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How to Live Abroad
By Sylvia Kholti
Canals, gondolas, dream-like palaces, romantic little piazzas—and not a car in sight. Venice is a must-see destination for anyone visiting Italy . And despite the city’s expensive reputation, there are several ways to keep your budget under control while you’re visiting. To me, it’s not merely about saving money. It’s about being more authentic and trying to live as the locals do.
Here’s some handy tips to help you save some money and experience more of the local lifestyle in the process.
The best time to visit Venice is definitely early autumn or spring. Summer time is lovely, but it can also be extremely exhausting: partly because of the large crowds of tourists and partly because it’s much more tiring to climb all those stairs and bridges when it’s hot. Winters in Venice are regularly mild, but apart from the Venice festival season in February, I wouldn’t recommend visiting at that time of year.
Venice is served by two international airports: Marco Polo Airport and International Airport Treviso A. Canova (TSF). Both airports have a good transfer system. From Marco Polo, the bus takes about 15-20 minutes (depending on traffic) and from Treviso, it's about 30 minutes longer. The city is also served by a large international railway station and a bus station. Cheap flights are also available from larger European cities, like London, Paris, or Brussels.
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It’s a lot cheaper and more convenient for those traveling on a tight budget to stay in Venice's mainland suburb of Mestre. Close to the airport, and a short bus, train, or tram journey away from the island, Mestre is a lovely town in its own right. I personally love its fish market, which is an absolute must-see, especially on Wednesdays and Fridays when it’s market time and the city center turns into one giant marketplace.
I always choose to stay at a campsite when I visit Venice. One week in a campsite generally costs around the same as one night in an elite Venice hotel. My favorite campsite is called Camping Village Jolly. It has a beautiful swimming pool, a lovely restaurant, a supermarket, laundry, and air-conditioned bungalows with bathrooms. In addition, the nearby bus station offers a convenient bus transfer straight to Venice for a mere €1.50 ($1.80). If you want to have a low budget holiday and still have a great time, this is the way to go.
The Venice Tramway is by far the easiest and cheapest way for you to travel around the area. The trams are air-conditioned and also stop by the Mestre railway station. You can buy tickets for €1.50 ($1.80) one-way, which is the same price as the bus. The final stop is Piazzale Roma, the central bus station and principal arrival point in Venice. It also caters to international and long-distance buses from all across Italy.
It’s no surprise that most of the Venetian restaurants focus on tourists and therefore they are very expensive. This means that a standard meal with wine would cost around $100 to $150 for two people. However, there are a lot of restaurants that offer a daily menu for a decent price, especially in the lesser visited areas. If you choose one, be mindful of the service fee or coperto.
I’d also suggest trying one of the growing number of bakery shops in Venice. You can sit down, have a cup of coffee or some good quality food (pizza, sandwiches, and any bakery products) for a fraction of the price of some of the other eateries. Or you could visit one of Venice’s supermarkets and save plenty of money. But it’s worth noting that there are no supermarkets around the railway/bus station area and it’s about a 10-minute walk along the main tourist route leading to San Marco Square before you run into a large Co-op (a supermarket chain found all over Italy). If you stay in Mestre, you will notice that supermarkets are much cheaper there than in Venice.
There are several churches and even museums that don’t have an admission fee but still give you that authentic feeling and experience of seeing something historical, unique, or otherwise interesting. Churches, for instance, generally don’t ask for an admission fee and often house various sorts of arts exhibitions which you can check out. The beautiful Basilica di Santa Maria Della Salute, one of the largest churches in Venice, is the one that stands out for me. Just a short distance from the church, you can catch some of the most spectacular views of Venice from the sea (as it’s located right at the southern cape of the island where the Grand Canal runs into the sea).Tips to Navigate Venice Like a Local
By Rebecca Hughes
Venice is a sight everyone should see at least once in their life. Gondolas weave through a maze of canals, while the dappled reflection of sunlight highlights ornate Renaissance footbridges.Polished teak water taxis tie up in front of 15th-century palaces, dropping wide-eyed visitors into the elegance and bustle of St. Mark’s Square. Beauty, history, and a confident Italian swagger are everywhere, from the casual style of locals enjoying a ristretto (a short, concentrated espresso) at a sidewalk café to the vibrant Titian frescoes on chapel walls.
Tarnished by horror stories of $18 coffees and $600 restaurant bills, the city’s reputation for being expensive has a kernel of truth. It can be costly. Nevertheless, with a little local knowledge and some insider tips, you can enjoy the city for less than you ever imagined.
Venice surprises visitors by offering many of its most famous sights for free, including Piazza San Marco, the Basilica of San Marco, and the Bridge of Sighs. And on the first Sunday of every month, state museums cost nothing to enter.
Alternatively, you can find world-class art by peeking into almost any church that takes your fancy. One of my favorites, Santa Maria dei Carmini, is free and contains paintings by a young Tintoretto. One of the richest churches for art, despite its plain exterior, is Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari. It houses Titian’s majestic Assumption of the Virgin, as well as a wooden sculpture of St. John the Baptist by Donatello. Entrance is $4.
For a panoramic view, I love to visit the free roof terrace of the Fondaco dei Tedeschi, a luxury department store. You can easily book your 15-minute slot online. Visitor Judith Standen says, “We timed our visit for sunset and spent 15 minutes gazing at this impossibly beautiful city and the Grand Canal, tinged red and orange.”See: Dfs.com/en/venice/t-fondaco-rooftop-terrace.
Venice’s canals are not just pretty, they’re the thoroughfares of the city. Most locals use the vaporetto water buses for everyday transport. They’re affordable transport, with the added benefit of getting you to parts of the city most tourists never get to. If you plan to visit islands like Burano, Murano, or Chioggia, a vaporetto three-day ($50) or seven-day ($75) pass is a good investment (a single ticket costs $9.30).
You can use the vaporetto n.1 or n.2, which chug down the Grand Canal, as a cheap tour bus. Or pop over to Isola di San Giorgio Maggiore (vaporetto n.2, stop San Giorgio), where entrance to the Palladio church is free; it contains two late paintings by Tintoretto. The adjacent bell tower provides a cheaper alternative ($7.50) to climbing St. Mark’s campanile. You see Venice as it really is—an aquatic city floating like a mirage on the water—as opposed to the urban view from St. Mark’s.
Gondola rides are expensive and commercialized, but you can experience an authentic locals’ version for just $2.50. The Grand Canal traghetto—a large gondola rowed by two standing oarsmen—ferries passengers across the canal at Campo Santa Sofia. Locals stand up on the crossing, but personally, I’m happier perching on the gunwales to avoid embarrassing rescue operations.
“Venice on a budget” advice often recommends skipping restaurants and visiting traditional bars for cicchetti (Venetian tapas). However, as any Italian will tell you, this aperitivo food is not intended to fill you up. In fact, with cicchetti costing $1 or $2 a mouthful, a satisfying meal can get costly. For proper (filling) lagoon fare at reasonable prices, head to the fishing town of Chioggia, just south of Venice.
The scenic, if slightly tortuous, route requires taking the vaporetto n.1 to the Lido, then the mixed bus/vaporetto line 11 to Chioggia. The trip takes about 90 minutes. Visit Da Nicola, a traditional canal-side osteria with a simple modern interior and a chef who comes to your table to tell you what’s fresh that day, at $12 to $18 a main. If it’s in season, try the moleche, deep-fried little crabs, which are a specialty of the Venetian lagoon.
