Venice

shradhamis
Jun 10, 2024
3 min read

Updated: Jun 22, 2024

Introduction

The city of love, with winding canals and whimsical bridges it really is a breathtaking marvel. I tagged on this famed destination as a day trip from Verona because Venice is notoriously expensive for accommodation, food and my overall city break was definitely a bit more on the budget side.

Pricing

Now, I didn't stay in Venice itself which definitely made it a cheaper trip. I definitely recommend staying in Verona and taking the train to Venice which is only £19 return and takes just over an hour. The trains are clean, comfortable and always on time (unlike the public transport in the UK..). You can get an early 7am train and spend the full day, or as long as you like roaming the Venetian streets.

Accommodation

Though I didn't utilise any of these, here are a few options in good locations for accommodation if you really are interested in basing yourself in the city itself:

Rosa Salva Hotel - located 100m away from St Mark's square, this would be a great hotel to be at the heart of the vibrancy of Venice. Rooms look to be spacious, and depending on the time of year you visit the pricing doesn't seem to be too attrocious!
Hotel Columbina - if you're looking for a hotel with a more 'Venetian Vibe' then this hotel has the right decor for you. Also situated 100m away from St Mark's square, this hotel overlooks the canals and is pretty close to the Bridge of Sighs
Venice offers the ultra luxury as well including the St Regis and Hotel Cipriani but I'll leave that to you to explore if it's within your budget!

Sightseeing / Experiences

As you can imagine, Venice is filled with architectural gems and museums for you to explore. As I only spent a day there, I kept my sightseeing to a few key sites noted below. I also found a great blog post with instagram worthy photo spots so definitely check that out too.

You can't go to Venice without taking a photo from every bridge and of every gondola you pass. One of the recommendations from the above mentioned blog post was a secluded spot behind Hotel San Moise where I sat for a good hour just watching the gondola's go by. It was pretty serene. You can opt for a gondola ride, but they are pretty expensive and the canals can get very congested in high season so it's a very personal preference.
Campanile di San Marco - this one is a must visit. Equipped with a lift and only €10 / £8.50, the views were breathtaking across Venice. You get a 360 birds eye view of the island and it's beautiful terracotta buildings. I definitely recommend getting here early but they limit how many people can be at the top at any one time which does mean you get a good view without having to fight for it.
Ponte di Rialto - infamous and needs no explanation really. People flock to this instagram worthy spot in their hoardes each day. Now, of course there's a great view from the bridge itself, but the best view and photos are from the piers you can access just to the side of the bridge.
Galleria Giorgio Franchetti alla Ca'd'Oro - believe it or not, I'm not a huge lover of art galleries but this one stood out. With a quaint courtyard and a stunning balcony overlooking the water, it's a must visit for only €6 / £5

Food

Italy of course, renowned for it's delectable food and Venice did not disappoint. Now, given I was only there for the day, these recommendations are limited but please visit because the food was out of this world. None of the pricing is expensive in these places, but you are paying a mark up knowing you're in Venice.

Ristorante La Piazza - tucked away in the alley's of Venice, savour the freshest italian cuisine. I had the prawn & courgette linguine that was oh so simple and oh so delicious. Don't forget to save space for the tiramisu!
Trattoria Il Vagone - a spot I found just waiting for the train back to Verona, so a perfect location for a dinner before you leave Venice.
Suso Gelato - be prepared for a long line and wait but it's well worth it. Creamy gelato to cool off by the water is a must