Venice has always been an insanely famous travel destination, even long before the days it became an instagrammers playground. While praised for its beauty and romanticism, it seems to be criticized for a lot more these days. But is Venice worth visiting still in 2022? In this article, we’ll cover reasons why Venice is still worth visiting, and 10 Venice travel tips to actually have a good experience!
Is Venice Worth Visiting These Days?
It only takes a couple seconds browsing the internet to see that there are tons of mixed reviews on the true experience of visiting the floating city. Over-tourism, dirtiness, skyrocketing prices, flooding, and the ever present impending doom that is the fact it is sinking – these are among many reasons more and more travelers are saying Venice is not really as fun in real life as in the photos.
I’ve visited twice, and it’s true that it can easily feel like one of the most touristy places you’ll ever go. With those massive Disneyland-sized crowds and selfie sticks abound, it’s no wonder some visitors feel overwhelmed and frustrated.
5 Reasons People Have a Bad Trip to Venice
I’ve taken the time to browse the internet to see what other travelers are saying. After sifting through negative reviews and rants, below are what I’ve found to be the top reasons people do not think Venice is worth visiting.
1. They Only Do Touristy Things
If you are just sticking to the major sites like San Marco Square, Rialto Bridge and the like, you will always be among the crowds. Not only is that uncomfortable, but you won’t really feel any sense of discovery in Venice. You’ve likely seen the major sites in photos before, so it’s even less impressive if that’s all you see while here.
2. They Overpay for Low Quality
I was stunned to see how many people seem to complain about the prices in Venice. So many people experienced high dining prices, high gondola prices, and being overcharged for services.
My guess is that most people don’t do their research, and end up dining and shopping at tourist traps. They overpay, and get something low in quality, which leads them to think everything in Venice is like that (hint: it’s not, more on that later).
3. They Don’t Learn the History
I’ll admit, the first time I visited I hardly skimmed over the surface of Venice’s history. If you don’t have any context, Venice to you will always just be a “pretty place”. It’s like we totally forget than this was once the center of a thriving empire at the trading crossroads of global cultures. There is an insanely rich history here that you could spend weeks digging into.
4. They Are Obsessed With Taking Photos
I am guilty of this at times too. Unfortunately, you will never be the only one in Venice trying to get “the shot”. It’s likely you’ll be competing with swarms of other people trying to snap the same viewpoint as you, in no less than 200 different poses.
Plus, unless you go at the crack of dawn, Venice is always busy. You will become tired and frustrated very fast from trying to get any fake candid photos with no one blocking your background!
5. They Only Stay for One Day
Another reason I suspect people hate Venice is because they simply don’t spend enough time here. If you treat the destination as a day trip, that’s all you’ll get out of it. A “stop, take a photo, and go” type of experience. To fully experience any destination takes time, and you really can’t get past the superficial aspects of Venice in one or even two days.
5 Reasons Why Venice is Worth Visiting
Everyone knows that Venice is beautiful, but it’s much more than just a postcard pretty destination. Here are some lesser known reasons why Venice is worth visiting.
1. Rich History
Do you know the reason why Venice was built inside a lagoon to begin with? And that the first settlers established the city over 1500 years ago, using engineering and architectural knowledge far beyond their times? Do you know about how this was a hub for black plague victims to be left to die? Do you know the dark history behind carnival and the story behind each of the different masks? Did you realize Venice was once the center of the Venetian Empire, one of the strongest and most critical trading hubs between Asia and Europe?
These are all questions I think most travelers fail to ask themselves, myself included. I’d say that the history and stories behind Venice make it among the top most interesting places I’ve visited – seriously.
2. Interesting Stories and Legends
Beyond the official historical events, Venice is also home to a lot of darker history, ghost stories and legends. Many wouldn’t think it makes an interesting dark tourism destination, but it absolutely does.
One of the top 10 most haunted places in the world is located here (2, if you count the nearby island of Poveglia). There are countless disturbing stories and local legends that if you dug into, you may not even consider Venice a romantic destination anymore.
