Artist Canaletto (Giovanni Antonio Canal) was born on October 18, 1697. His precise, topographical views of Venice brought the Grand Canal, festive scenes and busy Italian market squares to life. Today, the city is a true tourism hotspot, so Europesure Travel Insurance has some Venice travel advice for anyone on the track of Canaletto’s scenography.
Venice’s canals have made it world-famous, but few may appreciate the city consists of 118 islands and 400 bridges. This makes it difficult for the tourist to navigate – and there are plenty trying to do that. The city receives 50,000 tourists every single day in summer, making it crammed and full of pedestrian bottlenecks, when temperatures can be well above 30°C. Be prepared for this environment and carry sunscreen, umbrella and wide-brimmed hat. Water fountains can be found around the city.
Which Venice airport will you arrive at?
An important tip – particularly for the European travellers who may be Europesure Travel Insurance customers from the UK, EU, EEA, Monaco or Gibraltar – is to know at which airport you are arriving. There are two. Marco Polo is around 5 miles north of Venice. The other airport, used by the budget airlines, is Treviso, about 20 miles away.
If you arrive at Marco Polo airport, you can use the ATVO airport service, with tickets available in the baggage reclaim area and terminal, or hop on board an ACTV bus, line 5, in front of the terminal. Both reach Piazzale Roma, in the city, in around 23 minutes. Alternatively, take a vaporetto water service. Tickets are on offer in the arrivals hall. Head up to the first floor and take a moving walkway, to reach the vaporetto departure point. This service can drop you near St Mark’s Basilica, the Rialto bridge, other points in Venice, or on nearby islands such as Murano, Burano and Lido.
If arriving at Treviso, your best public transport options are the ATVO or the Barzi bus service. The latter will take you to either Mestre train station or Tronchetto. The transfer takes around 40 minutes, using the motorway network. From these locations, you will need to get into the city (see below).
Train or car travel to Venice
Perhaps, however, you are arriving in Venice by train? If so, this is important travel advice for Venice. Do not get off the train at Venezia Mestre, but at Santa Lucia, as Mestre is on the mainland. Cars, however, are probably best advised to park up in Mestre and use a bus or train to get into the city. Whilst there is a car park in Piazzale Roma, it can be very difficult to access and is typically full. If you do want to use that option, buy an online parking ticket in advance.
Do remember that moving around the city of Venice means either walking or using a vaporetto to hop between a few locations. The city’s cobbles can be hard on the feet, so be prepared, wearing comfortable walking shoes. Leave any heavy bags behind you, as negotiating the crowds, as well as your luggage, could prove an ask too far, in narrow streets.
Venice accommodation and attractions
Plan accommodation carefully. If you can, opt for somewhere near a vaporetto stop. Alternatively, consider hotels in Mestre. Although these are not in the city itself, they may offer extra facilities, such as parking or even a swimming pool. Prices can also be lower.
In terms of attractions, there are just a few to tick off the must-do list. These will be Saint Mark’s Basilica, the Grand Canal, the Rialto Bridge and the Doge’s Palace. Just remember these will be the must-do things to see for thousands of other tourists and that the queues can be considerable. You can buy tickets online for attractions and enjoy a ‘saltacoda’ privilege by doing so, basically jumping the ticket-buying queue.
Visiting Saint Mark’s Basilica
Saint Mark’s Basilica is open every day bar Sunday, from 9.30am to 5.15pm. Sundays are trickier, due to church services, but Saint Mark’s is open from 2pm. Its popular 99-metre-high bell tower, which affords great views, is open from 9.30am to 9.15 pm but note the last entry time (8.45pm). Head to the top and you will be walking in the footsteps of Galileo, who demonstrated his telescope from that location, having studied the skies there for inspiration.
Saint Mark’s is well worth visiting for its glorious Byzantine architecture and 8 centuries of mosaics, crafted in gold, glass and marble tesserae, which cover 8000 metres of the building’s walls, vaults and cupolas. It is also rich in sculptures, silver and gold works, ornamental glass, paintings and works by Venetian artisan craftsmen and has a crypt in which St Mark is buried. Near its high altar, the Pala d’Oro is the Basilica’s most precious exhibit, displaying 1927 studded precious gems.
The Rialto Bridge and Doge’s Palace
Around 10 minutes away from Piazza San Marco, you will find the Rialto Bridge, the oldest bridge in Venice and one of just four that crosses the Grand Canal. Walking over it, you will reach the vibrant Rialto morning food market, open every day from 9am to noon.
Head to the Doge’s Palace and you can unpeel the different architectural layers of a building that was once at the heart of the Venetian Republic’s political and public life.
With so much to explore, whether that’s the glassware of Murano, opera at the Teatro la Fenice, or the nearby resort of Lido di Jesolo, a trip to Venice can be truly memorable. The best time to appreciate that, however, is probably not in the height of summer. Plan your trip in springtime, if you can, or even wrap up and enjoy the delights of the Carnevale, in February.
Also be tactical and try to avoid the cruise ship crowds, by exploring earlier in the morning, before disembarkation tends to occur.
Travel advice to improve your Venice experience
Remember that the extreme popularity of a place can typically elevate price and lead to scams. Do not be tempted to take in the glories of Piazza San Marco whilst enjoying a drink there, or you will literally pay the price, even for just a glass of water. Restaurants along the Grand Canal and Rialto Bridge can also confuse the tourist, as their advertised price relates to food and drink enjoyed inside, not outside.
Wander away from the honeypot areas and you should discover eateries that the locals enjoy, which offer much better value for money. If you spot a place at which locals are eating, that’s probably the best indication that it is good and offering a realistically priced menu.
If using the vaporetto service to get around, a timed pass is usually better value than single tickets. Do remember to validate your ticket before boarding, or you could receive a fine. Tickets can be purchased from machines at vaporetto stops or in ticket offices across Venice. Remember that the vaporetto service ends each day before 9pm, so don’t get stranded.
In terms of rules to abide by, do not eat whilst sitting on the ground or sit on public steps. Do not be tempted to give the pigeons any food and do not walk around in swimwear or bare-chested, no matter how high the mercury rises.
Risks and travel insurance advice for travellers and cruisers visiting Venice
Things to look out for are bag snatching and pickpocketing, so keep valuables hidden away, or carried in crossbody bags or bags with secure locks and be extra alert in crowds and on public transport.
Be very careful when walking close to the water, especially if you have enjoyed a few glasses of vino. Do also be aware of floodwaters, if weather is bad. A siren will sound if the tide is approaching, so make sure you know what to do.
Buy your travel insurance from Europesure as soon as you book your trip, so that you receive cancellation benefits for your financial outlay, should you need to not go ahead with plans for a reason specified by the policy. Once you have either single trip or annual policy protection, you can plan how to get around Venice and to where else you may be able to venture, whilst in Italy.
Should you be visiting Venice on a cruise, also remember that core cruise cover is included in your Europesure Travel Insurance policy – very useful for those not bothered about an all-frills cruise policy full of benefits you most probably would not call upon.
Use these tips and our Venice travel advice to get the most from your Venetian adventure. It should certainly provide some brilliant photos for the album.
