Destinations / Italy / Venice
Venice Travel Guide
Stay at least two nights. Venice is a different city after the day-trippers leave. Book a hotel in the historic center, use the water buses, and plan on getting a little lost.
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Where I'm sending people now
San Marco for first-timers, Dorsoduro for art and quieter evenings, Cannaregio for a local feel, the Giudecca for resort-style luxury.
April to May and late September to October. November to February is quiet but brings high tides; July and August are hot and crowded.
Top hotels like the Gritti Palace, the Cipriani and Aman start around €800 to €1,500 a night. A private water taxi from the airport is about €100 to €220.
Day-trippers pay an access fee (€5 to €10) on set dates in spring and summer. Hotel guests don't pay but need a free QR code from cda.ve.it. The Danieli reopened in July 2026 as a Four Seasons.
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Hawaii
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Italy
Rome and the Amalfi Coast, with the hotels and tours worth booking ahead.
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Punta Cana, Turks and Caicos and Puerto Rico, all-inclusive and not.
Where I'm sending people now
Hawaii
Maui, Kauai, Oahu and the Big Island, and how to pick between them.
Italy
Rome and the Amalfi Coast, with the hotels and tours worth booking ahead.
Caribbean
Punta Cana, Turks and Caicos and Puerto Rico, all-inclusive and not.
Know before you go
Getting there
Fly into Venice Marco Polo (VCE), with connections through major European hubs and some nonstops from North America in season. From the airport, the Alilaguna water bus takes about an hour or more to San Marco, while a private water taxi takes about 30 minutes and drops you near your hotel. Trains arrive at Santa Lucia station right on the Grand Canal.
Getting around
There are no cars: you walk or take the vaporetto water buses, and a multi-day pass pays off fast. Pack light, because you'll be carrying bags over bridges unless you book a porter or water taxi to your hotel door.
Money and tipping
Euros, cards widely accepted. Day-trippers need to pay the Venice access fee on peak spring and summer days, but overnight hotel guests are exempt, which is one more reason to stay at least a night. Expect a coperto on bills and higher prices near San Marco.
How I'd spend 5 days
Day 1 Arrive by water taxi, wander Cannaregio, cicchetti crawl at sunset
Day 2 St. Mark's Basilica and Doge's Palace early, gondola late afternoon
Day 3 Murano glass and colorful Burano, lunch on Torcello
Day 4 Dorsoduro, Peggy Guggenheim Collection, Gallerie dell'Accademia
Day 5 Morning at the Rialto Market, then depart
Hotels I'd book in Venice
Things to do in Venice
Where to eat in Venice
Quadri
Venissa
Antiche Carampane
Osteria alle Testiere
Cantina Do Mori
All'Arco
Where I'm sending people now
Hawaii
Maui, Kauai, Oahu and the Big Island, and how to pick between them.
Italy
Rome and the Amalfi Coast, with the hotels and tours worth booking ahead.
Caribbean
Punta Cana, Turks and Caicos and Puerto Rico, all-inclusive and not.
Venice FAQ
Do hotel guests pay the access fee?
No, but on fee days you still need to register on cda.ve.it and carry the free QR code. Day-trippers pay €5 to €10 on set dates in spring and summer.
How many days do I need in Venice?
Two or three nights. Staying overnight is the point; the city empties out in the evening and early morning.
Is a water bus pass worth it?
A single ride is €9.50, so the €25 day pass pays off by your third ride. There are also 48-hour, 72-hour and 7-day passes.
How much is a gondola ride?
The official rate is €90 for 30 minutes by day and €110 at night, for up to five people. For a short, cheap version, take a traghetto gondola across the Grand Canal.
Will flooding ruin my trip?
Rarely. The MOSE barriers rise for big tides, but St. Mark's Square can still flood for a few hours around high tide, mostly from October to January.
What should I wear to St. Mark's Basilica?
Shoulders and knees covered, and no backpacks. There's a free bag drop nearby.
Should I book the Doge's Palace ahead?
Yes. It's €30 online at least a month ahead and €35 at the door. The Secret Itineraries tour, through the prisons and hidden rooms, books up.
How do I get from the airport to my hotel?
The Alilaguna water bus is €18 and takes about 70 minutes to San Marco. A private water taxi costs about €100 to €220 and drops you at or near your hotel's door.