and save yourself the expense and waste of bottled water. Venice's tap water is pumped in from the Italian mainland so you don't have to worry about anything questionable in the water that is floating under the city. That lagoon water is not coming out of the tap.

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Resist the urge to buy foreign currency before your trip. Some tourists feel like they just have to have euros or British pounds in their pockets when they step off the airplane, but they pay the price in bad stateside exchange rates. Wait until you arrive to withdraw money.

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