Venice has to be one of the most interesting and beautiful places that I have ever been. A year after going, I still think about it. The variety of stunning architecture, picture perfect photo opportunities around every corner, a mass of things to do and see, the hustle and the bustle, and even the mould and decay- all so fascinating. Yes, it is manically busy in summer, people push you out of the way, eating out and accommodation can be expensive, and everything you want to do costs money, so be prepared to smash the budget. Yet, I do advise you to go. There is truly nowhere else like it.

Venice, the capital of northern Italy’s Veneto region, is built on more than 100 small islands in a lagoon in the Adriatic Sea. It has no roads, just canals – including the Grand Canal thoroughfare – lined with Renaissance and Gothic palaces.

My six day itinerary gave me chance to experience all aspects of Venice in enough depth. I was tired once I had finished, ready to move on. A weekend would probably not have been enough for me, but I think you have to visit, even if you have only one day. Take a vaporetto down the Grand Canal going past palaces and under the Rialto Bridge. Then walk into Piazza San Marco. Appreciate the Basilica and the Campanile and then walk to the edge of the lagoon to take in the view of San Giorgio Maggiore. Then stop somewhere with a view and have a pizza and a glass of your favourite tipple. To see Venice at all is better than not it ever.

I plan itineraries since I don’t want to have regrets after a visit, that I missed something I would have loved. I plan itineraries as if I will never return. I probably won’t. I plan itineraries to help me manage my physical limitations, ensuring that all walking I do is vital to my journey. But you don’t have to follow an itinerary to the letter, or worry if you did not complete it, since you will fit in the things that were vital. It is more important to keep your eyes open whilst you are there for that festival, temporary exhibition or little known attraction which might be a little gem. There can be some leeway within the plans.

So here is the planned itinerary next to the one I actually completed.

Transport

We flew into Marco Polo Airport with Ryan Air, bringing just Cabin luggage and a back pack each. From the airport, we took the airport Transfer Via Bus 5 bus which was one of those enormous bendy buses. Once in Venice, I activated seven day vaporetto passes to take us to the apartment. A vaporetto is a Venice water taxi. They are quite big boats which I imagine could take about 200 people. They regularly run to all places in Venice city. Single journeys on vaporettos are €9.50 for up to 75 minutes and a single day ticket costs €25. So €65 for a 7 day pass starts to feel better value for money. As I planned to go out to the Islands like Murano, the Lido and Giorgio Maggiore as well as the transfers to the apartment, it had to be done for my itinerary. It felt vital for freedom and to save my walking. The vaporetto ticket duration is why we stayed for 6 nights, 7 days.

Prices for the vaporetto in 2026 are below. You can buy these at the airport and also as you arrive at Venice. However, if you down load the AVM Venetzia Offical app, you can buy a combined ticket- Automotive + Navigation. €72 for a single journey from the airport on the bendy bus and a seven day vaporetto pass, and €78 for a return airport ticket. Make sure to get each member of your party that can to down load their own app and ticket. It makes it much easier when you need to scan in to use.

We were moving onto to Verona after Venice, rather than going home, so I only bought a single way ticket. At the end of our time in Venice, we took the bus to the Flix bus stop and used that form of transport to reach our next destination. It is the first time that I have used a Flix bus, and this was only because there were issues with the trains that day. The bus was delayed, and so we stood on a hot street for longer than I would have liked, yet I would consider using this form of transport for anyone on a budget. The buses are comfortable and move fast. Though as they use the motorways, it cannot be considered a sight seeing trip. Other buses at the stop were going to places like Ljubljana, the capital city of Slovenia nearly 250km away. It got me thinking about a multi capital city Eastern European adventure by Flix bus, but that is another dream.

