Venice is a masterpiece city, a delightful pearl of European culture. A unique city on the water that enchants with its beauty, exudes romance and captivates with its unique atmosphere. True, in order to see and experience this kind of Venice – magical and romantic – you need to plan your trip correctly. Many tourists who come to this wonderful city with noisy, always rushing and noisy groups and hasty guides, remain hopelessly disappointed. We are convinced that Venice is best explored on your own. This is how you can see not only the noisy, “postcard” places crowded with people and pigeons, but also the real, living, diverse, cozy, charming Venice.

Venice is a special city, and when planning an independent trip it is worth considering some nuances. So, how to organize a trip to Venice on your own, what you should know and take into account: useful tips for tourists.

When is the best time to go to Venice?

Perhaps the best time to visit Venice is end of March, April or September. At this time the weather is pleasant - there is neither sweltering heat nor cold. However, there are not many tourists. A great opportunity to walk around the city calmly, step by step, turn by turn, discovering the unique charm of Venice.

Winter in Venice quite cold and dank due to high humidity. In addition, the city is often shrouded in fog and seems to be painted in gray tones. During this season, Venice appears to travelers not as bright, sunny and festive, but rather melancholy and sadly poetic. However, this is precisely what attracts some people. For example, Joseph Brodsky loved to come here in winter - and not in any other season.

The period of winter holidays (Christmas) and the Venetian carnival the city “wakes up” and is filled with tourists again. During these periods, Venice can be seen dressed up, festive, noisy and crowded. As a rule, the carnival is held at the end of February or beginning of March, before the start of the Catholic Lent. You can check the dates of the carnival and get detailed information about it on the official website: http://www.carnevale.venezia.it.

Autumn and early spring It often rains in Venice. After them, the water level can rise significantly and even flood streets and squares.

If you are planning an independent trip to Venice in winter, early spring or autumn, keep in mind that during these seasons there is a flood (Venetians call it acqua alta, that is, “high water”). During floods, city streets and squares may be flooded. Then you can see a colorful picture of people walking around San Marco Square in high rubber boots.

Summer in Venice very hot. True, the shady labyrinths of stone streets and canals allow you to periodically hide from the scorching sun during your walks. But the main feature of the Venetian summer is the abundance of tourists. The small city is crowded with people. However, even in this crowded season, Venice can reveal its magical side to you. But to do this, you need to know where to “escape” from the tourist crowds and where to see a calmer and “real” Venice.

What to take with you to Venice

Don't take a lot of things

If you're staying downtown, you'll have to take a boat to the hotel and then probably walk along narrow cobblestone streets. A huge suitcase will get in your way.

What to take to Venice in winter

Venice gets very chilly in winter due to high humidity. Therefore, even if the forecast promises you a temperature of “only” about 0 degrees, take it with you down jacket– in a city on the water, the temperature will feel completely different than in a dry climate.

If you are traveling to Venice during the high water season (acqua alta), it is also worth taking with you high rubber boots.

What to take with you in summer

In summer, Venice is hot and sometimes even stuffy (due to high humidity). Although the narrow shady alleys and passages between houses provide relief from the heat when walking around the city, it is still worth taking care of sunscreen, hats, a summer wardrobe, sunglasses and other accessories necessary for hot sunny weather. Well, if you decide to swim in the Adriatic Sea and have planned a beach holiday on Lido Island, don’t forget your swimwear!

Comfortable shoes

In any season, take care of comfortable shoes. Most likely, you will walk a lot along the ancient streets, and perhaps swim in boats and motorboats. For all these cases, high heels are not suitable.

Clothes for visiting the basilica

Among the attractions of Venice are many ancient churches that house masterpieces of art and Christian shrines. When visiting basilicas, remember that, as a rule, these are not just tourist sites, but also active churches, and therefore observe a certain dress code. It is advisable to cover your shoulders and legs up to the knees (you can take a stole or a wide scarf with you).

Technique

As with any other trip, when traveling to Venice, consider the availability of the equipment you need: check if the hotel has a hairdryer and iron. And also don’t forget chargers for mobile devices and cameras.

How to get to Venice?

By plane

The easiest and cheapest way to get to Venice is to fly there by plane. Aeroflot offers convenient direct flights from Moscow. Flights from Alitalia will be a little more expensive.

With one transfer in Riga, you can fly from Moscow to Venice on an AirBaltica plane.

The Hungarian low-cost airline Wizz Air flies to Venice from Prague. You can get to Prague from Moscow using Czech Airlines or Smart Wings. This will give you the chance to add a little Prague charm to your Venetian holiday.

A very convenient way to find a cheap ticket to Venice is to use online services that search for tickets from all airlines and offer a wide selection of flight options. For example, Aviasales .

Check which flight options to Venice are available for your dates:

By train

If you plan to visit not only Venice, but also other cities in Italy, you should take a ride on local trains - it will be an exciting trip around the country. You can get from Rome to Venice in an average of 4 hours. From Milan the train takes approximately 2.5-3 hours (depending on the train). You can check the schedule and buy train tickets yourself on the official website of Trenitalia (Italian railways). The Italians take such care of us that the website even has a Russian-language version.

By car

If you are planning to travel around Italy by car, then it is convenient to make Venice the first or last point of the route. Just keep in mind that you cannot use a car in the city itself - it is not intended for motor transport. By car you can only reach the last point of “land” Venice - Piazzale Roma. And then - or return the car and immerse yourself in the magic of pedestrian streets and canals, forgetting about vehicles for a while. Or (if Venice is an intermediate point) park your car in the same square in Rome while you explore the historical part of the city. By the way, car parking may be included in the range of services available with the Venezia Unica tourist card (read more about it below).

Read also:

Where to stay in Venice?

Of course, you should take care of a hotel in Venice in advance. For example, by choosing the option that suits you on the Booking.com service. But where exactly is the best place to live? What should you pay attention to?

Venice is a very expensive city. This applies to everything, including hotels. Especially if you stay in the historical part of Venice.

If your travel budget is very limited, you can choose a hotel in the mainland part of the city, called Mestre. From here, tourist attractions can be reached by bus or tram traveling over the Ponte della Libertà. The trip takes about 10-15 minutes. However, this method, although it will allow you to save a little, will not allow you to fully enjoy that unique atmosphere for which they go to Venice.

Although Venice is a very compact and small city, tourists should understand the division into districts, how they differ from each other, and where it is better to stay. The city is divided into 6 districts called sestieres: San Marco, Castello, Cannaregio, San Polo, Dorsoduro, Santa Croce.

To learn about the features of each sestiere and make the right choice, read also the article:

Hotels in the historical "sestiere" (as the 6 districts of Venice are called) have many features. Often the rooms here are quite small. In addition, Venice hotels are often located in old houses, so they may seem somewhat shabby. But this is a unique experience, and many tourists are willing to pay a lot of money for this colorful “dilapidation”.

When choosing where to stay in Venice, as in any other city, study reviews from tourists. Pay attention to factors such as audibility, the availability of an elevator, Wi-Fi and the equipment you need, and the quality of breakfast (Italian breakfasts are usually quite meager). In addition, in reviews, tourists often mention location features: what attractions, shops, and interesting places are nearby.

Find out what special offers of Venice hotels are available right now:

Transport in Venice

How to get from the airport to Venice and back

Marco Polo Airport

This is the main one in Venice; most planes fly here. The airport is located just 8 km north of the city, and you can get from it to Venice quite quickly. True, there is one important nuance. When choosing any of the wheeled vehicles, keep in mind that they will only take you to a certain part of Venice that is accessible to cars - Piazzale Roma. If your hotel is located in one of the historical districts (Castello, San Marco, Dorsoduro, Cannaregio, San Polo, most of Santa Croce), then a car will not be able to drive directly to your hotel! For the simple reason that the main part of the city is simply not intended for vehicles. This often comes as a surprise to tourists, although everyone knows that Venice is a city on the water. Even if you take a taxi, the taxi driver will be forced to drop you off at Piazzale Roma, and then you will have to transfer to a truly Venetian - water transport.

