Venice is a city that you cannot forget once you have visited it. At night, it looks like a utopia – an image of an ideal, peaceful world. In its narrow streets you can hide, get lost and forget yourself. It fascinates travelers with its pompous beauty and luxury. Once you have visited it, it is not a pity to give your heart to it.
Stay in the historic part
If you are thinking of saving money by settling on the mainland, this idea will definitely cost you disappointment. After all, mainland Venice is not the city you dreamed of seeing: to get to the historic center, you will have to overcome more than one kilometer.
There are many hotels in Venice, literally for every budget. On average, a double room in a four-star hotel costs from 100 euros per night. Renting an apartment will cost a little less – 80-90 euros per day. But be prepared for the fact that Venetian hospitality does not always leave a pleasant impression.
Wander the narrow streets
Never buy a tourist card in Venice! It’s better not to even use a navigator for a while. The fact is that by denying yourself the privilege of knowing your location every minute, you will begin to enjoy your walk and fully experience the atmosphere of this beautiful, romantic city. Don’t be afraid to get lost in its labyrinths or get into a dead end – it’s quite easy to get out of there. Just relax and allow yourself to wander leisurely through the narrow streets, crossing small canals on miniature bridges.
Tip: if a large hotel or hostel is not difficult to find, then an apartment in a small corner is easy to overlook. After checking in, mark your home address on a Google map so that you don’t spend a lot of time looking for it later.
Dine in a real trattoria
Do you want to feel the charm of “little Italy”? Avoid visiting large, let alone chain restaurants on the main streets, near the Grand Canal. There you will find nothing but exorbitant prices, crowded tourists, and arrogant waiters.
Move away from the center, inland, as far away from the tourist trails and luxurious sights as possible. After all, it is there that the “soul of Venice” lives, with its charisma, perky laughter, heartfelt conversations of locals and incredibly delicious home cooking. Remember: the less solemn pomp, the more hospitable the place and the tastier the food.
Walk around the city at night
Do you want to see the real Venice? Without the crowds of tourists, the din of souvenir sellers, and garbage dumps on every corner? Go for a walk in the evening, no earlier than ten o’clock. You will be surprised when closer to midnight, you won’t see a single soul on the streets of this noisy, crowded city. All the central sights, small courtyards and even the squares themselves – you will find all of them empty, but more alive and free than ever. It is at night that you can see and truly feel how beautiful the Doge’s Palace is, how majestic and inspiring Piazza San Marco is, and the incredible views from the Bridge of the Constitution.
Listen to a concert in La Fenice
La Fenice (translated from Italian as “the phoenix”) is the spiritual center of Italian opera and one of the world’s most beloved opera houses, which has risen like a phoenix from the ashes twice – the first time after a fire in 1774 and the second time after court battles. It was last revived in 2004 to once again inspire audiences with symphony concerts, opera and ballet.
Take care of your tickets in advance (preferably before your trip), because they will no longer be available on the day of the next premiere. And remember that no trip to the romantic Venetian lagoon can be called complete without the magnificent music of Vivaldi in a luxurious baroque atmosphere.
See San Marco at dawn
Do not be lazy to get up a little earlier than usual for such a miracle! Take a coffee with you and slowly walk through the empty city to the square: at this time there will be no tourists, only midnight photographers and sleepy locals.
You can watch the sunrise in Venice from 5 am. Choose a place on the waterfront or on one of the benches near the Doge’s Palace and get ready to enjoy the beauty of the most delicate sky colors. Smell the fresh aroma of the sea and seaweed, hear the muffled chimes, and watch the deep matte marsh-blue color of the water turn into golden-red tints.
Get to the bell tower of an ancient Catholic church
There are many incredibly beautiful old churches in Venice, but very few of them have been preserved in their original form. Most of them have been restored or rebuilt, but they have not become less attractive.
If you are curious and prefer to seek adventure anywhere in the world, take a walk along the Grand Canal at noon and enter one of the Catholic churches. Sometimes museum curators (depending on the number of visitors and their attitude to local cultural monuments) can show tourists not only publicly accessible sights, but also places that are closed to the public.