ACTV Vaporetto Ticket – Prices 2026

Ticket	Validity	Price	Tip
One-way ticket	75 minutes	9,50 €	For a single trip
24-hour pass	24 hours	25,00 €	3 trips+
48-hour pass	48 hours	35,00 €	Weekend trip
72-hour pass	72 hours	45,00 €	Weekend+
7-day pass	168 hours	65,00 €	From 4 days

Accommodation

I am always on a budget, but have such a list of specific requirements, that sometimes the budget needs to be expanded to accommodate my needs. This was the case with choosing where I would stay in Venice. There were cheaper choices, a little way out, or even on the mainland, but I wanted to be as central as possible. I was worried about the amount of time wasted having to get vaporettos. So, after weeks of agonised searching, I decided upon my accommodation. It was perfectly located on Calle Marcello, 10 minutes walk to San Marco Square in the south, 10 minutes walk to Rialto Bridge, 10 minutes walk to the north of the city, various vaporetto stops available in each of these locations. With what I now know, I think that I would consider any accommodation within 5-10 minutes of a vaporetto stop on the Grand Canal, but a decision had to be made.

This accommodation caught my eye due to the beautiful balcony. I am always in hope of some outdoor space, but wasn’t sure that I could achieve it for my budget and location. Yet, finding this option caused days of indecision, since to get outside space in this area, you need to climb many stairs. They are old buildings. The balconies are on at least the third floor or even higher. There aren’t lifts. In addition, the steps are very crumbly and steep. This is stated clearly on the listings, so there is no deception, but this caused quite a bit of anxiety over my choice. Would I even manage to get up the stairs after a full day of walking? What were the stairs even really like? Try googling “traditional Venezian staircase” and it doesn’t help. But the location and the balcony won, so despite my reservations, I booked it anyway.

The apartment was spread over the third and fourth floors, the bedrooms downstairs and living room, kitchen and balcony above. It was not particularly modern and fresh, yet it was big enough for four adults, was clean and well equipped, had two bathrooms, and Paola, the host, was very attentive. The balcony was lovely, especially for breakfast in the morning.

There was a supermarket just across the alley which made eating in the accommodation, especially for lunch, very easy, therefore saving some money. This is something we couldn’t have done if the apartment had been further away and gave us an hour or two of rest before venturing out some more.

The stairs were hard, especially after a day of walking; there is no denying this, and the building’s stairs were quite run down and uneven compared to the staircase within the apartment. Every day, after climbing the building stairs, I laid on the bed for 10 minutes before climbing the last set up to the living area. But I did manage it. I made it up there every time. Having small suitcases, and a strong son, made it easier to get our belongings up the stairs on our arrival though, some people on reviews I had read did complain about this. I am glad I didn’t have to get my own luggage up there.

Airbnb- Calle Marcello, San Marco

https://www.airbnb.co.uk/rooms/49539535?source_impression_id=p3_1784479453_P34d56XMOIxrppTT#availability-calendar

Food and Drink

I am not going to give detailed information about place to eat out in Venice. It is very much going to depend upon your budget, accommodation location, and where you are when you get hungry. As you can imagine there are thousands of options for eating out, but as you can also imagine, eating out in Venice is not cheap. The cheaper options are pizzas- both eat in and take out. Pasta was more expensive than I had expected, sometimes even twice the price of pizza, which I was disappointed about. I had heard about cicchetti- the Italian tapas of bread with a topping. They were reasonably priced, but the ones I tried were not astonishing and certainly not exactly filling. One of the best options for variety on a budget was the “il menù del giorno”- the menu of the day. Look out for the menu boards outside restaurants. Google translate becomes your best friend.

Where did I go? What did I see?

San Marco District

The popular advice for visiting Venice is to explore and get lost, a different area each time. I totally agree. I can imagine that is perfect for most people. The surprise when you find a beautiful square, a lovely part of the canal or a bridge that seems barely attached. But this concept does not work for me. I cannot wander aimlessly. I will give up before I see anything at all and that will cause disappointment. I needed to plan a route that would show me lots, but keep walking to an absolute minimum. The fact that I have a planned route that I intend to complete keeps me walking until I finish it. I cannot give up. I wanted to see important buildings, canals, bridges and squares. This is my itinerary for a walking tour of San Marco. I actually didn’t complete this on the first night as I had planned. We were tired and it was later than I had thought. It was done later in the visit instead. The Palazzo Contarini del Bolovo is down an empty alley but must not be missed! What an astonishing building.