Check the address in advance and check on the map exactly where your hotel is located. Check nearby landmarks and vaporetto stop. Perhaps the hotel website will also have tips on how to get there more conveniently.

So, options for how to get to Venice from Marco Polo Airport:

• You can use ATVO shuttle buses, stopping near the entrance to the airport. They depart frequently, are inexpensive and very convenient. The price is 8 euros one way and 15 euros for a round trip ticket. In addition, transfers on ATVO shuttles can be included in the package of services when purchasing a Venezia Unica guest card (more about it below). These shuttles take you to the Piazzale Roma bus station.

• There are also ACTV buses - this is a regular city transport that runs with many stops. Cheaper and more colorful. .

• With greater comfort, but much more expensive, you can go by taxi. Taxi drivers will be eagerly waiting for you next to the airport building.

• If you are afraid of organizational difficulties and are not ready to book tickets on Italian websites or negotiate with taxi drivers, you can use the service. The transfer can be booked in advance, and all information is available in Russian.

• You can feel the essence of Venice immediately after leaving the airport - get to the city by water bus or water taxi. To do this, you need to walk a couple of hundred meters to the Alilaguna pier. you can select and purchase a ticket for such a trip (information in English).

Treviso Airport

Located 20 km from Venice. Budget airlines usually fly here. You can get to Venice:

• On Terravision buses. They operate during the day and will take you to Tronchetto, one of the Venetian islands at the entrance to the central part of the city.

• Also from Treviso Airport to Venice there are ATVO buses running to Piazzale Roma.

• Taxi drivers will be happy to take you into the city. Naturally, this is more expensive than buses.

• You can take the train from Treviso. Municipal bus No. 6 runs to the station. And from Treviso Centrale to Santa Lucia di Venezia, trains run very frequently. The journey will take approximately 35 minutes.

• If you don’t want to deal with public transport, you can book in advance (booking is available in Russian).

All the mentioned methods of travel also work in the opposite direction - from Venice to airports.

How to get around the city

A unique feature of the island part of the city is the complete absence of vehicles. Just a dream for metropolitan residents! How to get around the city? Venice is a very compact and small city, and therefore it is quite possible to get to most interesting places on foot (if you live in one of the historical villages). Moreover, walking here is extremely pleasant! This is a great way to get to know the city and feel its unique atmosphere.

But if you plan to move intensively around the city in a short time, then, of course, you will have to use transport. And here it is - only aquatic! It will not only help you quickly move to different parts of the city, but will also allow you to see Venice from the water - and this is also an unforgettable experience. Magnificent Venetian palazzos were even built in such a way that all their facades face the water, and therefore are best viewed while sailing along the waters of the Grand Canal.

The main public transport in Venice is boats vaporetto (vaporetto). These are a kind of water buses - an inexpensive and convenient option. They travel along established routes and stop at piers with yellow and white booths. You can buy either a one-way ticket or a pass for one or more days.

Detailed information about ticket types and prices can be found (however, the information is in English)

In addition, a vaporetto pass and even a transfer to Marco Polo Airport can be included in the Venezia Unica Guest Card (read more about it below).

You can also buy tickets through a special application for smartphones (the service is only available in Italian and English).

Small boats motoscafo, playing the role of water taxis may be more convenient due to their individual approach, but they are naturally more expensive. The motoscafo can travel through narrow canals, under low bridges and reach almost any part of the city.

There are also large motonave, which operate only on the largest canals.

Of course, we must not forget about the Venetian gondolas. You can’t even call them transport! They don't take passengers from point A to point B, but rather provide a special experience of leisurely strolls along the canals. But the magnificent romance of gondolas comes at a price! If you have limited funds, but cannot deprive yourself of a gondola ride, you can try to find a suitable company - the cost of the ride can be divided among everyone.

If you don’t want to pay a gondolier, but want to feel the flavor of truly Venetian transport, use traghetto (tragetto). They are used to get from one side of the canal to the other (where there are no bridges). And such transportation costs very little – only 2-3 euros. One of the most picturesque routes is the crossing from the “Customs Spit” (Punta della Dogana) to San Marco Square. Pavda, you won’t have time to admire the views, since the crossing is carried out very quickly. And one more important feature: passengers in the traghetto are transported while standing.

Venice: how to navigate the city

Navigating in Venice by house number is quite a puzzle. After all, the address is the name of the area and a four-digit number. For example, Castello 4693. At the same time, the numbering is continuous, it is not at all in order, and there is no usual division into even and odd sides of the street. And the area is quite large, and is all dotted with small streets and alleys. Another feature is that in Venice it is often not even buildings that are numbered, but their entrances, and sometimes even windows.

How to navigate Venice on your own and find the addresses you need? Knowing the nearest landmarks will help you out: they could be the nearest church, palace, square. Find a place on the map in advance and, if possible, clarify and remember or write down the name of the nearest bridge, canal, alley, square, as well as larger landmarks. And from these landmarks, remember the path to the desired building.

And you can see your location, as well as the attractions closest to you, on the map in . A free GPS guide to Venice is available.

How and where to eat in Venice?

Italian cuisine is famous for its delicious culinary delights, so in Venice you can not only enjoy magnificent views, but also explore a variety of delicious things. You can do this in different ways:

• The most expensive and, perhaps, most unfortunate option is to visit restaurants in the tourist center. They often work exclusively for tourists (of which there are plenty in Venice) and have nothing in common with a real Italian restaurant. The prices here will be “high”, which often cannot be said about the service.
• Cheaper, tastier and more interesting to find restaurants “for locals” away from tourist spots. These have become a rarity in the tourist areas of Venice. But they can be found in the areas of Cannaregio, Castello, Dorsoduro, and on the island of Giudecca. There are also many authentic local restaurants on the mainland of Venice, in Mestre.
• Buying products at the market and in stores. There are plenty of retail outlets in Venice - both small “home” shops and large supermarkets. And visiting a Venetian market (for example, the legendary Rialto Fish Market, the oldest in the city) is also a special, unforgettable experience. Even while living in a hotel, you can buy fruits, vegetables, delicious bread, Italian cheese, ham...

Eat traditional Venetian food

Venice has its own “specialty” dishes, which are an important part of the local flavor. The most famous - risotto nero (RisottoNero (black risotto) And spaghetti al nero (Spaghetti al nero di seppia). Both of these dishes have one thing in common: the unusual black color of the sauce, which is made from cuttlefish ink. Venetians also love polenta, similar to corn porridge.

Of course, in the city on the water you can try excellent seafood and fish dishes. For example, baccala montecato ( Baccala montecato) – dried cod puree, sarde in saor ( Sarde in Saor) – sardines in marinade, sardine frit ( Sarde fritto) – fried sardines, baccala fritto ( baccala fritto) – fried cod.

Also very popular in Venice Chiketti. These are small snacks that are eaten with wine or just like that.

The most popular Venetian drink is spritz, or spritz. This is a cocktail made from dry white or sparkling wine, Aperol or Campari liqueur and sparkling water. The Austrian name reminds us that the history of this “signature” Venetian drink is connected with the era of the Austrian occupation of Venice, and the “syringe” was actually invented by the Austrian military. True, they didn’t bother with liqueurs, but simply mixed wine with sparkling water.

In Venice, you should also enjoy wonderful Italian ice cream ( Gelato), remembering that it was the Venetian Marco Polo who once brought an ice cream recipe from China to Europe.

Restaurants and cafes in Venice: what is worth considering

• • Tips for waiters are not left everywhere - most often they are already included in the check called “coperto” (fee for serving and serving). If not, it is customary to give 10%.
  • Venice is spoiled by a huge flow of tourists. Unfortunately, this affects both the service and prices. In addition, be prepared for the peculiarities of “tourism” marketing. For example, menus displayed near restaurant entrances may not indicate prices for drinks, which can then turn out to be extremely high. In addition, waiters in the center may recommend not the most delicious, but the most expensive dishes. True, not everything is so bad everywhere, but such trends exist, perhaps, in any tourist place.

