Being in Venice, Italy is like walking around in a postcard. There is so much to see and do in Venice. Put on comfortable shoes and tackle this list! Here is my top 10 must-do list for Venice, Italy.
- Get Lost – No literally, go get lost amongst the canals. You will stumble upon beautiful neighborhoods, shops, and cafes. Don’t worry, Venice isn’t that big and it is surrounded by water, so you can’t get THAT lost.
- Take A Water Taxi – Tell your driver you just want him to drive you around the city. It will cost you around 80 euros, but you will get a fantastic tour of Venice by boat.
- Find Fresh Pasta and Eat It – Italy is known for pasta, but not every restaurant makes it fresh. Go to a restaurant that is further away from a tourist areas (i.e. not in Rialto or San Marco area) because the food will generally be better AND it will be more affordable.
- Visit the Farmers Market – It is amazing to see all the vendors and produce. It is also interesting to see what they do to artichokes! (Hint: They just keep the hearts)
- Drink an Aperol Spritz – They are a delicious alcoholic beverage that is orangish in color and is just as pretty to look at as it tastes. They are usually served in a big wine glass, but you can also find them bottled at most little markets throughout Venice.
- Eat Gelato – Gelato in Italy is truly the best thing on earth and not like gelato you can get in the states. TIP: the best gelato are at places where the gelato isn’t piled up high in it’s containers. You want a place where it is flat in the container. You will know what I’m talking about when you see it.
- Rialto – Visit the Rialto Bridge and the shopping area around, but be aware that it is super touristy. If you want to save money don’t buy anything from the shops around the area because if you walk inwards a couple blocks you can get it for much less.
- Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari – Built in 1338 and filled with history. Download the Rick Steeves audio tour for this. You won’t be disappointed.
- Wine – It’s Italy! Of course you have to drink red wine. A glass (or bottle) of red wine is quite affordable and you really can’t go wrong with any one you pick. They are pretty much all delicious.
- San Marco Basilica – When visiting St. Mark’s Square (San Marco) be sure to buy tickets and go inside San Marco Basilica. Download and listen to Rick Steves’ audio tour. It points out so much you would otherwise miss.
Venice is the perfect city to just wander around in. Whether you have 2 days or 2 weeks, you will fall in love with the city.
Emelia lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her husband and 7 year old daughter. Traveling is one of Emelia’s passions and has been taking her daughter along for the ride since she was a baby. Emelia loves to see new places and one of her favorite ways to do it is by running half and full marathons around the world. You can find her blog with all her adventures at Half Crazy Mama.
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