Venice on a budget Practical advice. Venice Travel Tips and Tricks

Italy - wonderful country. It is unlikely that anyone will argue with this statement. And the country is original, unique, unique. With their traditions, customs, foundations, with their way of life. And all this is very different from what we are used to in our daily lives. Therefore, in order for the trip to Venice to pass in an exceptionally positive mood, tips seasoned tourist won't interfere.

1.Transport in Venice

The first thing that comes to mind when thinking about Venice is water. Moving around the historical part of the city is possible either on foot or by water transport (trams, boats, gondolas).

The famous gondolas, contrary to popular belief, are not the main mode of transport in Venice. They are ridden mainly by lovers and tourists. Pleasure is quite expensive. Depending on the time of the walk, the price will be from 100 € and more. If you wish, you can bargain with the gondolier and reduce the price by 5-10%.

For excursions in Venice, water trams are most often used. A round-trip ticket costs 5€, but if you're here for a few days, it makes sense to save money by buying a ticket for 72 hours at a price of 22€. . If you arrived in the water part of the city by car, then a huge multi-storey car park has been built at your service at the entrance.

2. What to see in Venice?

San Marco. St. Mark's Basilica is the first place visited by tourists from all over the world. It should be remembered that the temple is not only a landmark of Venice, but also an active Catholic church, the entrance to which in short skirts, shorts or with bare shoulders is not allowed. There are many temples in the city. Everyone has a strictly defined time for excursions. And, if you want to visit these places, it will not be superfluous to adjust your plans with the help of a guide.

Many tourists want to visit Piazza San Marco and feed the pigeons there. This is considered a good omen. You can feed the birds only with special food, which is sold here, in a small shop at the entrance to the square. So the city authorities control the population of pigeons.

3. Language barrier in Venice.

In Italy, and Venice is no exception, the locals in the vast majority of cases do not speak English, and they speak Italian in such a way that nothing is understood anyway. Therefore, a phrasebook is indispensable.

4. Siesta

The world-famous Italian siesta makes its own adjustments to the plans of tourists. From 14:00 to 15:30 all shops, churches, shops and kiosks are closed. Restaurants in Venice are open from 12:30 to 15:30. Although for the convenience of vacationers in Lately in many private establishments, the lunch break time floats, which is reflected in the guidebooks. Therefore, in order not to be left without lunch, plan your route in advance.

5. Where to eat in Venice

If the hotel where you are staying serves breakfast according to the principle buffet so make sure you arrive early. Otherwise, you risk seeing only crumbs. In Venice, as in any tourist center, there are many cafes and restaurants. In the cafes of the city, prices can vary depending on where you want to eat: at the bar or at the table. If the budget is modest, then there is a great option. This is something similar to our canteens, the so-called trattorias. You can eat very tasty and cheap there.

6. Venice souvenirs

Souvenirs for relatives and friends can be bought inexpensively near the Church of St. Jeremiah (San Geremia). This quarter is not particularly popular with tourists, but it can be easily found on the map. In addition, it is not very far from San Marco. Here they offer Venetian glass at a price of 3€ and more, and Carnival masks ranging from 3 to 14€.

7. Weather in Venice

Due to its location on the water, the weather in the city is quite unpredictable. In Venice quite often after heavy rain some of the islands are flooded. Therefore, if you are going on a long excursion, waterproof shoes will not be superfluous.

For interesting excursions around Venice, you can find out everything in a special section of our website

Excursions in Venice

Delightful Venice attracts every year incredible amount tourists who are eager to plunge into the atmosphere of love and romance among the unsurpassed masterpieces of Italian architecture. However, many of those who dream of enjoying the beauties of the city in silence and solitude face noisy crowds of tourists. In addition, it is hard for those travelers who apply to local travel agencies, where, without embarrassment to anyone, employees offer services at exorbitant prices.

How to avoid such a fate, and at the same time, not overshadow your vacation? It follows from this that it is necessary to prepare for the trip for a long time and thoroughly, carefully studying all the options.

Surely, remembering Venice, many imagine the picturesque canals that have enveloped the entire city, along which gondolas float. However, do not romanticize, such a pleasure will cost you 100 euros! Yes, and 40 minutes of the standard route in the company of 6-7 people, it is quite possible to replace it with an equally pleasant walk on the traghetto, the cost of which is only 1 euro. On this interesting water transport you will be taken along the Grand Canal, where there are no bridges. To such picturesque places include the route Pescheria - Santa Sofia and Punta della Dogana.

Where to stay?

Saving money while traveling is a real success! However, not when it comes to choosing a hotel. Be sure to explore all areas of Venice, do not be seduced by the cheap housing of the Lido island and the mainland, spend some time looking for a suitable option in the old city. It is here that you can fully join the amazing atmosphere. medieval city. The best months for a comfortable and inexpensive holiday are March and November. Since at this time you can even stay in five-star hotels at a very affordable price.

Food and drink

If you are a connoisseur Italian cuisine and if you can afford not to save on food, then Harry's Bar is a great option. A decent establishment with an atmosphere of old bohemian Italy, where the minimum bill for lunch is 100 euros. Also, do not refuse to taste the famous signature Bellini cocktail, which will cost 20 euros. However, for a tasty and inexpensive meal, you'd better turn to the locals. For example, Taverna del Campiello Remer can offer delicious and varied dishes. local cuisine at very reasonable prices.

