Venice – Eternal Magic of a Unique Destination

Some love it and some hate it, but one thing is clear to everyone; no one can remain indifferent to the eternal Venice. A unique tourist destination and one of the most beautiful cities in the world, a trip to Venice can be described with many epithets, but the most appropriate one is… magical. Sure, you might not like the crowds of tourists in the middle of winter, the specific smell of the lagoon and the salty breezes coming from the sea, you might even get lost in the labyrinth of canals and alleys on your trip to Venice, but one thing is for sure, you cannot remain indifferent.

Venice is a world in a city that you can walk from one end to the other in a few hours, but to truly discover the magic I was talking about, you need several days, in which you can wander the canals and streets less frequented by tourists, because that’s what I think you have to do to understand Venice. Before all else, or once you’ve crossed off all the well-known tourist attractions, wander around the city without any goal or map, discovering small side streets with restaurants or workshops piled up on the ground floor of a building, small squares with a little church nestled between old residences with walls yellowed by time.

Search for Flights to Venice on Booking.com!

A trip to Venice has to start somewhere, and chances are that Piazzale Roma and the nearby Santa Lucia train station will be your first point of contact with the city, as all buses and trains from the mainland arrive there. The first recommendation would be to find accommodation right in the old town, as the daily journey from the mainland to the lagoon can easily take up several hours of your visit. Starting from here, you can visit the entire city, starting with the most important and well-known attractions, and continuing with those that you rarely find in travel guides. The highlight of a trip to Venice is certainly Piazza San Marco, with its world-famous sights. You will need at least half a day to truly discover these treasures of world heritage. No one can pass through Venice without visiting the Basilica San Marco, a masterpiece of universal art and architecture.

Even if the interior visit is worth it, there are a few reasons why you might want to skip it in favor of admiring it from the outside. First, during the tourist season, the queues stretch all over the square, taking up to 2-3 hours to enter. Second, you won’t have much time to admire the interior, as visits only last 10 minutes. Last but not least, taking pictures inside is prohibited. Right next to the basilica is the imposing building of the Doge’s Palace, now transformed into an interesting museum where you can learn more about the past of the Serenissima Republic. In front of the basilica, the square is surrounded by the Procuratie buildings, in Renaissance style. The Campanile, the clock tower that watches over the historic square from a height of almost 100 meters high, should not be missed. Behind the Doge’s Palace, you can also admire the Bridge of Sighs, surrounded by legends and mystery.

Doge Palace Entry Ticket

Leaving San Marco Square to the left as you face the sea, after passing several smaller monasteries and churches and admiring the more distant islands of Venice, you can reach the Arsenale area, where you can visit the old military docks of Venice, as well as the Naval History Museum, especially if you are interested in the history of one of the greatest sea powers of the past. The other important sights in Venice are found mainly along the Grand Canal, which cuts the city in an S from north to south and is the main waterway through the city. Over the bridges on the Grand Canal, especially if you are passionate about photography, you can find enchanting panoramas of the city, unique to Venice. The most famous bridge is the Rialto, with its specific souvenir shops and the sometimes suffocating crowd of tourists. Along the canal, you can admire, especially from the water, the most beautiful old palaces of the city, starting with the charming Ca’ D’Oro and continuing with a whole list: Ca’ Pesaro, Palazzo Sagredo, Palazzo Grimani, Palazzo Fortuni, Palazzo Mocenigo, Palazzo Grassi, Palazzo Rezzonico and many more.

Visit the lesser-known places in Venice, those that don’t appear on tourist maps. Go to the northern shore of the city at sunset and you will experience a unique spectacle in peace. Visit Venice at least once during Carnival for an original and unique show. Buy traditional masks and Murano glass as souvenirs from the city!

Crossing the Accademia Bridge in the southern part of Venice, you will find yourself in front of the Galleria dell’ Accademia, perhaps the most important art museum in Venice, and if you are passionate about painting and sculpture from before the 19th century, it is worth a visit. From this museum, if you go towards St. Mark’s Square, but without crossing the bridge, you will reach the Cathedral of Santa Maria della Salute, a true architectural masterpiece. Apart from these, Venice is full of small but charming museums and churches, and it all depends on how much time and availability you have for exploration. Among the most important tourist attractions in the city are: Basilica Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari, Church of San Giovanni e Paolo, Santa Maria Formosa, San Zacaria, Church of the Redentore, San Lorenzo, San Francesco della Vigna, Glass Museum, Il Genio di Leonardo da Vinci Museum, Jewish Museum, Silk Museum, Correr Civic Museum, National Museum of Archaeology, Natural History Museum, as well as many others scattered throughout the city.

All of this will take a few good days of your trip to Venice if you want to discover them, but the recommendation is not to limit yourself to just the historic center, but to choose at least one of the other islands, sometimes just as attractive and interesting. Murano is located north of Venice and offers a unique insight into the Venetian glass tradition, with workshops, art galleries and shops related to its most famous products. Here you can visit the Glass Museum, a traditional glass factory, several interesting churches and palaces. Burano is equally known for its glass and silk, but the real attraction of the island is its colorful houses and specific traditional charm. Torcello can also be visited in the north of the lagoon, with several historical buildings that remain from the island’s glorious past, such as the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta, the Provincial Museum of Torcello and several palaces. In Lido di Venezia, located in the south of the lagoon, you can find many hotels, casinos and beaches.

Murano, Burano and Torcello with Glassblowing Show

Travel Advice for Venice

Accommodation – The recommendation would be to find accommodation right in the city, but hotels of at least 3 stars tend to be very expensive, even 50% more expensive than those on the mainland. There are some good and relatively cheap hostels and guesthouses in the city, and if you book in advance you can find excellent prices. If you want to stay on the mainland or in the Lido area, buy a public transport pass. For 3-4 day visits it would be recommended to stay right in the city. You can search for accommodation online on Booking.com or Airbnb.

Transport – After 2-3 days of exploring Venice on foot, you will definitely get tired, so the first recommendation would be to buy a public transport card with vaporetto and use it for longer distances, while being able to admire the city from the Grand Canal. Although charming, gondolas are quite expensive and unless you are with your fiancée and want to impress her or have an unlimited budget, they should be avoided…you can take pictures of them anywhere.

Food – In the city center, restaurants tend to be very expensive, with prices for wealthy western tourists, so you can look for some restaurants on the north or south bank of the city or on lesser-known streets. Prices may drop by 10-20%, but the quality will be the same, if not better. Try the seafood specialties, cuttlefish, octopus, shrimp and any fish recipe.