Cue the dreamy canal shots, Aperol spritzes on every corner, and getting just a little lost in those postcard-perfect alleyways. And honestly? You’re in for a treat.
But if your inbox looks anything like mine lately, you’ve probably got a million questions. From “Is Venice super touristy?” (spoiler: yes, but I’ll tell you how to make it magical anyway) to “Do I really need to book a gondola ride?”—my readers have been flooding me with all the Venice related questions you could imagine.
And honestly? I love it. So, I figured it was time to answer them all in one place.
This post is for you, the curious traveller, the spreadsheet-planner, the romantic dreamer and everyone in between.
Venice Reader Mailbag Vol 1
Let’s dive into your most-asked Venice questions, with zero fluff and all the juicy details I wish I knew before my first trips to the city.
Question #1
Got any tips for visiting your hometown—like where to stay, what to see, and how to get there from Venice?
My hometown is just under 1 hour away from Venice by train. If you arrive in Venice at Marco Polo airport or stay in Venice, the best way is to get a bus to Mestre train station and then a train to Castelfranco Veneto (the line with final destination Bassano del Grappa).
I recommend visiting the Duomo for the Pala del Giorgione, the Teatro Accademico, the Piazza Giorgione and go for a stroll down its porticoes (many shops and bars to go for breakfast or a drink). I recommed Bar Borsa for the unique location.
Then, I suggest having a meal at Osteria del Cuore to try traditional seasonal and regional cuisine. Go for cicchetti at Ostè and Corten inside the medieval city walls. Castelfranco is very small and it’s perfect for a half day trip from Venice.
Also, you can walk down Borgo Treviso until you reach Parco Bolasco and its villa, which it’s worth a visit. At the end of the day, the best thing to do is simply stroll around its squares and do window shopping.
In terms of accommodation options, I suggest staying at: Hotel alla Torre or Albergo Roma. I hope you’ll end up visiting my hometown during your Venice/Veneto trip.
Question #2
I’m all about discovering the quieter, more local side of Venice—any favourite neighbourhoods or spots?
Less popular areas in Venice historic centre are: Cannaregio – to visit Jewish Ghetto and walk along Fondamenta de la Misericordia, Castello for its local vibe, via Garibaldi, the boat market and Caffé La Serra, Riva dei Sette Martiri, Dorsoduro for art galleries, ateliers, artisan shops. I also recommend Sant’Elena, far from the crowds.
Although even parts of these areas are touristy, it’s very circumscribed to specific points, and you can really experience authentic Venice. My neighbourhood guides and walking maps are perfect to cover these areas, following an itinerary from someone like me that already spent a lot of time in Venice.
Just a quick vaporetto ride from Venice, you also can experience a more relaxed vibe and authenticity by visiting Giudecca and the Lido of Venice.
Question #3
We’ll be on our 9th trip to Venice soon and have seen most of the main attractions. Any quirky spots or offbeat experiences you’d recommend?
Have you already been to Giudecca island? I recommend in Cannaregio to have aperitivo along Fondamenta de la Misericordia and Ormesini, catch the sunset from Fondamenta San Giobbe, have lunch at Trattoria da’a Marisa, visit the church of Madonna dell’Orto to see 10 Tintoretto canvas.
Go to the island of Sant’Elena, San Pietro in Castello, Riva dei Sette Martiri and via Garibaldi in Castello. Have cicchetti at Ai Do Leoni, I loved them last time I was in Venice! Finally, go for an ombra de vin at Bacareto da Lele in Santa Croce, not far from the train and bus station.
For more ideas on non-touristy things, check this guide and consider getting my neighbourhood maps bundle, which includes all the best spots and things to do in each Venetian neighbourhood.
Question #4
Where can I find hidden Renaissance gems in Venice, away from the usual tourist spots?
The best Reinassance architecture you can see in Venice is:
- Scuola Grande di San Rocco
- Basilica del Redentore
- Ca’ Vendramin Calergi
- Ca’ Dario
- Ca’ d’Oro
More hidden Reinassance architecture:
- San Michele in Isola
- Santa Maria dei Miracoli
- Palazzo dei Camerlenghi
- Palazzo Grimani
- Palazzo Corner Spinelli
- Ca’ Foscari
- the inside of Santa Maria Formosa church
- San Francesco della Vigna
Question #5
What are some lovely out-of-the-way places to explore in Venice? And do you have a cicchetti tour you’d recommend?
Cannaregio along Fondamenta de la Misericordia and dei Ormesini, Riva dei Sette Martiri, Fondamenta Zattere, Osteria al Squero are some of my favourite out of way places to see in Venice.
I can recommend the cicchetti tour I did last summer because you have a variety of foods from cicchetti to small plates of traditional Venetian food, so it gives you a comprehensive experience. You also try sweets and pastries.
This is the street food tour I did. If you want to focus only on cicchetti, I recommend my bacari walking maps that you can download to your phone and follow along!
Question #6
Mass tourism has taken some of the magic out of Venice for me. On my next trip, would it be better to stay in a quieter sestiere or neighbourhood off the beaten path? And is there actually a best time to visit—or is it always busy these days?
Best time to visit is November, December and January to avoid crowds and experience a more relaxed Venice, emptied from most of the crazy summer crowds. I think any external side area of each sestiere already gives you a chance to take a breath from the crowds because as always, most tourists walk down the same streets. Some time ago, I created a “secret hotels” map and they are located in less beaten areas. Check the list and map out and see if you spot any interesting property!
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Question #7
Is there a beach in Venice where you can go for a swim, or is the Lido the nearest option?
No, there’s no beach where you can swim in Venice historic centre. Lido is the nearest beach, and the one with more selection of beach establishments.
Otherwise, Venetians head to Cavallino Treporti, Lido di Jesolo (one of Italy’s best beach resorts), Bacan on the island of Sant’Erasmo, Pellestrina quiet off the beaten path. Other beach towns near Venice worth visiting can be found on this guide.
Venice Reader Mailbag
Answering your Venice travel questions is important to me, and I hope you have found these answers useful and see the value in me choosing to share them.
Be sure to sign up for my newsletter for a chance to ask me anything about Venice.
More useful resources for your trip to Venice:
- Venice Water Bus guide
- Where to stay in Venice
- Street Food in Venice
- Non-touristy things to do in Venice
- Venice Neighbourhood Maps
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