How do I explore Venice like a local?

The Best Things to Do in Venice: South of the Grand Canal
  1. The Rio de la Romite in Dorsoduro.
  2. Calle del Ponte Storto in Venice.
  3. The view of Venice's Grand Canal from Ca Rezzonico.
  4. The Grand Canal in Venice seen from Ponte dell'Accademia.
  5. The view of Venice from the Chiesa di San Giorgio Maggiore.
  6. Cannaregio in Venice.




People Also Ask

The best way to explore Venice is on foot The best way to explore the historical city of Venice is on foot. This may sound like a health campaign but it's true that many Venetians are fit and healthy because they walk around a lot. Walking will also give you the chance to explore the city extensively.

MORE DETAILS

Train travel makes seeing Venice in a day easy. Once you arrive in Venice, the best way to get around is on foot. All the main tourist attractions are within walking distance of one another. However, public transport is available via expensive water taxis, traditional gondola rides, and easily accessible ferry boats.

MORE DETAILS

The vaporetti is the most popular and cheapest mode of public transportation in Venice. These water buses travel up and down the islands near the Grand Canal.

MORE DETAILS

Prices. The rates of the city's water taxis are fixed depending on the different companies, the distance and the number of people. A Water Taxi from Venice Marco Polo Airport to the city centre costs approximately between € 105 ( US$ 112.40) and € 135 ( US$ 144.50).

MORE DETAILS

Finding your way around Venice - do you need a map? Given that walking around the complex maze of alleys and small bridges is the mandatory way to get around Venice, it is perhaps surprising that signage is so poor.

MORE DETAILS

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.

MORE DETAILS

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.

MORE DETAILS

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.

MORE DETAILS

The two main areas to avoid in Venice I suggest are:
  • Castello neighbourhood eastern side as it's quite out of reach.
  • Santa Croce neighbourhood around the Santa Lucia railway station where some tourists have been victim of theft.


MORE DETAILS

It is generally safe to walk around Venice at night, but as with any city, it's always a good idea to be aware of your surroundings and take some basic precautions to protect yourself.

MORE DETAILS

There is plenty of free parking available on Venice Boulevard. After that it is a short walk to the canals. Dell Avenue is a good entry point. Thereafter, you can walk up and down the canals across various bridges.

MORE DETAILS

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.

MORE DETAILS