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  • In this video, we'll cover all you need to know before traveling to Venice

  • like what's the best time to visit, how to get around the city and use public transportation,

  • best apps to use in Venice and other useful information.

  • And don't forget to like this video, subscribe to our channel and enable notifications.

  • We also created a mobile-friendly PDF document with 10 things to do in Venice

  • plus 10 additional suggestions for a hassle-free experience

  • on your trip to this beautiful city.

  • Here are 17 essential tips:

  • Number 17: The map of Venice

  • Venice is located in the Venetian Lagoon.

  • The city of Venice lies in the center of the lagoon and is connected to the mainland

  • by a road and train cosway. The train station of Santa Lucia and parking lots

  • are located northwest.

  • This is usually your gateway to Venice.

  • Close to the station is the Venetian ghetto,

  • one of the first Jewish ghettos in the world.

  • The main waterway in Venice which runs through the city is called Grand Canal.

  • Here you can find the famous Venetian palazzos, churches

  • and the impressive Rialto Bridge.

  • Saint Mark's Square, the center of Venice, home to Basilica di San Marco,

  • the Campanile bell tower and Doges Palace is located Southeast of Rialto Bridge.

  • If you continue further East you will find Venetian Arsenal,

  • an ancient shipyard and armory

  • and now one of the main venues of the Venetian Biennale.

  • Islands the Venetian lagoon include Murano, famous for Venetian or Murano glass,

  • colorful island of Burano, Torcello, San Michelle cemetery island, and others.

  • The famous Venice International Film Festival takes place on Lido

  • which separates the lagoon from the Adriatic Sea.

  • To get a better sense of the distance:

  • a 1.3-mile long walk from Santa Lucia train station to st. Mark's Square

  • takes about 30 minutes

  • Number 16: Weather and climate

  • Venice has Mediterranean climate with four seasons

  • and the temperatures range from 32 degrees Fahrenheit in winter

  • to 95 degrees Fahrenheit in summer,

  • however, due to the nearby sea the temperatures are usually not too low

  • even in the winter.

  • The air is usually humid year-round, rain is difficult to predict

  • and the weather can change within a few hours.

  • Spring offers moderate temperatures with lows in the 40s and highs in the 70s,

  • summers are hot and humid ranging from 60s to 90s.

  • Weather in the fall is again more pleasant

  • with temperatures ranging between the 40s and low 70s

  • and the winter months are not extremely cold usually between 30s and low 50s.

  • Unfortunately, Venice is sometimes flooded.

  • In fact, this happens so often that the phenomenon has its own name:

  • acqua alta or high water in English.

  • The risk of acqua alta gets higher in winter so make sure to check the weather forecast

  • even when you're in Venice.

  • Number 15: Best time to visit

  • Best time to visit Venice is between April and June in the spring

  • and September and October in the fall

  • when the weather is cooler but still pleasant to walk outside

  • and the herds of tourists are gone.

  • However, Venice is a popular destination year-round and there can be a lot of tourists

  • visiting practically at any given day.

  • And since Venice is known to hold special events

  • such as the carnival in winter or the Venice International Film Festival

  • in late summer, if you are not planning to be there for these events

  • make sure to check that you are not traveling on those dates since your

  • accommodation will likely cost more.

  • Number 14: Venice entry fee

  • From May 2019 Venice has introduced an entry fee for daily visitors.

  • The entry fee for 2019 is fixed at 3 EUR and will eventually cost between 3 and 10 EUR,

  • depending on the season.

  • However, if you're staying in Venice overnight you will be excluded

  • from paying the entry fee as you are already paying the tourist city tax with your hotel.

  • NUMBER 13: CURRENCY

  • The currency used in Venice is Euro, used in most European countries, including Italy.

  • At the time of the making of this video, €1 is worth approx. $1.13.

  • While most hotels, stores, and restaurants in Venice accept major credit cards,

  • it is wise to always have some Euros in your wallet.

  • NUMBER 12: GENERAL INFORMATION

  • Venice is an extraordinary city but with its uniqueness come all sorts of things

  • one should know before traveling there.

  • Unless you're staying in a luxury hotel where your baggage is handled by someone else

  • don't bring heavy baggage as you will

  • probably have to cross a few bridges before arriving at your hotel.

  • You can also leave your baggage in certain areas such as the train station.

  • Check the description for list of more locations.

  • Don't feed the pigeons.

  • While pigeons are almost a symbol of Venice’s St Marks Square

  • it is illegal to feed them. It is also illegal to eat on the walls canals or

  • stairs as well as to swim in the canals.

  • If you want to swim Venice has its own beach on the outer side of lido.

  • Public toilets will cost you money, usually between €1 and €1.5.

  • If you visit bars restaurants or museums, toilets are usually free for the guests.

  • Exploring Venice can sometimes seem like walking in the labyrinth.

  • However, don't panic. There are a lot of signs around town to get you unlost

  • Drinking water: tap water in Venice is perfectly safe to drink.

