Tips for Traveling to Venice: How to Enjoy Italy’s Floating City
There are probably a million other Venice travel guides on the internet, and our goal is to create one that has all the info and tips for traveling to Venice that you'll need in just one article!
The floating city is pretty much on everyone's bucket list, and it truly is a magical place worth visiting. But let's be honest - it's the type of place that can get overcrowded, be overpriced, and kind of kill the beauty of visiting.
That's why we're going to share all of our tips for traveling to Venice, so that you can enjoy this stunning wonder as much as we did.
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First Things First - Can Tourists Still Visit Venice?
Tourists can still visit Venice! While it used to be free, there is now just a small charge to enter the city. We're going to cover all of the details in our "entry requirements section" which you can skip to by clicking on words above.
📍 Where is Venice in Italy?
Venice is an island located off of the north east coast of Italy along the Adriatic Sea.
Tips for Traveling to Venice: How to Get There
Our first tips for traveling to Venice, are to help you get there in the cheapest and most efficient way! Costs add up quickly while traveling to Venice, so we're going to show you the different options for doing so.
✈️ Which Airport Do You Fly to For Venice?
Venice has its own airport, which is Marco Polo Airport. The airport is located just 13 km north east of Venice and takes 15 minutes in a taxi, or 25-30 minutes in public transportation.
🛫 How Do You Get to Venice From the US?
From the US you easily fly direct to Venice, or you can fly to a variety of other cities in Italy and take the train, or have a connection in plenty of other cities throughout Europe.
If you plan on going in high season to Venice direct via a US airline, there is a high chance of the flight being oversold! Plan your trip a day early and you can give up your seat for a substantial amount of $, and getting put on the next flight out for free!
🇺🇸 What US Cities Fly Direct to Venice?
The US cities that fly direct to Venice are Atlanta, Chicago, New York, and Philadelphia. The Canadian cities that fly to Venice direct are Montreal and Toronto.
Other cities that fly direct to Venice include Alghero, Amsterdam, Asturias, Athens, Barcelona, Bari, Basel, Belgrade, Berlin, Birmingham, Bordeaux, Bournemouth, Brindisi, Brussels, Cagliari, Cannes, Casablanca, Catania, Chisinau, Cologne, Copenhagen, Corfu, Doha, Dubai, Dublin, Dusseldorf, Edinburgh, Foggia, Frankfurt, Geneva, Hamburg, Helsinki, Iasi, Ibiza, Istanbul, Izmir, Jersey, Karpathos, Kefalonia, Lamezia Terme, Leeds, Leipzig, Lisbon, Ljubljana, London, Luxembourg, Lyon, Madrid, Manchester, Munich, Mykonos, Nantes, Naples, Nice, Nuremberg, Olbia, Palermo, Pantelleria, Paris, Prague, Reggio Calabria, Reykjavik, Riga, Rome, Seoul, Sion, Skiathos, Stockholm, Stuttgart, Tel Aviv, Tunis, Vienna, Warsaw, Yerevan, Zakynthos, and Zurich.
Flight Tip: Using Skyscanner you can put from "your city" to "Everywhere". This way you can see which is the cheapest airport in the area to fly. Also, you can check the calendar to see which are the cheapest dates for flying direct to Venice!
Search for a flight to Venice or Italy:
🚌 Other Ways to Get to Venice
If you don't happen to fly direct to Venice, you can also get their by the following options:
- Take a train to Venice from surrounding cities
- Take a bus to Venice from surrounding cities
- Join a Bla Bla car trip
- Rent a car and drive to Venice (this is the option that we did - but we only recommend it if you are doing a long road trip around Italy or visiting several other places in Europe).
- Take a cruise to Venice - We were working on cruise ships for years, and this is a popular cruise port, that you can find a lot of one-way cruises to!
🚐 Tips for Traveling to Venice from the Airport
You can get to the city from the airport and vice versa in a few different ways:
- Take the Aerobus: 18 euros each way
- Take a prepaid bus: $10
- Take a water taxi transfer: $16
- Take a taxi: 40-50 euros per car
What Do You Need to Travel to Venice, Italy?
The requirements for visiting Venice have just changed, and we're also going to clue you in on the requirements to visit and stay in Italy, as well as the other countries in the Schengen Zone.
💶 Does Venice Have an Entry Fee?
Venice does have an entry fee, but it is actually not 24/7 and is for only certain days of the year! The fee is a flat 5 euros per day, and the fee is only charged between the hours of 8:30 am and 4:00 pm, which are the peak hours for tourism in Venice.
