Venice
Venice is a bucket-list city of canals, Gothic palaces, and Renaissance art that rewards savvy travelers who time their visit right and eat where locals eat. Shoulder season prices and a walkable (boat-free) lifestyle make it surprisingly accessible on a modest budget.
Why go to Venice
St. Mark's Basilica
A dazzling Byzantine masterpiece covered in 8,000 square meters of gold mosaics, free to enter the main nave.
Doge's Palace (Palazzo Ducale)
Opulent Gothic seat of Venetian power with secret passages, priceless Tintorettos, and the infamous Bridge of Sighs.
Grand Canal by Vaporetto Line 1
A slow-boat ride past 200 palaces is Venice's greatest show, and costs just a transit ticket.
Gallerie dell'Accademia
Italy's finest collection of Venetian painting, from Bellini to Veronese, in a former convent.
Rialto Market & Bridge
A 1,000-year-old market bursting with lagoon seafood and produce, the living, breathing heart of Venice.
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Good to know in Venice
- Transit: A 24-hour vaporetto pass costs ~$22 and covers unlimited water-bus rides; walking is almost always faster for short distances, Venice is only 3 miles tip to tip.
- Tipping: Not customary in Venice; a small rounding-up gesture (50 cents to $1) at a bacaro is appreciated but never expected.
- Tap water: Perfectly safe and plentiful, Venice's 'fontanelle' street fountains dispense free cold drinking water throughout the city, so skip bottled water entirely.
- Free-entry days: State museums (including the Accademia) offer free admission on the first Sunday of each month; arrive before 9 AM to beat the line.