Tag: Italy

11 Things Tourists Should Never Do in Venice, Italy

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Venice Tips: 11 Don’ts for Visitors to Venice

Greetings from Venice, Italy! Venice receives about 20 million tourists each year, and there are many “must do’s” for anyone visiting Venice. However, there are also many “don’ts” for visitors to Venice, so that’s what we’re sharing here.

Venice Tip #1: Don’t Bring Heavy Luggage

In Venice, there aren’t taxis and buses to get from place to place; there are boats. Lugging heaving luggage in and out of these boats is really inconvenient, and they can sometimes charge extra for heavy bags.

Watch: How to Pack a Carryon Suitcase for Women

Venice Tip #2: Don’t Expect a Cheap Gondola Ride

Gondolas are the icon of Venice, and therefore very popular with tourists. A 30-minute gondola ride can cost 80 Euros, and if you want singing while you float, that will cost extra.

Venice Tip #3: Don’t Feed the Pigeons

It’s actually illegal to feed the pigeons in Venice, especially in places like the Piazza San Marco, and it’s possible to receive a fine for doing so.

Venice Tip #4: Don’t Be Surprised To See Risers in the Streets

At certain times of the year, the water levels are high enough to flood the streets. In that case, they will put risers in for pedestrians to stay above the water. This is less of an issue in the summer, but if you visit in other seasons, you might see it.

Venice Tip #5: Don’t Forget a Map, and Don’t Freak Out if You Get Lost

Getting lost in Venice is practically a rite of passage for tourists. A map is helpful, but either way, most tourists get lost at least once. The people in Venice are generally very helpful, so getting lost isn’t a big deal, as a locals are often willing to point you back in the right direction.

Watch: Ten Italian Phrases You Need to Know

Venice Tip #6: Don’t Get in the Water

This may seem obvious, but this happens often enough that it’s worth mentioning. The areas around the water can be super slippery, so even if you don’t plan to go in the water, you need to exercise caution around the water.

Venice Tip #7: Don’t Wear Skimpy Clothes to visit Churches

For anyone planning to visit any of Venice’s churches and cathedrals, skimpy clothes are a “don’t.” The churches won’t allow anyone in who isn’t modestly dressed.

Read: Five Rules for What Shoes to Wear in Europe

Venice Tip #8: Don’t Use Public Toilets

It costs 2 Euros to use public toilets in Venice. Rather than spend that money, it’s better to buy a spritz or coffee to use the bar or cafe toilets.

Venice Tip #9: Don’t Be Upset By Separate Lines for Tourists & Locals

This is especially common during busy season, and you may even see different prices for locals vs tourists. Venice is a fairly small town of 50,000 people that receives 20 million tourists. The locals have to be able to commute to work and continue their daily lives without dodging tourists all day long.

Venice Tip #10: Don’t Forget to Ask How Much the Drinks Cost

At some of the restaurants near tourist attractions, they’ll have a special “tourist menu.” The price of the meal may be a great value, but ordering drinks can add another 4 Euros to the bill. The little add-ons to this special price may end up not being such a bargain after all, so be sure to ask about drink costs.

Watch: Do You Tip in Italy?

Venice Tip #11: Don’t Forget to Explore Other Parts & Islands of Venice

Venice itself has many islands to explore, and then you can also visit Burano, Murano, Pellestrina and many more, whether you want more culture, or to visit some beaches. While there are many things to do in Venice, it’s always great to take a day trip out of the city to explore surrounding areas.

These are just a few travel tips for first time travelers to Venice. For more Italy travel tips, check out these blog posts and videos:

10 SHOCKS of Visiting Venice, Italy

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Hey there, fellow travelers! Today, we’re talking about Venice, one of my favorite cities in the world! Before we get into the real shocks, the first thing you’ll notice when you visit Venice is how absolutely beautiful it is. The architecture and the canals and bridges are really gorgeous.

We love to help travelers prepare for their vacations, and other than telling you the best things to see in Venice, we love to share the things that will surprise you about a new destination. So, today, we’re sharing the ten things that will shock you on your Venice Italy vacation.

