Getting to Know the Streets of Venice
“Getting lost is the only place worth going to.”
~ Tiziano Scarpa
One of the most popular cities to visit in the lovely country of Italy is Venice also known as Venezia.
Home to many cultural sites and filled with lush history, every nook and cranny is bound to have a story.
On your first day of travelling Venice, you will have likely have a desire to wander about the old city. Set in between the Adriatic Sea and the Venetian lagoon, Venice is architecture to behold. Like a stage on water, it opens you up to a whole new world.
The centre of Venice is not too far away from the main airport which is the Aeroporto Marco Polo di Venezia, a little over half an hour is expected by water taxi to the Grand Canal.
Venice Fun Facts
Many travellers agree that Venice is one of the top destinations when it comes to leisure travel. With romantic landmarks, attractions and cultural history it is always a fun experience to get around the city, not to mention easy.
Venice has traffic-free streets across the maze of canals making any day great for walking around.
Culture buffs will be in awe with the many options of grand churches, palaces, entertaining city squares as well as intriguing establishments.
The city has a total of 117 bodies of land that is interconnected by over 400 bridges making up a more than 150 canals. The main street, if there is one, is the Grand Canal that cuts across the center of the entire city.
Getting In To Venice
Since Venice is situated on a lagoon, transportation by water is a major factor. No matter what form of transportation you want to use in getting to Venezia, you will most likely be on a waterbus or water taxi during your stay. If you are travelling with wheel bags and a lot of luggage, consider this when you are choosing your hotel.
Venice By Plane
As mentioned above, the closest and main airport for Venezia is the Marco Polo Airport. A smaller airport that has flights for Venice is the Treviso Airport. It has become busier in recent years since the rush of tourists has paved way for budget flights catered by this airport. The Treviso Airport is 16 miles or 25 kilometres from Venice. Another option is San Nicolo Airport; however, this can only handle small aircraft because of its limited runway at 1 kilometre. It is an ideal choice for travellers getting in through private planes. The San Nicolo Airport is only a short walk from the vaporetto landing.
By Train
If you are already in Italy and are considering going to Venice then a trip by train will allow you see the sites while travelling. Direct trips from other countries are also available this includes overnight trips from Paris, Vienna, Munich as well as a four night trip from Moscow.
After you get off from your train or plane, you have the option to get to your hotel by bus. Right off the Marco Polo Airport there is a bus line with the Piazzale Roma as its final terminal. Last trips are usually by midnight from the airport to the mainland, while mainland to airport trips are cut short earlier.
Since the train network has great domestic options, travelling from Rome and Milano will not be a problem with only a few hours to spare. Travelling from Southern Italy to Venice is feasible with the availability of night trains.
Once you arrive in Venice by train you can end up in or in between the Mestre and the Venezia Santa Lucia train stations. Be attentive with signs since the Venezia Mestre is the last stop on mainland Venezia, get further and you just passed the city.
By Boat
If you are arriving by boat you will set foot on the Stazione Marittima, this is located in the west side of the mainland. Once there, you can get to your hotel via vaporetti or water taxis.
By Bus
From the train terminal at Venezia Mestre, you can also take a bus with the Piazzale Roma as the final terminal.
Getting Around Venice
Venezia is proud of being the world’s one and only pedestrian city. This means the entire city is walkable, since there are not too many cars, there is no traffic making the experience pleasant. With that said, a day without any means of transportation can also take a toll on anyone’s nerves, so always be prepared and create your itinerary ahead of time to find the best route. Since the city of Venezia is filled with canals and walkways, here are some options to get around the city aside from walking.
Vaporetti – This form of transportation is also called the water bus and water taxi. This is usually the most efficient way to get around Venezia. This can be considered public transportation making it much more affordable than travelling around through private water taxis.
Gondola – For individuals and couples interested in something more memorable and intimate why not consider a gondola ride. It is a more romantic way of seeing the city and used for scenic purposes. However, if you are in a hurry the gondola is not the best choice.
Vaporetto dell’Arte – If you are interested in a blow by blow introduction of all the attractions seen by water, consider the Vaporetto dell’Arte. It stops in the most magnificent destinations like museums and other attractions. With tours in multiple languages, you will never miss out on any important information.
Since its heyday, Venice’s beautiful architecture, structures and landmarks have slowly deteriorated. However, this does not stop tourists to flow in more and more every year. Despite its long reign as a loved tourist destination, there are no signs that Venice is slowing down since the romantic charm in its streets still remains.