Where is the best place to go on a tour?

Be sure to visit the island of Murano, this is a great opportunity to see with your own eyes how craftsmen make interesting things from glass. But be careful, as a rule, guides do everything so that you do not leave there without souvenirs, the prices of which are shamelessly overpriced.

In the narrow streets of Venice

Walking the streets unknown city There is always an opportunity to learn and see something new and interesting. What can not be said about the streets of Venice. Studying even the main tourist route, you always have the risk of turning the wrong way and falling into one of the many channels. It is best to purchase a map, which will greatly facilitate the movement around the city. Start your journey along the route Rialto - San Marco and you will gradually reach Cannaregio, where the Madonna dell'Orto church is located, which will give you an unforgettable view of the island of Murano and the promenade.

Best time to travel

Perhaps, any, except for the summer months. The city has very high humidity, and in combination with the summer heat, it becomes simply unbearable. by the most optimum time for the trip will be early spring or autumn. At this time, it is best to bring warm clothes, as it can be quite cool during walks on the water. Thanks to the decline in the tourist flow, Venice appears in its true form.

Venice is a masterpiece city, a delightful pearl of European culture. Unique city on the water, which captivates with its beauty, exudes romance and captivates with its unique atmosphere. True, in order to see and feel just such Venice - magical and romantic - you need to plan your trip correctly. Many tourists who come to this wonderful city with noisy, always hurrying and noisy groups and hurried guides remain hopelessly disappointed. We are convinced that Venice is best explored on your own. This is how you can see not only noisy "postcard" places crowded with people and pigeons, but also a real, lively, diverse, cozy, charming Venice.

Venice is a special city, and when planning an independent trip, it is worth considering some of the nuances. So, how to organize a trip to Venice on your own, what you should know and consider: helpful tips tourists.

When is the best time to go to Venice?

Perhaps, best time to visit Venice end of March, April or September. At this time, the weather is pleasant - there is neither sweltering heat nor cold. However, there are not many tourists. A great opportunity to walk quietly around the city, discovering the unique charm of Venice step by step, turn by turn.

Winter in Venice quite cold and dank due to high humidity. In addition, the city is often shrouded in fog and seems to be painted in gray tones. This season, Venice appears to travelers not as bright, sunny and festive, but rather melancholy and sadly poetic. However, this is what attracts some people. For example, Joseph Brodsky liked to come here in the winter - and in no other season.

The period of winter holidays (Christmas) and the Venetian carnival the city "wakes up" and is again filled with tourists. During these periods, Venice can be seen elegant, festive, noisy and crowded. As a rule, the carnival is held in late February or early March, before the beginning of the Catholic Lent. Clarify carnival dates and get information about it detailed information you can on the official website: http://www.carnevale.venezia.it.

Autumn and early spring It often rains in Venice. After them, the water level can rise greatly and even flood streets and squares.

If you are planning an independent trip to Venice in winter, early spring or autumn, keep in mind that floods occur here during these seasons (the Venetians call it acqua alta, that is, “high water”). During floods, the streets and squares of the city can be flooded. Then you can see a colorful picture of people in high rubber boots walking around San Marco Square.

Summer in Venice very hot. True, the shady labyrinths of stone streets and canals allow you to periodically hide from the scorching sun during your walks. But the main feature of the Venetian summer is the abundance of tourists. The small town is crowded with people. However, even in this crowded season, Venice can reveal its magical side to you. But for this you need to know where to “escape” from the tourist crowds and where to see a calmer and “real” Venice.

What to pack Venice

Don't take too many things

If you are staying in the center, you will have to take a boat to the hotel and then probably walk along the narrow paved roads. A huge suitcase will interfere with you.

What to bring to Venice in winter

In winter, Venice is very dank due to high humidity. Therefore, even if the forecast promises you a temperature of “only” around 0 degrees, take down jacket- in a city on the water, the temperature will feel very different than in a dry climate.

If you are going to Venice during the "high water" (acqua alta) season, you should also take high rubber boots.

What to bring with you in summer

Summer in Venice is hot and sometimes even stuffy (due to high humidity). Although the narrow shady alleys and passages between houses save you from the heat when walking around the city, it is still worth taking care of sunscreen, hats, summer wardrobe, sunglasses and other accessories needed for a hot day. sunny weather. Well, if you decide to swim in the Adriatic Sea and have planned beach holiday on the Lido, don't forget your swimwear!

Comfortable shoes

In any season, take care of comfortable shoes. Most likely, you will walk a lot along the old streets, and possibly swim in boats and boats. For all these cases, high studs are not suitable.

Clothing for visiting basilicas

Among the sights of Venice are many ancient churches, which store both masterpieces of art and Christian shrines. When visiting basilicas, remember that, as a rule, these are not just tourist sites, but also functioning churches, and therefore follow a certain dress code. It is advisable to cover your shoulders and legs to the knees (you can bring a tippet or a wide scarf with you).

Technique

As in any other trip, when traveling to Venice, consider the availability of the equipment you need: check if the hotel has a hairdryer and an iron. And don't forget chargers for mobile devices and cameras.

How to get to Venice?

By plane

The simplest and cheap way to get to Venice - to fly there by plane. Convenient direct flights are offered by Aeroflot from Moscow. Flights from Alitalia will be a little more expensive.