Good-value accommodation is not impossible to find in Venice. For 18th-century Venetian elegance, try the Ca’ Dogaressa in the Cannaregio district. Its brocaded rooms with Murano glass chandeliers start as low as $85 in off season and $165 in high season. In summer you can enjoy breakfast by the canal and relax on the roof terrace. Hotel Rosa Salva is located very close to St. Mark’s and boasts the rare quality of spaciousness. Rates start from $125 in low season and $185 in summer. For travelers on a tighter budget, try the We Crociferi hostel in the Cannaregio area, located inside a restored convent. Double rooms range from $70 to $135. Although basic, there is a beautiful arcaded cloister and a stylish, spacious bar area.
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Europe , Destinations , Italy · December 31, 2022
For some, visiting Venice may seem like a no-brainer. After all, it’s a unique floating city where the streets are waterways and beautiful bridges span the many canals. Famous for its gondolas, Venice seems like a dream to many. But what’s it like in reality? Is Venice a must-see?
Some people say Venice is overrated. But will you be disappointed if you don’t include this popular destination into your Italian itinerary?
We break it down into 5 C’s: Convenience, Car-free, Cost, Crowds, and Charm.
Read on for important insight into what you can expect during a visit to Venice and whether Scenic and Savvy recommends you… Trip It or Skip It.
Convenience.
Venice is located in northeastern Italy along the Adriatic Sea. From Rome , it’s a 4-hour train ride on a high-speed train or 6 hours from a regular train. From Milan or Florence, it’s 2-2.5 hours, and from Naples near the Amalfi Coast, or the Cinque Terre , it’s roughly a 5.5-hour train ride with multiple connections. Being in the far northeast part of the country, Venice is more of an out-and-back destination and not very convenient for including in a loop around Italy. Also, it takes a bit of travel time coming from the coast of the Cinque Terre or the Amalfi Coast.
Venice’s beautiful and unique maze of canals makes this destination one of the most visited cities in the world, but this popularity is actually becoming a problem for the city. Overtourism is a real challenge. Estimates say approximately 20 million tourists visit Venice each year!
Once a robust coastal city, the number of residents has dwindled to about 50,000, down from more than 175,000 in the early 1950’s. Locals are leaving in large part to the city’s focus on mass tourism with insane numbers of tourists crowding the streets, bridges, and squares. More and more people have left the city and instead rent their places out to tourists.
To be fair, popular destinations are crowded and popular for a reason. Everyone wants to see and experience a place they’ve heard such great things about and it’s naturally going to be busy. But the crowds in Venice during peak summer season means shuffling shoulder to shoulder with the masses through narrow streets and up and over bridges. People flocking into restaurants and onto water taxis, with tourists vying for gondola rides all takes away from the enchanting Italian experience one dreams about.
By catering so much to tourists, some say Venice has lost its charm. Cheesy souvenir shops have squeezed out local businesses, and the low quality, yet expensive, souvenir stands lining the streets give the city a tacky feel.
Venice is also a hotbed of scams. While you need to be wary of pickpockets and scams in many major cities, Venice is the one city where we have had the most run-ins with undesirable people and scammers. The city as a whole is very safe, but you’ll see things like illegal vendors pressuring tourists into buying little gadgets and toys that break or don’t work as promised once they’ve handed over the money. Random strangers approach tourists hoping to distract them to steal from them, especially in the heavily populated squares and outside the train station.
This “Trip It or Skip It” is a little more difficult to answer. Venice is definitely a unique destination full of history and beauty. In different circumstances it would probably be a must-see. But because of the factors we mention in this article, we advise you not to go out of your way to visit Venice. Venice does not provide the same vibe or experience you get in other parts of Italy. You’re not left with the same feeling as say, Rome or the Cinque Terre , where you dream about returning someday. Instead, each time we’ve visited Venice, we’ve been ready to leave after only a short time.
Traveling to Italy with teens? Read our 10 tips for a family trip to Italy with teenagers !
June 8, 2023 at 4:17 pm
I recently visited Venice (May 2023), and definitely wish we would have skipped it. Heavy crowds, few interesting sites to see, other than just seeing the canals. Also, it seems they have designed the main areas with little to no public seating. No sitting allowed on the steps in St. Mark’s Square…it’s enforced…perhaps to encourage people to patronize the restaurants with outdoor seating? Definitely a skip.
June 8, 2023 at 10:08 pm
I agree, Nancy. It’s too bad Venice has become so touristy and crowded. It ruins the experience of an otherwise unique and beautiful destination. Thanks for commenting.
October 16, 2023 at 10:01 am
We love going to Italy, and particularly Venice. Yes, it is touristy (everybody wants to go where it is crowded) but the people, the canals, St. Marks Piazza (the living room of Europe), the Doge’s palace, the restaurants, the cafes, the Rialto bridge, the gondolas, the vaporetti, the museums, the Hotel Columbina, the Hotel Danieli. It is a truly unique place, but like other big cities, you need to appreciate what is meaningful to you, and bypass the rest. Venice is our happy place. ML
October 17, 2023 at 2:48 pm
Thanks for the comment, Michael. Yes, Venice is definitely a unique destination. But I do wish it was easier to seek out the authentic Venice and enjoy it more peacefully. I’m glad you’ve found it to be your happy place.
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We're Deanne and Ryan. Avid travelers exploring dream destinations in between our hectic work schedules and raising three teenagers. If you're like us - big on adventure but short on time - follow along for helpful travel tips and tricks. Thanks so much for stopping by!
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Venice has been depicted and described so often that on arriving in the city you might have the slightly anticlimactic feeling that everything looks exactly as expected. The Canal Grande’s water-lapped palaces are indeed as picturesque as the coffee-table books made them out to be, Piazza San Marco is as perfect as a film set, and the panorama from the Palazzo Ducale is more or less as Canaletto painted it. Any sense of familiarity quickly fades, however, as you start to look around: seeing a stack of furniture being hoisted from a barge up to a top-floor window, or someone fishing knee- deep in the lagoon a hundred metres from dry land, you understand that life here is not like life anywhere else. And the more closely you look, the more fascinating Venice becomes.
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Founded on a cluster of mudflats in the heart of the lagoon 1,500 years ago, Venice emerged as Europe's principal exchange between the West and the East. At its zenith, it commanded an empire stretching north to the Dolomites and across the sea to Cyprus. The city's wealth and population swelled, densifying its urban fabric amidst a unique blend of nature and man-made marvels.
Today, the historical center, comprising roughly a hundred islets, leaves no space undeveloped, no street or square without a trace of Venice's illustrious past. It's common to stumble upon medieval remnants in even the most hidden alleyways, embedding the city's rich lineage into its very walls.
Yet, Venice's melancholic charm partly stems from the contrast between its historic grandeur and its current state. Once home to 200,000 residents during the Venetian Republic's golden age, the city's population has significantly dwindled. It was a bustling metropolis, attracting merchants from across the globe, its economy setting continental benchmarks from the Rialto's banks and bazaars.
The Arsenale's vast workforce could construct a warship in a day, and Piazza San Marco was a perpetual hub of commerce and governance. Now, Venice stands as a testament to its spectacular heritage, its survival heavily reliant on those drawn to its enduring legacy.
San Marco square from the water © Shutterstock
Venice, a city spread across 118 islands, is interlinked by 435 bridges into six districts known as sestieri. San Marco, the heart of Venice, is flanked by Castello, Cannaregio, Dorsoduro, Santa Croce, and the vibrant San Polo. Central to its allure are the Basilica di San Marco and the Palazzo Ducale, embodying Venice's Byzantine and Gothic architectural heritage. The city's cultural richness extends to over fifty churches and revered institutions like the Scuola Grande di San Rocco and the Scuola di San Giorgio degli Schiavoni, showcasing masterpieces by Tintoretto and Carpaccio.