  • Additionally, drinking water is available for free at numerous water fountains

  • spread out across Venice where you can fill up your water bottle

  • and even save some money that way.

  • NUMBER 11: SAFETY

  • Venice is generally a very safe destination, so you normally shouldn’t be worried

  • about specific areas to avoid or staying inside at night.

  • However, typical for all major tourist destinations, pay attention to pickpockets,

  • especially in the crowded areas close to major attractions.

  • For emergency services dial 112.

  • NUMBER 10: WHERE TO STAY

  • While staying anywhere in Venice is an interesting experience,

  • there are areas which will make your stay even more exciting

  • The best places to stay are:

  • The San Marco district, stretching from St Mark’s Square to the Accademia bridge.

  • This way you will be located right in the the historic center of Venice.

  • Castello, where you will find many luxury hotels and nice bars and restaurants.

  • San Polo district, located close to the Rialto Bridge,

  • and home to shops and bars selling the famous ciccetti, a Venetian version of Spanish tapas.

  • Dorsoduro if you want to stay in the area with fashion boutiques and close to university

  • or Canareggio, located close to the train station and the Jewish Ghetto.

  • But Venice is not too big and as long as you are staying

  • in centro storico or the historic center in English major attractions are just minutes away.

  • The average price for a hotel in Venice is $115.

  • Of course, you can get your accommodation for less than that.

  • Check out our video on best apps to book your stay.

  • If you want to save on accommodation, you can consider staying on the mainland,

  • however, you will have to travel to Venice every day

  • instead of being located close to the major attractions.

  • NUMBER 9: TRANSPORTATION

  • FROM AND TO THE AIRPORT

  • Venice has two airports:

  • Marco Polo, the main airport,

  • located in the Venetian lagoon

  • and Treviso airport, mostly used by low-fare airlines such as Ryanair.

  • To get to Venice from Marco Polo, you can choose between the following options:

  • Either aiport bus or local bus usually departing every 30 minutes.

  • A water bus which will take you directly to Venice.

  • While train is an option, we do not recommend it,

  • as you have to take a short bus ride to the station.

  • You can also take a taxi or transfer which will cost you about 50 EUR,

  • but, since Venice has no roads, they can only drop you off at Piazzale Roma,

  • next to Santa Lucia train station.

  • However, if you take a water taxi, departing from the same location as the water bus,

  • you can arrive directly to your destination in Venice, which is very convenient,

  • but also quite expensive, anywhere between 100 and 150 EUR.

  • Renting a car is more or less useless since you can’t drive in Venice,

  • unless, of course, you are planning to travel to other places to Italy as well.

  • Treviso airport is located 25 miles from Venice.

  • You can either take an ATVO bus

  • which takes 70 minutes and drops you off at Piazzale Roma

  • or Brazi bus, that drops you off at Tronchetto.

  • ARRIVING BY TRAIN

  • In case you are arriving to Venice by train, you will arrive to Santa Lucia train station,

  • which is conveniently located on the outskirts of the historic center.

  • ARRIVING BY CAR

  • If you are arriving to Venice by car, you will have to leave your car

  • in one of the garages on the mainland or on the island, close Santa Lucia station.

  • Parking price is between 20 and 30 EUR per day or even less

  • if you want to leave your car further inland and take a short bus ride to Venice.

  • GETTING AROUND THE CITY

  • The only transportation is Venice is on water. It is even illegal to use bikes in Venice.

  • Se be prepared to walk a lot.

  • However, walking in Venice is rewarding

  • since you can discover something exciting almost around every corner.

  • Venice has a good public water transportation system called Vaporetto.

  • There are several lines, and numerous stations.

  • Check the description for links to the Vaporetto map, which is similar to the metro maps in bigger cities.

  • One-way ticket for 75 minutes costs 7.50 EUR,

  • the 24-hour ticket is 20 and 48-hour Vaporetto ticket is 30 EUR.

  • You can always get a water taxi.

  • The cost of water taxi in Venice is 13 EUR for the initial charge plus 1.80 EUR per minute.

  • And, of course, Venice is best known for gondolas, an iconic rowing boat that has been used for centuries.

  • While gondolas offer a wonderful romantic experience, they are certainly not cheap.

  • A 40-minute ride costs anywhere from 80 EUR during the day and over 100 EUR during the night.

  • If you want to share a ride and save some money, there’s an app that offers that service.

  • NUMBER 8: BEST APPS TO USE IN VENICE

  • Here is the list of useful apps to use:

  • Wi-Fi map or Wi-Fi finder which helps you find Wi-Fi throughout Venice.

  • Venice guide and offline city map offers in-depth travel content and popular attractions.

  • Use Google Maps or Apple maps for walking.

  • Due to narrow streets and tall houses, they do not operate great,

  • but you will certainly know which area you are in.

  • Google Maps also lets you download your map

  • which is a great option if you don't want to use your roaming .

  • However, many people prefer to use paper map in Venice.

  • AVM Venezia Official App

  • is great for public transportation info including a trip planner and timetables.

