venice

Hello, venice

From its unmatched romantic allure to its historical heritage to its indisputable beauty, there is no other city like Venice. The "Queen of the Adriatic" is composed of a maze of islands, canals, and bridges, hiding magnificent buildings, historical landmarks of great artistic and cultural importance, as well as charming restaurants and squares. There are no cars in Venice, but you won't need them anyway since "The City of Bridges" is best explored on foot.

City Information

Essential Information about the city

Venice, Italy

Best Time to Visit

The best time to visit Venice and enjoy sightseeing is mid-spring, particularly the first half of May when the cold winter gives way to sunny days and comfortably warm temperatures. With less boat traffic on the canals and calm waters, this season is best for relaxing on a gondola ride. If you want to avoid the stress of the high tourist season, December through February may do the trick with quiet and peaceful local areas. Low season also provides discounted accommodation rates. Moreover, the famous Venetian Carnival takes place annually in February, which gives visitors the chance to join in on the festivities and try on a traditional ornate mask.

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travellers at an international airport

Venice Marco Polo International Airport (VCE)

Venice Marco Polo International Airport (VCE) is situated 7 km north of the city. There is a wide selection of transport from the airport to the city. Choose between buses, taxicabs, and boats. If you choose a boat, be prepared for a short walk first. The water bus is operated by Alilaguna and the journey takes about 1 hour and 20 minutes. There are also motorboats and the price varies from company to company. A land route to Venice is offered too. The two transport companies ACTV and ATVO have direct buses between the city and the airport. The journey takes approximately 20-25 minutes.

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male passanger at an aiport lobby

Treviso Airport (TSF)

Treviso Airport (TSF) is located 30 km north of Venice and it's used mainly by low-cost airlines. ATVO and Barzi buses depart from/to Venice and the journey takes about 40 minutes. There is a ticket office located at the arrivals hall.

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stamped passport

Passport / Visa

Italy can be visited visa-free for up to 90 days by citizens from Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Malaysia, Israel, UAE and most countries in America. If you are not sure whether or not you need to apply for a visa, we recommend you to contact the embassy or consulate in your country. In order to enter the Schengen zone, international (non-Schengen) travelers need a passport that is valid for at least 3 months after the end of their intended trip. Citizens from Schengen countries can travel without a passport, but they must bring with them a valid ID during their stay.

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inside a vaporetto in Venice, Italy

Public Transport

The ACTV operates ordinary buses together with the bus boats, the so-called vaporettos. Tickets can be purchased at the stations, from newsstands or on board the boats. There are also several travel cards to choose from, but remember that you need to swipe them before boarding. If you need to cross the Grand Canal, you can catch a traghetto, a large gondola leaving from different places between the bridges.

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water taxi in Venice, Italy

Taxi

Taxis in Venice are mainly boats of different sorts. Travelling by gondola is rather expensive and it is better used for sightseeing or special excursions. The boat taxis are slightly cheaper. One of the premier boat taxi operators in Venice is Consorzio Motoscafi Venezia.

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question mark

Frequently Asked Questions About Venice (FAQs)

Does Venice smell? Unlike what you might have read or heard, Venice does not smell. If anything, what you will smell in the city is the salt water from the canals, just like you would at any seaside destination. However, what can happen on the hottest days of summer is that the low water levels in smaller canals allow for the contact of algae from the lagoon with the atmosphere and its consequent deterioration. But other than that, Venice is not smelly at all. Is Venice safe for tourists? Despite being one of the most visited cities in the world, Venice is a fairly safe city for travellers. However, as with most major tourist destinations, pickpocketing is the biggest concern here. So be careful with your belongings around the city's main attractions, such as Piazza San Marco and the Rialto Bridge. Is Venice sinking? Yes, Venice is progressively sinking. A combination of factors is causing the city to continuously drop in elevation. From the city's inadequate foundations — the ground beneath Venice has slowly compacted over time — to the subduction of the Adriatic tectonic plate beneath the Apennine mountains to the rising sea level caused by global warming. Studies suggest that Venice could be underwater by the year 2100. In addition, studies have also shown that Venice is gradually tilting slightly to the east.

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letter hanging from the ceiling

Post

Stamps can be purchased from tobacconists that carry either the blue and white "Tabacchi" sign or that are simply marked with a "T". There are a couple of post offices across the city and you find one of them at: Merceria San Salvador, 5016 +39 041 240 4149 Opening hours: Mon–Fri 8:20am–7:05pm, Sat 8:20am–12:35pm, Sun closed

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pharmacy sign

Pharmacy

Pharmacies have alternating opening hours during weekends and nights. Addresses of pharmacies on duty at night are posted at every pharmacy. You find one of the local pharmacies called Farmacia Santa Margherita at: Sestiere Dorsoduro, 3692 +39 041 522 3872 Opening hours: Mon–Fri 9am–12:30pm / 3:45pm–7:30pm; Sat 9am–12:45pm, Sun closed

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red vintage telephone

Telephone

Country code: +39 Area code: 041 (also dialled in Venice) If you call Italy from abroad, you must always dial zero in the area code (do not omit it as is the general practice when making international telephone calls), e.g. +39 041 + the number.

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wall outlet

Electricity

240 V, 50 Hz