With one transfer in Riga, you can fly from Moscow to Venice on an AirBaltica plane.

Hungarian low-cost airline Wizz Air flies to Venice from Prague. You can get to Prague from Moscow using Czech Airlines or Smart Wings. So you will have a chance to add some Prague charm to your Venetian holiday.

Very convenient way find cheap ticket to Venice - use online services who search for tickets of all airlines and offer a wide range of flight options. For example, Aviasales .

Check which flight options to Venice are available on the dates you need:

By train

If you are planning to visit not only Venice, but also other cities in Italy, you should take a ride on local trains - you will get an exciting trip around the country. From Rome to Venice can be reached in an average of 4 hours. From Milan the train is coming approximately 2.5-3 hours (depending on the train). You can check the schedule and buy train tickets yourself on the official website of Trenitalia (Italian railways) the Italians take care of us so much that the site even has a Russian version.

By car

If you are planning a trip to Italy by car, then it is convenient to make Venice the first or last point of the route. Just keep in mind that you cannot use a car in the city itself - it is not intended for motor vehicles. By car you can only last point"overland" Venice - to Piazzale Roma (Piazzale Roma). And then - or rent a car and immerse yourself in the magic of pedestrian streets and canals, forgetting about vehicles for a while. Or (if Venice is an intermediate point) park your car in the same square of Rome while you explore the historical part of the city. By the way, car parking may be included in the set of services available with the Venezia Unica tourist card (read more about it below).

Read also:

Where to stay in Venice?

Of course, you should take care of a hotel in Venice in advance. For example, by choosing the option that suits you on the Booking.com service. But where is the best place to stay? What should you pay attention to?

Venice is a very expensive city. This applies to everything, including hotels. Especially if you stay in the historical part of Venice.

If the budget of the trip is very limited, you can choose a hotel in the mainland of the city, called Mestre. From here, tourist attractions can be reached by bus or tram traveling over the Liberty Bridge (Ponte della Libertà). The trip takes about 10-15 minutes. However, this method, although it will allow you to save a little, will not allow you to fully enjoy that unique atmosphere, for which they go to Venice.

Although Venice is a very compact and small city, tourists should understand the division into districts, how they differ from each other, and where it is better to settle. The city is divided into 6 districts called sestieres: San Marco, Castello, Cannaregio, San Polo, Dorsoduro, Santa Croce.

To learn about the features of each of the sestieres and make right choice also read the article:

Hotels in the historic "sestieres" (the so-called 6 districts of Venice) have many features. Often the rooms are quite small. In addition, hotels in Venice are often located in old houses, so they may seem somewhat dilapidated. But this is a unique experience, and many tourists are willing to pay a lot of money for this colorful "dilapidation".

When choosing where to stay in Venice, as in any other city, study the reviews of tourists. Pay attention to factors such as sound, the availability of an elevator, Wi-Fi and the equipment you need, the quality of breakfast (Italian breakfasts are usually quite poor). In addition, tourists often mention location features in reviews: what sights, shops, interesting places are nearby.

Find out what special offers of Venice hotels are available right now:

Transport in Venice

How to get from the airport to Venice and back

Marco Polo Airport

This is the main one in Venice, most planes fly here. The airport is located just 8 km north of the city, and you can get to Venice from it quite quickly. True, there is one important nuance. Choosing any of the wheel Vehicle, keep in mind that they will take you only to a certain part of Venice, accessible to cars - Piazzale Roma (Piazzale Roma - Piazzale Roma). If your hotel is located in one of the historical areas (Castello, San Marco, Dorsoduro, Cannaregio, San Polo, most of Santa Croce), then a car will not be able to drive directly to your hotel! For the simple reason that the main part of the city is simply not intended for vehicles. This often comes as a surprise to tourists, although everyone knows that Venice is a city on the water. Even if you take a taxi, the taxi driver will be forced to drop you off at Piazzale Roma, and then you will have to transfer to a truly Venetian - water transport.

Specify the address in advance and check on the map exactly where your hotel is located. Specify the nearest landmarks, vaporetto stop. Perhaps on the hotel website there will be tips on how to get to it more conveniently.

So, the options for getting to Venice from Marco Polo Airport:

• You can use ATVO shuttle buses stopping near the entrance to the airport. They leave often, are inexpensive and very convenient. The price is 8 euros one way and 15 euros for a round trip ticket. In addition, transfers on ATVO shuttles can be included in the package of services when purchasing a Venezia Unica guest card (more on it below). These shuttles will take you to Piazzale Roma bus station.

• There are also ACTV buses - this is a regular urban transport that runs with many stops. Cheaper and more colorful. .

• With more comfort, but much more expensive, you can go by taxi. Taxi drivers will be looking forward to waiting for you next to the airport building.

• If you are afraid of organizational difficulties and are not ready to book tickets on Italian sites or negotiate with taxi drivers, you can use the service. The transfer can be booked in advance, and all information is available in Russian.

• You can feel the essence of Venice right after leaving the airport - get to the city by water bus or water taxi. To do this, you need to walk a couple of hundred meters to the Alilaguna pier. you can choose and purchase a ticket for such a trip (information in English).