• If you decide to indulge in the luxury of a cup of coffee at the legendary Café Florian while sitting in Piazza San Marco listening to live music, be prepared to have a music fee added to your bill. However, many tourists don’t mind even overpaying for this unforgettable experience!

Sights of Venice on your own: with discounts and without queues

Venezia Unica – Venice tourist guest card

One way to save money in Venice is to buy a special “City Pass” card, called here VeneziaUnica. The peculiarity of the Venice card is that you can choose the set of services that suits your trip. It may include not only visits to the sights of Venice (museums and basilicas), but also travel on public transport, and, if desired, transfer to Marco Polo Airport, as well as sporting events, parking and discounts in some restaurants.

Everything is organized very conveniently. Visit the website www.veneziaunica.it/ru to get acquainted with the advantages of the card, select the services you need, and, in fact, buy Venezia Unica online. After making a purchase, an e-voucher will be sent to your email, which can be exchanged for a card when you arrive in Venice. This can be done at one of the many points, a list of which is presented on the website.

The Venice tourist card helps not only to save money, but also to avoid queues at the ticket office, and this is a significant advantage.

Choose the right time to visit tourist spots

One of the features of this city is the huge flow of visitors - about 30 million people visit Venice every year. In practice, this means crowds roaming everywhere. This is not always convenient. To take a beautiful photo or just be in peace and quiet, you should wake up early and get to the central one (St. Mark's) and the main attractions around 7 am.

Don't be afraid to stray from the banal tourist routes

It is not at all necessary to crowd together with all the tourists attacking St. Mark's Square, the Rialto Bridge and other popular places all day long. After all, there are still so many amazing places in Venice!

Venice travel guide and audio guide for iPhone

If you travel with an iPhone, you have the opportunity to explore the city not with a heavy guidebook, but with one, which is installed on your smartphone and turns trips into exciting journeys! Thanks to GPS navigation, the guide will always tell you where you are and what interesting places are near you. An offline map, useful information about the city and, a convenient search for places in the catalog and on the map, and even an audio phrasebook - all this is available completely free of charge. A tour of places that cannot be missed!

Our audio walks are full of interesting stories, interesting facts and amazing stories. Join us!

Venice on its own: what else tourists should know

Consider the working hours and don’t forget about siesta

From about 2 to 4 p.m., activity in Venice dies down (except for the tourist center). Many shops, restaurants, basilicas and museums are closing. Siesta! Take this into account when planning your day.

And Mondays are days off in many Venetian (and all Italian) attractions.

Keep your prices reasonable

The “side effects” of the tourist center are inflated prices. Souvenirs in the center are unreasonably expensive, and for a fantastic price you will most likely get low-quality goods made in China. Moving a little further from San Marco, you can find small shops with less expensive and higher quality gifts and souvenirs.

Don't feed pigeons anything

There are a lot of pigeons in Venice, and they... leave traces everywhere. Therefore, the city does not welcome their feeding, and even fines for unauthorized sale of food. In the area of ​​​​Piazza San Marco you can buy special pigeon food - special sterilizing preparations are added to it.

Drinking water in Venice available free of charge in special drinking fountains. It comes from the wells of the town of Skorce, located on the continent.

Forbidden in Venice sit on sidewalks around attractions. And men in the city are not allowed to take off their T-shirts and shirts.

Careful, thoughtful preparation will help make your independent trip to Venice flawless, simply perfect! However, don’t be afraid to add a pinch of adventurism and more inspiration to your plans! Buon viaggio, amici!

Is it possible to travel to Venice on a budget? Let's calculate how much a trip to Venice might cost and how you can minimize costs. Let's go through all expense items.

Let's start with transport costs.

We took tickets from Moscow with a transfer in Rome on Alitalia airlines. We booked it about a month and a half in advance through Aviasales. A round-trip ticket cost 13,500 rubles per person (just under 200 euros). Tickets with a transfer in Amsterdam on KLM were slightly cheaper.

A direct ticket Moscow-Venice cost 24,000.

There are two airports in Venice: the nearest one is Marco Polo, and the farthest one is Treviso (20 km from Venice), where low-cost airlines such as WizzAir and Ryanair fly. We flew to Marco Polo. You may find a budget option for flying through Treviso.

Travel insurance

Travel insurance was purchased through, which is the official representative of the largest insurance companies. When registering, you must enter the dates of the planned trip, the country, the number of people and their age. You will be presented with options from various insurance companies.

We chose the Alfastrakhovanie company. Insurance for two for 12 days cost us 1,400 rubles.

Transfer. How to get to Venice from the airport

The first necessary expenditure on transport upon arrival in Venice is a transfer to the city center.

The most budget option is buses from transport companies ATVO and ACTV. There are express trains (shuttles) and regular buses No. 5, which make stops along the way. We thought that their prices were different, but in both cases we paid 8 euros for a ticket (we went there on the ATVO express, back on No. 5 ACTV).

How can I find a bus upon arrival? Almost at the very exit of the airport building, just before reaching the doors, “Public transport” will be written on the left. There are ticket offices where you can buy tickets for the bus that goes to Piazzale Roma (Piazzale Roma is the final station for vehicles, further travel around Venice is only on foot or by water transport). You can also purchase a ticket from a machine.

From Venice to the airport the first shuttle leaves at 4-20, the last one at 23-10.

Shuttles from Marco Polo Airport run every 20 minutes, the first at 5-20, the last at 00-20 (we went at 23-20).

The bus stop is located immediately outside the airport. A little further, on the right, there is a stop for express trains that go only to Mestre. Between these two stops there is a controller walking around who makes sure you get on the right bus and checks your tickets when boarding.

The bus ride to Venice takes about 20 minutes.

Buses from the same company ATVO run from Treviso Airport. The shuttle journey takes 40 minutes, and regular shuttles take about an hour.

However, you can order in advance.

Piazzale Roma is a lively place. We arrived there almost at midnight; life there was still buzzing. Buses arrived and departed, people with and without suitcases moved around the square. There is also such a type of transport as a monorail, and he also arrived. The monorail runs from Tronchetto to Piazzale Roma.

Budget hotels in Venice

Before the trip, I was a little worried about how we would arrive in Venice at night and look for our hotel in the dark (I imagined a windy November night, a dark, deserted city with narrow streets and corridors). It turns out that life in Venice is always in full swing! November, night - it doesn't matter. It's light on the streets. We found the hotel with incredible ease.

I booked two different hotels in Venice. We stayed in one for one night before our cruise. We lived in another after returning from a cruise.
I booked both hotels near Piazzale Roma, so that I could easily get there with my suitcases. Booked through Hotellook service— a search engine that selects hotels based on offers from booking services such as Booking, Agoda, Ostrovok, etc.

First hotel - Hotel dalla Mora, Address: Salizada San Pantalon, 42. District of Santa Croce.

Before this, I read that some hotels are not at all easy to find in the intricacy of Venetian back streets.

About Hotel dalla Mora I had my doubts - I looked at its location on the map, and it seemed to me that it was a long walk to get to it and that it was located at the end of a back street. But the reviews about the hotel were captivating. In the end, I didn’t regret my choice at all and I confidently recommend it.

We arrived at Piazzale Roma at midnight. We got our bearings, crossed the first bridge, then the second, and then along the well-lit Minotto embankment, literally in 5 minutes we reached San Pantalon (or St. Panteleimon) street, where we saw a sign with the name of our hotel.

The doorbell rang. After some time, a sleepy woman who turned out to be Russian-speaking (Maria from Western Ukraine) opened the door for us, quickly checked us in, took us to our room, gave us the keys to the hotel and to our room, and we said goodbye until the morning.

The room was roomy, quite comfortable, and warm (which was an important advantage for mid-November). The windows overlooked the canal. There are 4 rooms on the floor. Shower and toilet are shared.