San Marco is the most exotic of Europe’s cathedrals, and it has always provoked strong reactions. To Herman Melville, it was beautiful and insubstantial – as though “the Grand Turk had pitched his pavilion here for a summer’s day”. Mark Twain adored it for its “entrancing, tranquillizing, soul-satisfying ugliness”.
Herbert Spencer found it “a fine sample of barbaric architecture”; and to John Ruskin, it was the most gorgeous of holy places, a “treasure-heap…a confusion of delight”.
The Basilica di San Marco is certainly confusing, increasingly so as you come nearer and the details emerge, but some knowledge of the building’s background helps bring a little order out of the chaos.
St. Mark's Basilica and St.Mark's Campanile above the San Marco Square in Venice © Shutterstock
Grand Canal, Venice, Italy © Apple Kullathida/Shutterstock
Venice has two brilliant cycles of pictures by Vittore Carpaccio – one is in the Accademia, and the other is in the Scuola di San Giorgio degli Schiavoni, which sits beside a canal to the south of San Francesco.
By the mid-fifteenth century, though, Venice’s Slavic inhabitants were sufficiently established for a scuola to be set up to protect their interests. After several years of meeting in the church of San Giovanni di Malta, the scuola built itself a new headquarters on the church’s doorstep at the start of the sixteenth century and summoned Carpaccio to brighten up the first-storey hall.
Painted from 1502 to 1508, after the Accademia’s St Ursula cycle, Carpaccio’s pictures were moved downstairs when the building was rearranged in 1551, and the interior has scarcely changed since.
It was through the markets of the Rialto that Venice earned its reputation as the bazaar of Europe. Virtually anything could be bought or sold here: fabrics, precious stones, silver plate and gold jewellery, spices and dyes from the Orient. Trading had been going on here for over four hundred years when, in the winter of 1514, a fire destroyed everything in the area except the church.
The possibility of relocating the business centre was discussed but found little favour, so reconstruction began almost straight away: the Fabbriche Vecchie was finished eight years after the fire, and Sansovino’s Fabbriche Nuove followed about thirty years later.
Today’s Rialto market is much more modest than that of Venice at its peak, but it’s still one of the liveliest spots in the city and one of the few places where it’s possible to stand in a crowd and hear nothing but Italian-spoken.
Palladio’s church of San Giorgio Maggiore, facing the Palazzo Ducale across the Bacino di San Marco is one of the most prominent and familiar of all Venetian landmarks. It is a startling building, with an impact that’s enhanced by its isolation on an island of its own.
Ruskin didn’t much care for it: “It is impossible to conceive a design grosser, more barbarous, more childish in conception, more servile in plagiarism, more insipid in result, more contemptible under every point of rational regard.”
Goethe, on the other hand, was sick of the Gothic art that was to Ruskin the touchstone of spiritual health and gave thanks to Palladio for purging his mind of medieval clutter.
Held on the first Sunday in September, the Regata Storica is the annual trial of strength and skill for the city’s gondoliers and other expert rowers. It starts with a procession of historic craft along the Canal Grande course, their crews all decked out in a period dress, followed by a series of races right up the canal.
Re-enacting the return of Caterina Cornaro to her native city in 1489, the opening parade is a spectacular affair and is followed by a race for young rowers in two-oared pupparini. The women come next (in boats called mascarete), followed by a race for canoe-like caorline; and then it’s the men’s race, in specialized two-man racing gondolas called gondolini.
Gondolas in Venice © Shutterstock
“Mother and daughter, you behold them both in their widowhood – Torcello and Venice.” So wrote John Ruskin, and it’s almost impossible to visit Torcello without similarly sensing an atmosphere of bereavement. This outlying island has now come almost full circle.
Settled by the very first refugees from the mainland in the fifth century, it became the seat of the bishop of Altinum in 638 and in the following year its cathedral – the oldest building in the lagoon – was founded.
By the fourteenth century, its population had peaked at around twenty thousand, but Torcello’s canals were now silting up and malaria was rife. By the end of the fifteenth century, Torcello was largely deserted – even the bishop lived in Murano – and today fewer than a dozen people remain in residence.
Read more about the best day trips from Venice .
Take a fascinating day trip to the Venetian islands of Burano and Murano, each with a special charm that complements the glamour of Venice.
A short vaporetto ride from the main island takes you to the vibrant realm of Burano, known for its rainbow-coloured houses and intricate lacework. Wander through narrow streets decorated with colourful linens and observe the artistry of local lacemakers, whose tradition dates back several centuries. The island's serene canals and warm, welcoming atmosphere make it the perfect place for a leisurely lunch by the water's edge.
Then head to the island of Murano, considered the birthplace of Venetian glassmaking. Explore its rich history and modern innovations by visiting the glass factories, where master craftsmen skilfully mould molten glass into intricate shapes. Discover a fascinating variety of glassware, from exquisite jewellery to ornate chandeliers. See ancient techniques passed down through generations and learn about this age-old craft.
Venice landmark, Burano island, Italy © StevanZZ/Shutterstock
If you have a keen interest in contemporary art and international culture, timing your visit to coincide with the Venice Biennale can be a fantastic idea. The Venice Biennale, Europe’s most glamorous international forum for contemporary art, was first held in 1895 as the city’s contribution to the celebrations for the silver wedding anniversary of King Umberto I and Margherita of Savoy.
The main site is by the Giardini Pubblici, with permanent pavilions for about forty countries plus space for a thematic international exhibition. This core part of the Biennale is supplemented by exhibitions in parts of the Arsenale that are otherwise closed to the public, such as the colossal Corderie or Tana and the Artiglierie.
In addition, various palaces and other sites throughout the city are used as national pavilions and as venues for fringe exhibitions, installations and performances.
Biennale, Venice © avphotosales/Shutterstock
In 1630–31 Venice was devastated by a plague that exterminated nearly 95,000 of the lagoon’s population – one person in three. In October 1630 the Senate decreed that a new church would be dedicated to the Virgin Mary if the city were saved. The result was the Salute – salute meaning “health” and “salvation” – or Santa Maria della Salute, to use its full title.
Resting on a platform of more than 100,000 wooden piles, the Salute took half a century to build; its architect, Baldassare Longhena, was only 26 years old when his proposal was accepted. He lived just long enough to see it finished – he died in 1682, one year after completion.
Each year on November 21 (the feast of the Presentation of the Virgin) the Signoria is processed from San Marco to the Salute for a service of thanksgiving. The Festa della Madonna della Salute is still a major event in the Venetian calendar, with thousands of people making their way here to pray for or give thanks for good health.
Located in a charming labyrinth of Venetian alleyways, Palazzo Contarini del Bovolo is an amazing hidden gem waiting to be discovered. This architectural gem, often unnoticed by the crowd, charms those who dare to discover it. The main feature of the palace is the "Scala Contarini del Bovolo", a spiral staircase that rises gracefully upwards and is decorated with elegant arches that create a complex play of light and shadow.
As you ascend this spiral staircase, you are transported to another era where the artistic vision of the Contarini family is brought to life with breathtaking detail. As you climb up, the panorama of red-tiled roofs and Venetian vistas opens up, giving you a glimpse of a timeless city.
