25 things to know before traveling to VeniceItaly

Venice is a constant conundrum: how do I see the best of it? How do I avoid being a damaging influence? Is it possible to have a local experience? What else do I need to know before traveling to Venice?

I’ve lived in Venice since 2020and these are questions I still ask myself. This is a fiercely fragile city facing unique challengesa place where tourism is largely destructiveand Venetians respond by getting ever more insular. Traveling here is a delicate balance between sightseeing and preservingenjoying and respecting; spending your money responsibly but not feeling like your wallet has been emptied.

It also means sacrificing some things you might do without a thought in other places – like impromptu picnics or dawdling in the street to take photos. Some challenges are more major. This is intrinsically not an accessible cityand anyone with mobility issues will struggle.

The good news: the rewards are huge. Spend enough time here to really scratch the surfaceand you’ll get privileged access to a world that few people have visited – despite this being one of the world’s most visited cities. Here are my dos and don’ts when visiting Venice.

1. Allow at least 5 days to explore

Plenty of people don’t like Veniceand they tend to have something in common: they didn’t stay long. Pop in on a day tripand it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the crowds ticking off the main sights and neighborhoodsas well as the heat and the myriad alleyways. Stay longerand a different side of the city will open up.

That’s the same for any destinationof coursebut it’s more extreme in Venicepartly because of the overcrowding and partly because there are just two main sights that a lot of people come forPiazza San Marco and the Ponte di Rialto (Rialto Bridge). I always say a week is the best way to explore the cityand possibly add in a day trip further afieldbut if time is tight5 days should be enough to get a good idea of the city and the islands. In 3 daysyou can get a taster of the main sights and islandsthough it’s unlikely that you’ll "get" Venice as a placeor an atmosphere.

2. Check if you need to pay the Venice Access Fee

If you really can only visit on a day tripcheck whether your visit falls on a peak travel date where access to the Ancient City of Venice is chargeable. The Venice Access Fee is applicable for 60 days from April to July in 2026. It costs €5 if you book at least 3 days before your intended arrival and €10 if you book last-minute.

3. Book as much as you can in advance

Want to visit the Palazzo Ducale? The Peggy Guggenheim Collection? That restaurant George Clooney goes to? If you’re ticking off the main sightsbe aware that potentially hundreds of thousands of others will be doing the same – on the same day. So don’t spend hours of your vacation lining up for tickets outside Basilica di San Marcoor hoping the restaurant has a no-show – book in advance.

4. Pack good footwear and insect repellent

You’re on vacationas are 90% of the people around you – so we’re not going to tell you to try and pass as a local. Do you need to dress up in Venice? No – Venetians are actually pretty dressed down unless they’re going to a fancy restaurant. Howeverthere are practical clothing rules to know about.

Avoid flip-flops – you’re going to do a lot of walking in this cityand the paving stones are hard on the feet and can also get slippery. If you’ll be going into churchesyou’ll need shoulders and knees covered – so keep a wrap or shirt in your bag to sling on. Bring a swimsuit in summerbut don’t wear swimming gear in the city – you can be fined for doing so. The most important accessory of all? Insect repellent.

5. Don’t drive to Venice

You knowof coursethat there are no cars in Venice. But there is a popular parking lot at Piazzale Romathe road terminus for the citylocated on the outskirts of Santa Croce. Don’t bother trying to get there – it’ll likely be fulland at peak times you could spend upwards of an hour navigating the one-way system to turn back. If you really want to park near the city centerfork off right to Tronchetto before Piazzale Romawhere there’s a vast car park.

Better stillpark near the train station at Mestreon the mainland and take a 10-minute train to Veniceor drop the rental car off at Marco Polo Airport and take the Alilaguna ferry into town. Wherever you parkdon’t leave valuables in your car – and certainly leave nothing visible inside.

6. Pick the right route from the airport

One floating citythree ways to get in from the airport. The chi-chiest way is by water taxiwhich will whisk you from the airport’s pontoon area straight to your hotel (or as near as it can getdepending on the canals). Howeverit’s pricey – think €140 and up.

Then there’s the Alilaguna ferrywhich has various routes and stops around the city center – at €18it’s much cheaperand the views are the same. Finallyyou can get a coach or bus to Piazzale Romathe road terminus on the edge of the city (€10). From therewalk or take a vaporetto (€9.50).

7. Know your boats…

You’re going to be taking a lot of boats in Venice. Your main routes will be with the public transport company ACTV. This runs the vaporetti – waterbuses – in and around town. If you’ll be using them a lotit’s worth getting a timed pass rather than paying by the ride.

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There are also water taxis – slinky private rides that whisk you around like any other taxionly for about 10 times the price of a car. And of coursethere are gondolasfor those romantic rides along the water. If a gondola doesn’t feel rightyou can get a similar experience in a traghetto – an oversized gondola that’s used as a public transport option to cross the Grand Canal at regular points. This costs just €2as opposed to €90 for a 30-minute gondola trip.

8. …But consider if you can walk the distance instead

A prime mistake visitors make (and I should know – I did this when I first moved here) is seeing Venice through its vaporetto mapand calculating the nearest stop to places you’re going. It’s understandable – this is famously a city to get lost in – but unnecessary.