3. Beautiful Local Crafts
Venice and the surrounding islands are home to many local handicraft shops boasting local artwork. The most famous ones are Murano glass and Burano lacework. I don’t usually shop when traveling, but the glass is seriously beautiful to see, buy, and learn about.
Beyond those, there are loads of small boutique handicraft shops selling all types of unique artwork; from jewelry to home goods – this is the place to buy some unique souvenirs.
4. It Defies Gravity and Time
The city itself is built onto wooden stilts, that have never been replaced since the city’s founding in 5 AD. How those people were able to build an entire city on wooden poles and some sand is beyond comprehension! Coming here and fully appreciating that blows the mind. The city itself defies gravity and time by having not sank into the lagoon centuries ago.
5. It Won’t Always Be Here
Despite my statement above, Venice is sinking slowly. Because of climate change, the sinking is expected to speed up, and it could be inaccessible in as little as 80 years. All the more reason to visit while you can!
So is Venice Worth Visiting?
The truth is Venice has a lot to offer beyond what most people may realize. I also once thought it was just a pretty place, where you come to do touristy things, ride an overpriced gondola, and that was that.
It wasn’t until I came back, spent almost a week here and really dug into the history and wandered off the tourist trail that I realized just how special this place really is. Here are 10 Venice tips on how to visit and actually have a good trip!
10 Essential Venice Travel Tips
1. Visit in the Fall
My top tip is to visit in the shoulder season, mainly in late-Fall. Summers are hot in Italy, a fact made way more uncomfortable by the elbow to elbow crowds everywhere in Venice. Coming in peak season will also guarantee that you’ll be in overwhelming lines to get anywhere, and overpay for everything.
In fall the weather cools down, but Venice is still a pleasant temperature and entirely enjoyable. The crowds thin out tremendously, so you’ll be able to enjoy yourself more. The prices for hotels and most tours also goes down dramatically.
Winter is too cold, and spring can be busy, so fall really is the best season to visit.
2. Spend at Least a Few Days
Many people blast through Venice in a day, maybe two. Maybe they don’t want to pay for an expensive hotel room (but prices should be lower if you follow tip #1) for several days, but that’s a shame. You really should spend a MINIMUM of three days in Venice to even get a feel for what it is under all the superficial aspects.
One day to do the touristy sites and museums, second day to explore random neighborhoods like Cannaregio and the Jewish Quarter, and the third day to visit some of the nearby islands. And even that is the bare minimum to be honest. If you really want to dive in, you could easily spend a week here, exploring museums and outer islands, shopping, eating your way around, and just soaking in the vibe.
My favorite part of Venice was just walking aimlessly, crossing every bridge I saw, and getting off at random stops on the waterbus. The city is incredibly beautiful and I assure you, you’ll have a better experience exploring than just ticking off major sites.
3. Learn About Local History
As mentioned above, Venice has an incredibly rich and eventful history. You can spend some time learning about it by visiting some museums, or even taking a tour. For me, I decided to watch some documentaries that were online, and read up on the history myself, then visit the relevant sites.
This made everything I was seeing so much more meaningful. Suddenly random street names had a story behind them, and what looked just like another pretty bridge became the site of a tragedy or major event.
4. Find Local Places to Eat
Many complaints I saw on Quora, Tripadvisor and the like, were about how people overpaid for bad food. Honestly, it’s highly likely that these people just didn’t know where to eat and walked right into tourist trap after tourist trap.
I’d advise asking locals, or even the hotel receptionist where they like to eat. Look up the regional specialties and eat that. My favorite area for finding good food at non-tourist prices were in the Cannaregio neighborhood.
While in Venice be sure to try scartossi (fried fish cone), eat your way through the Rialto market, or stop by a bacaro or chincetti bar, both offering italian tapa-style bites. Then wash everything down with a bellini or aperol spritz – both regional in origin!
5. Get out of the Touristy Areas
By all means, don’t skip the major sites. San Marco Square, San Marco Basilica, Rialto Bridge, and Doge Palace are all worth the visit. Just remember that there is a lot more to the city than that.
