Venice
Extraordinary, genuinely unlike anywhere else, and much smaller than people expect.
Italy · 2 nights
Venice has two entirely different personalities, and which one you get depends on one decision: whether you sleep there. Between about ten and five it belongs to the day-trippers and the cruise crowd, and it is exhausting. Before and after, it empties out and becomes the city people write about.
That is the whole argument for two nights rather than a day trip. One evening and one early morning is enough to see the version worth seeing, and Venice is small enough that two nights really does cover it.
Good for
- Couples and honeymoons
- Anyone who has already done Rome and Florence
- Photographers and early risers
- Short, high-impact stops
Suggested stay: 2 nights
Before you book
What people get wrong about Venice.
The practical things that change a trip, rather than a list of sights you can find anywhere.
Two nights, not a day trip
The day-trip version of Venice is the crowded one. The overnight version costs one extra hotel night and is a different city.
You will walk, and your luggage will not
There are no cars and there are a great many stepped bridges. Pack so you can carry it, or budget for a porter at the vaporetto stop.
Get lost on purpose, once
The back canals five minutes off the main routes are empty even in August. This is the single best thing you can do with a free afternoon here.
Acqua alta is a winter thing
High water is most likely between October and January. It is manageable and the raised walkways go up quickly, but it is worth knowing before you book a November trip.
From the road
Venice, as I found it.
Photographs from my own time in Venice. No stock, no borrowed shots.
What it pairs with
Florence, two hours away by fast train, or as the last stop before flying home from Marco Polo. Venice is a poor first stop in Italy and an excellent final one.
Questions
Venice, answered.
How many days do you need in Venice?
Two nights. That gives you one full day, one evening and one early morning, which is when the city is at its best. A third night is worth it only if you want to add Murano and Burano properly.
Is Venice worth it if it is so crowded?
Yes, and the crowding is largely a daytime problem created by day-trippers. Stay overnight, be out before nine and after six, and you will wonder what everyone was complaining about.
When is the best time to visit Venice?
Late April to early June, and late September into October. Avoid Carnival unless Carnival is the reason you are going, and expect high water to be a possibility from October onward.
Also worth your nights
Where else to look.
Thinking about Venice?
Tell me what you're picturing. I'll tell you honestly whether it works, and what I'd change.
30-minute consultation, no charge, no obligation.