Venice. A timeless classic. Favoured among many tourists. It is romantic, as well as touristic, but it most certainly did not disappoint. It has a certain charm that Italian cities have, but this one is even more special as it is built on water! We visited last year in October, for two days and I am already wanting to go back. So I made a quick recap and suggestions on what to do, where to eat and most importantly where to sleep.
What to do?
Walk around, get lost, as you will find a lot of hidden gems. The city is magical and worth exploring even if you just wander around and admire the architecture, canals and gondolas.
Where to stay?
Because Venice is one of the most popular destinations in Italy it can be quite challenging finding a suitable accommodation. Hotels are usually fully booked or prices are exorbitant, therefore it is advisable to book well in advance. A good option that I found is to stay a little bit outside of Venice and go there with train. This is also a good idea if you’re coming with car as then you don’t have to worry where to leave your car and you don’t have to pay a fortune for parking. We stayed in Hotel Villa Foscarini in Mogliano Veneto, a little bit outside of Venice. It is situated less than 5 minutes away from the train station and is perfect as we reached the main train station (Santa Lucia) Venice in about 10 minutes without worrying about our car and parking. The rooms are elegantly decorated, including also some of the antique furniture. The villa is actually from the 16th century and has kept some of its original features, while providing all the modern amenities a traveller might need. There is also a lovely garden, delicious buffet breakfast, and as previously mentioned free parking. Definitely recommend staying there! To book a room click here.
Where to go for a drink?
Rooftop bar in Hilton hotel on Guidecca Island offers wonderful views overlooking the Venice skyline and the canal. They also offer a free shuttle boat service so make sure to use that.
Where to have the best quick bite?
In Dursoduro area sit down in one of the street restaurant for the most delicious and inexpensive bruschetta or famous tramezzino.
Where to go for the best views?
Climb up, or take a lift to the Campanile di San Marco. Almost 100 meters high it offers amazing 360° views over to the terracotta rooftops of Venice and nearby islands. Definitely worth the price and waiting in line for a half an hour.
Photos by: Jure Gačnik