San Marco- Optional walking tour route-

2.7km- Rialto Bridge- to St Mark’s Square

• Rialto Bridge
• Campo San Salvador
• Palazzo Contarini del Bovolo
• Campo Sant Angelo
• Campo Santo Stephano
• Palazzo Zaguri
• Chiesa di Santa Maria del Giglio
• Campo San Moise
• Piazza San Marco

Campo Santi Giovanna e Paolo

This pretty square was close to our apartment and had a good selection of food options at a more reasonable price than places nearer to Piazza San Marco. It was a favourite evening choice.

Piazza San Marco

The iconic Piazza San Marco- St Mark’s Square, must not be missed even on the shortest of visit. You can approach it from many directions through small enclosed passageways, almost not realising that you have arrived until you are there. Otherwise, you can approach from the lagoon, taking in the Bridge of Sighs and the promenade Riva degli Schiavoni. It is vast. Understanding that it floods during winter high tides is mind boggling despite the evidence pictured on postcards of gondolas floating within the square. You will find yourself standing still and looking around before you even remember to reach for your camera. Your attention is drawn to the Basilica and clock tower on one end before you then get sucked into watching the classical singer or musicians playing outside Caffe Florian. Friends of mine have said that you can get a coffee for a half reasonable price next door to this ancient establishment, though we did not partake of any refreshment here. Just off to one side are streets full of the best designer stores. 100m further on and life returns to normal Venice.

A tour of Piazza San Marco

1. St. Mark’s Square The buildings surrounding the square are mostly former government offices that were in charge of Venetian trading outposts. Napoleon once called St. Mark’s Square “the most beautiful drawing room in Europe,”. But, after dark, the lamplight really reveals how little has changed about this location throughout the centuries.

2. Caffe Florian Caffe Florian, located on the Southern end of the square, has been around since 1720, famous people Casanova and Charles Dickens have all dined here.

3. Caffe Quadri Caffe Quadri is on the opposite side of the square, and they have also hosted several notable guests including Stendahl and Richard Wagner.

4. St. Mark’s Basilica- 92 meter (300 ft.) tall bell tower to the right of the structure.

5. Torre dell’Orologio To the left of St. Mark’s Basilica, and it dates back to about 1500. At the top of the tower, you’ll see two bronze Moors. These were initially intended to be giants, but after the metal darkened over the centuries, they were given a different cultural background. The clock tower also has a winged lion, the symbol of St. Mark, which holds an opened book reading “peace be with you, Mark.” At the top of each hour, the moors swing their clappers. The dial of the clock shows all 24 hours, the zodiac, and even the phases of the moon at its center.

6. Campanile/Bell Tower Located near the center of the square and opposite the astronomical clock, the campanile was once actually the lighthouse which guarded the entrance to the Grand Canal. The bell tower you see today is not the original structure, as the first campanile fell in 1902. There is a lift which will take you to the top for excellent views of the city. opens every day from 9.30am to 9.15pm

7-9. Doge’s Palace Located to the right of St. Mark’s Basilica, this pink Venetian Gothic building housed the government of the Venetian empire and has also served as the home of the Duke (or Doge). It is said that from 1150 – 1550, this was the most powerful location in Europe, despite its lacy and unprotected surroundings. The palace was intentionally built this way to show that the Doge was an elected official and he had nothing to fear from his citizens. Its walls are lined with beautiful works of art from famous artists.

