How to Plan a Trip to Venice

The city of Venice is a wonder. Venice has 150 canals and more than 400 bridges spanning these canals. However, the water that gives Venice its mystique is also slowly destroying the city. The first floors of most buildings have long since gone under water. Still, Venice is a magical city, even as its splendor is slowly slipping away. Read on to learn how to plan a trip to Venice.

Things You'll Need

• Passport
• Walking shoes

Instructions

Getting There

1. Decide when to visit Venice. Spring and fall are typically the most mild times to visit. Although the winter is free from much of the tourist hustle, November and December pose the highest risk for floods. Also, some restaurants and shops close in the winter.

2. Choose how to reach Venice. You can reach Venice by boat, plane, train and even by car (though you have to park your car before entering the city). The Port of Venice also has a cruise ship terminal. From the terminal, most of the cruise lines offer free shuttle service to St. Mark’s Square.

3. If you choose to visit Venice by train, you will arrive at the Santa Lucia Station. From here, you can use the Vaporetto to travel around the city or to your hotel.

4. By plane, fly into Marco Polo Airport. From the airport, you can take the city bus, airport shuttle or taxi to get to the heart of the city. The fastest (and most expensive) way to get to Venice is by water taxi. Less expensive and slower is a boat that stops at all of the adjacent islands in the lagoon. Once you have reached Venice, use the Vaporetto , or the water bus, to go to various stops along the Grand Canal.

Finding Hotels

1. Decide in which part of the city to stay. If you don’t mind staying outside of the heart of the city, consider staying at a hotel near the airport or on the island of Lido. If you want to stay in the city, try to stay within walking distance of St. Mark’s Square. This will give you the flexibility of being close to public transportation and many of the tourist attractions.

2. Check online and in guidebooks for hotels in your target area of Venice. Read reviews from other travelers using an online travel site, such as TripAdvisor, to narrow down your list of hotels.

3. Find the best rate for your chosen hotel. Check the hotel’s website, in addition to travel websites, such as Expedia, Orbitz and Travelocity. Venere is also a good site for booking hotel rooms in Italy.

Planning Activities

1. Cruise the Grand Canal. Venice’s bustling main artery is most visitors’ introduction to the city. Take the Vaporetto or Gondola past the Rialto Bridge. Pay attention to the palaces on either side of the canal and notice the waterline on the buildings. Many of the buildings can no longer use their first floor.

2. Walk across the Rialto Bridge. The Rialto Bridge is the most famous of the more than 400 bridges that span Venice. Many consider this bridge the heart of Venice. Go to the top of the bridge to get views of the Grand Canal.

3. Visit St. Mark’s Basilica and St. Mark’s Square. Once in the square, view the splendor of St. Mark’s Basilica. An ancient law decreed that all merchants in the East had to bring back from each voyage an embellishment for St. Marks. Also view the rest of St. Mark’s Square, which is stuffed with pigeons and stacked benches. When the square floods, the benches are placed end to end to make elevated sidewalks.

4. Tour the Doge’s Palace, which was the seat of the Venetian government and the center of much of Venice’s history. In addition to the general tour, book the “Secret Itineraries Tour” to get access to several rooms that are included on the general tour.

5. View the Bridge of Sighs, which connects the Doge’s Palace to its prisons. This bridge was named after the prisoners who would take their last glimpse of the city, before going to meet their executioners.

6. Take in the views from the top of the Campanile di San Marco. This 332-foot tall bell tower offers amazing views of Venice. After your elevator ride to the top, you will be able to see the Grand Canal, St. Mark’s Basilica and Santa Maria Della Salute.

7. Visit the island of Murano, which is famous for its glass factories. Many of the glass factories will send a boat to pick you up at your hotel and bring you to Murano. Once there, you will be treated to a glassblowing demonstration by a local artisan. You will then be able to wander around the shops, taking in the spectacular chandeliers and crystal goblets.

8. Visit the island of Burano in the lagoon. Burano is known for its Crayola-colored, miniature houses. Burano is also a source of intricate lacework.

Tips & Warnings

• If you arrive in Venice without a hotel reservation, the tourists’ offices at the station and Piazzale Roma have a free room-finding service.

• Get up early one morning and wander down to the street to watch the local workers traveling with their carts laden with the day's goods. You will also see boats making their daily deliveries.

• Expect to pay more for a hotel (and pretty much everything else) in Venice. This is one of the most expensive cities in Italy, so budget your trip accordingly.

Resources

• Venere