Should I Go to Venice, Italy?
Venice is a magical city that has been around for centuries. It is worth visiting because it offers a unique experience that can’t be found in any other city in the world. The city is built on water and boasts stunning architecture, beautiful canals, and rich history. Venice is home to some of the most iconic landmarks like Saint Mark’s Basilica, the Rialto Bridge, and the Grand Canal. It also offers delicious food, vibrant culture, and friendly locals. A visit to Venice will leave you with unforgettable memories that will last a lifetime.
When we tell others we are full-time travelers, one of the most popular questions people ask is: “Where should I go?” The honest answer is: “It depends.” The best destination depends on what you want to do on your trip.
Every city is different and has its pros and cons. We can’t say which city is best or our favorite because we like them all (or, at least, most of them) for very different reasons.
When we start thinking about where we’re going to go next, we consider several factors. Some are given more weight than others, but we want to ensure the destination has what we’re looking for and that there are no disqualifying issues (like weather or crowds).
To help you decide if Venice is a good choice for your Italian itinerary, we’ve analyzed a list of factors we consider when choosing a destination and answered the frequently asked questions.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Factors to Consider Before Visiting Venice
We spent the entire month of March in Venice and feel we knew the floating city well. Based on our experience, we assigned each factor a score from 1 to 5, with one being the worst and five being the best. If the attribute is unavailable or does not apply, we give it a 0.
If you’re asking yourself, “Is Venice worth visiting?” hopefully, this information will help you make a more informed decision.
Weather
Hot in the Summer | 2 |
Cold in the Winter | 2 |
Crowds
Few Tourists in Large Groups | 3 |
Few Cruise Ship Passengers | 1 |
Few Tourists in Couples or Small Families | 1 |
Pedestrian Only Areas | 5 |
Lines at Attractions | 2 |
Water Activities
Beaches with Calm Water (Kid-Friendly) | 2 |
Beaches with Rough Water | 2 |
Boating Activities/Kayaking | 5 |
Rocky Swim Spots | 0 |
Sunbathing | 2 |
Food and Beverage
Wine | 5 |
Beer | 1 |
Specialty Liquor | 5 |
Specialty Food | 4 |
Seafood | 5 |
Meat | 3 |
Street Food | 4 |
Large Food Market with Restaurants | 4 |
Interests
History | 5 |
Architecture | 5 |
Art | 3 |
Museums | 3 |
Castles | 0 |
Walled-City | 0 |
Palaces | 4 |
Hiking | 1 |
Running | 3 |
High-Fashion Stores/Shopping | 5 |
Nightlife | 3 |
Dog-Friendly | 3 |
Kid-Friendly | 4 |
Conveniences
Great Grocery Stores | 2 |
English Widely Spoken | 4 |
Outwardly Friendly Locals | 4 |
American Tourists | 5 |
Accessible by Train | 5 |
Day Trips by Train | 5 |
Clean Streets | 4 |
Noise | 4 |
Costs
Food Cost | 3 |
Accommodation Cost | 2 |
Activities Cost | 2 |
Transportation Cost | 4 |
A Closer Look at Each Factor
Some factors may sway you in one direction or another, depending on your circumstances and interests—for example, the weather. If you like to go to the beach, you may be looking for hot weather in the summer. If you like winter sports, you may be looking for cold weather in the winter. On the other hand, if you want to explore the city (like us), you may be looking for milder weather in the summer and winter. For this reason, you may need to take your situation into account.
Weather
While there are some exceptions, we assume the weather will be good in the Spring and Autumn everywhere we consider visiting. So, we focus primarily on the Summer and Winter weather.
Hot in the Summer – 2
We were not in Venice during the summer for our recent stay, but we were in Venice during August on a prior visit, and it is very hot during the summer. The average highs for June, July, and August are 79℉, 84℉, and 84℉, respectively.
Cold in the Winter – 2
Venice is cold during the winter. The average highs for December, January, and February are 47℉, 46℉, and 49℉, respectively. But if you enjoy cooler weather, November is the least crowded month of the year.
We spent the whole month of March in Venice, and the weather was cold but not too cold to keep us from going out during the day. It did keep us from going out and running early in the morning before everyone woke. We wore jackets, hats, gloves, and scarves. Our French Bulldog, Gus, thought the weather was perfect, but he gets hot in 72℉ weather. It did rain often, so pack waterproof shoes, a raincoat, and an umbrella. Also, make sure your waterproof shoes have a grip sole. The stone gets very slick when wet. I didn’t have a pair and have since purchased a pair of Gore-tex hiking shoes for the smooth stone often found in old towns.