10 Piazzetta This is the small square between St. Mark’s Basilica and the San Marco Basin. Includes the Tetrarchs at the gate of the Doge’s Palace, the 7th Column of the palace, the San Marco Column, and the San Theodore Column. Those last two columns were once taken from Constantinople and in the past they were used as execution sites for criminals. San Marco Bacino Lagoon You’ll find this stop just south of the Piazzetta, it’s the Saint Marc Basin. Today, there is a tidal barrier to allow gondola’s to dock here.It’s the site of a special celebration in which the Doge would board a boat and head out to the lagoon to perform a ritual in which he would toss a ring into the water. The ring was a symbol of the marriage between Venice and its waters, an offering to reaffirm that connection. The lagoon is 212 sq miles, and it’s home to many other islands. Although it is big, it is also quite shallow, and you could technically walk across most of it.

11. Bridge of Sighs (Ponte dei Sospiri)Head to the bridge just beyond the Doge’s Palace to get a good look at this historic site by looking inland to the next bridge on the canal. The Bridge of Sighs connects the palace with the prison. The reality was likely far different than this romanticized version of events. But, leave it to a poet like Lord Byron to give this bridge a wistful name despite its dark history.

Museums in Piazza San Marco

There are a number of Museums in Piazza San Marco. Depending on your interests, you may wish to visit some of them. I didn’t go to any of these.

Museo di San Marco: Located inside St. Mark’s Basilica, above the narthex. Highlights include up-close views of the church’s golden mosaics, stunning tapestries, and the original bronze Quadriga (the Horses of Saint Mark) that were once on the basilica’s exterior facade.
Museo Correr: Situated in the Napoleonic Wing, this museum details the art and history of Venice from its founding through to the 19th century. It features an extensive collection of neoclassical sculptures by Antonio Canova and a rich picture gallery.
National Archaeological Museum (Museo Archeologico Nazionale): Located right next to the Correr Museum, this site houses a remarkable collection of ancient Greek and Roman sculptures, ceramics, and coins.
Monumental Rooms of the Marciana National Library: Access from the Correr Museum leads to the breathtaking Libreria Sansoviniana, a masterpiece of Renaissance architecture featuring magnificent ceiling frescoes by Titian and Tintoretto

Doge Palace and Secret Itineraries Tour

I love a back stage tour. I love to go into the secret bits of old buildings where most people don’t get to go. I get to do this in parts of my work- cellars, attics, storerooms, doors that say “no entry” or “staff only”. I know I am not the only person who goes there, but I like being one of the select few. Some of these “secret” places are very boring, outdated modern staffrooms. Others are fascinating. I always seek out that behind the scenes experience. Hence, I booked the Doge Palace Secret Itineraries Tour.

This tour of passages and rooms of a more simple and secret nature, compared to the opulent setting of the main palace, was worth it for me. We saw places where prisoners were held, including Casanova, and where secret meetings were convened. You are given the history of the Doge’s of Venice. Once finished, you find yourself within the main parts of the palace that the tourists generally see. During this part of the visit, I was very excited to be able to go over the Bridge of Sighs and see the canal from inside of the bridge. The whole visit made for an interesting morning. In my opinion, a visit to the Doge’s Palace is essential in any trip to Venice of more than a couple of days. If you want to do the Secret Passage’s tour, you will have to book in advance as it does get very booked up.

Basilica di San Marco

This is one of the oldest churches in all of Europe, dating back to 1063, named after St. Mark, who wrote the story of Jesus in the bible. Mark’s remains are said to be buried under the main altar in the basilica. But, the remains of whoever was inside the tomb burned in a fire almost 1000 years ago. Despite its age, this is actually the most recent church founded in Venice.

It costs €10 for an adult to visit and tickets have to be bought from the website in advance. I am not sure that at busy times you would be allowed to visit if you just turn up. A few days in advance you can buy afternoon tickets. Morning tickets are sold out weeks in advance. It is possible to see also the Pala d’Oro- (a golden screen) (supplement: 5 €) and the Museum – Loggia dei Cavalli (supplement: 7 €). Some people say that going to the museum is a good way to see St Mark’s square from a higher level within the basilica but we didn’t do this additional option.