Getting out of the touristy area lets you explore and feel a sense of discovery. As you meander through charming alleys, cross random bridges, finding cute shops and cafes along the way, you’ll appreciate the real Venice a lot more. My favorite areas to explore were Guidecca, Cannaregio and the Jewish Quarter.
6. Take the Waterbus
Venice has no roads for cars, so it’s likely you’ll take a waterbus on arrival here. These are truly like buses, with designated stops all around the city.
I loved taking the waterbus just for the views of the city from the canal itself. When I saw something cool, I’d stop and get off to randomly explore the area.
This is a very fun way to discover Venice in my opinion, and gives much more of a feeling of adventure than going on a tour or sticking to the tourist trail.
7. Visit Nearby Islands
Visiting Venice should not be done without visiting at least one of the nearby islands. These islands all have something different to offer, so take some time to learn the history, then decide which ones interest you.
Murano is known for glasswork, Torcello has history, and Burano is infamous for its colorful houses. There is Poveglia, the most haunted island in the world where plague victims were sent to die. Definitely look into visiting a few islands if you can! A popular route is Burano, Murano and Torcello as a full day trip.
8. Take Photos Early in the Morning
Venice is full of people hoping to snap a picture of the same things you are. For your own sanity, only take photos early in the morning. This way you have the best lighting, while avoiding the frustration of fighting crowds and photo-bombers in the background.
9. Wake Up Early to See Major Sites
Just like how taking photos in Venice is better early on in the day, so is a visit to the major sites. Doge Palace has a line that wraps around the building from lunch time onwards. There are huge crowds on the Ponte dell’Accademia and basically every point of interest from late morning until evening.
Knock the popular places off your list either very early in the day, or right before closing time to avoid the crowds.
10. Pack Light
Venice has no car access, and the entire city is connected by tiny bridges that almost always involve stairs (so that gondolas can go under). Be sure to pack accordingly and know that you will be dragging your suitcase and things over cobbled streets, bridges, and through narrow alleys.
Another option is to book a hotel right by a waterbus station.
Venice Budgeting Travel Tips
Since many travelers expressed a negative experience in Venice due to the prices, here are some tips to avoid overpaying and to keep your budget in check.
1. Visit in the off-season
Visiting in fall is best, but the entire off-season (October – March, except for Carnival) will have lowered prices for hotels and tours. Visit in this time to score a bargain on a beautiful hotel!
2. Ask Hotel About Prices
In Venice, prices can be either very fair or entirely inflated. You can have an amazing, freshly made pasta for the same price as a microwaved ready-meal (yes, I was shocked this was a thing) pasta next to the train station. Guess which one is better bang for your buck?
If you aren’t sure whether you are being ripped off, ask your hotel what the normal cost for something should be and what areas to avoid for tourist traps.
3. Save on Accommodation
I was surprised to see good deals on booking.com for 3 and 4 star hotels right in the center near San Marco Square in the shoulder season. You can easily find a beautiful hotel in a prime location for $70- $80 USD in this season, with breakfast included in many!
If you are traveling as a pair at least, this is very affordable. No need to search on Airbnb, I found hotels to be the better deal here.
Hotel Casanova is where I stayed. It’s a four star hotel next to San Marco Square, with a fabulous breakfast included for only $80 USD a night!
4. Eat Take-Out for Lunch
I opted to have more simple lunches, and splurge on dinner and drinks in the evening for my week in Venice. This helped to keep my budget in check, while still allowing me to eat well.
You’ll find many take-out pasta bars that offer fresh homemade pasta, that make yours fresh to order for about 5-6 euros. I’d take this to sit by the canal and have a picnic, while watching the gondolas go by. Simply amazing.
Another very local alternative is to eat at a bacaro or cincetti bar, both offering local small bites that pair well with a glass of wine.