The dates that Venice has an entry fee are as follows:
- April 25th- May 5th
- May 11th & 12th
- May 18th & 19th
- May 25th & 26th
- June 8th & 9th
- June 15th & 16th
- June 22nd & 23rd
- June 29th & 30th
- July 6th & 7th
- July 13th & 14th
🤑 Venice Fee Exemption
There are certain people who are exempt from having to pay the fee, and will need to register with proof of exemption upon arrival to the city. The people that can be exempt from payment are:
- Local residents
- Children under 14
- Local students
- European Disability Card holders
- Members of the Armed Forces and the Police Forces that are there to perform relevant duties
🛂 Visa Entry Requirements for Italy
Travelers from the US, Australia, UK, and many other countries do not require a visa to visit Italy, or the other countries in the Schengen Zone. They will be able to stay 90 days within a 180 day period in total inside the Schengen Zone.
The 90/180 Rule
It's important to note that the 90 days count towards all countries in the Schengen area. For example, if you spend 20 days in Hungary (also part of the Schengen Zone), you will then only be able to spend a total of 70 days in Italy (or the other Shengen countries) within that 180-day period.
We always use the Schengen visa calculator, which is really helpful for those who are planning on traveling in and out of the EU for longer periods of time.
🇪🇺 Schengen Visas
For those of you who are planning on staying longer than 90 days inside the Schengen Zone, or those of you who are from a country which doesn't get visa-free access, you will need to apply for a Schengen Visa. Make sure to check the list of countries that need to get a Schengen Visa before traveling to Europe.
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Tips for Traveling to Venice: Local Adjustments
Whenever visiting a new country or new city, there are certain things that may be different from home. Some of our tips for traveling to Venice are to make sure you are fully prepared before your stay! Here are some things to keep in mind while visiting.
🗣 What Language Do They Speak in Venice?
All over Italy the official language is Italian. However, there are a ton of different dialects in Italy, so even if you understand Italian you may notice a difference in the language.
In Venice they speak Veneto, also known as Venetian.
Locals are extra sweet and appreciative when you try to speak a bit of their language (whether it be Venetian or Italian), so pick up a few phrases before going for a more pleasant stay!
Is it Okay to Speak English in Venice?
As a very touristic place, it's pretty common for locals and people working in shops, restaurants, and hotels to speak English.
💶 What Currency Does Italy Use?
The currency used in Venice is the same as the rest of Italy, which is the euro. Most places take credit cards, so you won't need to have too much cash on you, unless it's for tipping or certain street vendors.
Is Venice Expensive to Visit?
Compared to come other cities in Italy, Venice is particularly expensive. One of our favorite tips for traveling to Venice though is to walk on the outskirts of the center! Here you'll find better prices for meals and shops.
🔌 What Electrical Socket is in Venice?
Venice uses the same plug types as the rest of Europe, which are types C, E, & F. The standard voltage in Venice is 220 V and the standard frequency is 50 Hz.
🚰 Is it Safe to Drink Tap Water in Venice?
The water is perfectly safe to drink from the tap in Venice. However, it's good to know that restaurants typically only offer bottled water, so we recommend getting a reusable water bottle and filling up at fountains.
💸 Is There Tipping in Venice, Italy?
Tipping isn't very common in Italy, and sometimes people just put a euro or two on the table if they've received good service.
There is also a service charge which is typical in a lot of places in Northern Italy which is called "coperto", and this is for bread, sometimes water, or simple things included in what Americans know as typical service.
We always suggest checking the menu or inquiring before you sit down, so that you know if there will or will not be a coperto added to your bill.
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Things to Do in Venice, Italy
Now that you know some of the basics tips for traveling to Venice, it's time to check out all of the beautiful places around the city, and all of the fun things to do around town.
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🚶🏻♀️ Roam the Canals
Did you know that Venice is comprised of 150 canals?! This is one of the main reasons that we recommend people to spend more than a day in Venice.
Spend some time simply getting lost and exploring the different canals throughout the city, and don't forget to bring your camera! There are so many picturesque spots, and you could spend hours without getting bored.
🌁 Walk Over the Grand Canal Via Rialto Bridge
The number one canal in Venice is the Grand Canal, which is the largest canal going through the center of the city.
Make sure to spend some time walking on both sides of the canal, as there are a ton of shops, restaurants, and street vendors to see.
Rialto Bridge is one of the most iconic sights, and walking over the bridge that connects the two sides of the canal gives you some of the most stunning views of the city.
🏛 Visit St Mark's Square
St Mark's is the biggest and most famous square in Venice, and is home to the top tourist attractions in Venice, including museums, a cathedral, palace, and more.
Sites at St Mark's Square:
Basilica di San Marco: the central cathedral
Palazzo Ducale (Doge's Palace): ornate gothic palace
Torre dell'Orologio: Renaissance tower with a mechanical clock from 1499
Procuratie Vecchie: 3 emblamatic buildings
Olivetti Exhibition Centre: Mid-20th century Olivetti showroom
Museo Correr: art museum of Venetian works from the 13th century
Ravagan Gallery: modern and contemporary art gallery
Colonna di San Todaro: two iconic columns
🛶 Take a Gondola Ride
One of the most iconic activities in Venice is to take a gondola ride. Sailing around the stunning canals of Venice in true Venetian style is truly one for the bucket list.