Crowds
Few Tourists in Large Groups – 3
There were lots of tourists, but there were few in large groups.
Few Cruise Ship Passengers – 1
Venice is a cruise ship port with tons of cruise ship passengers. They mostly moved through the city in small groups instead of large tour groups.
Few Tourists in Couples or Small Families – 1
There were tons of tourists, couples, and small families. We were there for March, which I thought would be off-season, and there were tons of tourists the entire month. The only thing that changed during the month was the type of tourists. For the first two weeks of the month, the tourists were mostly Italian. The tourists were mainly American and many from other European countries for the last two weeks of the month.
The number of tourists in Venice is incredible, and the narrow walkways make it challenging to move through the city. This is not the destination for someone who wants to escape the crowds. One might think that going off-season would make it better, but we were there in March, and it wasn’t good.
Pedestrian Only Areas – 5
Venice is a pedestrian’s dream. There are no vehicles in Venice, and goods are delivered by boat and cart. The only issue is all the other pedestrians.
Lines at Attractions – 2
There are not many attractions to wait in line for in Venice as the city is the main attraction, but the most popular attraction, St. Mark’s Basilica, does have a long line at all hours during the day. The line was long, but it did move quickly.
Water Activities
Beaches with Calm Water (Kid-Friendly) – 2
Venice is not a beach destination. While there are some beaches on the island, Lido, I would not recommend going to Venice if lying on the beach is what you desire.
Insider Tip: Check out our Rovinj, Croatia blogs if this is your most important criteria. A three-hour ferry from Venice to Rovinj runs during the summer season.
Beaches with Rough Water – 2
Again, you can take the water taxi to Lido to sink your feet in the sand and swim in the lagoon, but I would not classify Venice as a beach destination or recommend it for that.
Boating Activities/Kayaking – 5
It is hard to go to Venice and not take a gondola ride or ride around in a boat. This city has high-class boating activities.
Rocky Swim Spots – 0
Swimming in the sea or lagoon with access from a rocky area is not available in Venice.
Sunbathing – 2
Sunbathing is not available in Venice. Some large hotels have pools you can sunbathe but sunbathing on a beach is unavailable in Venice. You would need to go to the beaches in Lido.
Experiences
Book a highly-rated boat experience in Venice!
Food and Beverage
Wine – 5
Venice is in the Veneto wine region, which produces Prosecco, Soave, Pinot Grigio, and Merlot wines. Most of these white wines pair perfectly with the region’s seafood. These wines can be purchased reasonably in restaurants, local wine shops, and small grocery stores.
Insider Tip: If you want to buy table wine like a local, go to a bulk wine shop (vini sfusi). For more information, read our article titled “How to buy bulk wine like a local in Venice.” We went to all the bulk wine shops in Venice, developed a relationship with one shop, and went there regularly (perhaps, too regularly, according to our waistlines).
Beer – 1
Venice is not in a beer production region and is not known for beer.
Specialty Liquor – 5
Venice is in the Veneto wine region, one of Italy’s regions producing Grappa. There are several grappa specialty stores around Venice.
Specialty Food – 4
Venice is well-known for its Cicchetti. Cicchetti is sold at Bacari, which are all over Venice. We loved going to the Bacari with our French Bulldog, Gus.
Seafood – 5
Venice is also known for its seafood. The seafood market near the Rialto Bridge (Mercato di Rialto) is incredible. So far, it is the best seafood market we have encountered in Italy and Croatia. We cooked seafood almost every day while in Venice and went to the seafood market every morning.
Seafood is the most popular protein served in restaurants and used in Cicchetti.
Meat – 2
While burgers and steaks are available and Harry’s Bar is famous for inventing Carpaccio, Venice is not known as a meat-eating destination.
Street Food – 4
Venice has good street food. As mentioned above, cicchetti are very popular and can be purchased to take away or stand around and eat.
Large Food Market with Restaurants – 5
Venice has a large market called Mercato di Rialto. The market star is the seafood offerings, but it also has a large produce area—a “must-visit” for all foodies.
Experiences
Want to learn about local food and wine during your stay in Venice? Book a highly-rated food and wine experience!
Interests
History – 5
Venice has a great maritime history. It was the most powerful trading empire for centuries, and its wealth and magnificence can be seen everywhere.