5. Get a Hotel With Free Breakfast
Many hotels offer a free breakfast, another good way to save time and money in the morning. I stayed at the Casanova Hotel, which offered a generous breakfast of meats, eggs, cakes, pastries and fruit. I was almost always full until mid-afternoon, which means more time to explore!
6. Take the Water-bus
When in Venice, you’ll see lot’s of people offering to take you around via water taxi. These are not the same as the water-bus, and cost about 10 times more in some cases.
The water-bus is very frequent and convenient, with many stops all around the city. At a price of 7.50 euros flat rate one way, opt to take the water-bus instead of a water-taxi.
7. Shop Around Before Buying
Once you arrive in Venice, you will be overwhelmed by the shopping opportunities. From Italian leather goods, to handcrafts, to artwork and more – there is a lot to be tempted by here!
My advice is to bookmark the places you wish to return to, and take photos of what you want to buy. Towards the end of your trip, after you’ve seen more options, narrow it down to the ones you REALLY can’t live without.
Even by following this method, I walked away from Venice with a full suitcase of new handbags. You have been warned.
And I hope that answers the question “Is Venice worth visiting?” The short answer is yes, if you know how to plan your trip and what to avoid, you’ll get the best experience this city has to offer. Which is a lot – in case that wasn’t made clear! Have you been to Venice? What was your experience like?
Renee says
I agree, the only way to see Venice is to get lost. To avoid at all possible the most touristy parts and to get to know the legends and history. Any city is better when there aren’t a lot of tourists, and I always travel in the non peak times to get that more authentic experience. Thanks for the memories of Venice.
Walk Along With Us says
Love this! Venice is at the top of my bucket list travel spots even with the mixed reviews. I thought you added some great tips and advice here. Thanks for sharing!
Marianne says
We loved Venice! We have been a couple of times, but look forward to going back with the kids! So much history, and such a different environment than what the kids are used to. Will be a great experience for them!
Nicole says
I love how you have brought balance to the argument of whether Venice is worth visiting. There is no doubt that the majority of people who expressed disappointment did not stay long enough to do the place justice combined with not doing their homework beforehand. The detail you have shared here certainly offers sound advice to not fall into the usual traps of the average tourist.
Polly says
Loved this article so much! I have been to Italy a few times now, but never made it to Venice and I myself was wondering if I am missing out or not so much. Now I am sure that I have been missing out big time. Venice is definitely a place to visit for a bit longer other than just a day trip and allow yourself to get lost. Loved your article!
Linda (LD Holland) says
Having visited Venice I can see why there may be things that turn people off if they visit or plan to visit. Only staying for one day will not let them really enjoy the city. We loved wandering and discovering local spots off the tourist paths. And we are always aware that Venice may not always be there.
bye:myself says
What a nice post on one of my favorite cities. Normally, I’m visiting Venice every other year for the Biennials – and I hope to go back this year, too. What I’m missing in your list of mistakes is picking the wrong season. When you go to Venice in August, you’ll be super-hot, the alleys are packed with people, it’s smelly, just terrible.
Carol Colborn says
Great tips and dos and don’t. We have not been to Venice and are raring to go!
Agnes says
I love Venice, and even though it is a tourist city, it is worth visiting. Great tips on what to do to avoid the crowds. I agree that fall is the best season for a visit.
WanderlustBeautyDreams says
I wished i stayed in Venice longer, I was on a tour when I first went back in 2015. I enjoyed Venice a lot getting lost many times and finding the cutest stores with handmade crafts. I bought a painting from a local old man and he was so happy to have sold one of his pieces. Your post makes me want to revisit and explore more!
Mirna says
Great article! I’ve only visited it as a day trip along with Murano and Burano, and I was absolutely mesmetized. Spending a couple of days in Venice enjoying the serenity of the early morning is definitely on my list! And I’m happy to hear the hotel prices can get affordable like that. Thank you for the tips!
simplyjolayne says
I once had a local ask me, “How did you hear about Venice?” Our family loved our visit there and were able to see a lot in a short time. Yes and yes. It is worth visiting.
Iome says
Manly the people forget that Venice is not Disneyland