Wild Rose Travel

Venice, Italy

July 2016

Oh Venice – ranked one of the most beautiful cities in the world multiple times, and there’s no questioning as to why! Famous for its canals, the recent news about the floods in Venice, and previous headlines about how the city is “sinking.” As the sea level’s rise and the architecture becomes slightly more unstable, it is unknown just how much longer Venice is going to be around for.

Getting there:
Flying into Marco-Polo Airport, you are expecting around a 30-minute ride into the city. The best way to do this is to simply hop on a bus at the airport. It takes you straight across the bridge and drops you off at the “entrance” if you like. Due to the structure of the city, motorised transport stops at this entrance point, and you can complete the rest on foot or via water-bus, depending on where you are staying.

I stayed in the Hilton hotel just across the other side of the bridge (before you cross it), so travelled via bus to the city each day. This is something I would highly recommend if you want to stay just out of it, or want more of a luxury stay. Although there are some amazing places to stay in the city, it is sometimes quite nice to be just outside the buzz of it all. There are also some really interesting places to see on the outskirts too!

You can book the Hilton here.

Parco San Guiliano
One huge perk of staying just outside of the city was stumbling across this amazing park – not quite what you expect to be visiting on a city break to Venice! It was definitely nice for a bit of alternative scenery, and beautiful to walk around in the sunshine. On one side you can get right to the waters edge too and see the bridge crossing over to Venice itself. It is a nice alternative to seeing the city from the outskirts without being amongst it all.

The city itself
There really is no place quite like it. The architecture and history is just amazing. It is definitely one of those cities you can explore for hours without getting bored. Part of the fun is getting lost down all of the amazing alleyways and just seeing where you end up. You are guaranteed to come across some amazing sights, even with no plan at all! Therefore my first tip would be to put the map down for at least one day (or half a day if you’re not so adventurous) and simply get lost. It’s great fun, and chances are you’ll come across some hidden gems that would have otherwise been missed.

Water Buses
These just make the whole trip. Not only is it fun to jump on a boat as your primary form of transport but it is made so easy. You simply purchase day passes (or multi-day passes if needed) which make it super easy to just jump on and off where need be without having to worry about individual fares. You can purchase these passes from most hotels/tourist offices. If not there are ticket offices dotted about the city too. The main tourist information point at the “entrance” to the city is probably your best bet if you’re unsure or need more information. You can get just about anywhere with one of these passes, and all the surrounding islands are included too! So you’re not just restricted to the canals within the main city.

Unfortunately when I visited, the famous Rialto bridge was under construction (as you can see in the photo above) – however they did put up a sheet so you could kind of see what it was supposed to be like – nonetheless it was still an impressive bridge to see from the canal.

The panoramic shots seen above were taking from the top of the bell tower in Piazza San Marco. It costs 8 Euros to go up to the top and boy is it worth it! Overall I think the price is fair, and you are not restricted to how much time you spend at the top. However you do have to wait in a queue (depending on what time of day/year you visit) as the amount of people allowed up at any one time is limited. I would therefore advise avoiding peak hours, whilst still ensuring its a clear day so you can make the most of the views!

Venice itself is made up of 118 islands. Definitely be sure to check out some of the others whilst there – there’s so much to see! My top three surrounding islands are:

Burano
Famous for the canals lined with multi-coloured houses. This island is definitely worth a visit, and probably one of my favourites. If you decide to visit, definitely visit its neighbour (Murano, see below) too. Both islands are very close together and make for a good half day trip. Although not much to see or do on the smaller islands, they are worth visiting to have a walk around and take in the sights. They’re so quaint and pretty, and it’s so interesting to see how life unfolds in such a unique setting.

Murano
The island known for its long tradition of glass production. Here you can find tonnes of cute little shops selling the most amazing locally crafted, handmade Murano glass products. Anything from jewellery to huge glass pieces are available here. It is impossible to leave this island without the purchase of a souvenir or two.

Lido
Lido is one of the many islands surrounding the main city. Here you can find a more developed island compared to its neighbours, it even has motorised transport! I would recommend visiting Lido if you have an extra day to spare and fancy a little escape from the main city. Here you can find an array of cute bakery’s and restaurants, shops and a huge stretch of beach. Therefore if you are here during the summer months and fancy a spot of sunbathing or swimming, be sure to check this island out. It is also a nice boat taxi ride away, so you can take in the scenery during the trip across there and back too.

The traditional Venetian Gondola Ride
One thing I did not do when in Venice was get a traditional Gondola ride along the canals. Prices to do this are just beyond extortionate! (You are looking at spending around 80 euros for a 30 minute ride for 2). One reason I didn’t do this was because of the price bracket being very far out of my range, but also because I just don’t think it’s worth it at all (sorry for everyone that dreams of this “iconic” moment!) I personally just couldn’t comprehend why.. you cannot see anything more from a gondola that you can see from walking along the canal paths, or out of the water-bus windows. Also, after spending just a few days in the city I wasn’t really interested on going on any more boats. You spend a lot of time hopping on and off the water busses that the novelty soon wears off. So unless for you, going on a gondola ride will really make your Venetian experience, I wouldn’t bother.

Shopping
I’m not sure why I didn’t expect it but Venice is perfect if you want to sneak in that little fix of retail therapy. Especially of those luxury brands! There’s endless shops to browse, including all the top brands alongside smaller boutiques and outlets. You can just about find anything here. You can find the best shopping streets just off the main square (Piazza San Marco).

Money Money Money
Overall, you do expect to pay a little more for food and drink in somewhere like Venice. So it’s best to be prepared for that before you visit. Prices outside of the centre, such as on Lido and Burano islands are slightly cheaper however – so it isn’t all bad. Saying that, you have to expect it and just embrace it when on such a trip. Italian food is also one of my absolute favourites so I wasn’t complaining too much at all. If I have to pay that little extra for some traditional Italian carbonara then so be it – especially when sat on the side of a canal in such an iconic setting.