There’s more than an element of truth to Venice’s reputation as a place where mass tourism has produced monotonous menus, cynical service and slapdash standards in the kitchen. Venice has fewer good, moderately priced restaurants than any other major Italian city, it has more really bad restaurants than any other, and in some of the expensive establishments you’re paying not for a fine culinary creation but for the experience of dining in an expensive Venetian restaurant.
However, things have been getting better in recent years, and in the less overrun parts of Venice there are now several good places where you can get a decent two-course meal, plus house wine, for €35–40 per person – which, in this city, is reasonable.
Venice ©Shutterstock
Insatiable demand makes Venice’s hotels the most expensive in Western Europe. What’s more, the high season here is longer than anywhere else in the country, but many places don’t recognize the existence of a low season any more.
There are, though, a few good-value hotels to be found in the city, and an ever-increasing number of bed and breakfast places, as well as a plethora of apartments for rent.
If you want to spend time surrounded by luxury, San Marco is the most suitable neighbourhood to do so. San Marco is the heart of Venice, home to the famous St Mark's Square, the magnificent St Mark's Basilica and the majestic Doge's Palace.
This neighbourhood offers exclusive shopping opportunities, high-end restaurants and breathtaking views of the canals. Treat yourself to luxurious accommodation options , including five-star hotels that offer stunning views of the city's landmarks. However, be prepared for higher prices as San Marco is a premium neighbourhood.
Dorsoduro is a neighbourhood worth staying in Venice for its artistic heritage and lively cultural life. Home to the prestigious Accademia Gallery and the Peggy Guggenheim Collection, this neighbourhood attracts art lovers from all over the world.
Dorsoduro is also home to the University of Ca' Foscari, giving the neighbourhood a lively and youthful energy.
If you are looking for a place to stay in Venice to experience local Venetian life, the ideal neighbourhoods are San Polo and Santa Croce. These neighbourhoods exude genuine charm with their narrow streets, small squares and bustling markets.
Also, a must-see in these neighbourhoods are the Rialto Bridge, the lively Rialto Market and the historic church of San Giacomo di Rialto. Accommodation options , from cosy guesthouses to charming boutique hotels, provide an authentic Venetian experience.
The Cannaregio neighbourhood may not have any major attractions, but it is a place to stay to experience the atmosphere of Venice. Cannaregio is a less crowded residential neighbourhood that offers a more local and authentic experience. It is known for its picturesque canals, historic synagogues and lively Jewish ghetto.
Castello, located east of San Marco, is Venice's largest and most traditional neighbourhood. With winding streets, small squares and local shops, this neighbourhood has a more relaxed atmosphere.
Castello is home to the impressive Arsenale and the Biennale Gardens, where the prestigious Venice Biennale art exhibition takes place. Castello offers a wide range of accommodation options , from budget guesthouses to elegant boutique hotels.
Browse the best hotels in Venice.
The Canals of Venice, in Italy © Shutterstock
Choosing the right time to visit Venice can greatly influence the experience one gains from this enchanting city. Spring ( April , May and June ) and early autumn ( September to October ) are often considered the best seasons to explore Venice.
During these periods, the weather is pleasantly mild, and the city is less crowded than in the peak summer months ( July and August ). Strolling through the labyrinthine streets, gliding along the serene canals, and marvelling at the architecture under the warm sunlight becomes an immersive experience.
The winter months ( November and January ) can be cold. Venice's renowned events like the Carnival in February and the Venice Biennale in odd-numbered years draw a diverse array of international visitors, adding a unique cultural dimension to the visit. December is usually busy with locals but a fun time to visit.
Find out more about the best time to visit Italy.
The topography of Venice is uniquely complicated, and at first glance its public transport looks as convoluted as a wiring diagram. But the situation isn’t as daunting as it first appears: there are clear main routes through the warren of Venice’s alleyways, and you’ll need to get to grips with only a few of the water-bus routes.
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Gondola Navigation
Thanks to their design, gondolas can navigate Venice's narrow and shallow canals effortlessly, a testament to the gondoliers' skill. Previously a hereditary job, now anyone can become a gondolier after completing 400 hours of rigorous training, which covers manual skills, canal navigation, and the history of the profession. In 2010, Venice celebrated its first female gondolier, Giorgia Boscolo.
Costs & Hours
Avoiding overcharges
Although fares are regulated, some gondoliers might charge more. Always confirm the price before departure. For a reliable service, use official gondola stands located at key points throughout the city, including Calle Vallaresso, Campo San Moisè, Campo Santa Maria del Giglio, Bacino Orseolo, in front of the Palazzo Ducale, Riva degli Schiavoni near the Danieli hotel, the train station, Piazzale Roma, Campo Santa Sofia near Ca’ d’Oro, San Tomà, and Rialto Bridge on Riva Carbon.
Venice's water taxis are stylish, fast, and can navigate most canals, accommodating up to 10 passengers. However, they're known for being one of the priciest taxi services in Western Europe.
Booking tips
Epiphany Regatta in Venice © Shutterstock
The ideal number of days to spend in Venice depends on your interests, the pace of your trip and what you want to see. Here are general guidelines to help you plan your visit:
If your schedule is tight, you can manage to experience the main attractions of Venice in one or two days. Focus on the main sights such as St Mark's Square, St Mark's Basilica, Doge's Palace, take a gondola ride and perhaps stroll the streets. However, this will not allow you to explore more than the iconic sites.
3-4 days will give you a better chance of experiencing the essence of Venice. You'll be able to see the main sights, take a day trip to nearby islands such as Burano and Murano, and in your free time wander off the beaten track, discover local restaurants and soak up the unique atmosphere.
If you have more time, you can truly immerse yourself in the culture and lifestyle of Venice. In addition to the above, you can visit less crowded areas, art galleries and museums, attend cultural events or festivals, and take day trips to neighbouring cities such as Padua or Verona.
Venice, Canal, Italy @ Shutterstock
Before you can lose yourself in its winding waterways and historic charm, you'll need to figure out the best way to get there. Whether you're flying in from across the globe or making your way from a nearby European city, various options are available to suit every budget and travel style.
The choice of rail routes and fares is hugely complex, but the cheapest route is to take the Eurostar from London to Paris, then change to the high-speed TGV from Paris to Milan, and change there for the “Frecciarossa” to Florence. The total journey time is 14–18 hours, and with some online research, you can put together a one-way ticket for a little over the cost of a return flight, though peak prices are considerably higher.
If you take a couchette, using the “Thello” sleeper for the stage from Paris to Milan doesn’t add much to the cost. Booking for these continental routes usually opens three months before the day of travel. Discounts for under-26s are sometimes available and advance booking is essential. If you’re planning to include Italy as part of a longer European trip you could choose to invest in an InterRail pass.
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written by Ties Lagraauw
updated 21.02.2024
Ties is a true world explorer - whether it be for work or leisure! As Content Manager at RoughGuides, and the owner of Dutch travel platform Reis-Expert.nl , Ties is constantly on the move, always looking for new destinations to discover.
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Admission to Venice | The concrete plan is as follows – from 2024 ; tourists will have to pay admission to the world-famous lagoon city on the Italian Adriatic on fixed dates. However, this only applies to day visitors staying on time in the city. The entrance fee is comparable to a visitor’s tax. Experienced travelers pay visitor’s tax at the North and Baltic Sea resorts or a tourist tax on Mallorca. So, none of this comes as a surprise.
Venice entrance ticket
✅ Information about this new regulation is now here in my blog.
Status: 18 of January 2024
Further dates will be announced later
At the moment the booking page is only in Italian and English, but it is uncomplicated. Payment only possible by credit card and Paypal. The QR code generated there must be shown during checks. Fines between 50 and 300 euros (plus increased access fee).