The cost per night is 60 euros for a double room. Breakfast included. Wi-fi is free. There are rooms with a private toilet.

Despite the deep night and busy day, after checking in we still went for a walk. The area is quiet, very picturesque. We reached Scuola San Rocco in about 7 minutes and turned back.

Breakfast was declared as “sweet Italian”, and I was already imagining cookies or shortcakes, but there were boiled eggs, processed cheese, croissants, muesli, and in addition to coffee and tea, hot chocolate was offered. By Italian standards, quite decent.

Having vacated the room, we left our suitcases at the reception without any problems and walked until one o'clock in the afternoon, since our liner departed at five o'clock. Overall, the impression was very good, and we even thought about rebooking a second hotel for this one, but for research purposes we decided to look at another budget accommodation option in Venice.

A week later we returned from the cruise and went to check into our second hotel: Hotel Adua, address: Lista di Spagna 233/a, Cannaregio district.

From Piazzale Roma we crossed the Grand Canal over the Calatrava Bridge, passed the Santa Lucia train station and entered the busy street on which our hotel stood. To be honest, I was surprised by the crowds on Lista di Spagna: I read that the Cannaregio area is quiet and rarely visited. However, after looking closely at the map, I realized that this street is part of the land route to the Rialto Bridge and St. Mark's Square.

The building in which the Adua Hotel occupies the 2nd and 3rd floors is historical, from the 17th century, it is a typical Venetian palazzo, there is even a small garden there. The rear façade overlooks the Grand Canal.

The staircase to the 2nd floor (where the reception is located) is steep and high, there are no ramps or elevators. The hotel has only 13 rooms, some of them with a private bathroom (their cost is 50 euros), some with a shared one (their cost is 40 euros per room). Breakfast is paid separately - 5 euros. In addition, accommodation tax is paid everywhere in Italy. In the first hotel we paid one and a half euros per person per night. In the second - two.

The rooms are small, clean, painted light green, and the decor (furniture, decor) reminded me of a kindergarten. Everything is very modest.

You can try to find not a hotel, but a room or apartment directly from the owners of apartments in Venice on the website Airbnb. By registering using my invitation link, you receive a 30 euro discount on your first booking.

Read about the features of living in a rented apartment in Venice

We did not order breakfast, since there were many shops and cafes on the street, and here we smoothly move on to the next section.

Where to eat inexpensively in Venice

As experience shows, the first meal in a new city is not very successful and is expensive, but with each new day you eat tastier and cheaper. So for the first time we had lunch quite normally, not very tasty, we paid 12 euros for a hot dish and 5 euros for a glass of wine, and this is the usual average price in city trattorias. However, then we got our bearings on the area, and the costs were optimized.

Almost opposite our hotel there was a pizzeria where we had breakfast. A cup of cappuccino and a good slice of pizza cost 4 euros per person. It was open from early morning until late evening.

A little further (exact address Lista di Spagna, 124) there was a self-service cafe Brek. In northern Italy, cafes of this chain are found in several cities (Milan, Verona, Padua, etc.). Addresses and menus can be found on their website brek.com.

These cafes offer set lunches for 6-90 euros and dinners for 10-90.

The proximity of this cafe to our hotel increased the value of the hotel because the food was delicious and cheap. Although we initially ignored this cafe as it looked like a diner. You had to go through the hall with the buffet, and there was already a self-service hall there. The place is visited by many locals. Small bottle of wine (as an accompaniment to dinner) – 2-90. Delicious desserts.

After 6 pm in many establishments in Venice, the so-called “Happy Hour” begins, when you only pay for a drink, and snacks are included for free.

Brek also had Happy Hour, it took place in the first part of the cafe (which is like a snack bar) and cost 4 euros. The selection of snacks was modest: chips, sausage, something else, but people sat tight, sipped cocktails, ate sausage and cheese, and carried on conversations.

We bought fruits on the streets in fruit shops. Prices for grapes and citrus fruits are comparable to ours. The grapes are very tasty. Hot chestnuts are also sold throughout the city.

The sales girl in the souvenir shop advised us to try the local fish. When we were sailing along the Venetian Lagoon, we discovered a nice fish cafe on the island of Burano - it occupies a strategic position near the pier, and the people waiting for their vaporetto inevitably become their clients.

There we ordered fried squid and fish. The food is placed on a plate made of thick dough, wrapped in foil, so that at any moment, as soon as the desired boat appears, you can tuck in the foil and go to your vaparetto, and there, sitting on a bench and admiring the sea views, gobble up a hot meal, and at the end eat a plate of bread. A plate with squid (very tasty!) cost 10 euros, with fish (three large pieces) - 7.

To summarize: it is quite possible to spend 20-30 euros on food per day.

Public transport

I already wrote about transfer from the airport (16 euros by bus there and back). In principle, you can limit yourself to this, since in the future you can easily get by on your own feet: Venice is a compact city, and any of its six parts can be reached on foot.

However, I would highly recommend getting at least a day pass for the Vaparetto. The following ticket costs: for 24 hours – 20 euros, for 48 – 30 euros, 72 – 40, for 7 days – 60. And you can use it on all city routes. A single Vaparetto ticket costs 7.50 and is valid for 70 minutes.

First of all, you must definitely swim along Grand Canal(vaparetto no. 1 and 2). We took No. 1, it stops at almost every pillar, moves very slowly, but if you want to photograph the facades of palaces facing the Grand Canal from all angles, then this option is perfect for you.

Vaparetto no. 2 from Piazzale Roma moves along the canal Giudecca, and the Giudecca makes three stops on the skeleton. It’s definitely worth going to the second one - near the Redintore Cathedral, one of Antonio Palladio’s masterpieces. All his life this architect sought to work in Venice, but Vicenza was given to him completely, and in Venice Palladio managed to build only two grandiose churches: Redintore on Giudecca and San Giorgio Maggiore on the neighboring small island. Accordingly, having examined the first one, we move on the same Vaparetto No. 2 to the second (the movement interval of Vaparetto No. 2 is 12 minutes).

Having looked at the southern islands, we go to the northern ones: San Michele, Murano, Burano, Torcello. All vaparetto heading to these islands stop at Fondamento Nuove.

Nearest island - San Michele, where the city cemetery (Cimitero) is located. In particular, Brodsky, Stravinsky, Diaghilev, and Pyotr Weil are buried there. Only vaparetto numbers 4.1 and 4.2 stop on this island. Their route is the same, only 4.1 goes counterclockwise, and 4.2 goes clockwise. The movement interval is 20 minutes. From San Michele they go further to Murano.

On Murano these vaparetto (4.1 and 4.2, as well as the night vaparetto N) have 7 stops. It is better to get off at 5th, Da Mula (at Palazzo Vivarini, now there is a historical museum) or 6th - Museo (there is the Glass Museum and the main Murano Cathedral with golden mosaics in the apse - the Church of Santa Maria and Donato).

After viewing the museum and mosaics, head to the Faro (lighthouse) stop. This is the main stop on the island of Murano, where all the vaparetto passing by the island stop. The lighthouse is visible from afar; the path to it runs first along the canal, then along a wide street. Along the way there are numerous shops with virtuoso glass products; you want to look into each of them and admire them.

Near the lighthouse, in particular, Vaparetto No. 12 stops, where you can get to the island Burano. These vaparetto are large, roomy (don’t be scared by the crowd of people on the pier, everyone will fit in), they run every half hour. The drive to Burano is quite long, about half an hour. There will be small islands along the way.

If Murano specialized in glassware, Burano is famous for its lace. You will immediately see it - sewing is everywhere here, like glass on Murano. There is a Lace Museum. The island is very picturesque; it is customary to brightly paint the facades here.

There is an island near Burano Torcello, touching in its desolation, with the magnificent temple of Santa Maria Assunta, the bell tower and the stone throne of Attila (allegedly) in the main square. Vaparetto number 9 runs between Burano and Torcello.