Treviso Airport

Located 20 km from Venice. As a rule, planes of low-cost airlines fly here. How to get to Venice:

• On Terravision buses. They run during the day and will take you to Tronchetto, one of the Venetian islands at the entrance to the central part of the city.

• Also from Treviso Airport to Venice there are ATVO buses running to Piazzalle Roma.

• Taxi drivers will be happy to take you to the city. Naturally, it is more expensive than buses.

• You can take the train from Treviso. The municipal bus number 6 runs to the station. And from Treviso Centrale to Santa Lucia di Venezia, trains run very often. The trip will take approximately 35 minutes.

• If you do not want to deal with public transport, you can pre-order (booking is available in Russian).

All of the mentioned methods of movement work in reverse side– from Venice to airports.

How to move around the city

A unique feature of the island part of the city is the complete absence of vehicles. Just a dream of the inhabitants of the metropolis! How to move around the city? Venice is a very compact and small city, and therefore it is quite possible to reach most of the interesting places on foot (if you live in one of the historical sestieres). Moreover, walking here is exceptionally pleasant! This lovely way get to know the city and feel its unique atmosphere.

But if you have planned intensive movements around the city in a short time, then, of course, you will have to use transport. And he is here - only water! It will not only help you quickly move to different parts of the city, but also allow you to see Venice from the water - and this is also an unforgettable experience. Magnificent Venetian palazzos were even built in such a way that all of their facades were turned towards the water, and therefore it is best to view them while floating on the waters of the Grand Canal.

The main public transport in Venice is boats. vaporetto (vaporetto). It's kind of water buses- inexpensive and convenient option. They ply along established routes and stop at piers with yellow and white booths. You can buy both a single one-way ticket and a travel card for one or more days.

Detailed information about the types of tickets and prices can be found (although information is in English)

In addition, a vaporetto pass and even a transfer to Marco Polo Airport can be included in the Venezia Unica Guest Card (read more about it below).

Tickets can also be purchased through a dedicated smartphone app (available in Italian and English only).

small boats motoscafo (motoscafo), playing the role of water taxis can be more convenient for their individual approach but of course they are more expensive. Motoskafo can drive through narrow canals, under low bridges and get to almost any part of the city.

There are also large motonave (motonave), which run only on the largest channels.

Of course, we must not forget about the Venetian gondolas (gondola). You can't even call them transport! They do not take passengers from point A to point B, but give a special experience of leisurely walks along the canals. But the magnificent romance of gondolas comes at a price! If you are on a tight budget but can't deprive yourself of a gondola ride, you can try to find a suitable company - the cost of the ride can be divided among everyone.

If you have no desire to pay a gondolier, but want to feel the flavor of a truly Venetian transport, use tragetto. They are used to cross from one side of the canal to the other (where there are no bridges). And such transportation costs quite inexpensively - only 2-3 euros. One of the most scenic routes is the ferry from the Customs Arrow (Punta della Dogana) to Piazza San Marco. Pavda, you will not have time to admire the views, as the crossing is carried out very quickly. And one more important feature: passengers in the traghetto are transported while standing.

Venice: how to navigate the city

Navigating Venice by house number is a puzzle. After all, the address is the name of the district and a four-digit number. For example, Castello 4693. At the same time, the numbering is end-to-end, it is not at all in order, and there is no division into odd and even sides of the street that we are used to. And the area is rather big, and the whole is dotted with small streets and alleys. Another feature - in Venice, not even buildings are often numbered, but entrances to them, and sometimes windows.

How to navigate in Venice on your own and find the addresses you need? Knowing the nearest landmarks will help you out: they can be the nearest church, palace, square. Find a place on the map in advance and, if possible, specify and remember or write down the name of the nearest bridge, canal, alley, square, as well as larger landmarks. And already from these landmarks, remember the path to the desired building.

And you can see your location, as well as the nearest sights from you, on the map in. It includes a free GPS guide to Venice.

How and where to eat in Venice?

Italian cuisine is famous for delicious culinary delights, so in Venice you can not only enjoy magnificent views but also to explore a variety of goodies. You can do this in different ways:

• The most expensive and, perhaps, the most unfortunate option is to visit restaurants in the tourist center. Often they work exclusively for tourists (who are in abundance in Venice) and have nothing to do with a real Italian restaurant. Prices here will be "on top", which can often not be said about the service.
• Cheaper, tastier and more interesting to find restaurants for locals away from tourist places. These have become a rarity in tourist areas Venice. But they can be found in the areas of Cannaregio, Castello, Dorsoduro, on the island of Giudecca. There are also plenty of authentic local restaurants on the mainland of Venice, in Mestre.
• Buying products in the market and in stores. There are plenty of outlets in Venice - both small "home" shops and large supermarkets. A visit to the Venetian market (for example, the legendary fish market Rialto, the oldest in the city) is also a special, unforgettable experience. Even while living in a hotel, you can buy fruits, vegetables, delicious bread, Italian cheese, ham…

Eat traditional Venice food

Venice has its own "signature" dishes, which are an important part of the local flavor. The most famous - risotto nero (RisottoNero, "black risotto") And spaghetti al nero (Spaghetti al nero di seppia). Both of these dishes have one thing in common: the unusual black color of the sauce, which is made from cuttlefish ink. Also the Venetians love polenta (Polenta), similar to cornmeal.