#1 Venice Tourism

Your first shock on arriving in Venice is the number of tourists. There are 50,000 residents of Venice, and they receive nearly FORTY MILLION tourists each year. That is more than 100,000 per day. This means you might find some frustrated residents, and you may even become frustrated dealing with crowds in Venice. You may have lines to get into some Venice attractions, and it can be hard to get a table for lunch unless you go a few blocks off the main tourist area.

In 2019, Venice introduced a “day trip tax” to alleviate some of the overcrowding in town.

#2 Cost of a Gondola Ride

What is one of the most popular Venice attractions? Gondola rides on the canals. Given that nearly everyone who comes to Venice takes part in this tradition, it’s shocking how much one ride can cost. Plan to spend around 80 Euros for 30 minutes, and if you want them to sing, that will cost you extra! That rate is not per person, so try to find some other people to split the cost with you.

Venice tourism
Tons of tourists and worth every wrong turn.

#3 The Tourist Experience

With so many people who visit Venice each year, it can feel a bit touristy. A lot of the shops and restaurants are geared towards tourists and it doesn’t always feel like an “authentic” Italian experience. The service usually isn’t great, either, as they’re not trying to win you over as a repeat customer. The best thing you can do is to go a few blocks away from the main tourist areas. You will be shocked at how the atmosphere changes quickly. You’ll find mom and pop restaurants and more authentic souvenirs.

Buying Souvenirs: What NOT to Buy When Traveling

#4 Getting Lost in Venice

You are almost guaranteed to get lost in Venice, but it’s really one of the best parts of any trip to Venice! As you wander the back alleys and bridges, you’ll stumble upon mom and pop cafes and hidden piazzas where local kids are playing. You might get a little nervous about being lost, but it’s an island, you’ll find your way back eventually.

#5 Signage in Venice

The signage in Venice is really pretty confusing. You might see multiple signs for the same destination, but they point you in two different directions. They’re all right, you just might take a roundabout way to get there, which is part of the fun of strolling around Venice. After a few trips to Venice, you’ll start to have a sense of direction and you won’t be so flustered by the confusing signage.

venice vacation
Careful you don’t drop them in the canals.

#6 Flooding in Venice

Venice is sinking a little bit each year, and in the winter, the areas tend to flood. When the water is too high, they’ll put up risers for you to walk on. It’s definitely a strange experience to have, but it’s pretty routine by now. The water tends to go back down later in the day, and the risers get put away until the next day. If your Venice trip is planned for the winter, make sure you bring some waterproof boots just in case!

5 Rules for What Shoes to Pack for Europe

#7 Venice Public Transportation

There are not really roads in Venice, it’s all canals. So public transportation in Venice is all by boat, there are no buses or trains. The Vaporettos are public transit boats that you’ll use to get around Venice. Sometimes, you’ll see two lines for the Vaporetto. One for locals and one for tourists. This is to ensure the locals can get priority boarding over the tourist crowds.

#8 Paying for Public Toilets

You will have to pay to use public toilets in Venice. It’s usually 2 Euros, and you’ll need to have coins on you to enter. If you don’t want to pay to use public toilets, you can go to a cafe, but they’ll expect you to buy something in order to use their restroom.

#9 Venice Dress Code

Some of the best things to see in Venice are the churches, but they do adhere to a strict dress code. If you’re wearing shorts or a sleeveless top, you might not be allowed to enter. Generally, they want shoulders and knees covered. If you forget, there are plenty of vendors nearby who are willing to sell you a shawl or wrap to cover your shoulders and knees.

#10 Venice Day Trips

You might be surprised to find that there are other nearby islands to explore. There are lots of great Venice day trips to other islands, including Burano, Murano and nearby islands with beaches. And you’ll often just find local Italians at the beaches, as that’s not what most visitors are coming to see.

venice tourist attractions
Beareded or not, I love Venice.

Venice is amazing, we have returned many times! Hopefully, these “shocks” will help you prepare for your Venice vacation. Want more tips for traveling in Italy? Check out some of our other blog posts!