From Torcello we return to Venice. A trip to all these islands can be done in a day and fit into a daily ticket for 20 euros.

In summer, routes to the islands are in demand (there are hotels with beaches) and Punta Sabbioni(there are also beaches and camping there). These islands close the Venetian Lagoon.

Vaparetto tickets can be purchased at the ticket office at Piazzale Roma, at newsstands, at major stops such as Ferrovia (opposite the train station) or Piazza San Marco.

Here is one of these ticket kiosks - to the left of Calatrava bridge:

Before you can use the ticket, you must validate it – attach it to the validator before boarding. It doesn't print anything, it just beeps. From this time (squeak) 24 hours will be counted (if you bought a ticket for a day).

The Vaparetto route scheme initially causes rejection and reluctance to understand all these intricacies. However, you will quickly figure it out if necessary. At each stop it is written which numbers pass through it and which stops they make. Vaparetto runs frequently and the traffic is well organized.

Vaparetto movement diagram. On the left is the validator.

At most stops there are no ticket offices; a single ticket can be bought on the boat. When entering the ship, tickets were never checked. The ticket was taken out of my pocket only once - at the San Marco stop, passage was carried out through the turnstiles.

There is also such a type of transport as traghetto. This is a large gondola that transports passengers from one side of the Grand Canal to the other. The crossing costs half a euro. There are a total of 7 such crossings along the Grand Canal.

Traghetto stops look like this:

Museum cards

Many tourist cities have museum cards that allow you to visit certain city museums. But if, say, in Paris, cards differ only in the period of use (for 3 days, for 5, etc.), then in Venice the abundance of different types of museum cards is somewhat confusing.

Let's say there is a so-called Horus map(Chorus Pass), which allows you to visit 16 churches that are part of the Chorus Association. The chorus pass costs 12 euros and is valid for a year. It is unnamed and can be transferred to another person.

A regular ticket to the church costs 3 euros. Churches are open to the public from Monday to Saturday, from 10 to 17. Visiting the four churches on this list pays for the museum's Chorus Pass.

However, many churches in Venice are free, off the top of my head: San Jeremiah, Santa Maria di Nazareth, San Pantalon, the same Cathedral of San Marco. And, say, the Church of San Donato in Murano is paid, but is not included in the Horus Pass (more about the churches of Venice -).

The next type of museum maps of Venice is Museum Pass. This card gives entry to all Venice city museums, costs 24 euros and is valid for six months.

You can take a card San Marco City Pass, which includes only 4 museums in Piazza San Marco (including the Doge's Palace) and three churches from the Horus list. Valid for a week, costs 27 euros.

costs 40 euros All Venice City Pass– the most comprehensive of the museum maps: all the museums and churches of Venice are at your disposal for a week. Read about museums and museum maps.

In addition to museum cards, before visiting Venice you can get yourself a single card. The card is purchased on the official tourism website of Venice https://www.veneziaunica.it/, and you yourself determine what set of services you need.

Let's say you want a three-day pass, admission to the museums of San Marco + three churches, parking at Piazzale Roma, a discount at a restaurant. You dial, look at the amount, and pay. The range of services even includes visiting public paid toilets and connecting to the Internet via Wi-Fi in certain places. Diagrams of public toilets and Wi-Fi points are attached. In general, the site is very clear and convenient.

Regarding toilets, public toilets in Venice are paid. The way out is a place of spiritual and physical food, i.e. cafes and museums. Moreover, it is not always necessary to go to the museum to get into the establishment: toilet rooms are sometimes located in the entrance foyer, in the same place as the ticket office. Let's say Palazzo Ca Rezzonico. Behind the entrance gate to the right there is a passage to the pier (through the courtyard). On the left along the way is the museum ticket office, on the right are free toilets (similarly - in Ca Pesaro, Ca Mocenigo, in the Natural History Museum).

You can take a walk through the cute garden at the Rezzonico Palace, this is also free (from the entrance - to the left).

We found a free toilet on the island of San Michele - immediately next to the pier to the right. And on the island of San Giorgio you will find amenities in the gallery of the Ceni Foundation, the gallery is located behind the church.

In general, there were no problems.

Returning to the topic of museum maps, I can advise the following. If you are in Venice for the first time and have arrived for a day or two, then just walk around the city. The main attraction of Venice is the city itself, the interweaving of its streets and canals, narrow passages and wide squares, the luxury of church facades and interspersed parks. Go to the Church of San Marco, find the Bovolo staircase - even a simple walk with a guide through the back streets of Venice turns into an exciting quest, and beauty awaits you at every step.

If you come for a week or more, take the All Venice City Pass. Or intermediate options, depending on your tastes and intentions.

If you are traveling with your family or company, you can order. Excursions are conducted for small groups in Russian.

Tickets to La Fenice and Malibran theaters

La Fenice is the main opera house in Venice. The history of this “Phoenix” serves as a vivid illustration of the saying “what you call a ship, so it will fly.” They named it after the Phoenix bird, and in accordance with this name, La Fenice burned out several times and then rose from the ashes.

After the fire in 1996, the theater was closed for 8 years, and its productions were staged at the Malibran Theater. Now it has been restored to its original form, with the same luxury. And you should go there not only for the sake of the opera performance, but also to get an idea of ​​the interiors in which the Venetian public listened to art.
However, you can go on an excursion to the theater separately. A ticket for such an excursion costs 10 euros. The theater is open to the public from 9:30 to 18:00 (times may vary depending on the calendar of artistic events, so it is better to go in the morning).

Theater tickets start from 30 euros. It is better to purchase tickets in advance.

Souvenirs

The general rule is not to buy anything in crowded tourist areas. It’s worth stepping aside, and a stole, which on the Schiavoni embankment near San Marco was sold for 8 euros, is already selling for 5, and a T-shirt for 12 already costs 8 euros.

There are nice souvenir shops in Venice with “1 euro” signs. Indeed, they sell souvenirs there for 1 euro. Most of them are pendants made of Venetian glass (some very nice), sets of glass beads for homemade beads, magnets in the form of masks (although they are made rather carelessly, you need to look for a good copy), fans, boxes, pictures. So you can look for small things there too.

The most popular souvenirs in this city are Venetian masks, and they are sold on every corner.

Of course, there is a large selection of Murano glass products. There are jewelry, original vases, figurines, and watches. I can’t vouch that on the island of Murano itself everything is definitely cheaper than in Venice, but there is more choice there. Moreover, in neighboring shops, products can be strikingly different - in style, in spirit, in color. You can walk around Murano as if you were walking through an endless museum: at every step you will come across countless works of art, original and unexpected. If you don’t buy it, at least please your eyes.

We're going to Burano for lace. To be honest, I was more attracted to Burano by the colorful houses lined up along the canals, and I only glanced casually at the lace on display. There are not as many lace shops there as there are glass shops in Murano, but there are still enough.

When is the best time to come to Venice?

What I liked least about Venice was in the summer. Crowded, hectic, hot.

In the spring, in April, it was very pleasant, but still there were too many people.

The most wonderful memories remain from February Venice. It was chilly and cloudy, but the fogs were simply magical. Gondolas sway in the haze. I walked around the city as if hypnotized.

Winter suits Venice very well. Winter - and night.

Be sure to stay overnight in Venice.

Brodsky came to Venice year after year in winter, around Christmas. He wrote a magical piece - “Embankment of the Incurables”, as bewitching as winter Venice.

Summary

What do we end up with?

So, offhand: 200 euros air ticket, transfer and insurance - another 20, 20 euros - daily ticket for Vaparetto, 12 euros - Horus Pass card. Already 252 euros.

Total minimum – 550-600 euros for 5 nights (6 days).

Calendar of cheap prices for air tickets

Useful websites for preparing for your trip And

Rental of bicycles, scooters, ATVs and motorcycles -

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Historically, Venice is one of the most expensive cities in the world, practically inaccessible to the average tourist.