It is an impressive building, outside and in, and was essential in my itinerary but can be skipped if time is tight.

Campanile di San Marco

This is the clock tower in Piazza San Marco. It was exactly as expected with a fast lift to the top. The view from the top is legendary. You do need to book but we actually managed to book afternoon tickets on the morning of the same day, even in August. It costs €15 per adult. It is not essential to a visit, but in my opinion you need to go up one of the clock towers and see Venice from this angle. That experience is not to be missed.

Rialto Bridge

Depending on where to choose to stay, you will not really need to make a special planned visit here, as you will cross it many times during your other adventures. However, if you do get chance to arrive in the morning, do make the effort to visit the market for a chance to see how the Venetians feed themselves. The produce did not tempt me due to the number of flies and the fact that I had already eaten breakfast, but it is fascinating nevertheless.

Teatro Le Fenice

Teatro La Fenice is a historic opera house in Venice, Italy. It is one of “the most famous and renowned landmarks in the history of Italian theatre” and in the history of opera as a whole. This was a very late decision once we realised that we had managed to pack in all my itinerary and didn’t want to leave Venice on the final day. It is undoubtedly a beautiful building, rebuilt lovingly after a fire in 1996. It is fresh and new, but true to it’s origins. I enjoyed this visit as I do love a building that is ridiculously over the top in opulence. It costs €15 per adult for a visit.

San Polo District

Below are the destinations I decided upon for a short tour of San Polo district. Again starting from Rialto Bridge on the Grand Canal this is only about 1.5km, so not too difficult. My family finished this walk by visiting the Da Vinci interactive Museum. I walked to Palazzo Mocenigo instead. We didn’t go into Santa Maria Gloriosa Dei Frari, but that is an option if you love churches. It is worth noting that some churches are paid for and some are free. You can buy a multi- ticket for many of the paid churches if that interests you.

• Rialto Bridge
• Campo San Silvestro
• Campo San Polo
• Basilica of Santa Maria Gloriosa Dei Frari- 9-7.30 weekdays- €5
• Da Vinci interactive Museum
• Scuola Grand San Giovanni  Evangelista di Venezia

Da Vinci Museums

There is more than one Da Vinci attraction in Venice. It seems that he is quite a money spinner. My family went to the interactive one near the Basilica S.Maria Gloriosa dei Frari which got the best google ratings. It wasn’t the highlight of the trip but they like that sort of thing and were happy with it.

https://www.interactivedavincimuseum.com

Palazzo Mocenigo

On the other hand, I preferred the idea of the museum of Palazzio Mocenigo which I had read specializes in costume and perfume. It is very much a don’t touch, don’t breathe, don’t make a noise type of place. It is not a comfortable place to be. I was very disappointed by my uncomfortable visit pursued by the grumpy security guard. I had no idea I looked so scary and threatening! There is a big staircase to climb in order to visit so it is not suitable for mobility issues. The highlight for me was the video of perfume production in Venice, but I cannot recommend this place.

https://mocenigo.visitmuve.it/en/pianifica-la-tua-visita/opening-times

Cannaregio District

Cannaregio is a vibrant, largely residential district in Venice known for the historic Jewish Ghetto, the Venice Santa Lucia railway station, and a quiet, local atmosphere. It has quite a different vibe to other parts of Venice. I nearly took the cheaper option to stay in this district and was very interested to see what it was like. The points below will give you a suitable route from Rialto Bridge of 2.6km length, containing many interesting canals, bridges, buildings and squares. We stopped for a beer off Strada Nova and had a menu of the day meal in Ghetto Vecchio to break up the walking, returning via a vaporetto on the Grand Canal.

