When I say that Venice is my new favorite place of all the places, I do mean that it is my new favorite place of all the places. It was such an excellent experience that I absolutely can’t wait to return.
Okay, grandiose statements out of the way, I have been intentionally putting off going to Venice for decades. (Yes, I’m an idiot.) It was one of the first things to get added to the “I’ll get there someday” list. Sadly, I have always assumed that the city is an experience for couples. That’s the way it’s portrayed in every American travel documentary. You go, you ride the gondolas with your sweetheart, you buy her pizza, and maybe jewelry, and you take lots of touristy picture which you’ll never look at again.
After finally breaking down and going to Venice, I’m still amazed at how monumentally wrong I had it in my head. Seriously, as a public service announcement: IF YOU’RE SINGLE AND WANT A COOL EUROPE TRIP, GO TO VENICE!!!!!!!!!!!! The city is everything you will want it to be, and more.
A not-so-spectacular view of a spectacular place from the incoming plane flight. The city is amazing looking from the air.
First, at its heart it’s just an everyday European city. People get up and go about their day just the same as they do in Luxembourg or Amsterdam. In the city of canals, they just do it by boat. They do everything there by boat. If you wander the back allies, people living by boat is an enthralling spectacle to watch. The back allies and the small canals are where the city really lives. And, they must be explored.
As you get out and move around Venice, you immediately begin to realize that the city really does do everything from the water. If you’re out early with the locals you’ll see every kind of everyday task being conducted from boats, as if it has always been done that way.
General Venice Information
Weather: The weather in mid-September 2025 was wonderful. T-shirt and shorts type of weather. Sunny and bright everyday that I was there.
Money: As with the rest of Italy, the Euro is the currency of choice. Credit cards were accepted everywhere that I stopped at, no matter how small the shop. (The self-service laundry accepted credit cards.)
Passport/Visa: Rolling on an American passport I had no issues entering Italy or moving around. This was in 2025, pre the Entry/Exit System (EES) going into effect in Europe.
Language Barrier: None, to speak of. All of Venice is tourist oriented. As such, they all speak English at an executable level to get by without speaking Italian.
Two things that I have always wanted. An authentic plague mask and an authentic carnival mask. Both of which were purchase from a local Venetian costume shop. You will find a lot of cheap ones at the t-shirt shops. Don’t do it! walk around until you find the real thing.
Getting In And Out
If you were with me for Luxembourg, then you know that I left there by airplane. This means that I arrived in Venice by airplane. Luxair had a direct flight and the view of the Dolomites was spectacular. The airport is actually on the mainland, to the north of the city, so it’s necessary to get out to the city islands by other means.
For most travelers that other means is a water taxi from the airport. There is a large and well-established water taxi service at the airport to ferry people out to Venice proper. It is easy enough to find from baggage claim, as there is a line painted on the floor that guides you out to it. The dock area has a central ticket stand, and a menu of ticket prices depending upon which specific island you’re traveling to.
The taxi ride from the airport really is different in Venice. The water taxi stand at the Venice airport is a literal marina. And, it’s easy to find. The route from arrivals to the taxi-ferry area is very well marked out, and the ticketing isn’t difficult to figure out.
As easy as the airport was for getting into the city, the train station was even easier for leaving it. The Venice train station , Venezia S. Lucia, is located out on the first island making up the city, and can connect you to about anywhere in Europe you want to go. Just outside its main entrance is the water taxi stand that runs up and down the Grand Canal. Public water taxis are the primary way of getting across the city, and numerous stands sell single passage or multiple day tickets, at varying prices.
A view of Saint mark’s Square from the water. This picture was taken from the taxi, on the way into the area. You’ll end up with several different versions of this picture after a couple of days. Moving from island to island, and from major attraction to major attraction is the daily thing in Venice.
My Headquarters
To be completely honest, I picked my hotel based on the fact that it was close to Saint Mark’s and they had a deal going on Travelocity when I was looking. I didn’t know anything about the city or where to stay at that point in time. The hotel was a little more than I wanted to spend, but it seemed to be in basically the right place. It turned out to be one of the best decisions of the whole trip.
I can’t say enough positive things about the hotel. The location was fantastic. The restaurant and bar was exactly what I wanted. The staff were awesome! Seriously, if I was going to take another trip strictly based on my hotel staff experience, I would travel here again. The staff was helpful in every way possible, and very tourist knowledgeable.
The Hotel Cavalletto e Doge Orseolo as seen from the opposite side of the canal. The gondola parking was right in front of the hotel, and there was only a small bridge between the hotel and Saint Mark’s Square. It was excellent!