Agree, few people dream of coming to Venice during the high season, at least for a week, and staying not an hour’s drive from the center, but in the very heart of Venice - in Piazza San Marco, and even in a historic hotel of the 18th century.

It seems that Venice is simply not made for the budget independent traveler. It is rather for those who are easily ready to shell out several hundred euros per day for comfort and the opportunity to live in Venice as a person.

I hope that someday I will also be able to stop counting my money, because it suddenly becomes too much. But while this is not the case, I am writing my post about what you can save on on your trip to Venice, without any significant loss in the quality of your vacation in this wonderful Italian city.

After all, despite all the established stereotypes about the high cost of Venice, I managed to live there exactly as I write - in a historic hotel in Piazza San Marco and in early June.

Of course, it worked out on a relatively budget-friendly basis. Let me say this, my trip to Venice was not too expensive than a trip to any other average European city.

But most importantly, this trip of mine convinced me that this city needs to be viewed this way, slowly, imbued with its special, unique atmosphere.

Because the main drawback for which even experienced travelers, such as Sergey Dolya, criticize Venice is the crowds of tourists creating turmoil and crush at the main attractions of this city. Sometimes it even seems that this is not a city at all, but one big train station, where everyone is running somewhere, shouting, pushing, and prices in restaurants and shops are simply off the charts, because they are designed for a hurrying “passenger” who has no time to choose and ask the price.

queue for gondolas

Rialto Bridge

And this is all true. But with a small caveat, this Venice can be seen during the day, when numerous one-day tourist groups bring it here. Because of which there is literally nowhere for an apple to fall in Piazza San Marco, in all the museums there are gigantic queues and all around those same crowds of motley people, speaking all the languages ​​of the world, who in feverish excitement buy up all Chinese souvenirs at exorbitant prices, even if they themselves are tourists from this very China.

Truly, during the day, Venice is a real Babylonian pandemonium.

But everything changes when darkness falls...

Unlike other cities in the world, where tourists are evenly distributed among the attractions at any time of the day, because they live right next to each other. Not so with Venice. The hustle and bustle here lasts for several hours, when tourist groups begin to arrive on the island (approximately from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.). The rest of the time, Venice is quiet, leisurely, and peaceful like no other tourist city.

And then this disadvantage, with its great tourist attractiveness coupled with high cost, turns into an advantage. Because in the morning and evening here you can leisurely stroll along the Venetian streets and along the canals, and in the museums there is no such crowd and crush as during the day.

In general, on my first visit to Venice, I was exactly the same visiting tourist for several hours, you can read about it separately.

And to be honest, traveling around Italy as part of a group is the most budget-friendly way to see Italy and Venice possible. If you have very little money, but still want to go to Italy, you should contact search for tours in Italy. Fortunately, there are quite a few of them, I don’t want to choose.

I liked Venice even then, but such a galloping exploration of the city for several hours was not enough for me, so I ventured on a separate, specially planned trip here.

And I couldn’t even dream that it would turn out to be so wonderful in all its senses.

Venice is one of the most beautiful cities not only in Italy, but in the whole world and it is not at all surprising that there are so many tourists here.

Moreover, Venice has long turned into a tourist factory city for tourists, in which every corner, every shop and every person dreams of making money from visiting travel lovers. You need to know this and always remember so as not to get into trouble.

Finally, I’ll tell you where to start planning the budget for your trip to Venice, about the main cost items and how you can save on them. I will divide my story into three parts.

Now let’s look at these points in more detail, taking into account the Venetian specifics

How much does a hotel room cost in Venice?

Hotels in Venice are expensive, not even that, they are fabulously expensive. That is why most independent travelers, when they come to this city, settle on the mainland, at best, next to the station. I read exactly these tips before traveling to Italy in other blogs and even managed to book a “successful inexpensive hotel” near Venice Santa Lucia station.

Just for fun, I of course poked around at hotels in the San Marco area, but the closer you are to San Marco, the more astronomical the prices are. The unexpectedly low prices frightened and aroused suspicion.

I wrote about them in my separate article, so I won’t dwell on them in detail here.
In short, in my opinion, you need to live as close as possible to the center of tourist interest and it is advisable to choose a hotel that is not just a window-bed-door, but still strive to ensure that it organically fits into the atmosphere of the place where you will not be staying for long , but I will live. And it allowed me to fully experience the atmosphere of the place where I arrived.

Well, it would be desirable that at least breakfast be provided. Of course, you won’t find all-inclusive in Europe, but at least this way.
Maybe some people want to bother with cooking when traveling, but this is definitely not about me. Well, besides, hotel breakfasts are often much more profitable than visiting a cafe or, even more so, a restaurant.

The average living budget that I allow for myself is: 100 euros per day, plus or minus. If I manage to find something cheaper, but without loss of quality, I am happy and allow myself some tourist excesses. Usually, I succeed. So I get some new beads 8)

This time I chose hotel for 125 euros per night, despite its rather mediocre ratings on booking. But all the hotels located nearby were much more expensive at the time of booking.

I have noticed many times now that hotels with super ratings on booking sites disappoint me, while those with low ratings, on the contrary, I like. If there is interest, I can do a detailed post-room tour later. Now I don’t want to pollute the airwaves. I will say that this hotel satisfied all my requests, maybe not 100%, but 85% for sure. The downside is a small room and a barely warm shower, but the big downside of this hotel was the money frozen by the hotel on my bank card. Those. They took the money for the accommodation and additionally froze the same amount on my card.
This was the first time I encountered something like this, and my bank also added fuel to the fire by confirming that there was a double debit on the part of the hotel. Just in case, I prepared for these financial losses, but everything worked out, the “Frozen money” was returned to me. But only within a month after the trip. This means that I had less of this frozen amount on my card until the end of my trip.

On hotel booking sites it is not always clear what the price range is for a particular hotel, but in the room in our hotel there was a price list, from which it followed that our room, depending on occupancy and season, could cost from 62 to 330 euros!
Can you imagine what the run-up is?

Peak season in Venice— almost all summer, Venice Carnival, Venice Film Festival. These are the periods when hotel prices will be at their highest, which means you definitely won’t be able to save on accommodation using the method I recommend.

In general, my advice to you is to go to Venice for at least 3-4 days and look for hotels in Venice in the center. Damn all compromises! Don't settle in the middle of nowhere. After all, in fact, you can see Venice either early in the morning or in the evening, when there is no influx of one-time tourists.
Don’t deprive yourself of the pleasure of your trip for the sake of dubious savings. It is better to adjust the dates of your trip when hotel prices are not the highest.
I went to Venice in early June, when it wasn’t too hot and there were still slightly fewer tourists here than in July-August. And I think this is a very good time to visit her. I also want to come here in winter; they say Venice is no less beautiful at this time of year.

I hope this article of mine will never be translated into Chinese, otherwise there will be no meaning left from this information and advice of mine. 8)

While I'm preparing the second part of my post about budget travel to Venice, subscribe to my blog updates so you don't miss it :

: alluring, mysterious, unique - many would like to see with their own eyes the canals, San Marco Square, the Rialto Bridge, and go to the carnival. You can buy a ticket and travel through the cities of Italy with a visit to Venice. But for those who like to explore new countries and cities themselves, Venice is a suitable place. If you think through the route in advance, the trip will be more economical. If you are planning a trip to Venice on your own in 2019, you can find out how to inexpensively relax, eat, and have fun in this article.

Where does the journey begin? From the road. There are several ways to get to Venice from Russia:

1. There is a direct flight from Aeroflot to Venice (only 3 hours on the way). However, even if you book tickets in advance, several months in advance, such a flight will cost approximately 14 thousand rubles.
2. European carriers such as KLM, AirFrance, Lufthansa, Alitalia, Swiss offer connecting flights. It will take longer, but significantly cheaper - around 7 thousand rubles.

