Venice Travel Guide
Venice is one of the most enchanting places I have ever been to, there are days in the summer when tourists outnumber the locals two-to-one but despite this nothing can beat the magic of the city.
Venice is full of surprises, despite the countless images on Instagram of the gondolas and St Mark’s Square, there is so much more to see and nothing prepares you for the beauty of the city. They say the joy of Venice is getting lost and they are right. Each street leads you somewhere unexpected and as you make your way away from the hordes of Tourists in San Marco you discover the real charm of the city.
Best time to visit:
If you want to escape the crowds, the best time to visit is the Winter, however in saying this it can be quite foggy and of course, cold. Spring and Autumn offer you the best of both worlds with warm weather and fewer crowds than peak summer season.
Accommodation:
You will be glad to know as a point of research I dragged Hannah along to practically EVERY 5* hotel in Venice to either have lunch or a cocktail so I could genuinely know whether they were worthy of my (expert peasant) recommendation.
The St Regis sits along the famous part of the Grand canal that overlooks St Mark’s square. It opened in 2019 and is gorgeous inside. If you do not stay here, I would highly recommend a drink in their garden which overlooks the canal.
The Aman - Unfortunately, this is the one that got away, we tried to visit (but couldn’t work out how to get in… as the entrance is quite concealed, was a low moment). This hotel looks STUNNING and truly exudes opulence. It is actually major factor as to why I need to return to Venice urgently. It is based in the San Polo district which offers some peace and quiet from the intensity of St Marks square.
The Gritti Palace has been a highly coveted hotel for luxury travellers since the 15th century. The hotel Is located on the lower side of the Grand Canal and offers some of the best views of Punta della Dogana.
Belmond Cipriani - This hotel will forever hold a special place in my heart, this hotel is set inside a 15th-century palace on Giudecca Island. The hotel is extremely exclusive and intimate and is well concealed on the island. The hotel boasts central Venice’s only pool and incredible belinis made by Walter Bolzonella
Bauer Palazzo is privileged in terms of location, facing Campo San Moisè on one side the Grand Canal on the other. With stunning Art Deco interiors, the Bauer is a must visit (make sure to have a drink on their terrace)
Hotel Danieli overlooks the Venice lagoon and is stone’s throw from St Marks Square. The hotel is comprised of 3 separate buildings, dating back to the 14th, 19th, and 20th centuries, and connected by covered bridges. The décor in the hotel throughout is truly breath-taking and the rooms exude Venetian opulence
If you are looking for an air bnb @postcardsbyhannah has kindly written a blog post on the best in Venice, click here
Bars & Restaurants
Quadri is a Michelin star restaurant in the heart of St Marks Square, it has been an institution since 1830 and was recently refurbished. Both the stunning interiors and seasonally inspired set menus are more than enough reason for this to me a must visit.
Osteria Campo Santa Marina began as a sandwich shop. Today, it is one of the city’s most innovative dining experiences. Chef Agostino pays homage to venetian cuisine whilst putting his own twist.
Osteria Alle Testiere is famous for their daily changing menu, dependent on the availability of fresh fish at the market and is well worth a visit if you love fish.
Trattoria Al Gatto Nero is on the rainbow island, Burano and is one of the oldest Osteria’s, it is a family owned restaurant which specalises in local dishes and has an amazing wine selection (make sure to get a table canal side)
The Danielli hotel is nothing short of spectacular and the food inside the hotel is too. Terazza Danielli showcases recipes dating back to 1909 which can be enjoyed whilst looking over Venice, I’d recommend going for sunset.
Enoteca Al Volto is Venice’s oldest wine bar, serving classic venetian cuisine this is the perfect place to stop for lunch whilst exploring the city.
Caffè Florian is one of the oldest cafés in the world, it has been around since 1720. The café overlooks St Mark’s Square and has the most opulent interiors, the café is perfect for hot chocolate and croissants but be prepared to have the most expensive hot chocolate and croissant, ever.
Porticciolo is the alfresco terrace restaurant inside the Belmond Cipriani – the hotel exudes old world glamour and is honestly SO worth a visit if you don’t book to stay in the hotel.
Harry's Bar Venice the first restaurant from the Cipriani family on the island, a belini cocktail here is a must
Trattoria Da Romano is famous for its art, it has over 400 pieces of art given to the restaurant by visiting painters and artists since the 1940s
Antiche Carampane is a lowkey restaurant which serves seafood caught that morning. It is very unassuming and simple but known for excellent food.
Osteria Da Fiore a has a Michelin star and serves traditional venetian cuisine, it is known as an ‘understated canal secret’ in San Polo.
Transport:
Trains: Venice has two main train stations in the mainland; Venezia Santa Lucia (for long distance trains) and Venezia Mestre (for the local trains)
Buses: The Vaporetto water buses are very easy to use, each stop has a map and the staff at the stops are all very friendly and helpful. The most popular tourist routes are are Line 1 along the Grand Canal and the lines to Murano and Lido. City mapper works in Venice, so if in doubt City Mapper it out. A one-way ticket on a Vaporetto costs €7.50, for journeys up to 75 minutes, and includes changes to different lines. There are also options to buy 24, 48, 72-hour tickets as well as a week pass.
Taxis: Water taxis can be found at the airport, train and bus station, and Piazza San Marco. Otherwise, they must be booked in advance and usually are around €80-120.
Gondola: Gondola rides are an amazing way to enjoy the canals and are more scenic than pragmatic. Prices in the day are usually around €80 or €100 at night, I would recommend doing both if the budget, if not, opt for a sunset tour as you get the best of both!
Things to do:
A tour of Murano and Burano are a must when taking a trip to Venice, they are very easily accessible from Venice and can be done as a day or overnight trip.
Murano is famous for their Murano glass making, all over the island you are able to see the craft take place, but this isn’t the only thing to be enjoyed on the island. The Basilica di Santa Maria e San Donato and The Church di San Pietro Martire and Campo Santo Stefano are beautiful and worth a visit and be sure to stop for a lunch or dinner at the famous Gato Nero.
Burano is an old fisherman’s village filled with beautiful rainbow houses, the story goes that the houses are colourful so the fishermen could find their way home in the fog and distinguish their house from one another. It is well worth a visit to wonder around and discover all of the beautiful homes but also to enjoy some of their local cuisine canal side, whilst it is quieter than Venice it does get quite busy so I would recommend starting there early!
Here are some other things worth visiting whilst in Venice:
Peggy Guggenheim Museum
St. Mark’s Basilica
Doges Palace
Bridge of Sighs
San Marco Campanile
Church of Santa Maria Assunta
Basilica di Santa Maria