Architecture – 5
Venice is home to some of the most famous architectural landmarks in the world, including Saint Mark’s Basilica, Doge’s Palace, Rialto Bridge, and the Bridge of Sighs.
Art – 3
Some palaces have art exhibits and modern art lovers will enjoy the Peggy Guggenheim Collection, but there are better destinations for art lovers.
Museums – 3
A handful of museums around St. Mark’s Square are great, but I would not say Venice is a destination that people go to for the museums or that the museums are world-class.
To save money on entrance tickets to the museums, check out the discount combo ticket options offered by the Venezia Unica City Pass.
We purchased the Muve pass for the Venice Civic Museums. It included entrance to the St. Mark’s Square Museums, Ca Rezzonico, Palazzo Mocenigo, Carlo Goldoni’s House, Ca’ Pesaro, Murano Glass Museum (on the island of Murano), Lace Museum (on the island of Burano), Natural History Museum, and Fortuny Museum.
Castles – 0
Venice does not have any medieval castles.
Walled-City – 0
Venice is not a walled city. Instead, it is a water city.
Palaces – 4
Venice has lots of palaces. The most popular to visit is the Doge Palace. It is conveniently located in the Piazza San Marco.
Hiking – 1
Venice is not a hiking destination.
For more information on Venice hiking, check out AllTrails.
Insider Tip: Take the train down the Ligurian coast to Cinque Terre for some incredible hiking.
Running – 3
You can run southeast along the Riva degli Schiavoni in the early morning. Daytime running is not advised due to the extreme crowds.
For more information on Venice’s running routes, check out RunGo.
High – Fashion Stores/Shopping – 5
Venice has many high-fashion brand stores.
Nightlife – 3
Venice has many busy bars and restaurants that seem to close early. We stayed close to St. Mark’s Square, and the area was tranquil when we went out for Gus’s evening walks. In our experience, it’s not a late-night party city.
Dog Friendly – 3
Venice is dog friendly. Dogs are welcome inside shops but are not allowed in restaurants and grocery stores. The locals and gondoliers are very dog friendly. Gus spent most mornings greeting the gondoliers. He was always welcome in the Rialto Market.
Kid Friendly – 4
While we don’t have kids, there were many in Venice, and they all seemed to be having a great time. Gondola rides looked popular with the kids.
Experiences
Want to learn about Venice’s history? Book a highly-rated history tour and/or musical performance while visiting Venice!
Conveniences
Great Grocery Stores – 2
The grocery stores in Venice were small and had a limited selection. We explored all the neighborhoods, and I went into every grocery store to see if it was a better option than the one I was shopping at. I ended up shopping at two grocery stores since they carry different things, plus the Rialto Market.
English Widely Spoken – 4
English is widely spoken in Venice. We encountered some locals who did not speak English but they were other dog owners with whom we chatted.
Outwardly Friendly Locals – 4
We found the locals to be very friendly. We did have our Frenchie, Gus, and they are very friendly toward dogs – so that helped.
American Tourists – 5
If you like to see and talk to Americans, this is the place for you. There are tons of Americans in Venice.
Accessible by Train – 5
Venice has a major train station ready to take you pretty much anywhere else in Europe you want to go.
Day Trips by Train – 5
There are lots of day-tripping options available from the train station and ferry terminal.
Clean Streets – 4
The streets of Venice are pretty clean, and the shop owners can be seen sweeping and scrubbing the street outside their shops every morning.
Noise – 4
Venice was not very noisy. This could be because the restaurants and bars closed relatively early. As mentioned above, it was very quiet when we took Gus out for his evening walk.
Experiences – Day Trips
Want to explore the area around Venice? Book a highly-rated day trip to enjoy while in Venice!
Costs
Food Cost – 3
Venice is more expensive than most destinations. The food is not cheap, but there are many budget-friendly options. If you have a place to cook, the fresh seafood in the market is a good deal. Perhaps because of the large supply, whole fish is cheaper in Venice than anywhere else we’ve been.
Accommodation Cost – 2
Venice is not the most expense place we’ve visited, but accommodations are certainly not cheap.
Activities Cost – 2
The main tourist activity in Venice is the Gondola Ride. Everyone has to do it at least once. The gondoliers know this so it is expensive. It appears they all charge about the same price. Evening rides are the most expensive and morning rides are the cheapest. Daytime rides are somewhere in the middle.
