December, 2018
We decided to take a day trip to Venice and got up early one morning to make the most of the day. The journey via high speed train will take approximately 2 hours, with multiple trains running per day. I had always wanted to experience this magical floating city for myself. We kept the itinerary fairly loose that day. Let me show you our day in Venice.
Tip #1: Get a map when you arrive and know that Venice is a very walkable city. I didn’t do my research in advance so we waited in a ridiculous line for a water taxi and also paid a ridiculous fee. I initially thought we needed to travel via water taxi to get where we wanted to go! Nope! We could have simply walked there across the bridges and canals ourselves. We took the water taxi all the way to the Piazza San Marco stop and then walked our way around from there and all the way back to the train station later in the day. This was a costly error that could have happily been spent on pasta, pizza or prosecco. If you are planning on staying on the main Island of Venice, you don’t need any water transportation. If you want to venture to the other islands, you will need a waterbus to get there and you can get a day pass for about €20. Since we only had a day to spend, we explored the main island only.
Piazza San Marco – It was December 28th and the Piazza San Marco was filled with so many people and birds just as you will find in all the pictures. It was at that moment that D said to me, I can’t imagine what this square must be like in the middle of the summer. It is definitely worth wandering around briefly to see, but the further away you go from this square the fewer people you will see and more authentic Venice you will find. This square is said to be one of the finest squares in the world glistening with gold and vibrant mosaics. Be prepared for long lines for the bell tower and the basilica if you want to enter.
Tip #2: I don’t advise staying the night in the San Marco area and I would avoid eating, drinking or even buying souvenirs here. This area tends to be over-priced due to the sheer number of tourists it attracts.
Explore the Charm – Venice is like a beautiful maze where around every corner lies another picturesque square, street, or canal. What I loved most about Venice was simply strolling the narrow streets and passageways. It’s truly the best way to explore this city. I recommend taking at least a couple of hours crossing over small bridges and getting lost in the beauty surrounding you. Just east of the Piazza San Marco you will find the Castello neighborhood. It’s the perfect place to get lost in the cozy streets and discover the real Venice. One of the more authentic spots in the city and too not crowded. This hands down was the coldest day on our entire trip.
Be sure to make your way to the rooftop terrace at the DFS store. The views overlooking the city from the top are classic. It’s that picture-perfect IG shot. This is a must do and it’s free, but I recommend securing your visit in advance as visits cannot be guaranteed for walk ins.
Tip #3: Don’t pay for water in Venice. You can simply fill your own water bottles from the water in the local fountains as it is completely safe to drink.
Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute – You can spot this church across the water from San Marco. It is known as one of the most popular churches in Venice and has an impressive dome which can be spotted from anywhere in the city. The fun part is navigating your way to this basilica, which is free to enter and explore the colorful details and glittering gold. The positive about it being December, no line to enter!
Ponte Rialto – Aside from San Marco, this is the next most popular thing to do in Venice. This stone-arch bridge crosses the narrowest point of Canal Grande, in the heart of the city, and it’s worth viewing it lit up at night. It’s more romantic and quieter at night and there are amazing views of the canal from the top. There are multiple walkways leading to it between a couple of rows of shops.
Tip #4: If you have a few days to spend in Venice, then I recommend venturing out to the outlying islands away from the main island. Apparently, this is where the authentic culture still lives today. You will also likely run into less people compared to the clogged main island canal streets.
Take a gondola ride – I had always dreamt about floating in a gondola down a narrow canal, listening to the gondolier serenading us. Is that how you imagined Venice too? Well to my surprise it was over €80 for 30 minutes! You can have this experience or you can share the cost with another couple. We decided to not take a ride and spend the money on some local delicacies instead. However, if you want that experience – I say go for it – you only live once.
Tip #5: Avoid a fancy ‘sit’ down meal in Venice and avoid restaurants with pictures of their menus outside, they are overpriced tourist traps. You will find lots of wine and cicchetti bars sprinkled throughout the city. You can sample an endless selection of small plates with vino or Aperol Spritz during your visit. Also, there are plenty of gelato shops hidden amongst the passageways too! I am certainly no stranger to good gelato and well-made Aperol Spritiz!
Finally, let’s talk about where those cicchetti bars can be found! We sampled two during our one day stay!
Cantina do Mori – This cozy little spot has no tables, a lively atmosphere, and is reasonably priced. Honestly, a specular little gem with a great wine list and delicious authentic cicchetti. As there are no tables, expect to enter, stand, snack, drink and leave. Service is fast, but great.
Al Merca – A nice wine bar. Not very big or fancy, just a tiny shopfront with most customers enjoying their drinks in the square. With prosecco at €2.50 and an array of snacks at €1.50, it’s the perfect pit stop. The truffle infused cheese and ham is a masterpiece of simple yet classic Italian cuisine. We just loved this place.