• Rialto Bridge
• Campo Santi Apostoli
• Strada Nova- shopping street
• Fondamenta della Maddalena
• Campo di Ghetto Nuovo
• Ghetto Ebraico
• Ponte delle Guglie
• Campo San Geremia
• Ponte degli Scalzi
• Ferrovia- vaporetto stop

Castello District

The Arsenale

The Arsenale of Venice is a massive historic complex of shipyards and armories, many hundreds of years old. Some of this area is still under the control of the military but other parts are used for exhibitions and as a Naval Museum.

Arsenale Nord

This part of the Arsenal is accessed only from the north of Venice, either by walking, or, as we did, by vaporetto to Bacini- Arsenale Nord. I don’t think this visit is essential, especially if time is tight, unless you have a massive interest in shipyards, but for us, as I had decided to give my teenagers some down time and take my husband over to the beach on the Lido di Venezia, this was a stop on the way. I had seen pictures of the hands sculpture and wanted to see it for myself. It did involve quite a bit of walking so if that is an issue then this visit is not for you.

Building Bridges (2019): Six pairs of monumental hands arching 50 feet over the water at the Arsenale (the historic shipyard in Venice’s Castello District). Each pair represents a universal human value, such as love, hope, and friendship. It was created by Italian artist Lorenzo Quinn

Arsenale Sud

This part of the Arsenale can be access from the south of Venice potentially along the promenade, Riva degli Schiavoni, if coming from Piazza San Marco. There is an elaborate gate, an entrance to the Arsenale and close by is the Naval Museum. Again this visit is not essential for a one day visit but is quite impressive to see.

Naval Museum

This museum is very much an “Are you interested?” type of space. It is massive with numerous floor of exhibits from full size boats and gondolas to models, artifacts and paintings. You could spend several hours here and even a quick visit will not be very quick. I don’t think it is essential Venice, but it is certainly an impressive collection. I enjoyed seeing the ceremonial gondolas including one specifically for funerals. I was really tired of walking by this point of the trip and was pleased to find that it was well supplied with seating to take a break. It was also cooler than being outside so is a middle of the day in summer option. There were some lifts to the upper floors, though I think I remember that one lift was broken, so maybe check before visiting if that is a requirement for you. It is not open every day so check this information too before your visit.

The Islands

Visiting the Venetian Islands was always going to be essential for my itinerary. I knew about Murano due to some glass beads I had for my favourite bracelet. I saw pictures of Burano and it’s colourful houses along the canal and dreamed of going there. I began to research all the possibilities, fighting my intense urge to visit them all due to my completist nature. Narrowing down the list had to be done. Decisions had to be made. I decided on San Giorgio Maggiore which I will talk about later, and Murano and Burano as a full day trip, with Torcello as back up in the unlikely case that we completed everything much faster than I had expected.

It turned out to be a very tough day. Not a day that I regret, but just really hard! The vaporettos we had used up to this point up and down the Grand Canal and over to the Lido had been busy, it was August, peak season, but we had pretty much always got on and there was usually another one within 10-15 minutes. But the Burano/Murano vaporetto is less frequent and much busier. The vaporetto terminals are a scrum of hundreds of people with no system or order and a wait of half an hour in the heat of the day for the next boat if you don’t get on the one that has just arrived. Italian people prefer to occupy multiple seats with each of their small children rather than allowing a seat to walking stick clinging tourist. My mistake was that I had my “free” vaporetto ticket and I was determined to use it.