Transportation Cost – 4
With the central train station to take you around Europe and the local water bus system to take you around Venice, transportation is very inexpensive in Venice.
Transfers
Need a transfer for your stay in Venice? Book a transfer to assist you from/to the airport or train station!
FAQs About Venice
What is Venice Famous For?
Venice is famous for its gondolas, canals, bridges, narrow streets, and unique architecture.
Is Venice Pretty?
Yes, Venice is one of the most beautiful cities in the world, which is why it is so popular and crowded with tourists.
Is Venice Expensive?
Yes, Venice should be on every traveler’s bucket list. A gondola ride through the canals of Venice is a must-do activity to experience the charm of this ancient city. However, visitors must be prepared for crowds and high costs as Venice can get expensive. Despite these drawbacks, Venice’s unique beauty and cultural richness make it worth visiting at least once in a lifetime.
Is Venice Safe?
Yes, Venice is extremely safe.
Do I need to speak the local language to visit Venice?
It is not necessary to speak Italian to visit and enjoy Venice. A large percentage of the locals speak English.
How Many Days in Venice Is Enough?
You will need two very busy days to walk the canals of Venice, take a gondola ride, and see a selection of the sites. Add a day or two to that, and you visit the neighboring islands, stroll through the streets at a slower pace, and stop at the bacari bars to eat local cicchetti and drink regional Prosecco wine. For a list of the best things to see and a suggested walking tour, check out our article “27 Best Things to See in Venice, Italy.”
Where to stay in Venice?
There are many great places to stay in Venice. For the best experience, we recommend staying near St. Marks Square (the castle marker on the map below). It is the epicenter of Venice, with great cafes and bars for people-watching and the stunning Basilica as a backdrop.
Here’s an interactive map with hotel and apartment options that can be filtered to meet your needs. Select your travel dates to get specific availability and prices.
Book your stay now!
What is the best time to visit Venice?
The time of year with good weather and fewer crowds is often referred to as the shoulder season. The shoulder season in Venice is March, April, October, and November. For many, this is the best time of the year to visit.
Venice is a destination that is crowded year-round, so you might want to focus on the weather when deciding when to visit.
How To Get to Venice?
If you fly into Venice Airport, you will arrive on the mainland. You can get to the historic city on the nearby islands in the Venetian Lagoon by ferry or train. The ferry drops off at several convenient locations. However, if you take the train, you will likely need to make your way through the narrow alleys with countless bridges or navigate the waterways to your final destination.
While gondola rides might be a popular tourist activity, they are very expensive and not intended for primary transportation. Instead, the best way to move around Venice is on the Vaporetto, the local ferry that takes you around the city and to other islands on the lagoon. Another way to explore Venice is by taking a water taxi ride through the canals. It offers a unique perspective on the city and allows visitors to see some of the lesser-known parts of Venice. The water taxis are an efficient way to get around Venice, especially if you’re traveling with multiple suitcases or have mobility issues.
What do I need on my Venice packing list?
Your Venice packing list should include non-slip shoes for the slick cobblestones when they get wet.
Best WIFI for a Venice visit?
Do you need wifi during your trip and don’t want to pay for roaming? We use eSIMs from Airalo during our travel and highly recommend them. They are cheap, easy to set up, and allow you to leave your primary sim card in your phone (so you don’t loose it). Click below for more info.
What Region is Venice in?
Venice is located in the Veneto region of Italy. Veneto is in northern Italy and is famous for its Prosecco wine.
Where is Venice?
Venice is a historic city on the Adriatic Sea in northeastern Italy. It is a 7hr train ride south of Munich, Germany, a 2hr 30min ride east of Milan, Italy, a 2hr 15min ride north of Florence, Italy, a 4hr ride north of Rome, Italy, and a 10hr 30min ride southeast of Paris, France.
Is Venice or Florence better?
Venice and Florence are both popular tourist destinations in Italy with unique features and attractions. The choice between the two depends on personal preferences, interests, and travel goals.
Should I go to Rome or Venice?
If you are interested in food, wine, and architecture, both Rome and Venice offer a lot to explore. In Rome, you can indulge in traditional Italian cuisine and visit ancient historical sites such as the Colosseum and the Roman Forum. In Venice, you can enjoy unique seafood dishes and admire the intricate architecture of the city’s canals and bridges. Depending on your travel goals and budget, you can choose to visit one or both cities during your trip to Italy.