Further exceptions and other matters will be communicated
A general admission fee will only apply from 2025!
More details in the course of the text
✅ THIS PAGE IS CONSTANTLY BEING UPDATED. MORE DETAILS ARE EXPECTED IN THE NEXT WEEKS
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As announced by the city government, the entrance fee will come on January 1, 2025 , after some test actions in 2024. The dream city near the beaches of the Adriatic Sea is a popular destination in Italy, especially for short-term city trips, day trippers (80% of all tourists) from all parts of Italy, or transients to various destinations on the boot in the Mediterranean Sea.
Above all, the number of participants in cruise tourism has increased by leaps and bounds. Venice is now flooded with cruise tourists.
Venice has always been a center of attraction for tourists from all over the world. Thanks in part to low-cost airlines and cruisers, this fantastic city has been subject to a steadily growing onslaught of tourists for years. On the one hand, one would like to keep the legions of visitors at bay; on the other hand, tourism remains the primary source of income for the city on the Adriatic.
Of course, all of this leaves its mark, which they are trying to mitigate with the income from the entrance fee.
The entrance fee for Venice will initially be €5.00, with free admission for children under 15 . The pricing is subject to change until further notice. A final decision will only likely be made once the test phases have been analyzed in 2024.
The new entrance fee affects day tourists and cruisers on their usual shore leave. A day trip to Venice, a romantic gondola ride on the Grand Canal, a quick photo with the pigeons on St Mark’s Square, or a walk across the Rialto Bridge – these experiences will become more expensive.
The new entrance fee applies to day tourists and crusaders on their usual shore leave. Going to Venice for a day, a romantic gondola ride on the Grand Canal, quick photos with the pigeons on St. Mark’s Square, or a walk across the Rialto Bridge – these experiences will then become more expensive.
This also applies to a visit to the lagoon islands of Murano , Burano , or Torcello , which are worth seeing.
You only get a view of the gondolas if you pay an entrance fee! But this is only valid for day guests. Those who have booked a hotel in Venice and spend the night there already pay a bed tax (photo Hotel Gardena , near the station – red building). The tax is between one and five euros per night.
The rate depends mainly on the season and classification of the accommodation. Children up to 10 years and some groups of persons are excluded, for example, bus drivers. For overnight guests, therefore, no additional entrance fee to Venice will be charged.
Exempt from the entrance fee are, of course, the residents, but also commuters, students, family members, or severely disabled persons.
As mentioned above, admission will be charged at kiosks in the city and online via https://cda.ve.it (online from 16 January 2024). Visitors will then receive a QR code that they must show on request.
However, it is not yet entirely clear how admission will ultimately be collected.
This part of my article will also be constantly updated, as some things are still unclear.
Status: 18.01.2024
More information will follow here too!
Few compromises are to be expected here. Entrance fees of this kind only make sense if they are paid by all those involved, if there are controls and if circumvention of the fee is penalised accordingly. According to the city, the fine is up to €300 .
So if you are planning a day trip to Venice from January 2025, you should definitely include the entrance fee to the historic centre of the lagoon city in your holiday budget. But you certainly don’t have to go to the Doge’s Palace prison (photo above)!
For individual travelers, it will not be possible to avoid the entrance fee. Venice is completely car-free, and public transport is only available on the waterways of the lagoon city. Whether by train, bus, or car, from the Santa Lucia train station or the Piazzale Roma bus station, it is only possible to continue on foot or by canal boat.
All other connections to Venice and the small lagoon islands are only possible by water.
This applies to transfers from the airport terminal by water , from Punta Sabbioni or Chioggia .
All year round, the Italian city on the Adriatic Sea with its numerous canals is worth a short holiday for millions of visitors. Many of them are day tourists who only have to pay the fee once. Venice remains the city of romantics, culture lovers, and connoisseurs. Strolling through the alleyways of the old town and a delicious ‘gelato’ is definitely worth the entrance fee.
✅ Tip : Those who at the end of the text take to heart 2 or 3 of my saving tips during a day excursion to Venice will quickly recover the costs for the entrance fee.
In the official language of Venice, the entrance fee is also called ‘ Contributo di sbarco ’, which means as much as – the fee for going from the board -. Especially the booming cruise tourism is a big problem for the city and its inhabitants.
Every year, hundreds of cruise liners make a stop in the harbor of Venice. Cruise ships dock early in the morning so that millions of passengers can explore the fabulous Venice. The sightseeing is quickly removed and after a few hours, the cruise ships return to the all-inclusive onboard. There is hardly any money left in the city to keep Venice clean.
It is also officially not the plan with the entrance fee to fill the state treasury but to do the expensive work for the maintenance and the permanent cleaning of the historic old town. Also, the expensive waste disposal has to be financed in order to continue to guarantee a ‘ Dolce Vita ’ for tourists and locals.
Especially in summer, many sun-seekers spend their holidays on the popular beaches of the Adriatic, for example in and around the seaside resort Lido di Jesolo. A day trip to Venice should not be missing. Also with numerous water buses, it goes then from the nearby ferry port Punta Sabbioni in about 30 minutes directly to a pier near St. Mark’s Square with its famous Doge’s Palace and St. Mark’s Cathedral .
Equipped with drinks and sufficient food, little money remains in the city and therefore the city treasury often does not see a single cent. Nevertheless, the city administration is responsible for the preservation, the expensive renovation of historic buildings, and also for the removal of garbage.
Travel is often cheap and many tourist strongholds and their inhabitants pay high prices. More than 30 million people are attracted to Venice every year. Any attempt to regulate the gigantic stream of visitors is understandable.
No one is prevented from experiencing Venice and its myth, whether in the cooler or warmer seasons. Venice must keep control of mass tourism and its consequences. Sometimes this has its price!
Those who want to see the gondolas have to pay the entrance fee now…
The additional costs of 3,00 to 10,00 € per day and the person you will have saved quickly again if you follow one of my saving tips.
Those who want to park their car during their day trip to Venice as close as possible to the historical center of the city have to park their car in the multi-story car park Tronchetto (from 21,00 €) or in the car parks at the Piazzale Roma (approximately 30,00 €). From Piazzale Roma, you can get directly into the city center, from the parking garage Tronchetto it is at least a 15-minute walk to the first gondola. Those who use the ‘ People Mover ’, a driverless high funicular that connects the parking garage Tronchetto and Piazzale Roma, pay 1,50 € per stretch and person. It is cheaper to park at the station in Mestre.
A top tip is the parking garage Via Ca’ Marcello (6,00 € / day), then 200 meters walk to the station. Trains to Venice depart every 5 to 10 minutes, travel time maximum of 10 minutes, and costs approx. 1.50 per person and route. From the Santa Lucia train station, you can go directly to the adventure Venice. Without much extra time, you can easily save 15,00 €, more than the entrance fee.
One should not overestimate the size of the historical old town of Venice. Everything can be easily explored on foot. From Piazzale Roma to Piazza San Marco, it is about a 30-minute walk.
A detour through the authentic Cannaregio distric t takes about 1 hour. Single tickets with public water buses are quite expensive with 9,50 €. High savings potential.
Alone or in a small group, a gondola trip in Venice is always an expensive pleasure (approximately 30,00 to 100,00 €). But those who are satisfied with a short gondola experience or those who are only looking for it for the obligatory photo can cross Canal Grande with a gondola ferry instead of crossing one of its four bridges.