I think if I had to do the trip again, I would do one of the following:

1. I would get up at the crack of dawn and be heading home at lunchtime, a move that would beat the late afternoon exodus.
2. Or I might have considered paying a little extra and booking a “trip” to these places, rather than going independently. “Get your guide” have some options that show you what I mean and don’t seem to be ridiculously priced. This option is £17 pp and might not give you long on the Islands but is worth considering. https://www.getyourguide.com/en-gb/venice-l35/boat-excursion-to-murano-burano-torcello-islands-t6853/?ranking_uuid=b75d0df4-ade7-4cbb-98ed-df994b58c259&q=Murano

Murano

Murano is pretty and full of glass shops. If you want a small piece of authentic Murano glass, then you have to get it from the place itself. I had read that master glass artisans open studio doors to give tourists a select glimpse into their secretive workshops with organized, behind-the-scenes experiences and that you didn’t necessarily have to pay for the privilege. But none of the ones that I had read about seemed to even have a fired up furnace never mind a master glassmaker at work, so we ignored the bad reviews and paid €5 for the demonstration at the Original Murano glass. It was very short experience, but did not break the bank, and I am glad I did it to see a glass maker at work. They got my custom in their shop to buy a simple but pretty pendant.

Burano

On to Burano, a mini version of Venice, with a rainbow of brightly coloured houses lining picture-perfect canals. Burano, like most of the outlying islands, is a microcosm of locals who have grown up with one another for generations and for generations have been making its famous lace products by hand. I could not be persuaded that the Lace Museum was worth our time so we wandered instead. We ate pizza at a place beside the canal, though be aware that most of the restaurants are only open during the daytime and close at teatime. so do some research if you are hoping to stay after dark for a meal.

Torcello

The biggest problem came when we tried to catch the vaporetto home from Burano to be greeted at the vaporetto stop by a horde of people large enough to involve maybe 1-2 hours of waiting. I couldn’t face it. I wasn’t even sure I could stand for 2 hours within a crush of people. Having already eaten, we weren’t in a rush to get back so we took a different choice. We went in the other direction, to Torcello.

We only spent an hour so on this island, but we were pleased we did. So very different from the other two. Quiet, peaceful, my son’s favourite by far. Located on the northern edge of the lagoon, one of the most remote islands in the Venetian archipelago and the oldest that has been continually populated — in fact, its origin story predates Venice. Once a busy settlement, today Torcello is sparsely populated. From the vaporetto stop, walk along the canal at least to the bridge- the Ponte del Diavolo. If you can, then continue to the seventh-century Cathedral of Santa Maria dell’Assunta with its beautifully preserved Byzantine mosaics and a head-spinning bell tower that overlooks Burano. If you are done with walking, return slightly toward the ferry stop and find a seat and a beverage at Taverna Tipica Veneziana. Don’t forget to visit the farm animals at the rear of this establishment.

On catching the return vaporetto, it was still very busy having picked up at one of the other islands. There was no seating left and I suffered a painful ride home standing all the time, but the queue at the vaporetto stop had been minimal and I had just been sat down at the Taverna, so it felt like the detour had been well worth it. I didn’t feel like we wasted any time as we probably got back to Venice at a similar time we might have done anyway and we had got to tick off another part of my itinerary which turned out to be quite special. A believe that a visit to the islands in some form should be part of any Venice itinerary of 2+ days.

San Giorgio Maggiore

Now made famous as the venue for the wedding of Jeff Bezos, San Giorgio is the little island with the bell tower that you can see from any view point across the lagoon from the south side of Venice. We had the vaporetto tickets to use and my son had put climbing this bell tower on his bucket list for Venice due to it featuring on one of his favourite TV shows- Jojo’s bizarre adventure. It is a very quick ride across to the island and the vaporettos are very frequent. I enjoyed being out on the Venetian Lagoon where there is a lot to see; that felt like an experience in itself. Vaporetto Line 2 departs from St Mark’s Square (San Zaccaria stop).

Dominated by the San Giorgio Maggiore church, a multilevel marble landmark designed by Renaissance phenom Andrea Palladio, San Giorgio Maggiore seems to float impossibly in the middle of the Venetian lagoon. The basilica is a beautiful example of Venetian Renaissance architecture and is free to enter. The basilica houses two significant paintings by the Venetian master, Tintoretto: “The Last Supper” and “The Gathering of Manna”. You can walk the area in front of the Basilica with views back across to San Marco, but after that you will need to pay. Access to the bell tower costs €8 (€6 for students) and there is a lift. There is no need to book. You just need to check that it is open.