Of course, in the city on the water you can try excellent seafood and fish dishes. For example, baccala montecato ( Baccala montecato) - dried cod puree, sarde in saor ( Sarde in Saor) - marinated sardines, sardine frit ( Sarde Fritto) - fried sardines, baccala fritto ( baccala fritto) - fried cod.

Also very popular in Venice chiketti (Chiketti). These are small snacks that are consumed with wine, and just like that.

The most popular Venetian drink - syringe, or syringe (Spritz). This is a cocktail of dry white or sparkling wine, Aperol or Campari liqueur and sparkling water. The Austrian name reminds that the history of this “signature” Venetian drink is connected with the era of the Austrian occupation of Venice, and the “syringe” was actually invented by the Austrian military. True, they did not “bother” with liqueurs, but simply mixed wine with sparkling water.

In Venice, you should also try wonderful Italian ice cream ( Gelato), recalling that it was the Venetian Marco Polo who once brought to Europe a recipe for ice cream from China.

Restaurants and cafes in Venice: things to consider

• • Tips for waiters are far from being left everywhere - most often they are already included in the check called "coperto" (fee for serving and service). If not, it is customary to give 10%.
  • Venice is spoiled by a huge flow of tourists. Unfortunately, this affects both the service and the prices. Also, be prepared for the peculiarities of "tourist" marketing. For example, menus displayed near restaurant entrances may not include prices for drinks, which can then turn out to be extremely high. In addition, the waiters in the center can recommend not the most delicious, but the most expensive dishes. True, not everywhere and not everything is so bad, but such trends are, perhaps, in any tourist place.

• If you decide to indulge in the luxury of having a cup of coffee at the legendary Café Florian while sitting in Piazza San Marco and listening to live music, be prepared to have music included in your bill. However, many tourists do not mind even overpaying for this unforgettable experience!

Venice attractions on your own: with discounts and without queues

Venezia Unica - Tourist Guest Card of Venice

One way to save money in Venice is to buy a special "City Pass" type card, called here VeniceUnica. The peculiarity of the Venice card is that you can choose the set of services that suits your trip. It may include not only visiting the sights of Venice (museums and basilicas), but also travel to public transport, and if desired, a transfer to the Marco Polo airport, as well as sporting events, parking and discounts in some restaurants.

Everything is organized very conveniently. Visit the site www.veneziaunica.it/ru to get acquainted with the benefits of the card, choose the services you need, and, in fact, buy Venezia Unica online. After making a purchase, an e-voucher will be sent to your e-mail, which can be exchanged for a card when you arrive in Venice. You can do this in one of the many points, the list of which is presented on the site.

The tourist card of Venice helps not only to save money, but also to avoid queues at the ticket office, and this is a significant advantage.

Choose the right time to visit tourist places

One of the features of this city has become a huge flow of visitors - about 30 million people a year visit Venice. In practice, this means crowds roaming everywhere. This is not always convenient. To do beautiful photo or just to be in peace and quiet, you should wake up early and get on central square San Marco (Saint Mark) and to the main attractions by 7 am.

Don't be afraid to get away from banal tourist routes

It is not at all necessary to crowd with all the tourists attacking San Marco Square, Rialto Bridge and others all day popular places. There are so many amazing places in Venice!

Venice guide and audio guide for iPhone

If you are traveling with an iPhone, you have the opportunity to explore the city not with a heavy guide, but with one that is installed on your smartphone and turns trips into exciting journeys! Thanks to GPS navigation, the guide will always tell you where you are and what interesting places are near you. Offline map, useful information about the city and, convenient search places in the catalog and on the map, and even an audio phrasebook - all this is available for free.

A tour of places not to be missed!

Our audio walks are full interesting stories, interesting facts and amazing stories. Join now!

Venice on your own: what else tourists should know

Consider the working hours and do not forget about the siesta

From about 2 to 4 pm, activity in Venice fades (with the exception of the tourist center). Many shops, restaurants, basilicas and museums are closed. Siesta! Keep this in mind when planning your day.

And Mondays are days off in many Venetian (and all Italian) sights.

Make sure prices are right

The "side effects" of the tourist center are inflated prices. Souvenirs in the center are unreasonably expensive, and for a fantastic price, you are likely to get low-quality Chinese-made goods. Moving a little further from San Marco, you can find small shops with less expensive and better quality gifts and souvenirs.

Do not feed pigeons anything

There are a lot of pigeons in Venice, and they ... leave traces everywhere. Therefore, the city does not welcome their feeding, and they are even fined for unauthorized sale of food. In the area of ​​Piazza San Marco, you can buy special pigeon food - special sterilizing preparations are added to it.

Drinking water in Venice available free of charge in special drinking fountains. It comes from the wells of the town of Scorce, located on the continent.

Prohibited in Venice sit on sidewalks around attractions. And men in the city are not allowed to take off their T-shirts and shirts.

Careful, thoughtful preparation will help make your independent travel to Venice flawless, just perfect! However, do not be afraid to add a pinch of adventurism and more inspiration to your plans! Buon viaggio, amici!

Venice from A to Z: map, hotels, attractions, restaurants, entertainment. Shopping, shops. Photos, videos and reviews about Venice.