Sitting at the bar you could watch as the gondola pilots plied their trade. I didn’t take a gondola ride, though I saw several single passengers go on them. I’ll probably do it next time I’m in town. I can’t overstate how good the location of the Hotel Cavalletto is for getting out and doing things. It is seemingly right in the middle of the action.
A view from the bar in the hotel with a gondola floating by the window. The views from both the bar and the breakfast area were very, very good.
Venice City Highlights
The city of Venice is a study in contrasts. At one time it extremely touristy, and then it all locals and quiet alleyways. It’s grand sweeping views and then claustrophobic alleyways that deadens into canals. It’s cheap (not really) t-shirt vendors everywhere and then it’s small corner stores only trodden by the locals. All of it mixed together with no discernible boundaries. In my opinion, it’s really best to just wandering around the city with no intentions or agendas.
Don’t get me wrong, all of the stuff you see on the news about the tourist pressure on the city is fact. The whole of Venice is overrun with tourists. Travel in the off season. They’ll thank you for it. Also, get out of your hotel early! you need to be up with the sun to get pictures that aren’t full of tourists, no matter where in the city you’re wandering. This is especially true at the big ticket spots; Rialto Bridge, Saint Marks Square, etc.
Below is a small sampling of my camera roll from the stop. Frankly I could have added another two dozen pictures to this. I got lost in the pictures and almost forgot why I was there. Because of this, a post specifically on Saint Marks and the Doge’s Palace will be next. It just seemed easier to do them as a separate item. I hope you enjoy.
Me, taking a bad selfie, in front of Saint Marks. Since it’s too much for this, I’ll cover the basilica and the Doge’s palace in the next post.
Saint Mark’s Square in the early light of morning. This is about the only time to catch it when it isn’t completely full of people. Napoleon used to refer to the square as “the drawing room of Europe”, and I tend to agree with the emperor.
A view of Saint Mark’s Square from the roof of the basilica. The square is just starting to fill up for the day. Just to the right of where this video ends are the famous horses of Venice (or the reproductions anyway).
The world famous Rialto Bridge as seen from the canal edge. You will need to get up early to get a picture of it with no people on it. It is worth the walk over from any part of the city to see it.
A picture of the Venice canal. The grand canal, I think? I actually just picked a good looking one. You’ll come home with a hundred pictures just like this. The view of any part of the city from any point is spectacular. (The use of the word spectacular is not an over statement.)
Am I the only person who comes home and finds out that they have hundred pictures with their finger in the bottom of them?
The bridge of Sighs that leads from the Doge’s Palace to the Doge’s prison. The line of gondolas passing by underneath is a constant.
Another random canal shot. You won’t get tired of the canals as you move through the city. Every time you turn a corner, there is a completely new view to take in.
Something About The Food
First, Italian food it the best! Second, unlike many international cities in Europe, you don’t have to worry about a lack of it. It’s everywhere, and in every price range. I tend to stay to the street food and corner restaurants when I travel, and Venice was no different. That being said, the food is excellent.
Gelato! I know it’s touristy, but it had to be done. You can find a gelato stand at almost every corner in the city. They are literally everywhere.
In Venice, there’s a pile of hole in the wall sandwich and pizza (by the slice) shops that handle the thrifty crowd. I found one just down the way from the hotel and ate there too many times. Cheap pizza in Venice is about the best pizza you can get anywhere in the world.
On one side of Saint Mark’s Square is the Caffe Florian. It’s a world-famous and super fashionable Instagramming spot that sells 12 Euro espresso, after they make you stand in line to get in. On the other side of the square is the Bar Americano which sells 2 euro Americanos and only has a line in front of the cashier lady. I’ll let you guess at which place this is.
Some Final Thoughts
I honestly don’t have enough good things to say about Venice. It’s everything I wanted it to be, all in one place. I was serious though about traveling during the shoulder season or off-peak. The city gets a lot of tourist pressure. You’ll enjoy everything about Venice more if you’re not bothered by the crowds. I salute the inhabitants of Venice for being as charming as they are in the face of non-stop tourists.
A random picture from inside the Doge’s Palace. The place looks like nothing from the outside. I assure you that that is not the case.
I absolutely plan on returning to Venice. It will probably be for Carnival, but who really knows. I can’t wait to see the city again. It really is my new favorite place in the world. Stick around and you can see the inside of the two landmarks that hold down the far end of Saint Mark’s Square. Oh yeah, and get a visit from Saint Mark himself.
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