If you wish to see the Borges Labyrinth (a maze), Vatican Chapels within the woodland and Teatro Verde (outside theatre), the Palladio Cloister, the Longhena Library (at weekends) you will need to book one of the tours. The website is below. It depends on your interest, but personally it was not essential for me in time and money, so we visited the Basilica and went up the tower and then carried on to something else.

www.duva.eu/en/island-of-san-giorgio-maggiore/

Lido di Venezia

Something a bit different. I love a swim in the sea, even if sitting on a beach can be difficult since I refuse to pay the price of a sunbed for the hour or so I will be there and getting up off the floor is a challenge. That is why I usually pick those beach bar type places where you buy a drink and get to sit down for for free. This is also somewhere to leave any members of my family who don’t fancy a dip. Anyway, a visit to Venice doesn’t need to be just a city break, since the beach is just a vaporetto ride away. Once at the vaporetto stop, the private beach is just a 1km walk away along a street lined with shops and restaurants. This option will cost you the price of a drink or sunbed so it depends on how long you are staying. The free beach is further north, a 16 minute walk from the vaporetto. If you do decide to head that way you can even sit in a double decker bus to have some lunch (El Pecador). A beach trip is not essential to any visit to Venice but is a lovely change for any itinerary of 3+ days.

Additional Option- Dorsoduro District

I didn’t spend time in the Dorsoduro district apart from taking photos from the vaporetto at the bottom of the Grand Canal, but the following are the options which may be of interest to you, especially if you like art galleries (which I don’t).

• Peggy Guggenheim
• Academia
• Basilica of Santa Maria della Salute.

Tips for Visiting Venice

1. Luggage Do not take your large suitcase unless you are very sure that you have an easy transfer. You will regret it if you do. You will struggle to get on buses and the vaporetto. You will have to carry it over dozens of bridges. You will have to carry it up steep stairs within your apartment. Embrace minimalism and gain liberty and freedom. You will never look back, as luggage downsizing will become your new challenge.
2. Is going on a gondola on your bucket list? As of 2025, it will cost between €90 and €150 dependent on where you pick up the ride. It is essential Venice for many people; I do appreciate that. It can be romantic, but I had my adult boys with me! We spent the money on getting unlimited vaporetto passes instead, so that we could easily get around. Vaporettos are not romantic or iconic, but are very practical for someone whose walking is limited. I actually felt very sorry for those who had chosen to hire a vaporetto on the lagoon between San Marco and San Giorgio Maggiore at the the bottom of the Grand Canal. It actually seemed dangerous with the amount of larger powered boats using this stretch of water and I imagine the hirers might be quite seasick, due to the tidal swell. This would not be a sedate, romantic ride. I would have preferred a trip down the Grand Canal if we had decided to do this.
3. Audio guide Check out Rick Steve’s Audio tours- Grand Canal, St Mark’s Basilica and Square and Frari Church. https://www.ricksteves.com/watch-read-listen/audio/audio-tours/italy Listening to the Grand Canal tour turns a vaporetto trip down the Grand Canal into a guided boat tour for free.
4. Accessibility Venice is not ideal for wheelchairs in my opinion. I doubt anyone would disagree with this statement, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be done. If you search google for “Venice in a wheelchair” there are people who have done it and will tell you about it much better than I can, as, although I gratefully used a walking stick in places, I did not take my chair. In fact, if you follow the link below, the Venice city authority have created some wheelchair accessible itineraries and look like they are intending to plan more. Let me know if you use any of these suggestions, and how successful they were. So, I guess that it depends on how keen you are to visit Venice. There is usually a way for a determined traveller. https://www.veneziaunica.it/it/organizza-il-tuo-viaggio/venezia-accessibile