• Tours for May to Italy
• Hot tours to Italy

Delightful and so strange - at the same time pompous and shabby - Venice drives you crazy. Here you want to be in love or immediately fall under the arrow of Cupid, incessantly kiss and walk in an embrace along the narrowest and most shabby streets, whisper nonsense and convulsively clutch at the hand of a companion at the sight of the sunset on San Marco. This city seems to be included in all the "tops" and lists of places in the world worth visiting. What is there: he captivated even Chekhov, who was cool about Europe, and Johnny Depp, who bought himself a small mansion in the center. It is important for tourists to know one thing: Venice is a real monument city, where absolutely any building can claim the title of historical. Therefore, it is not surprising that the entire old part of the city and its lagoon are included in the List. world heritage UNESCO.

How to get there

• How to get from Venice Airport to Mestre Station in the evening

Find flights to Venice

Districts of Venice

Venice, despite its non-trivial location on 188 islands at once, is a rather big city. And it is easy to be convinced of this by looking around the huge Venetian lagoon or simply looking at the map. Administratively, the city is divided into 6 self-governing districts, but only 3 of them will be of interest to tourists - this is the mainland Mestre, the beach Lido and, in fact, the main area, which is called corny "Venice - Burano - Murano". But in order to better understand the intricacies of canals and streets of the last district, the main part of the most romantic city in the world is usually divided into 6 historical quarters.

And, of course, it’s worth starting with San Marco, where most of attractions and the heart of the city - the square of the same name with a pompous cathedral. Here are the Doge's Palace, the Campanile Tower, the library and columns of San Marco, the Bridge of Sighs and a good dozen more places taken under the protection of UNESCO and familiar to every inhabitant of our planet from about the 5th grade. Hotels and restaurants, shops and souvenir shops - almost everything in San Marco is defiantly expensive and breathtakingly beautiful.

Cannaregio, located in the north of Venice, is considered the main sleeping area of ​​the city, where more than 20 thousand inhabitants live. At first glance, it seems that there is nothing much for tourists to do in this corner, but this is not so. Firstly, it is in Cannaregio that Train Station Venice, at the sight of which tourists cannot hold back a sigh of admiration. (And these are not just words: emerging from the banal and boring belly of the train, they immediately find themselves in the center ancient city.) Secondly, the area is interesting for a rather unusual attraction - the Ghetto, where today the monument to the victims of the Holocaust, the Jewish Museum and two active synagogues have been preserved. Finally, it is in Cannaregio that you can look at the very temple where Tintoretto came to Sunday sermons. In the temple of the Madonna dell'Orto today, not only the remains of the great painter rest, but also two of his brilliant canvases delight the eye - "The Adoration of the Golden Calf" and "The Last Judgment".

Another plus of Cannaregio is the abundance of apartments for rent for more or less sane money.

In the San Marco area there is the Doge's Palace, the Campanile Tower, the library and columns of San Marco, the Bridge of Sighs and a good dozen more places taken under the protection of UNESCO and familiar to every inhabitant of our planet from about the 5th grade.

The largest of the 6 historic districts of the city - Castello - is located in the east of Venice. It got its name thanks to the ancient Roman castle, alas, not preserved. Today, in its place stands the graceful church of San Pietro di Castello. In the middle is the ancient Arsenal - a shipyard where the famous Venetian galleys were once created. To the east of it there are a lot of gardens and parks, which is rather unusual for Venice, and to the west are the main “must-sees” of the area: this is the temple of San Zaccaria, the Cathedral of Santi Giovanni y Paolo, as well as the Riva promenade, beloved among tourists degli Schiavone.

Dorsoduro is on the opposite side of the Grand Canal from San Marco, south of the city centre. From Italian, its name can be translated approximately as "backbone", which indicates a relatively high location of the quarter. So, having arrived in the city during the rainy season and floods, it is worth 10 times to think about settling here. The center of Dorsoduro is the Giudecca Canal, although by Venetian standards it is not even a canal - but a whole riverbed, its width in some places reaches 200 m. Immediately behind it is the island of Giudecca, a quiet and green place where ordinary tourist nothing to do. And yet, in terms of attractions, Dorsoduro pleases: there is the Academy Bridge of the 19th century, which connects the area with San Marco, Academy Gallery, the famous Peggy Guggenheim Museum, as well as two elegant squares - Santa Barnaba and Santa Margherita. The latter is famous among students, so in the evenings the square is often noisy and fun.

San Polo, as well as San Marco, is the very "core" of Venice. Attractions here at every turn: this is the Rialto Bridge, and the gondoliers scurrying around it, and the Church of St. Paul, and the temple of San Giacomo di Rialto of the 9th century, and the Cathedral of Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari.

Finally, the area of ​​Santa Croce ("Holy Cross") is the first place in the city where tourists get by car or bus. His famous Piazzale Roma is in fact a huge distributor for vehicles in parking lots. It sounds scary, but everything looks Venetian elegant. In addition to, in fact, parking lots, the area is interesting for a couple of museums - this is the Museum natural history in the Fondaco dei Turchi Palace, as well as the Museum of Oriental Arts and the Gallery of Modern Art in the Ca Pesaro Palace.

However, the description of the districts of Venice would be incomplete without these isolated islands, which are in fact important parts of the city: Lido, Murano, Burano, San Michele and Poveglia.