  • Google Maps and Moovit also offer Vaporetto information.

  • hi!tide Venezia, to check timings and heights of water in Venice in case of aqua alta.

  • Il meteo, the Italian weather app, available in English.

  • Or, of course, any other good weather app.

  • Kishare, an app that connects travelers

  • who want to share gondolas, lagoon tours, and water taxis in Venice.

  • AppTaxi, where you can book a water taxi.

  • WC Venice that helps you find public toilets in Venice.

  • It also lets you find drinking fountains.

  • Trip advisor and Yelp for restaurant, hotel, museum, or tour reviews.

  • NUMBER 7: VENICE IS CROWDED

  • With limited space and narrow streets, Venice can get very crowded, especially during summer.

  • So be prepared to wait in lines in restaurants, attractions, etc.

  • NUMBER 6: CITY TOURS

  • Walking tours of Venice are organized by professional tour guides

  • who known great deal about the city’s rich history, legends, etc.

  • A great way to discover Venice.

  • Some providers even offer free walking tours of Venice,

  • however, at the end of the tour it is recommended to give a donation

  • of your choice to the tour guides.

  • NUMBER 5: FOR INTERNATIONAL TRAVELERS

  • If youre coming from outside Europe, or the UK,

  • you will probably need a special European power adaptor

  • to charge your phone and other devices

  • This is what the European power plug looks like.

  • We recommend purchasing a power adaptor before traveling to Venice.

  • In fact, it is worth buying the adaptor for the entire world so you can use in in other countries too.

  • You can purchase the prepaid SIM card to access internet on your phone

  • with one of the carriers like TIM or Vodafone in one of their stores in Venice,

  • however, be prepared to show you passport and fill out the documentation,

  • as is required by the Italian law.

  • If you are from the US you can consider using Google Fi.

  • Alternatively, you can consider renting Pocket WiFi.

  • NUMBER 4: FOOD AND DRINKS

  • Venice offers some great restaurants.

  • We suggest using Yelp or TripAdvisor to find a nearby place with good reviews.

  • Try to avoid sitting down in the restaurants next to major attractions,

  • many times you can find a much better price/quality ratio restaurants

  • a street or two away from the main locations.

  • Same with bars.

  • For instance, a cappuccino just around the corner from St Marks Square cost us only 1.50 EUR.

  • There are also some great fast food pasta places,

  • like Dal Moro’s where you can get a deliciousPasta to gofor just 7 EUR.

  • Tipping in Venice is not mandatory,

  • however, most places will charge you a cover charge for sitting down

  • or what is is called coperto in Italian, usually a couple of Euros per person

  • and in some cases also the service charge on top, usually around 10% of the bill.

  • You can also buy something to eat or drink in a grocery store.

  • You can use Google Maps or a similar app to locate one near you.

  • Or you can even buy fresh fruits at a local street market.

  • NUMBER 3: VENICE CITY PASS

  • Venice offers a city pass called Venezia Unica

  • where you can save some money if you are planning to visit several museums

  • and other attractions and want to skip the line at some locations.

  • With Venezia Unica city pass you also don’t need any printed tickets

  • and can use your phone instead.

  • Venezia Unica works with the AVM Venezia Official App that we described before.

  • You can even choose a city pass that combines attractions and public transportation.

  • NUMBER 2: FAMOUS EVENTS

  • Venice is home to several world-famous events.

  • The Venetian Carnival takes place every year 40 days before Easter.

  • Venetian Carnival has a long tradition and is probably one the world’s most extravagant masquerades.

  • The Biennale is a prominent international art exhibition organized once every two years

  • held over the course of several months.

  • In addition to the Biennale of Art, Venice hosts the Biennale of Architecture,

  • and other similar events.

  • The Venice International Film Festival is one of the most recognized film festivals in the world,

  • attracting celebrities from all around the globe.

  • NUMBER 1: BEST VIEWS OF THE CITY

  • For the best views of Venice, visit at least one of the following locations:

  • Campanile di San Marco, located on St Marks Square,

  • with the highest observation deck in Venice. The ticket costs 8 EUR.

  • San Giorgio Maggiore, a small island, located opposite St Marks Square.

  • T Fondaco dei Tedeschi Rooftop Terace

  • On top of Rialto Bridge and Ponte dell'Accademia

  • The Palazzo Contarini del Bovolo

  • Skyline Rooftop Bar, with great panoramic city views.

  • And other interesting locations.

  • We created a mobile-friendly .pdf document that you can store offline on your phone

  • covering Top 10 major attractions in Venice, including maps, links,

  • opening hours, and other information plus 10 additional attractions

  • so that you can avoid the hustle and stress when youre in Venice.

  • Get yours for a symbolic price and help us sustain our channel.

  • Share your own Venice experience in the comments below.

  • And don’t forget to like this video, subscribe to our channel and enable notifications

  • so that we can keep bringing you more awesome content.

In this video, we'll cover all you need to know before traveling to Venice

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