Oftenit’s quicker and cheaper to walksince the vaporetti are so expensive. For instanceyou can walk to most parts of San Polo or the Zattere in 15 minutes from the station – about half the time it’d take in a vaporetto – and Piazza San Marco to Rialto is under 10 minutes on foot. Walking more is the easiest (and cheapest) way to explore like a local.

9. Follow the golden rules on the vaporetto

There are strict unwritten rules on a vaporetto – unfortunatelymany tourists aren’t aware of themprovoking residents’ wrath. Here’s how to avoid getting huffed at: firstlet people off before you get on. Once you’re onstash your luggage – on the larger ferries like numbers 1 and 2you should leave it up front behind the captain’s cabinwhereas on the smaller onesyou should leave it at the bottom of the stairs that lead to the seating area. (Speaking of whichmany people sit in this spotbut if you doyou’re liable to be kicked out when those with luggage board.) And watch out for pickpocketsboth onboard and on the pontoonswho are sadly on the increase with little being done about the issue.

10. Respect the priority lines for residents

Several vaporetto stops – including at Piazzale RomaFerrovia (the train station) and Rialto – have separate turnstiles marked in pink as “priorità” (priority) and “Venezia Unica” for residents. Don’t bother trying your ticket at them – they won’t work. Once you’re on the pontoondon’t try to dodge over to their sideeither. Most of those major stops have staff positioned or chains on the residents’ side. If you end up too close to the waterit can be dangerous…and it’s plain old disrespectful to those who have to live here and deal with the crowds on a daily basis. Let them at least board the boat first.

11. Check the times of boats in the evenings

Venice is no ordinary cityand that goes for public transporttoo. If you’re used to round-the-clock servicesbe aware that some vaporetto lines (including those to the hospital) shut down entirely before 9pmand others run a restricted service. If you’re going out for dinner and need to get the vaporetto backmake sure you time it rightor you may have a long wait. Download the CheBateo? app for timetables and journey planning – meaning you know whether to make a run for it or stay for another drink.

12. Some areas still get wet at high tide

Until 2020having an app on your phone that checked the tide level was an essential Venice download – but since the MOSE flood barriers came into action during the pandemicit’s unlikely the city will see regular flooding as it once did. Howeversome parts of Venice – Piazza San Marco and the area around the Rialto marketfor starters – sit below the level of the barriers and can still get wet during higher-than-normal tides.

It’s not a big deal – you can always get aroundit lasts under an hourand for touristsit’s more beautiful than annoying – but if you want to check levels before heading over to those areasdownload the hi! tide Venice app. If you’re traveling in January or Februarylow tides might be more of an issue – those photos that get published of muddy canals at the start of the year are a regular event butagainit’s more of a bummer for your photos than a real problem.

13. Escape the heat in summer at the Lido

Is it summer? Your dreamy trip to the floating city is going to feel like you're in a furnace. From roughly June to SeptemberVenice is a hotstickyhumid mess – and combine that with half the planet trying to crowd into the same placeand it becomes one big outdoor steam room. Pack a bathing suitand whenever it gets too muchhop on a vaporetto to the Lidowhere you’ll find mile upon mile of softcleansandy beach. Pay for a sunlounger at a beach club or head to the free public beach at the northern end.

14. There are some accessible routes through Venice

For obvious reasonsVenice isn’t the most accessible citybut don’t assume that it’s a no-go if you have mobility issues. The bridges along the Riva degli Schiavoni – the main waterfront leading off from Piazza San Marco – have rampsand the same goes for the Zattere waterfrontwhich also enjoys spectacular views.

You can reach manyif not mostof the main sights on a vaporetto – wheelchair users pay the same as locals for a ticketjust €1.50with their companion traveling for free. The city authorities have a list of suggested itineraries for wheelchair users. None of this is easybut it’s worth it.

15. Walk on the right

This may be a pedestrianized citybut Venice has more foot traffic than most places have carsso there are unwritten rules. Walk on the rightovertake on the lefttry not to grind to a halt in the middle of the narrow streetsand never – never – sit down on the pavement (not least because you can be fined). Think of these as real roadsand you’ll be fine.

16. Beware of "forbidden behavior" and avoid the fines

What is Venice like? For startersit’s not a theme parkas many tourists seem to think it is. Like other major Italian citiesVenice has fines for bad behavior – but herethings that might be acceptable anywhere else could land you with a hefty bill. Swimming in the canals and sitting on the pavements to have an impromptu picnic can land you triple-figure finesfor example. Walking around in swimwearfeeding the birds and even pushing a bicycle (not even riding it) also bring penalties.

Check out the list of forbidden behavior on the city council's websiteand remembersome of the actions may seem silly or pettybut this incredibly fragile city can have up to 25,000 visitors a dayand if they all sat down for a picnicit would have serious consequences. Don’t be part of the problem.

17. Check for authenticity when shopping for artisan products

So you want to buy something locally made to take home with youand you’re confronted by shop after shop with wonderful-looking masksstationery and what looks like Murano glass – how do you know what’s real and what’s fake? The first clue is the price – if it’s on the cheaper side of what you’ve seenit’s likely made in a factory.