If, in addition to Venice, you plan to visit other cities in Italy, then you can fly to Rome or Milan. There are many more tickets to Rome, among them there are quite inexpensive ones, also for 7 thousand rubles, and at the same time you will also be able to see the Eternal City.

From these cities you can reach Venice by train. From Milan there is a train every day to Venice, a ticket costs 10 - 12 euros, it is also possible to get there by bus, a ticket costs 5 - 6 euros. There is a plane from Rome to Venice every day; a ticket costs 80 euros. There is also a high-speed train that will take you to the city on the water in 3-4 hours.

As for Italian trains, it is worth knowing the nuances: to save money, it is best to choose Regionale Veloce trains - an analogue of Russian electric trains. And when it comes to ticket prices, you should take a closer look at Super Economy. This ticket cannot be returned or exchanged, but it will cost less than others. If you are confident in your plans, it will help the budget. Tickets are sold on the website of the carrier company Trenitalia, as well as at ticket machines and ticket offices at transport hubs.

Anyone traveling to Italy for the first time should know that trains being 20 minutes late are normal for Italians. Arriving in Venice, you must immediately buy a return ticket if you plan to return on the same day.

If you plan to spend several days in Venice and don’t want to walk all the time, it’s better to purchase a water transport pass. So, a day will cost around 20 euros, but you can buy a ticket for a week for 60.

Where to stay in Venice in 2019?

Before traveling to the city by water, be sure to print out a map, it will be much easier to navigate and you will save on purchasing it, and if you get lost, friendly Italians will be happy to explain where you are using the map.

In Venice, tourists have many hotels, hostels, and rental apartments at their disposal. The area for living is practically unimportant, since the city is small and everything there is compact, you can easily walk on foot. But still choose a place to stay closer to vaporetto (water bus) stops. The ideal option is Rialto stop “C”, which can be reached by vaporetto number 1.

It is better not to stay on the mainland, since you will have to pay for transport, and in the historical part of the city there are many hotels where, during the season from November to March, you can relax in a five-star hotel for 110 euros. The cost of a room in normal times will be from 100 euros in a one- or two-star hotel and from 350 euros in a five-star hotel. The cost per person in a hostel is from 19 to 27 euros. Here are some of them: Hotel & Hostel Colombo For Backpackers, Archie’s House, Generator Venice. You need to make reservations two to three months in advance; the best deals are available immediately.

The most optimal thing is a rented apartment, especially if you come on vacation with a company. You can use the Airbnb resource, where you can choose a host with good reviews. Of course, in the high season, prices are high, but you can always bargain, and if the trip is planned for a long time, renting private housing will generally be cheaper.

Where can you taste real Italian food deliciously and inexpensively in 2019?

For tourists, there are no problems with food in Venice, as in other Italian cities. Here you can try real pizza, pasta, coffee, dessert or ice cream. However, food prices in Venice are designed for wealthy travelers, and to save money, it is worth knowing a few tricks.

If you want to cheer yourself up, you need to take into account this nuance: in a cafe, standing coffee will cost half as much as sitting at a table, and to take away it will not be expensive at all. You can sit right on the embankment and greet the morning with a view of the sea or canal.

To eat inexpensively and tasty, you need to go where the locals prefer to go. Away from the center there are the areas of Castello and Canareggio. You can have a great lunch there for just 20 euros, for example, at Rosticceria San Bartolomeo. The establishment offers Italian cuisine, seafood and fast food. You can grab a traditional panini sandwich and cheer yourself up with grappa in the evening.

In general, in these areas there are many cozy outdoor cafes, which are located in closed courtyards. You can try real Italian pizza at Arte della Pizza. You may have to wait in line, but the pizza you'll try there is worth it.

Be sure to visit Taverna del Campiello Remer, which is located on the square next to the Grand Canal. The prices are quite affordable for a mid-range establishment, and you will get an unforgettable experience. In addition, the establishment also has free Wi-Fi.

You can go to the Brek self-service cafe. A set lunch in such a place will cost from 6 euros, dinner - from 10 euros, which is quite inexpensive for Italy. There are also spaghettieries that work on the same principle - choose the type of pasta, sauce and filling - in a cardboard box for 5 euros.

If you plan to stay in apartments, you should give preference to those with a kitchen. This will save on food costs.

The most inexpensive supermarkets with food are located in the Strada Nova area. Among them are Prix, COOP. In the Mestre area (a suburb of Venice) there is Auchan, familiar to Russians; food will cost about 25% cheaper than in the city itself, and the selection will not disappoint.

If you go for a walk in the evening, you need to know that after 18:00 in many catering establishments “Happy Hours” begin - you can pay for a drink and receive a set of snacks (cheese, sausage, snacks) as a gift. And if you want to eat with a view of the city at night, then it’s worth taking note that after midnight the tables of establishments from St. Mark’s Square remain standing, and you can sit there “with your own.”

How to have fun and not spend a lot of money in Venice in 2019?

Finally, you have arrived in beautiful Venice, settled in and had lunch. What is a must see and visit and how to save money?

If your trip is not during the high season, then you can calmly wander through the narrow streets, ride along the canals on the local water bus - “vaporetto” or on a gondola, which serves as a ferry where there is no bridge. It's called "traghetto". This will be a more economical route than the gondola offered to tourists. Such luxurious boats with velvet cushions for six people will cost 120 euros, and even more expensive in the evening. A traghetto is the same gondola, more spacious and without pillows, but the landscapes will be the same and the price will be much lower.

Piazza San Marco is always crowded, especially in high season, but in the morning you can take a calm walk and see everything. You can attend morning mass in the Cathedral of San Marco and admire the Doge's Palace for free. Also go to the Clock Tower, which is located in the north of the square.

If you still want to visit a lot of museums, you can save money by purchasing a Tourist City Pass. For 40 euros you will be able to enter the Doge's Palace, 10 Venice museums, and 16 churches. The Museum Pass is another card that costs 24 euros and allows you to visit all the city’s museums.

What interesting places can you visit without paying a single euro:

1. San Giorgio Maggiore. The island and the cathedral of the same name on it are located opposite the Doge's Palace. The building was built by Andrea Palladio in the 16th century, and inside the temple there are paintings by Tintoretto. Opening hours: 09:30-18:30.
2. Staircase of Contarini del Bovolo. Not far from the Rialto Bridge, there is an elegant arched staircase with a platform from which you can view the panorama of the city, undeservedly deprived of the attention of tourists. Opening hours: 10:00-16:00.
3. Church of Santa Maria Assunta. Titian, Tintoretto, Giacomo Palma the Younger - you can look at the paintings and sculptures of geniuses for free.
4. Orsoni color library. Factory-museum where beautiful smalt products are created. You can get there and even listen to the excursion by pre-ordering one by calling +39 041 2440002.
5. Astronomical show at the Planetarium. Those vacationing as a family with children should know that from October to May, the city hosts educational and entertaining performances for children aged 6 years and older.

If you really want a city tour... then you can! There is a resource that was created by enthusiasts who conduct absolutely free walks in Venice: http://freetourvenice.com/. The tour will be in English, which is not as good as a booked tour in Russian, but for those who know English it is an affordable opportunity to save money and get to know the city better.

You can get to the events of the famous Venice Carnival with an invitation, which is not cheap. But at other times, the city often organizes cultural events, concerts, exhibitions within the walls of palazzos and churches. Sometimes you can visit them for free. Thus, from May to November, the Biennale is held - an art exhibition. Some sites are located outside the main exhibition areas and you can enter them freely, at the same time viewing the palazzo.

There are practically no clubs in Venice, but there is Campo Santa Margherita, where visiting students gather during the holidays. Noisy and cheerful Italians create a festive atmosphere on their own; young tourists can find foreign friends among them.

It is better not to plan large-scale shopping in Venice, as everything is very expensive, especially if you consider retail outlets in the center. The famous Venetian masks, if they are real, made by local craftsmen, are not cheap; affordable ones are made in China. This can be purchased for just 1 euro. But in small handicraft workshops outside the tourist center you can buy wonderful real Venetian things.

