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The Venice travel guide: canals, boats and food

I was always put off by stories thousands of tourists and endless tourist traps but in the back of my mind I always thought; there must be a reason why Venice is so popular? So, I took a risk, and I didn’t regret it.

There is simply no city like Venice. Entering the city by train, you are instantly met by blue water and boats chugging along the canal. As you start to wander through the maze of streets, bridges and canals, you sink into a peaceful city that makes you forget that cars exist.  So, take a seat at the bar, grab a spritz, and get planning your trip to Venice with our help.

Contents

Venice canal sun

The Piazza

Piazza San Marco – A giant piazza bordered by the Doge’s palace, Saint Mark’s Basilica, Caffè Florian and countless other points of interest. Oh, and pigeons! We definitely recommend getting a guide to help you follow the intriguing world of the Doge’s.

What to eat in Venice, traditional local dishes

Venice has a reputation for great seafood and pasta however, if you explore the winding streets of the city, you will get to discover a wide variety of unique, traditional dishes. As with all the other wonderful regions of Italy, the Veneto region, in which Venice lives, has its own food culture. These are the most well known dishes, but there is so much more to discover.

Bacari – Small bars that you can grab a drink and a snack. These are spread across the city and visiting one is part of immersing yourself in local culture.

Cichetti – Small bites that are often served with drinks in the Bacari (think Venetian tapas!). These range from small slices of bread with a variety of fish-based toppings, to tramezzino or fried delicacies.

Seppia – Squid ink. Often used to flavour rice or pasta dishes, giving that striking black colour to the plates. Don’t be frightened, these dishes are delicious.

Bigoli – Thick, long pasta. Served with fish and is a much loved pasta that is used in a wide range of Venitian classics.

Seppie al nero con polenta bianca – Cuttlefish in black ink sauce served with white polenta. A very traditional dish that uses white polenta rather than the yellow one we are used to, as is traditional in Veneto.

Sarde in saor – Translates as sardines in flavour. Usually lightly cooked with translucent onions. A very unique dish which can also be found on crispbread as cicchetti. A real Venetian classic!

Baccala Mantecato – Whipped salt cod, often found on crisp bread.

What to do in Venice, the main attractions

The main attractions of Venice are not quite as well known as Rome (to be honest we didn’t know any of them before we visited!) but this city is truly packed with things to do. Trust us -there is so much more than taking a gondola ride!

Saint Marc’s Basilica – This is a real walk through history. Having influences from the Romanesque style, the byzantine empire and gothic styling, the basiclica is a collage of cultures. Contained within the walls sit the famous four bronze horse statues, of which there are a trove of stories to dive into around its origins. Whilst there are many great basilicas in Italy, this one gives great bang-for-your-buck. Both the inside and outside are bursting with tales and intrigue. To get the most out of your visit, we suggest getting a guide.

Doges Palace (Palazzo Ducale) – Never heard of a ‘Doge’? Neither had we before we visited Venice! This is the seat of the leaders of the Venitian empire, the perfect place to dive into their long and, at times, scandalous history. If you think the process of electing pope’s is fascinating, this is just as intriguing. Some of the stories would give game of thrones a run for their money. The building is as opulent as is deserving of such a powerful seat and contains works from ancient Greece onwards. Yet again, get some kind of guide to get the most out of it.

Peggy Guggenheim Museum – Filled with the giants of modern art and plenty of fantastic rotating exhibitions, you will never have a better opportunity to see so many, and such a great variety of modern art paintings and sculptures. This really is a unique visit and highly recommended even if you are not an art afficionado! Don’t forget to check the outside spaces for more sculptures, including the ones on the bank of the canal. As we are all just big kids, I’m sure you can guess which one is out favourite 😊.

Murano = Take a trip to this island by boat to see the famous Murano Glass being made with the opportunity to by original pieces. You can even get involved if you fancy a career change! Being honest, there is not much there other than the glass. So if you are short on time and you are not desperate to see it, maybe give this one a miss. However, these pieces are magnificent.

Rialto Bridge – This is the iconic bridge over the grand canal that you have seen thousands of pictures of. It is one of the four main bridges that cross this canal and it is the oldest. Whilst in Venice, you must take a look, and cross over, this unique bridge with its unique architecture and say I was there! Tip – time your trip so you can take in an incredible sunset view from the bridge.

Understanding the culture of Venice 

A few bits of info so you don’t pass out from culture-shock and have to be taken to the doctor (by boat).

Canal life

Not a huge shock, but there are loads of canals in Venice. Who knew? Everything runs on canals and boats so it gives the city a unique vibe, particularly with the absence of the sound of car engines. The are still boat engines, but they are so much cuter, right?

Carnivale

The carnival season starts around February time and goes on for about three weeks. This festival is where people dress up and wear the famous masks and clothes. There is also sweet treats that appear only around the carnival season, so find yourself a nice bakery and check them out. Just to be clear, venetians do not dress like this every day, so don’t expect the whole city to be dressed up like this all year round!

Masks

There are quite a few mask shops around the city which give you the opportunity to see some amazing pieces and even see the artisans at work! (I’m not quite sure what an artisan is but it just felt right here. I hope it makes us seem more intelligent!) p.s don’t forget to say Buongiorno or buonasera to the shop owner when you enter.

Language

Another region, another dialect. Here are a few of the most common words. I know you love a list!

  • Calle = street
  • Campo = square
  • Sestiere = districts
  • Cicchetti = venetian tapas
  • Ombra = small glass of wine
  • Bàcaro = Venetian bar

New Venice tax

Being straight, you need to be aware of this and get it right. For this reason I am palming it off to someone else. So follow the link to find out more: Venice Access Fee: information and calendar 2025 | Visitvenezia.eu

How to get around Venice

Airport travel

Easy to get to the main island or Mestre, depending on where you are staying. Easiest route is by express ATVO bus which stops at both Mestre and Piazzale Roma. You can also travel by taxi or water taxi however, if you want a fun experience, you can take a private water taxi door to door. Whichever way you chose it will be easy.

Mestre

I thought we were going to Venice not Mestre? Have we got the wrong airplane? No! Mestre is the first stop on the Italian mainland when you leave Venice. We must confess, it’s not a beauty spot but is home to some great hotels, hostels and restaurants all at a much cheaper price than staying on one of the venetian islands. It only takes a 5 minute train ride, which costs less than €2 per person, to get to Venice.

Boats

Venice runs on boats. There are water taxis and buses which make it much easier to get around. It’s also a nice way to see some of the city.

Just to keep this short, we have not gone into a huge amount of detail here, but we will be posting a comprehensive guide soon.

Where to stay in Venice

Venice island

There is everything you could possibly want from hotels in Venice. There are a range of options depending on how close you want to be to the majority of the main attractions. One thing to be aware of is dragging your luggage through the sometimes busy, winding streets. It’s highly recommended to get a taxi close to your accommodation or book assistance.

Mestre

Slightly cheaper area just outside of the city with quick and easy links to Venice. Has an abundance of hotel options and local shops and restaurants to keep the prices down. It’s not quite as stunning as the main island but is still a relatively safe neighbourhood.

Budget options

Mestre also holds one of the best and biggest hostels in Europe, the Anda Venice hostel. It completely deserves it reputation and has many affordable beds whilst providing great events for guests. Just thought we would add that they have not paid us, it’s just that we stayed there and it was a great stay and very affordable.

Venice is not what you may already think. Take a risk and check it out. You won’t be disappointed.

We have been there, we have done it and we have made the mistakes ourselves. We hope this means you can trust us!

Travel your way and do not forget your passport!

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