Ciao! I’m Maddy, from a small town just an hour from Venice. My love affair with this magical city began when I was a little girl, taking day trips here with my family.
Over the years, I’ve explored Venice from every angle: as a curious local, a student on a budget, a solo traveller, more recently with my small family, and now from abroad as a travel creator.
I know how to experience Venice through a local lens, avoiding the clichés, finding genuine moments, and understanding how the city works.
But on the other hand, I’m also a traveller like you: I book airport transfers, compare hotel options, search for places to eat and plan to maximise my time.
So when I talk about Venice, I’m speaking both as someone who knows it deeply and as someone who still experiences it like a visitor. And yes, I’ve asked myself on many occasions: is Venice overrated? Let’s talk honestly about this.
Is Venice Overrated? An Honest Guide
If you’re here reading this, you might have even already read a few strong opinions: some people find Venice magical, others think it’s a tourist trap with crowds, high prices, and underwhelming food. I believe that both sides have a point.
I decided to write this guide to help you understand why Venice can feel disappointing if you visit the wrong way, and how to flip that narrative entirely.
I’ll share what often turns people off (starting with overtourism, and you can read more in my overtourism guide for context), but also why I truly believe Venice is not overrated, if you visit with the right expectations, timing, and mindset.
You’ll leave with practical advice (and a couple of useful guides at the end), things to avoid, and reasons to come back, even if it’s not your first trip.
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7 Reasons Venice Isn’t Overrated
Here are 7 reasons why I think Venice is worth every moment…
1. The Art and Architecture are unlike anywhere else
Venice is a city where art isn’t confined to galleries. It’s literally everywhere. From churches and palaces to contemporary exhibitions and installations, the city constantly surprises even if you’ve been here several times.
There’s always something new to discover: international art events like the Biennale, small shows in restored palazzos, or thought-provoking installations in old warehouses and cloisters. Art here is alive and it’s part of Venice.
Even your hotel might be an art piece in itself. Some hotels are filled with frescoes or hidden courtyards, and places like the Teatro Italia supermarket in Cannaregio are a perfect example of how everyday spaces become living canvases.
But art in Venice also lives in its craftsmanship: mask makers, gondola repairers, bookbinders, and Murano glassblowers who keep centuries-old techniques alive.
Discovering this uniquely Venetian art form slowly, by connecting with the people behind the work, is an experience you won’t find anywhere else in the world.
2. Visiting off season is a game changer
If your only experience of Venice was on a weekend in the middle of July, I get it, it probably felt chaotic. Chaos will ruin your image of Venice. Instead come in November, December, or January, and you’ll see a completely different side.
Locals return to the streets, you can hear the sound of church bells again, and restaurants don’t have lines out the door. You can really connect with the city in a unique way by experiencing its spaces in a more relaxed, focused way.
Yes, it’s true that Venice in winter might be foggy and cold, but if that ‘s the price to pay to really enjoy the city, I would really consider making this small sacrifice.
3. Slow travel is the best way to appreciate Venice
What have I identified as one of the biggest mistakes travellers make when visting? Trying to tightly squeeze Venice into 24 hours or in some cases, even less.
It’s funny how they say “I’m glad I haven’t spent more than a day in Venice” and then the experience they had is all about not knowing where to go, do and ending in all the typical touristy places.
With just a day (if not less), you’ll spend most of that time navigating crowds and checking off landmarks without really seeing anything.
If you can afford yourself at least 3 days in Venice, you can explore beyond the obvious, take boat rides to nearby islands, try more local food, and genuinely rest.
You start noticing daily rhythms: laundry hanging out to dry, locals chatting at their regular bacaro, and Venice begins to feel less like a postcard and more like a place with soul.
4. The Food and Wine Deserve More Credit
Venetian cuisine is often misunderstood. Yes, there are overpriced tourist menus, but there’s also incredible food if you know where to go.
This cuisine can offer a variety of seasonal seafood pasta dishes, unique dishes to the Veneto region like risottos, both white and red local wines, and of course, the cicchetti that you can accompany with a glass of Spritz (which was born in Venice, did you know?).
The bacari culture on its own, it’s an experience you can’t find anywhere else. Hopping from one spot to another with a spritz or ombra (small glass of wine) in hand, is one of the best ways to experience the city.
Ah, it’s called bacaro tour, and you can either join a food tour or do your very own bacaro tour. I will explain to you how to achieve that here so you can have a go.
Once you’ve had baccalà mantecato on warm polenta with a glass of Prosecco in a quiet campo, you’ll understand.
You can dive into the Venetian cuisine and learn a bit of history, menu structure and what to eat, get access to my food maps with the Venice Food Handbook.
5. There Are Places (Almost) Untouched by Tourism
Venice isn’t just Rialto and St. Mark’s Square. Walk 15 minutes, sometimes even less, in any direction and you’ll find neighbourhoods where locals live, shop, and eat.
Places like Sant’Elena, San Pietro di Castello, and parts of Cannaregio feel worlds away from the busy routes.
I often think these areas deserve more love, not in a way that overwhelms them, but to support small businesses and give travellers a more balanced view.
You’ll eat better, spend less, and experience something far more memorable. If you don’t know where to start, you can get my Venice Unlocked Visitor Map and the Venice neighbourhood maps which help you navigate less beaten areas.
My maps are there to help you so you don’t waste precious time (especially if you have a limited days) and feel more comfortable in leaving the “safe” touristy zone.
6. Planning Makes a Huge Difference
Venice isn’t a city you can just visit hastily, not if you want to enjoy it. If you’ve only got 2 days, be honest about what you can realistically see.
Don’t try to fit in every museum, island, and gondola ride. Choose what matters to you. If you give the chance to be experienced as it should (and deserves), you’ll keep coming back.
There’s nothing quite like feeling so connected to a place that you just want to relive everything it made you feel.
If you’re coming from far away like the US, Canada or Australia, consider a longer stay. If you’re visiting from elsewhere in Europe, maybe plan to come back in a different season.
Having an itinerary and setting realistic expectations turns a stressful trip into an unforgettable one. If you need help, you can always reach out to me here or book a call so we can discuss anything you have in mind.
7. The Right Resources Make the City Shine
Whether it’s booking a walking tour with a licensed guide, reading trustworthy blogs, or downloading a map that shows you the best bacari, the more prepared you are, the better your experience will be.
Venice is layered, and without guidance, it’s easy to get lost in the wrong way. But with a bit of planning, you’ll find stories, flavours, and views you’ll want to come back for, and maybe even not share, just to keep them special.
My final thoughts
Venice isn’t overrated but it’s often misunderstood. It’s delicate, complex, and yes, sometimes overwhelming. But when you approach it the right way, it’s one of the most rewarding places you’ll ever visit.
Do you want to dig deeper? My guides will help you plan smarter:
- Worst time to visit Venice
- First time in Venice: Travel tips for beginners
- Planning a trip to Venice: 10 things to know
- Non touristy things to do in Venice
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