Today Silvia and I are sharing our top tips for exploring Venice the Venetian way from our trip to Venice in July this year. Even though it was a short trip, we managed to pack quite a lot in just 2 days and we are pleased to present to you the best things to do in Venice and our recommendations for discovering this mesmerising city.
- Travel by water taxi
Whenever I mentioned to anyone that I was going to visit Venice, the first thing I would hear was that I just had to experience a gondola ride. I’m not particularly interested in cliché things to do when travelling so personally I would prefer to admire gondolas from afar and definitely would not want to get into one (they look a bit unstable and I can’t swim!). Yes, they are absolutely iconic and steering one is a form of art passed down from generation to generation, but they are very slow and not practical when you actually need to get somewhere fast.
Did you know that there is a much faster and arguably cheaper and more fun way to get around Venice and explore this beautiful city by water? Silvia and I highly recommend getting a ride in a water taxi (taxi acqeo in Italian). You can spot these water taxis with polished wood exterior docked along the water taxi stations along the Grand Canal. They do come with a quite high price tag of EUR 60-70 for a ride from the Venice train station to the Guggenheim Museum for example but if you are travelling in a group then it will work out much cheaper as the price is per ride, not per person.
2. Experience staying in a local palazzetto
When choosing a place to stay it is tempting to book a stay at a familiar hotel chain and enjoy the luxuries of a five-star hotel. But if you want to really immerse yourself in the culture and history of the place, then you would really enjoy staying at a guest house-style palazzetto hotel. Silvia picked Palazzetto Pisani, a cute palazzetto full of history conveniently situated directly opposite the Peggy Guggenheim museum across the Grand Canal.
The rooms are very simple and quaint with original Venetian décor details and they evoke a feeling of staying at someone’s house rather than at a hotel. If you come in the summer, be prepared to have the fan on all night as there is no AC and it can get very hot, especially in July and August. Coming from Dubai with AC available everywhere, it took some getting used to but the fan definitely helped!
The room we were staying in was spacious with generous storage space and 2 wardrobes. It also had a good-sized ensuite bathroom. Some rooms have balconies so if you would like to have one, please request it in advance to avoid disappointment.
Palazzetto Pisani is an authentic historical palazzo and we highly recommend visiting the Noble Floor to learn more about its history from the décor details and the friendly staff. The highlight of the Noble Floor is Salone del Doge, an elegant salon with two spectacular balconies overlooking the Grand Canal with views of the Guggenheim Museum and the Basilica della Madonna della Salute.
3. Have breakfast the local way
Forget the sumptuous breakfast buffets and lavish breakfasts at five-star hotels – if you want to have a simple yet delicious breakfast, head to one of the hidden narrow streets away from the tourist traps in Piazza San Marco and have a cappuccino with a pastry and freshly squeezed orange juice al fresco, weather permitting.
We highly recommend Rosa Salva steps away from Piazza San Marco. We had a wonderful experience and will definitely be back!
Be careful of the local pigeons though when eating outside and do not leave your breakfast (or any food for that matter) unattended even for a second anywhere in Venice unless you want to share it!
4. Experience a gondola ride
You might think that I am contradicting what I said in the introduction about not being interested in doing touristy activities in Venice such as very expensive gondola rides aimed at unsuspecting tourists. Don’t worry, what we are suggesting is not exactly that!
Ask anyone in Venice about the most famous local bookstore and you will definitely hear Libreria Acqua Alta. This unusual bookstore is located only a short walk from the Piazza San Marco and inside you will discover a treasure trove of books about Venetian history, culture and art uniquely displayed in gondolas and barrels.
Speaking of gondolas, if you follow a narrow labyrinth of bookshelves to the right from the entrance, you will find a gondola permanently docked at the bookstore for the visitors to take photos.
As evidenced in our photos below, it looks like we actually experienced a gondola ride and the photos look very realistic. While there is no fee charged for taking photos with the gondola or anywhere else in the bookstore, we highly encourage anyone who visits to purchase a book or two from the store. Many of the books are in Italian, however there is a good selection of books in English (I got both!).
Much to all cat lovers’ delight, several cute pampered cats roam free around the bookstore. While they certainly appreciate the attention, it is important to be respectful to the majestic felines and leave them alone if they do not wish to socialise.
5. Enjoy an exquisite dinner at The Gritti Palace
Italy is famous for its exquisite cuisine so here is no shortage of great places to have an outstanding dinner in Venice for any budget. However, if you want to celebrate a special occasion or just have a sophisticated dining experience, we highly recommend visiting the Gritti Palace.
The fine dining restaurant – the Gritti Terrace – is extremely popular with tourists and the locals alike, so booking in advance is highly recommended to avoid disappointment. It features a spacious terrace (open from April through October) offering stunning views of the Grand Canal and the Basilica.