These ‘ Traghettos ’ depart from numerous shores and are rowed by two gondoliers. The crossing takes about 2 to 3 minutes and costs approximately 3,00 € per person. Only a short trial trip, but a lot of money was saved.
Sightseeing tours make you thirsty and from May to September it can be very hot in Venice. Drinking a lot is important, especially for children. Street vendors often offer water bottles at far-inflated prices.
At many public water places, one sees numerous tourists who fill their plastic bottles with refreshing water for free. The water is of good quality and can be drunk without hesitation. Thus, get a drinking bottle and save money. One can also save money during the meal or the visit to a restaurant. Some hints for this are also available in Culinary Venice .
The classic among the general saving tips for Venice remains, of course, the cheap accommodation. Those who are willing to abstain from the evening flair of the old alleyways of the gorgeous lagoon city during an overnight stay in a hotel should have a look at my hotel recommendations outside the center .
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Last Updated on December 12, 2023
by Maggie Turansky
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Italy is a country that inspires thousands of people across the globe to travel here each year. But is Italy expensive to visit? And how much will an Italy trip cost?
Renowned the world over for its fascinating history, beautiful landscapes, amazing cuisine, and hospitable people, it is also essential to be aware of average prices in Italy before you travel.
You’ll likely find Italy to be less expensive than many other European countries. On average, you can expect a trip to Italy to cost roughly €70-305 per person per day (around $75-328 USD).
However, these prices will be heavily influenced by how you choose to spend your money across accommodation, transportation, food, activities, and entertainment and what region of the country you are visiting.
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The first thing you need to consider in your Italy travel budget is the cost of accommodation as this is likely going be the biggest portion of your overall trip cost.
Because the whole country is so popular amongst travellers, there are several different accommodation options to choose from pretty much anywhere you wish to go. These range from backpacker hostels to rural B&Bs to boutique hotels to large international hotel chains.
The most budget-friendly option for accommodation would be to get a dorm bed at a hostel. There is usually at least one hostel in most major Italian cities, however, the prices actually don’t really differ all that much depending on where you are.
On the whole, you can expect the price of a bed in a hostel to start somewhere around €25-30 for the cheapest option. If you are in Venice or Rome, this might mean a bed in a 15+ person dorm, but in smaller cities, you can expect to pay the same for a dorm with a smaller capacity.
Another fantastic budget option, especially for those travelling as a couple or with a friend, is to opt for a private room on Airbnb.
Along with being a great way to see how locals live in the city you’re visiting, Airbnb tends to be significantly less expensive than a traditional hotel. A private room can also work out to be less expensive per person than a bed in a hostel dorm if you’re not travelling solo.
Though you can generally expect prices to be higher in bigger cities that have a higher cost of living, like Venice , Florence, or Rome, on average a price for a private room on Airbnb costs about €50-60 per night. If you split this between two people, this can be an extremely cost-effective accommodation option in Italy.
If you’re interested in renting an entire, one-bedroom apartment in a major urban area then expect prices to start at around €60-90 per night. Once again, expect to pay more in Rome and keep in mind that prices can be higher in Milan , Florence and Venice.
Seasonality has a lot to do with prices, as well. For instance, the Amalfi Coast is going to have a lot higher accommodation costs in the summer months.
If neither hostels nor Airbnb appeals to you as accommodation options, you can find some decent budget and mid-range hotels that won’t take a huge proportion out of your total Italy trip cost.
A good thing to keep in mind is that it is almost always less expensive to stay in a locally run establishment than a well-known chain. Expect a mid-range hotel room to start at around €70-100 per night.
Keep in mind that this can vary drastically depending on where you are in the country and the season, as well. For instance, if you’re travelling on the Amalfi Coast, you can safely assume that these prices could double.
If you’re looking for a higher-end or luxury stay in Italy, expect, on average, prices to start at around €300-350 and to go up from there. Prices will be more expensive in places like Venice, Lake Como , the Amalfi Coast and Cinque Terre than they will be in lesser-visited areas.
Overall, if you’re smart about your choices, accommodation in Italy doesn’t have to break the bank.
The second biggest thing that needs to be considered in your total trip cost are the transportation prices in Italy.
Unless you’re planning on only visiting one place and walking absolutely everywhere (make sure to pack good shoes if so!) while you’re in Italy, then you’re going to be spending at least some money on both local and intercity transport.
In the big cities like Rome or Naples , there are multiple public transport options — buses, trams, and metro — and you will probably end up taking a few of them, as places and sites are spread out from one another.
If you want to cover a lot of ground while visiting this city and plan on using the public transport network frequently (ie, more than once or twice per day) then it can oftentimes work out to be more cost-effective to buy a daily travel card rather than purchasing individual, single-journey tickets.
In other, smaller cities such as Modena , public transport is often just limited to the bus. If the city is walkable, which is most cities besides the bigger ones, then it is rarely necessary to buy more than one or two bus tickets that will get you to and from the train station. Expect single tickets to be around €2, though it can definitely vary from locality to locality.
The other thing you need to consider when it comes to transport in Italy are longer journeys, ie. intercity trains and buses. These can range in price significantly depending on the distance you plan on travelling and the type of train you are travelling on.
If you know of your general Italy itinerary beforehand, then take the time to research the travel options available to you as there can be many different ways to get from point A to point B.
To give you a general idea, the high-speed intercity trains tend to cost a bit more than the regional, commuter trains.
While taking one of the high-speed options can be great if you’re travelling long distances, it’s not needed if you’re only travelling a short distance in the same or neighbouring region. A high-speed train is about three times the price of a regional train and the journey time will not be much longer.
Depending on how long you’ve planned for your Italy itinerary, it may work out to be a better bet to take the high-speed train and pay a bit more so as to properly maximise your time in your destinations. If you have a number of weeks that you’re planning to spend in Italy, longer train journeys may not matter as much.
Another tip that can help you save a fair amount on your total trip to Italy cost is to book your longer train journeys in advance. It is much less expensive to do this rather than to purchase tickets on the day.
While we’re always advocates of not over-planning and letting the wind take you where it will, it can sometimes save you a good amount of money to have a few things planned ahead of time. We suggest booking on Omio to find deals on train tickets in Italy.
If you’re planning on taking a number of trains during your time in Italy, then a train pass can be good value. If you’re from outside of Europe, you can view Eurail Italy Passes here . Alternatively, if you’re from the EU, you can view Interrail Italy Passes here .
If you want to get a bit off the beaten path in Italy and explore on your own terms, renting a car is an excellent option. Prices for a hire car can vary, but you’re looking at a price starting at about €25-30 per day for a basic car without any additional insurance. Note that prices are often lower for a manual transmission.
If you do rent a car, you need to also factor in the cost of petrol and likely parking into your daily costs. The average fuel price in Italy is about €1.80 per litre in December of 2023. Prices for parking can vary depending on where you are and which kind of place you are parking in. Toll road pricing can also vary and it depends on the road and the distance you’re travelling.
If you want to find great deals for renting a car, we recommend using RentalCars.com . This is particularly important if travelling to places with limited public transport options such as Lake Garda or Lake Como or if you’re spending time exploring Sicily the Puglia region.
On average, plan to spend about €10-30 per person per day on transportation taking all of the above-mentioned things into account.
So let’s talk about the cost of one of the main things that attract thousands to visit Italy: food. Food in Italy is delicious, diverse and, surprisingly, doesn’t have to be that expensive. Sure, it is possible to splash out a small fortune on a high-end meal but in my experience, this is more of an exception rather than the rule.