• Does the Venezia Unica card allow me to travel from Mestre to Venice

Venice beach

Venice has its own island-beach, which is called Lido (from Italian - "coast"). Tourists, as a rule, do not get here, but the locals are happy to spend weekends or lunch hours on it. This place has become a fashionable resort since the end of the 19th century. At one time, Byron, Goethe, Shelley, and even Thomas Mann, who wrote his scandalous novel Death in Venice, rested here.

The local beaches are sandy, long, but in the season they are filled with failure, especially on weekends or in the evenings, when the Venetians are in a hurry to freshen up after work in the waters of the Adriatic. Therefore, the advice is to go swimming in the mornings, while all the locals are at work. There are paid and free sections, the rental price is about 30 EUR for two sun loungers and an umbrella.

It is quite easy to get from any stop on the Grand Canal to the final Lido (from San Marco it is, for example, 3-4 stops). Leaving the port, you need to go strictly straight, through the entire island, and after 5 minutes you will already be on the beach. The second option is to rent a bike on the Lido (the island stretches for 12 km, and there is something to see).

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Guides in Venice

Entertainment and attractions in Venice

The heart of Venice is Piazza San Marco, replicated in many booklets, TV shows and postcards. Every corner of the house seems familiar here, but when you get here, you invariably freeze with delight. Here is the Campanile looking to heaven, the majestic Cathedral of San Marco, the amazing Gothic Doge's Palace ... The small space that this real “field of miracles” occupies can be studied for at least a week, and every time you look for a new touch. The main "masts" here bear the name of the patron saint of the city - San Marco: this is the basilica with the relics of the apostle, and the largest library with the rarest manuscripts, and a column with a winged lion proudly sitting on it, and clock tower, showing the phase of the moon and the sign of the zodiac in which the tourist was lucky enough to visit Venice.

Further - more: along the perimeter of the square, each building is a masterpiece of architecture with a breathtaking collection. It is worth visiting at least the Doge's Palace to walk along the infamous Bridge of Sighs, or Archaeological Museum with the Zecca mint.

Having hardly escaped from the enchanted perimeter of this square, it is worth going to the Rialto Bridge - the symbol of Venice. To take a gondola there and ride along the shabby and at the same time pompous palaces, where once feasts were held and representatives of the Venetian nobility treated their enemies with deadly poison.

By the way, it is from the water that they open the best views to the main attractions of the city. In particular, to the Ca' d'Oro Palace, where the famous Franchetti Gallery, the second most important in Venice, is now located.

As a "final chord" it is worth taking a ride along the Grand Canal - the main artery of Venice - on a vaporetto or a rented boat. It is difficult to single out any special places here: each mansion is considered a monument of at least a regional scale. In order not to go crazy with the details and listing the names of each house in the guidebook, it is best to succumb to the relaxed flow of water and slowly turn your head from one architectural creation to another.

There are a lot of tourists in Venice. Even so: well, a lot of tourists! To enjoy the views of San Marco, you have to come here at dawn.

Cathedrals of Venice

Of particular note is the cathedrals and temples of the city on the water, as stored there cultural values can compete in importance with the collections of not the most seedy museums in the world. For example, the Church of San Zaccaria, where you can enjoy the works of the greatest artists of the 17th and 18th centuries - Bellini, Tintoretto, Tiepolo or Trevisani. Three unique altarpieces by Luca Giordano are displayed in the Cathedral of Santa Maria della Salute, the largest domed church in the city. Here: Titian with his "Sacrifice of Abraham", "David killing Goliath" and "Descent of the Holy Spirit".

The architecture of the Jesuit Church of Santa Maria Assunta by Domenic Rossi is noteworthy. Finally, you can visit the Cathedral of Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari, the territory for which was donated to the Franciscans by the famous statesman Jacopo Tiepolo, or the parish church of Tintoretto, where his ashes are now buried, namely in the church of Madonna dell'Orto.

Museums in Venice

Museums are now open in many old palaces in Venice, including such famous ones as the Peggy Guggenheim collection (a large collection of modern art in Italy) or the Accademia Gallery with masterpieces of Venetian artists of the 13th-18th centuries. The city museum Correr stands apart, whose historical and art collections on the two upper floors of the New Procurations tell about the history of the city.

In general, an important focus of all local meetings is contemporary art. For example, it is worth visiting the Santa Croce International Gallery of Modern Art or the Museum of Modern Art in the Ca'Pesaro Palace, on the Grand Canal. The works, of course, are not trivial, sometimes shocking, but on the other hand, they are exceptionally successful in shaking up tourists who have grown tired of the old elegances.

Another type of popular exposition is dedicated to traditional crafts - this is the Museum of Lace on the island of Burano, and the Museum of Murano Glass, where, however, they mainly go shopping, and only then - for a fascinating story of the guide. They also include the Museum of the History of the Navy in Venice.

Venice for children

It’s not easy with small children in Venice: it’s inconvenient to move around with a stroller, as there are a lot of tourists around, and there are practically no parks or playgrounds. (Practically it doesn’t mean at all: there are playgrounds in the Park of Remembrance, Parco delle Rimembranze, but it is located on the eastern tip of the island, far from the center.) But with more or less grown up guys, it’s already more fun. The best "fan" for them in Venice is a gondola ride. If this is too expensive a way to entertain your child, and yourself, you should definitely take a ride on the number 1 vaporetto route, which runs along the Grand Canal past its charming mansions.