There is a great choice of carefully curated dishes on the menu so making your pick is not the easiest of tasks. If you want to try something a Venetian would go for, you can’t go wrong with a risotto. The Gritti Terrace has the most delicious Hemingway style risotto with scampi, it is a must-try!
I was very impressed with the service and our very attentive waiter recommending a virgin Rossini after seeing that I was looking for something non-alcoholic. Given that we visited Venice in July, it was the strawberry season and the drink was wonderful, full of flavour and very refreshing.
6. Shop for perfumes at The Merchant of Venice
If you are a perfume lover, you have probably heard of The Merchant of Venice. This sophisticated Venetian perfume brand is available at the Fashion Avenue of the Dubai Mall, however it is much cheaper in Italy and the stores are much more opulent there, not to mention that you can find a significantly wider selection of products.
They have several boutiques in Venice but we highly recommend visiting the flagship store in the heart of Venice, just a short walk from Teatro La Fenice. The interior décor is a work of art and reflects the brand’s roots in the ancient Venetian art of perfumery.
There are so many delightful and elegant perfumes to choose from, it is impossible to leave without buying something! One of our all-time favourite recommendations are Rosa Moceniga from the Murano Collection and Arabesque from the Murano Exclusive collection. You can also get their handy trial kit with 6 spray perfumes to try most of the Murano Collection. Aside from perfumes, there is a good selection of skincare products from the brand.
7. Explore the local museums
Venice is famous for its museums, however if you are only visiting for a couple of days, we recommend visiting the Peggy Guggenheim Museum and the Palazzo Mocenigo.
The Peggy Guggenheim collection is a must for anyone who loves and appreciates modern art. Peggy dedicated herself to the collection and made it her life’s work, and now it is one of the most important museums of European and American art of the 20th century. At Guggenheim Venice, you will find a curated selection of masterpieces by Dali, Picasso, Pollock, Magritte, to name a few.
Once you have discovered the entire collection, you can take in the picturesque views of the Grand Canal from the terrace, take a walk and explore the grounds or enjoy a macchiato at the museum cafe.
The Palazzo Mocenigo, formerly the residence of one of the most important Venetian families, is a museum dedicated to fabrics, costumes and perfumes. You can also discover beautiful paintings, frescoes and furnishings that date back to the 18th century.
One of the highlights of our visit was a collection of couture garments from the 1960’s, including stunning designs by Fabiani, Chanel and Valentino, inter alia.
Fabiani 
Valentino
Kimono from the 19th-20th century 
The museum houses a section dedicated to perfumes and the role of Venice in the art of perfumery. You will awaken your senses by smelling different perfumes and individual ingredients and marvel at the intricate Venetian perfume bottles.
8. Eat like a local
One of the best ways to immerse yourself in the local culture is to try local dishes. So when Silvia asked me where I wanted to go for lunch, I didn’t have to think twice and asked to try something local to Venice. Every region in Italy has its specialties that may not be familiar to even seasoned foodies unless they travel to that region. One of such local Venetian specialties is cicchetti. Cicchetti are typical appetisers offered in traditional bacari in Venice. These small sandwiches are popular for lunch or as an afternoon snack and they come with mouthwatering seafood or vegetable toppings.
It felt like a dream sitting outside by the Grand Canal, watching the gondolas and boats pass by and sharing delicious cicchetti over a great conversation.
9. Visit Piazza San Marco at night
The San Marco Square is probably one of the most iconic landmarks in Venice and it is no surprise that it draws crowds of visitors every day. If you want to avoid the crowds and dream of exploring the square at your own pace, then do not miss visiting it late at night when it is significantly less busy.
We were returning to our hotel from dinner and happened to be passing through the San Marco Square around midnight. It was a wonderful experience with very few people around and a magical atmosphere. The square has a very different vibe by night so we highly recommend taking a midnight stroll.
10. Visit The St. Regis Venice for drinks
There is no shortage of elegant five-star hotels in Venice and the visitors are truly spoiled for choice. If you are looking for a peaceful place to sip a refreshing drink and enjoy a serene view of the Grand Canal, then look no further than The St. Regis hotel.
The St. Regis Venice is the newest addition to the luxury hotel scene in Venice, having opened its doors just over 2 years ago in October 2019. It is housed in the palaces of the former Grand Hotel Brittania which dates back to the late 19th century. Gio’s Restaurant & Terrace is a great place for enjoying the waterfront views as it boasts a lovely terrace overlooking the Grand Canal. But pay attention to your surroundings as you may also spot a magnificent falcon with its trainer – this stunning bird of prey is on duty keeping the local pigeon population down.
Having already tried a non-alcoholic Rossini, I opted for a non-alcoholic Bellini at The St. Regis and it did not disappoint. If you are hungry, the food is definitely worth trying too – we thoroughly enjoyed truffle fries and a salmon avocado sandwich.
Of course there is plenty more to do in Venice, but we hope that these highlights help you make the most of a short trip to this beautiful city.