Contrary to popular belief, you don’t need to only eat kebabs or cook your own meals in order to eat on a budget while in Italy. Sure, if you’re really trying to pinch pennies and make your budget stretch as far as possible, then it can be beneficial to cook some of your meals from time to time. However, eating out at a decent restaurant actually isn’t all that expensive.
The biggest tip that I can give when it comes to saving money while dining out in Italy is to always avoid tourist-centric restaurants. This means not eating at places a stone’s throw from big attractions and sites, and avoiding places that have a photo-laden menu published outside with every type of food under the sun.
Learn about the foods that are typical for the region of Italy that you are travelling in and if a restaurant doesn’t have many of them on the menu, it generally means that locals don’t eat there.
If you walk just a few streets over from the main tourist centre, you will probably find about a 10-15% decrease in the prices on menus. This is because these restaurants are meant for locals who don’t typically hang out around the Colosseum every day. Eat in these places — you will not only save money but the food will almost always be better.
Food in Italy can be affordable and you can eat exceptionally well on only a small budget, but like elsewhere, prices can vary by region. For instance, it’s much cheaper to eat out in Sicily than it is dine at an equivalent restaurant in Venice.
Keeping that in mind, plan for a main meal at a restaurant to average around €15. And if you’re eating out with another person, each getting a main dish, sharing an appetiser and splitting a half-litre of house wine, expect this to average about €30-40 for the entire bill, depending on where you are.
All in all, plan to budget around €20-40 per person per day on food. On the low end, this allows one restaurant meal out and on the upper end, a couple of meals out each day at a mid-range establishment.
Now that we’ve covered the basic costs of the most necessary things on your Italy vacation, let’s talk about how much daily activities are going to set you back. Well, like most anything else, this really depends on what it is you plan to do.
If you’re travelling to Italy in order to take advantage of all of the fantastic history, art and culture there is in this country, then you’re most likely going to be visiting a lot of museums.
Museum entry prices can vary depending on if they are state-run or privately funded. But it’s generally safe to assume that a museum visit will set you back somewhere around €5-15.
When it comes to entry into any museum or historical site, be aware if you qualify for any discounts as well. Almost everywhere in Italy offer significant (up to 50%) discounts if you have a valid student ID and you also won’t have to pay as much if you are under the age of 26 or over the age of 65. Do your research beforehand to see if you qualify for these.
Also, if you plan to visit several historical sites and museums in any given city, it can often work out to be more cost-effective to purchase the city’s tourism card rather than pay the full price of every individual site you want to visit. Take the time to work out the sums before you go to see if it’s worth it for you.
If you’re curious about going on any food tours or wine tastings, it’s normally always cheaper to look for individual places to visit independently rather than paying for an organised tour.
Also, it can be a better bang for your buck to seek out smaller, locally-run businesses rather than bigger corporations. For instance, we went on a balsamic vinegar tour in Modena that was completely free. We just contacted the acetaia directly.
However, if you’d like to go on something like an organised food tour of Palermo or even a day tour to Capri from Naples, you’re going to have to pay a bit more for this. Expect tours to land around €40-100 per person depending on where it is and what is offered.
If you are on an extreme budget, then you actually don’t need to spend anything on daily activities. Italian cities just beg to be wandered through and explored and this doesn’t cost a dime!
All in all, however, expect to spend an average of about €10-30 per person per day to account for museum entry or the occasional tour.
The last thing you need to consider in your total Italy trip cost is the price of entertainment. How much money you spend on this really depends on your habits.
If you’re looking to grab a coffee at a classic Italian cafe, you’re not going to have to pay a lot for the privilege. On average, something like a macchiato or a cappuccino will be under €2. It’s worth keeping in mind that it’s often cheaper to drink your coffee standing at the bar rather than being served at a table, though this practice does vary by region.
While there are certainly places to party into the wee hours of the night in almost every Italian city, it can be expensive to drink a lot and it also isn’t what Italians typically do every day. If you do, however, enjoy the occasional cocktail or glass of wine in the evening, you are in luck.
Italians have an excellent happy hour culture, called aperitivo . During the few hours before one would typically go out for dinner, usually between around 6 PM-8 PM, cafes and bars will typically offer discounted wine and cocktails that come with either snacks or access to a buffet of charcuterie, cheese, bread, olives, etc.
You can normally get a drink along with a few snacks (the amount really depends on the establishment) for a good price – usually between €5-12 depending on where you are.
These kinds of things are especially prevalent in cities that have a large student population, like Bologna, but can be found throughout the country and we’ve experienced this culture everywhere from Bergamo to Palermo. This can be a great way to save money while still enjoying the drinking culture of Italy.
All in all, however, you can expect the average cost of a pint of local draft beer in Italy to land somewhere around €4-5 depending on where you are. A glass of wine will start around the same. If you’re after a basic cocktail like an Aperol spritz or a gin and tonic, expect to pay around €5-10 for this. Again, it really depends on the region or city you’re in and who the bar is catering to.
With the above aspects taken into consideration, this is the average daily amount you should expect to spend per person on your trip to Italy.
This is assuming that you stay in budget to mid-range accommodation, travel long distances every three or four days, cook some meals or take advantage of included breakfasts, don’t eat at high-end restaurants every night and are splitting costs like accommodation and potential car hire between two people.
Accommodation: €25-175 / night
Transportation: €10-40 / day
Food: €20-40 / day
Activities: €10-30 / day
Entertainment: €5-20 / day
All in all, you can expect your average total cost of a trip to Italy to set you back roughly €70-305 per person per day. Obviously, this can also be cut down or increased depending on your travel habits and preferences. It also doesn’t include any pre-trip expenses such as a prepaid SIM for Italy.
Finally, make sure that you factor in the cost of a travel insurance policy. World Nomads offers flexible and simple travel insurance policies with coverage for more than 150 activities that you can buy or extend while on the road.
Travelling to Italy doesn’t have to cost you a lot of money. While the country does have a reputation for being expensive, if you are smart about where and how you spend, it is completely possible to have a fun and fulfilling trip to Italy while on a budget.
Are you planning a trip to Italy? Have any questions about the prices? Let us know in the comments!
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Maggie is a co-founder and writer for The World Was Here First. Originally from the US, she has lived in five different countries and has travelled to dozens more, both solo and with her partner, Michael. She particularly loves exploring Spain and spending time in the Caucasus and the Baltics. Read more about Maggie
Wonderful read. So very helpful thank you.
Happy you found this helpful!
Very informative! I will be cruising to the Mediterranean this summer and this is very good information!
Happy this could help! Hope you have a great trip 🙂
very helpful thanks I will be going October 2022 and I had so much questions and you really helped me
My son and I are going on a school trip in summer 2024. Basic travel and services are included, minus tips and it includes 2 meals per day. Can you help recommend a budget for us and what the best way to travel with our money might be? Thanks!
My sister and I and our two adult daughters are planning a trip to Italy in June. This was very helpful information. Thank you!
Very helpful! Thanks Maggie. I’m travelling to Italy in late August till the end of October 2023 and was wondering if it’s worthwhile getting the Eurail Pass. I’ll check out the train prices online to see what the best option is. Your articles are very helpfull for a first time, solo traveller to Italy… thank you.
Hi, a girlfriend and I are going to Rome for 2 weeks in April. I have travelled Europe using Airbnb and driving in a very low key but fun way. My husband has had Parkinson for 15 years and can longer do long hall flights and I only have minders for him for 3 weeks. So I chose Rome, have never been there. Booked a room for us on Airbnb and have a map and lots of ideas and good walking shoes. Will report back on our return.
