Best time to go to Venice:
The best time to go would be around the Venetian carnival in February where the entire city turns into one giant masquerade party. Alternately, a slightly warmer option, third Sunday of July when the locals celebrate the Redentore festival for a spectacular firework display.
Where to stay
In the heart of Venice – in and around San Marco square. An average hotel in Venice is slightly more expensive than most European cities but it’s well worth it.
We stayed at Hotel Becher, a boutique hotel and could not be happier with our choice – vintage, refined elegance, great location and the most perfect breakfast table – if you wake up overlooking a canal and a gondolier on his morning rounds, you know you are in Venice.
How to get around
Vaporetto, is the easiest and the cheapest mode of transport in the city. Consider buying a day ticket (€20 for a day ticket or €30 for two days). If you are flying into Marco Polo airport, take the bus number 5 to Piazzale Roma (€8 single or €15 return ticket). You could combine the airport transport with your day ticket on the vaporetto.
There are water taxis available as well which are more expensive but more convenient. Or if you have a couple of million dollars lying around consider buying a super yacht and moor it on the venetian shores as most rich and famous do.
Where to eat
Cicchetti (Venetian tapas) – Eat like a local and grab a quick bite at one of the many tapas bars around via Rialto with a glass of vino or a granita or orange juice to go with.
Sea weed Spiruli Gelato – Beat the heat with the gelatos at all the wonderful shops, but would definitely recommend trying the unusual blue coloured, all natural, sea weed Spiruli gelato
Pumpkin sauce lasagne at La Zucca – Very highly recommended to us, unfortunately we could not get a table. So maybe you can book in advance and let us know how it was.
When you go:
Day 1: Start with San Marco square, visit the basilica (free to enter, €5 for the first level), run after pigeons, visit the dodge’s palace and bridge of sighs (both for €19). Blow your holiday budget on the many high end designer stores and jewellery shops or go down the many alleys and pick up more practical fashion which for a fraction of the price.
Go across to St George’s Island and go up on the bell tower (€5 to enter) for a unique vantage point over San Marco square. At sunset go for a gondola ride (or not!) – please ensure that the ride is around wider canals to avoid riding on a gutter, latest tariffs can be found here. Skip the gondola ride and just book a lesson instead?
Day 2: Start your day walking to Rialto Bridge and take a vaporetto to Murano Island for famous glass blowing demonstrations – our favourite was Santa Chiara, an old church turned glass factory, soon coming with live music and a bar! Spend rest of the day at Burano Island amidst lanes upon lanes of multi-hued houses and we honestly couldn’t find two which were in the same colour. If you are still up for it, make a quick stop to Torcello and enjoy the calm of the island.
Day 3: Spend a day at the beach, Venice Lido – “Don’t expect the Caribbean”, our receptionist said and we tempered our expectations but the water and the sandy stretch wonderfully surprised us. Visit the beach on your last day to ease yourself back into modern civilisation with apartment complexes, concrete roads with zebra crossing and cars zooming by. The warm sand and a refreshing dip in the water, people watching, catching up on your holiday reading with a book under our parasol was a perfect end to our wonderful holiday.
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