Children will enjoy looking for unusual boats according to a checklist prepared in advance by their parents: they saw a garbage truck, an ambulance boat, a fire boat, and similar city services that travel exclusively by boats. Of particular delight is the "coca-cola boat", which delivers to the doors of shops and restaurants it is clear what kind of drink.

If you have enough time, you can float to the island of Murano, where you can see the art of glass blowing in one of the workshops. It is almost impossible to resist and not buy a souvenir as a keepsake. Or take the elevator to the Campanile, in Piazza San Marco. breathtaking views and dizzy height- a worthy reward for the guys for long hours of excursions, as well as amazing Italian ice cream.

In cultural terms, you should pay attention to the Museum of Shipbuilding and the Arsenal, where amazing models of ships and old caravels are kept, or go to one of the carnival workshops where masks are made. Finally, another interesting game for children will be the search for a winged lion - a kind of talisman and symbol of Venice. On the facades of houses, on T-shirts of street vendors, above doorways and underfoot - this character appears everywhere, just have time to turn your head. The one who finds the most lions wins.

If the weather is bad, you can spend a couple of wonderful hours in the Lorenzo Bettini Library, which is not far from San Marco. Board games in different languages, a lot of illustrated albums and books in English, and even a separate room for the little ones - from 0 to 4. If the kids of 3-6 years old at the very least speak English or do not hesitate to be alone with a flock of multilingual children and a lot of toys, you can take them to Casa Macchietta, where for 5 EUR they will be looked after by experienced teachers for 2 hours.

Weather

Average monthly temperature, °C day and night

January

February

Winter in Venice is the perfect time for romantics: rains, fogs, deserted streets and canals, and, of course, very low prices.

Venice is one big attraction in itself, but tourists are attracted luxurious palaces, buildings in the Renaissance style, cathedrals and bell towers. The heart of the city is Piazza San Marco and its monuments: Doge's Palace, St. Mark's Cathedral

The most romantic city in the world is unique Venice, a port city on the water, which you can read about. You will not find cars and bicycles in the city - they are replaced by gondolas rushing along the waterways of Venice. This a beautiful city located above the Venetian lagoon, all buildings are located on special foundations with a multilayer structure. Venice has always been and is the center international tourism and the dream of all couples in love.

Venice itself is one big attraction, but tourists cannot but be pleased with the magnificent, luxurious palaces, Renaissance buildings, cathedrals and bell towers located in the city. The heart of the city is San Marco Square, famous for its surrounding historical and architectural monuments: the Doge's Palace, St. Mark's Cathedral, the Old and New Procuration, the Clock Tower.

The Doge's Palace, or as it sounds in Italian Palazzo Ducale, was built already in the 9th century. The architecture of the palace combines three architectural style- Renaissance, Gothic and Moorish style. At the same time, the palace has a lower through floor, which, by the way, serves as a support for a very powerful volume of the wall. This allows you to give the structure of the building lightness and, as it were, weightlessness. The palace has three tiers, and on the central facades of the building there are balconies - from them the doji once appeared to people. The palace can boast of the magnificent decoration of its indoor halls. So, for example, such world-famous artists as Jacopo Palma, Veronese, Francesco Bassano, Tintoretto were engaged in the design of the Hall of the Great Council. Also in the palace is the Armory, which can please tourists with a huge collection of weapons. The bridge from the Doge's Palace, called the Bridge of Sighs, leads to the old prison, in which criminals were imprisoned in the old days after a court decision was made in the palace building.

An equally significant landmark of Venice is the Cathedral of St. Mark, made in the Byzantine style. The entrance to the fundamental building is blocked by large bronze doors with images of lions' heads, inside the cathedral you can see mosaic icons from the life of St. Mark and scenes from the Upper Testament. The relics of the saint are also kept here. However, perhaps the main attraction of the cathedral is the Golden Altar - Pala d'Oro. This is a priceless piece of jewelry created over 500 years, which is a set of miniature icons adorned with precious stones and gold.

Will certainly impress tourists the most famous bridge in Venice called the Rialto. The year of foundation of the bridge is considered to be 1181, after which it underwent restoration several times, in which such famous architects as Sansovino, Michelangilo, Vingola, Palladio took part. Today, the bridge, supported by 12,000 piles, is 28 meters long. Near it there are various souvenir shops and leather shops, which may also be of interest to travelers. You can read about how to travel to Venice on your own at http://www.s-b-s.su/

The area of ​​Venice called Cannaregio boasts the most elegant Ca'd'Oro Palace (or Palazzo Santa Sofia) located in it on the banks of the Grand Canal. Previously, the palace had the name "Golden House", which arose due to the decoration of the building with gold leaf. The palace is made in the Gothic style and boasts a gallery in which you can see the works of Titian, Pontormo, Van Eyck, Sansovino, Filippo Lippi. In the gallery you can also enjoy ancient Venetian ceramics and frescoes. And, of course, a trip on the waterbus vaporetto along Grand Canal Venice. Akaya river walk by vaporetto in the daytime lasts about 45 minutes, in the evening - about an hour. Getting around Venice is a pleasure. The transport of the city is represented by various taxi boats, gondolas for walking. vaporetto and traggeto gondolas.