The connection in the city is not very good: public Wi-Fi, like everywhere else in Italy, is not very good. But once you get to a cafe or museum, you can take advantage of this and, sitting at a table or on a bench, quickly post photos on social networks or respond to messages - for free.

If you come to Venice in the summer not even for the purpose of a beach holiday, you can go somewhere on a wild beach for a day. Local residents save money and swim on the island of San Erasmo, and the island of Pellestrina is 14 kilometers of quiet and cozy coastline.

Public toilets in the city are paid; you can only visit the toilets of public catering establishments and museums. Some tourists manage to enter the “solitude corner” without even visiting the museum, since sometimes these areas are located in the foyer where the ticket offices are located.

In order to spend your vacation and not spend more than planned, it is better to plan everything in advance. You shouldn’t neglect anything in the process of packing your things: if you take medicines with you just in case, and wisely buy “travel packs” of hygiene products, you won’t have to spend money on it at “European prices.”

The best time to visit Venice is from November to March. At this time there are not many tourists, it is not as hot as in summer and you will not smell the stagnant water. Of course, you won’t be able to swim at the surrounding resorts, but Venice itself in winter is no worse. This city of canals is beautiful at any time of the year and will not leave anyone indifferent.

A little more about the sights of Venice in the video:

Trip to Venice

Everyone knows that Venice is on the water and instead of streets there are canals along which gondolas float. Both the city itself and the lagoon are included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. Scientists advise you to hurry up with your visit: the islands are gradually sinking under water and in 15-20 years they may become uninhabitable. Despite this, the city, which was once the most powerful in Europe, retains the spirit of luxury, pomp and grandeur.

Venice was one of the centers of the Renaissance and at the same time a very, very rich city, so a special, “theatrical” attitude to life appeared and was preserved here. Proof of this is the annual carnival, numerous holidays and festivals, as well as the most popular souvenir - the carnival mask. Tourists come here for a romantic mood, historical spirit and pompous surroundings, and the city more than lives up to their expectations.

A little history

The Republic of Venice played a huge role in the history of Europe. It arose at the end of the 7th century and already at the beginning of the 9th century it became the largest center of trade between East and West. During its heyday, Venice subjugated the surrounding territories and completely took possession of the Adriatic Sea. Income from trade in oriental goods, as well as the skill of local artisans, ensured the power of the republic with the doge at its head.

For more than 1,300 years, the city-republic maintained its independence. He did not even recognize the authority of the Pope. To oppose Venice in 1508, the kings of France, Spain and the Holy Roman Empire had to join forces. However, over time, wars with Turkey, devastating plagues and the emergence of alternative trade routes weakened the city, and in 1797 Napoleon finally managed to subjugate it. Since 1866, Venice has been part of Italy.

It is important to know:

• Official language- Italian.
• Square: 412 sq. km. The city is located on 118 islands of the Venetian Lagoon, separated by 150 canals and connected by 400 bridges. Venice also includes the mainland of Mestre, the island of Lido with sandy beaches, the islands of Murano, Burano, Torcello and San Michele.
• Population- 270 thousand people.
• Visa- Schengen, standard requirements. The cost of a tourist visa is 35 euros.
• Currency- euro.
• Time difference with Moscow:- 2 hours in summer, - 3 hours in winter.
• Climate: Venice is characterized by sudden weather changes; it often rains here. July-August can be very hot, with strong cold winds blowing in winter. The most favorable time to visit is April and September-October.
• Public holidays:

First and second days of Easter (Pasca)

Venetian holidays:

February-March - Venice Carnival (Carnevale di Venezia). It first took place in 1094 and remains one of the most famous carnivals in the world.

June - Biennale. The famous international exhibition of contemporary art, which is held in odd-numbered years.

The third Sunday in July is the Festival in honor of the Savior (Festa del Redentore), dedicated to the end of the plague epidemic of 1567.

August 1 - Open Forts Day. Venice's medieval forts are only open to visitors once a year.

The first Sunday in September is the Historical Regatta (Regata Storica), which includes a boat parade and sports gondola races.

Late August – early September - Venice International Film Festival.

November 21 - Festa della Salute - a holiday in memory of the deliverance from the plague epidemic in 1630.

Independent trip to Venice

How to get from Venice airport to the city

Airport Marco Polo (Aeroporto di Venezia Marco Polo) located 12 km from Venice. You can get to the city:

• ATVO express buses(20 minutes journey without stops, travel interval - 30 minutes, cost - 10 euros one way, 18 euros - round trip).
• ACTV buses(about half an hour on the road, several routes, one-way ticket price 6 euros, two-way ticket - 11 euros).
• Alilaguna water buses(travel time - 60 minutes, cost - 15 euros one way, 27 euros - both ways).
• Taxi(15-20 minutes, additional payment for each piece of luggage, cost - from 30 euros and above)
• Water taxi depending on the destination it will cost 60-240 euros.

Low-cost airlines use Treviso Airport (L"aeroporto "Antonio Canova" di Treviso-Sant"Angelo), which is 30 km from Venice. The city can be reached by ATVO and ACTV buses.

Public transport in Venice

Venice is connected to the mainland by road and rail, but within the city travel is mainly by water.

The water bus is called vaporetto, the cost of a ticket for one trip is 7 euros, a pass for 24 hours is 20 euros.

Public transport is considered to be gondolas. The official fare for a 40-minute trip is 80 euros during the day and 100 euros from 19:00 to 8:00. The price is divided among all passengers.

There are also traghetto- large gondolas that, for a small fee, transport passengers across the Grand Canal in several places where it is especially far to walk to the nearest bridge.

Venezia Unica City Pass

Venezia Unica City Pass is a universal constructor card that gives access to:

Public transport (from 20 euros for 24 hours to 50 euros for 7 days),

Museums and churches (39.9 euros for 7 days),

Citywide wi-fi network (5 euros for 24 hours, 15 euros for 72 hours, 20 euros per week)

Public toilets (3 euros per day, 9 euros per week).

On the official website you can collect and pay for the combination that suits you in advance. Standard options can be purchased at the box office of museums, churches and public transport ticket kiosks. Note: tourists under 30 years of age are entitled to youth discounts on almost all types of tickets.

Mobile communications and Internet in Italy

The most popular operators are Vodafone, TIM and Wind. The cost of a SIM card is about 15-25 euros, most of which is deposited into the account. Tariffs are approximately the same, there are special offers for tourists.

Free Wi-Fi is difficult to find: not even in every hotel guests enjoy such a privilege. It is not often found in cafes and restaurants and is not pleased with the quality of the connection. There is a city network of hotspots “Venice connected”, access to which costs 5 euros per day, 15 euros for 72 hours and 20 euros per week.

Shopping in Venice

Venice is not the best city for shopping in Italy, but of course there are shops here - in the Merceri district, which is located between St. Mark's Square and the Rialto Bridge, on Calle Larga XXII and in the mainland Mestre district.

It is customary to bring carnival masks, Murano glass, handmade dolls and lace from the island of Burano as souvenirs from Venice. Most shops are open from 9:00-10:00 to 19:00-20:00, break for lunch from 13:00 for 1.5-2 hours and are closed on Sundays.

Local kitchen

Did you know that the world's first cookbook was written in Venice? The basis of the local cuisine is fresh fish and seafood, as well as rice. Risotto is very popular: Risotto Nero with cuttlefish ink, Risotto del Doge with oysters (they say it was Giacomo Casanova’s favorite dish) or Risi and Bisi- with green peas. For dessert you can enjoy tiramisu, which was invented in Venice, or delicious Italian ice cream - gelato.

The cost of maintenance (coperto and servizio) is usually already included in the bill and amounts to 10-15%. However, if you leave another 5-10% on top as a sign of gratitude, the waiter will be pleased. Keep in mind that the price of, for example, coffee may differ depending on where you drink it: cheaper at the bar, more expensive at the table.