Hit-and-run visits

The manager of a five-star hotel once told us that, on average, people who book rooms in Venice stay for only 2.8 nights.

  Below the luxury level, the typical hotel visit may be even shorter: Our analysis of bookings in all-star categories shows an average of only 2.1 nights in the city. Our advice: If you’re coming to Venice, try to stay for a week or longer.

Staying in the wrong location

In Venice, where moving around the city usually requires walking (with many footbridges to cross) or taking slow, expensive, and often crowded Vaporetti or water buses, it makes sense to stay near a convenient arrival and departure point.

Commuting from the mainland

The best time to be in Venice (at least during high season) is late in the day after the hordes of day-trippers have gone home, or in the early morning before new busloads of package tourists have arrived. The city can be magical during its quieter hours–and because it’s one of the safest cities in Europe, you can wander the sleepy back streets and squares at night without fear of being mugged.

Following the crowd

Everybody who comes to Venice wants to see the Piazza San Marco, and for most people, deciding to visit St. Mark’s Basilica is a no-brainer.

Other monuments, museums, and attractions are iffier: Depending on your tastes, you may enjoy yourself more–and make better use of your time or money–by heading off the well-trodden path. Instead of following the crowds or a guidebook author’s itinerary, follow your instincts and inclinations. Your best holiday memories are likely to come from watching daily life in Venice or discovering Venice’s lesser-known sights on your own.

Paying too much for transportation

To save money, visitors sometimes buy Venezia Unica tourist passes online before they leave home, or they stand in line to purchase ACTV Tourist Travel Cards at Vaporetto ticket booths the minute they arrive in Venice. Before buying a transit pass, give some thought to how you’ll use it–and plan your sightseeing to make the most efficient use of the time you’re paying for.

Taking unnecessary tours

If you’re willing to explore Venice on your own, start by purchasing a good street map of Venice (such as the Touring Club of Italy’s 1:5000 series) and a sightseeing-oriented guidebook. Then start walking.

Overpacking

The admonition to “travel light” may be a cliché, but it’s advice worth heeding–especially when you’re traveling to Venice, where private transportation is expensive, Vaporetto water buses are often jam-packed, and walking usually requires hauling your suitcases over at least a few of the city’s 400+ footbridges.

Buying useless souvenirs

Buy souvenirs that you can easily take with you, and that you’ll continue to enjoy when your Venice trip is just a memory.

We’re partial to books, maps, small objects, and jewelry of Murano glass, refrigerator magnets, and non-electric household items, but your tastes and budget may be more ambitious than ours.

Being careless with valuables

Violent crime is practically unknown in Venice, but–like many popular tourist destinations–the city is a magnet for pickpockets, purse thieves, and other crooks who prey on careless or inattentive visitors.

Annoying the locals

In a compact and often crowded city like Venice, being sensitive to other people–especially in busy tourist areas–will make life more pleasant for locals and visitors alike. You’ll also avoid paying steep fines for outlawed activities such as picnicking on the pavement or taking off your shirt.

Not coming back

Venice isn’t one of those places that you can see once and forget before you die. If you’re like us, you’ll become hooked on Venice, and you’ll want to spend more time in the city with each passing year.