The next is what’s in the shop around it – real artisans specialize in just one thing. That could be a material (a leather worker might have bags and books) or an item (like masks)but there will be a congruence to every item in the store. Finallyask – almost alwaysartisans run their own shopsand the stores usually double as their workshops. Most will be delighted to tell you about their craftand even show you where the magic happens.

18. Eat cheap bar snacks

Venice is notoriously expensiveso it’s excellent news that this is the home of cheap bar snacks: cicchettidesigned as grab-and-go eats for on-the-job gondoliers and other workersbut varied enough to make up a full meal at a reasonable price. Swill them down with a glass of wineand take a reusable water bottle to fill up at the many drinking fountains around the city. That's one way to dodge the fines from having an illegal picnic.

19. Save money with local winenot a spritz

Everyone drinks a spritz (usually an Aperol spritz) when they come to Venicebut the real drink here is an ombra: a small glass of wineperfectly proportioned to go with cicchetti bar snacks and named after the Italian for “shadow” – because wine sellers used to stand in the shade beneath Piazza San Marco’s Campanile (belltower). An ombra is much cheaper than a spritz – if you’re luckyyou can find them for €1–3. If you must have a spritzget one made with Selectwhich is made locallyrather than Aperol.

20. Stand up at the bar or pay a seating supplement

This is another Italy-wide rulebut it comes into sharper relief in Venice: drink your coffee or eat your croissant at the bar to avoid paying a seating supplement. If you’re happy to standyou can get a drink at fancy Piazza San Marco cafes like Florian or Quadri for a few euros – while those sitting outside are paying double figuresand that’s before the additional fee if an orchestra is playing in the square.

21. Venice's traditional food doesn't include pizza or pasta

This being Italythere are strict rules when it comes to food and drink. Firstthere are the national ones: no cappuccino after 11amand certainly not at the end of a meal; expect your “side” to come after your main; don’t put cheese on fish pasta. But then there are Venice-specific ones. This isn’t traditionally a pizza or pasta place – polenta is a more traditional food basefollowed by rice.

Of courseeverywhere does pasta nowso there’s nothing to stop you from trying itbut the more traditional the dish you pickthe better it’ll be. Another trope with some truth to it is to never order a pizza in Venice – it’s true they’re not exactly Naples or Rome qualitybut there are some good pizzerias these dayslike Oke on the Zattere and the two Muro outlets in San Polo.

22. Buy fruit and veg from local vendors

What’s better than picking your own fruit and vegetables in the supermarket? Going to a fruttivendolo – an independent greengrocer. These stock not only your generic bananas and potatoes but also plenty of locally grown fruit and vegetables – much of it grown on Sant’Erasmo island in the lagoonand some of which you’ll never have seen before. Even betterit means you’re supporting a local business. There’s one on a boat at Campo San Barnaba and another at the end of Via Garibaldi if you want a fruity photo.

This rule goes for all of Italynot just Venice – when you’re in the fruit and vegetable section of the supermarketmake sure you wear one of the disposable gloves on offer before you touch any fruit. And don’t forget to weigh it yourself – every item has a number that you should enter on the scales.

23. Try first aid before rushing to the hospital

Sprain an ankle as you sprint across a bridge? Feeling faint and overwhelmed by all the art? Venice has one hospitalhelpfully at the vaporetto stop called Ospedalebut you don’t have to go to the ER for help. Visit the first aid center (Punto di Primo Intervento) in Piazza San Marco. It's staffed by doctorswho can tell you if you need to go to the hospitalbut who can also save you the wait if they can deal with it themselves. In a medical emergencycall 118.

24. Beware of pickpockets and scams

Venice has always beenand still isincredibly safe compared to other tourist citiesbut incidents have been on the rise for the past few years. Beware of pickpockets at the main sightson the main route between the train stationRialto and Piazza San Marcoon the vaporetto pontoons (especially at the station) and on the boats themselves. If you’ve parked to visit the citydon’t leave anything in the car.

Avoid any interaction with anyone inviting you to play a game – you might see people asking you to bet money on a game of (empty) boxes on the major bridges – or offering you something for "free". And pay special attention to the biggest criminals of all: seagullswhich will swoop in and nick any food you’re carrying unsealed. They can even dive in for it when you’re eating outside – so be on permanent alert.

25. Don't get ripped off

"Tourist prices" are definitely a thing in Venice – often someone speaking the local dialect will not be paying the same as you for that coffeeor won’t get charged a seating fee – but think of it as a locals’ discount off the official prices rather than inflated amounts for tourists.

That’s not worth getting bothered about; what is crucialthoughis to not get ripped off. Always check the menu before orderingask the price of daily specialsand watch out for items priced by weightlike fish (these are often given a very cheap-looking price per 100gor “all’etto”on the menu – if the price looks too good to be trueit is).

If you’re at a bar or cafeask to see the menu for prices at the tablerather than at the bar. And remember that although the odd horror story does go viralthey do so because they are extremely rare. If something’s up with the billquery it with the staff – and if they’re not playing ballask them to call the polizia (police)or call them yourself on 112.