Venice

Venice is located in the north of Italy, relatively close to the Alps. This means that the climate varies a lot from one season to another and could be a determining factor, depending on when you want to visit the Serenissima.

Summer in Venice - In summer, temperatures in the city are high during the day and at night are cooler. If you are sensitive to cold, we recommend bringing a summer jacket for the evenings. There could also be occasional summer storms, although these are rare.

During the day, it can get quite hot, but luckily the streets in Venice are very narrow and therefore provide shade. If you are staying in Venice for more than a weekend, we suggest heading one morning to Lido di Venezia, which is a long sandbar very close to Venice where you will be able to sunbathe and swim in the Adriatic Sea, which is a nice temperature during July, August and September.

If you can choose when to visit Venice, we would definitely recommend the summer, since the days are longer, the weather is very agreeable and you can make the most of the Adriatic Sea.

Spring and Autumn in Venice - You will need to pack warm clothes if you visit Venice during spring and autumn, since it can get very cold when cloudy and windy. Moreover, spring is when it rains most in this part of Italy. 

Winter in Venice - In winter the average temperature is below 50°F (10°C). It can get extremely cold and it snows quite frequently. We only recommend visiting Venice during the winter months if you want to witness the Venice Carnival or if you can only can’t go any other time of the year.

Although Venice is renowned for its expensive restaurants (which is not completely untrue), if you stay away from the most touristy streets, you can find restaurants to cater to all budgets. In Venice, we have eaten the best pizza we have ever tried in an extremely cheap restaurant.

As well as the typical pasta and pizza which can be found in all of Italy, Venice’s typical dishes are very linked to the Adriatic Sea. The fish and sea food found in this part of the Mediterranean are extremely good and there are many specialized restaurants in the city.

Other typical dishes include the carpaccio, risottos (specially the risotto di pesce – fish risotto) and the viscera, highlighting the Venetian Liver and Onion recipe.

Venice is also renowned for its pastries. You will find as many bakeries as cafés in Venice. When you walk into a café for a coffee, remember to check the difference of prices between the banco (the café’s bar) and the tavolo (bar’s tables). In many occasions, the price can sometimes be three times more expensive when you sit at a table, instead of at the bar.

The best-known coffee shops are located in the Piazza San Marco. The cheapest beverages of the two most famous cafés in this square (Caffè Florian and Caffè Quadri) are approximately €10. In return, both bars offer a lovely and relaxing atmosphere.

Before choosing a restaurant, make sure to check the extra charges (coperto) and the percentage of the service tax (servizio) to add to the final bill.

The extra charges are normally between one and three euros and the taxes vary between 10% and 15%. You can also find restaurants that already include these additional costs in the price of their dishes.

Taxis, ambulances and police cars in Venice are all waterborne, as are the water buses (called vaporetti in Italian). One of the ingredients that makes Venice so magical is that it is surrounded by water. Although the city has “normal four-wheeled” buses, in the heart of the city the easiest way to get around is using the canals. Taxis, ambulances and police cars in Venice are all waterborne, as are the water buses called vaporetto in Italian.

Water Taxis - The price of a water taxi in Venice is relatively expensive like the other means of transport in the city. The public transportation in Venice is relatively expensive. This includes, of course, the city’s water taxis. A relaxing boat trip down Venezia’s canals is only worthwhile for those visiting Venice in a large group (taxis can carry up to ten people).

Urban Buses -  In the city center, the vaporettos replace the urban buses. Compared to the land buses, the water buses are romantic and have a certain je ne sais quoi that can only be found in Venice.  You will probably forget the existence of urban buses, taxis and cars during your holiday in Venice, since all the island’s public transport is waterborne.

The buses run on the mainland, for example in Mestre and certain islands like Lido. Buses also depart from Piazzale Roma and on the island of Venice, Santa Croce is the only neighborhood where buses and cars can travel.

Gondolas - Centuries ago, gondolas were the main means of transport in Venice. Now they have become a very popular tourist attraction, and perhaps the most recognisable symbol of Venice. A gondola is a traditional narrow and long Venetian rowing boat. The boat is steered by one person called a gondolier with the help of one long oar. Although gondolas were the main means of transport in Venice centuries ago, today it carries tourists from one point of the city to the other. During the seventeenth century, the canals were packed with gondolas. Nowadays, there are less than one hundred.

Gondolas are one of the top attractions in Venice and very popular with tourists. One of its perks is that they can take you to parts of the city that are otherwise inaccessible.

Tariffs

The official tariff of a 30-minute ride on a gondola is € 80. The price goes up to € 100 from 7 pm onwards. If you want the gondolier to sing or to play an instrument during the ride, you will have to pay extra.

Note that most gondoliers will charge you more than the official tariff.

Language spoken is Italian

Money is Euro

Venice has numerous traditional objects and items that make great presents and souvenirs for family and friends. The city is also full of souvenir shops, so it shouldn’t be difficult to find the ideal present. We have selected a list of the most popular objects from this region to help you in your decision making: 

Masks - It is rare for visitors not to buy at least one Venetian mask, even if it’s a miniature version. These are beautifully decorated and are not too expensive. You can find wearable masks for € 15. The miniature masks cost approximately € 10. A curious fact: the store that designed the masks for the film Eyes Wide Shut is located near the Rialto Bridge.

Murano Glass - The two islands, Venice and Murano, are packed with Murano glasswork souvenir shops. Glass-making has been the primary industry in Murano since the thirteenth century.

Some believe that it is best to buy these glass-made souvenirs in Murano, but we didn’t see any difference in price or design between Venice and Murano.

If you are a fan of glass objects, you can see Venetian glass being made by artisans in the Murano Glass factories and you can also visit the Glass island museum. 

Costumes - With such a deep-rooted tradition of dressing up during Carnival, Venice has numerous costume shops. If you have come with a large suitcase, have enough money and like dressing up, why not purchase a costume?

Puppets - Although less important than in Prague, Venice has a tradition in puppet making. You will find beautifully crafted puppets in this city. It is common for the mask shops to also sell puppets.

Pasta and various sauces - Pasta exists in all shapes and sizes, colours and flavours. In Venice, you will be able to find any type of pasta. A package costs between € 3 and € 4. There are also numerous sauces that are very good.

+ 1 hour GMT