My wife and I are beginnig to plan our 50th wedding anniverary in 2025. We plan to travel to Italy for this experience. Paris was our 25th. This was very helpful start for us. Thanks
Thank you again for your informative information…. My wife & I did travel to Italy this pass May 2023 for 3-wks to Florence, Venice, Bellagio & Milan, loved the different cities & sights & had a wonderful time…We are traveling back to Italy this May for 2-wks…Flying into Naples, having a driver pick us up & drive to Amalfi for 1-wk. & while there explore Positano, Sorrento & Capri, then taking a flight from Naples to Genoa, having a driver pick us up & drive to Portofino for 1-wk. & explore the 5-towns of Cinque Terre as well….Love Italy…Wishing you a happy, healthy & safe traveling 2024…
Thanks for sharing your insights, Elliot! Happy New Year 🙂
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Being part of Italy, Venice uses the Euro (EUR). As of May 2021, the exchange rate is 1 USD = 0.82. ... Get a Travel Card: Vaporettos, at $9 a pop, are expensive. A travel card means you can travel around to your heart's content without racking up an exorbitant amount of money. For example, just four rides using a 24-hour ACTV Tourist Travel ...
Average Daily Cost for Visiting Venice, Italy. Taking an expensive gondola ride. It costs around €55-€88/day to visit Venice comfortably as a budget traveler. If you want to upgrade your accommodations, add another €80-€120/night depending on your level of accommodation.
Entertainment: 5-20€ / day. All in all, expect your Venice trip cost to be a minimum of 70€ to 305€ per person per day. This also doesn't include any pre-trip expenses such as flights or travel insurance. For travel insurance, SafetyWing is an option if you're travelling in Venice on a budget.
Is Venice expensive to visit? Prices in Venice are reasonable and comparable to your average travel destination. Hotels, food, and sightseeing are generally within normal price ranges. Within Europe, which is known to be an expensive region, Venice is a moderately priced destination compared to other places.
Venice is a must-see destination for anyone visiting Italy.If Venice is on your itinerary, you will need to do some research ahead of time in order to visit this magnificent city and still keep to your budget. One downside of visiting this tourist mecca is that it makes it all too easy to pay top euro for food, accommodations, and tours. Find out what is worth it and how to avoid the splurges ...
The lowest cost for a couple to visit Venice for a week is $1,366-$3,498 ($195-$500 per day) Food, Travel, and Sightseeing: $60 to $122 per day for two people's daily expenses. Flights: $820 to $2,068 for economy. Lodging: $82 to $96 per night for one 1-star hotel room. or $21 to $41 per night for a 1-bed vacation rental.
Believe it or not, Venice is considered not only the most expensive city to visit in Italy but also one of the 10 most expensive cities in the world! So let's ask the question again, ... As any local will gladly tell you, the water taxi is the most expensive way to travel around Venice's canals and the rest of the lagoon.
Prices in Venice are relatively expensive, but if you book the hotel in advance and check out our tips on how to save money in Venice, you'll be able to make the most of your stay in the city without spending too much. As for the restaurants in the Serenissima, there are options for all budgets, from fine dining to Pizza al Taglio for those that don't want to spend too much money eating out.
Venice is an iconic destination in Italy that sees millions of visitors every year. Visiting the Floating City can get expensive quickly, from transport to museum admission costs and dining in popular areas. But you don't need to have a big budget to enjoy the city. ... How To Visit Venice on a Budget.
Is Venice expensive to visit? Like many other European cities, Venice too offers a lot of discounts and special prices for museums, theaters and cinemas. Museums. Compared to other countries in Europe, museum tickets are relatively inexpensive and are without a doubt worth the price. As ancient as the city is, the price of the tickets (which is ...
Venice Travel Guide: Money-Saving Tips. It doesn't matter what time of year you visit, Venice is going to be expensive. That said, here some ways to you can lower your expenses when you visit Venice: Don't eat at Piazza San Marco - This is the area with the most tourists, making it much more expensive. Avoid eating here at all costs, no ...
When To Visit Venice + Weather. Summers in Venice can be fairly hot and humid with highs in the low 80s. It's also peak tourist season so it's very crowded. There are also lots of mosquitoes and flies. Winters are fairly cold with temperatures in the low 40s but the city does empty out a bit so that's nice.
Attractions and Exploring Venice on a Budget. Venice is a city teeming with historical famous sites, architectural wonders, and vibrant markets. Among the must-visit famous sights are the Rialto Market, Doge's Palace, and Saint Mark's Basilica. However, exploring these sites can be costly if not planned well.
City officials are introducing a new fee to visit Venice and its islands, a move, they hope, will limit tourists. Beginning in January 2023, visitors to Venice, Italy, must make a reservation ...
Venice, Italy Travel Resources. The following list is a curated trove of travel resources. ... Is Venice cheap or expensive? Venice can be considered expensive, particularly when compared to other Italian cities, but there are ways to manage expenses to make a trip more affordable. Here's a breakdown of potential costs:
Is Venice A Good Place To Visit? Venice is a wonderful place to visit - especially when you explore away from the main sights and avoid the huge crowds. Is Venice Expensive? Yes. It's the most expensive city in Italy, and in high season it can be exorbitantly expensive. However, if you visit at certain times of year, Venice is a lot more ...
Is Venice expensive to visit? Venice is a popular destination that is also moderately priced. It falls in the middle range of travel cost prices globaly with a daily average travel cost of $252. If we compare it to the rest of Europe, which is known to be an expensive region, it is a moderately priced place to visit.
The whole pensolon (municipality) of Venice is divided into 6 boroughs: Cannaregio, Castello, Dorsoduro, San Marco, San Polo, and Santa Croce. All have charming places to visit and delicious eats and drinks. Here are some attractions and activities that make Venice worth visiting. 1. Liberia Acqua Alta in the Castello district.
Venice is a must-see destination for anyone visiting Italy. And despite the city's expensive reputation, there are several ways to keep your budget under control while you're visiting. And despite the city's expensive reputation, there are several ways to keep your budget under control while you're visiting.
20 amazing things to do in Venice, Italy. Best things to do in Venice, Italy. Top experiences for first time visitors, photos, best tours, gondola, how much time should you spend. ... Best Things to Do in Venice. Cost: 11 ... (70°F) in early fall and cooling off to 13°C (55°F) by late fall. Autumn is the wettest time to visit Venice (late ...
In fact, Venice is the most expensive city in Italy. Factor this in when deciding which cities to visit on your travels through Italy. Crowds. Venice's beautiful and unique maze of canals makes this destination one of the most visited cities in the world, but this popularity is actually becoming a problem for the city. Overtourism is a real ...
Insatiable demand makes Venice's hotels the most expensive in Western Europe. What's more, the high season here is longer than anywhere else in the country, but many places don't recognize the existence of a low season any more. ... Choosing the right time to visit Venice can greatly influence the experience one gains from this enchanting ...
Trains to Venice depart every 5 to 10 minutes, travel time maximum of 10 minutes, and costs approx. 1.50 per person and route. From the Santa Lucia train station, you can go directly to the adventure Venice. Without much extra time, you can easily save 15,00 €, more than the entrance fee. Savings tip 2 - Save on Vaporetti
A comprehensive guide to how expensive Italy is to visit. Including an Italy trip cost estimator for accommodation, food, transport and more! ... Though you can generally expect prices to be higher in bigger cities that have a higher cost of living, like Venice, Florence, or Rome, on average a price for a private room on Airbnb costs about € ...
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