Venice is one of those places you just have to see yourself to believe. Lovely as it is, its main problem is its popularity compared to its size. The island gets so crowded during summer that half the people who visit in peak season come away hating the place. It’s crowded in other seasons too, but more manageable.
A popular tourist city for over 400 years, Venice is arguably the most beautiful and perhaps most interesting city in the world, at least for its size. You’ve heard about the canals and that there are literally no cars on the main islands, and that is even more magical in person than you probably imagine.
Some good news is that Venice is compact enough to enjoy in about 24 hours, and also usually so crowded that longer stays are not really necessary.
| Population | 270,000 |
| Area | 270,000 |
| Timezone | UTC+1 |
| Currency | Euro |
| Airports | Venice Marco Polo Airport (VCE) |
Fortunately, much of the fun of Venice is just wandering around, so entertainment doesn’t have to break the bank. Many attractions are free or very cheap, so once you have a bed and some food you can get by on very little. If you are a museum person, you might consider if the Venice Card is right for you.
Visiting St. Marks Square and the Rialto Bridge will be highlights of your Europe trip.
| Rating | Price(USD) |
|---|---|
 | 37.63 - 105.38 |
| 43.01 - 166.67 |
| 51.61 - 197.85 |
| 86.02 - 268.82 |
| 325.81 - 389.25 |
Antica Casa Coppo Doubles from €118/night | |
Our pick: The best cheap and central 3-star hotel in Venice |
| Type | Price(USD) |
|---|---|
| Hostel Bed | 26.88 - 58.06 |
Generator Venice Beds from €25/night | |
Our pick: The best cheap and central hostel in Venice |
Food is fairly expensive as well, and finding cheap meals is difficult, especially along the main tourist walkways. Going deeper into residential areas can save you some money, which is very true of drinks as well. For information on weather and crowds, see our article on when is the best time to visit Italy.
| Budget breakfast | Most hotels come included with bread and coffee in the morning. If not, you might have to look around a bit. | $6.45 - $11.83 |
| Budget lunch | Venice is not known for cheap restaurants, even for locals, so staying on a budget can be a challenge. | $8.60 - $15.05 |
| Budget dinner | Sitting down for a nice local meal in the evening is pleasant, though never cheap. | $13.98 - $24.73 |
| Beer (.33l bottle) | A bottle of local lager is a decent option at most restaurants. | $4.30 - $7.53 |
| House wine (.5l jug) | Even the cheaper local house wine can be a bit pricey in Venice. | $6.45 - $10.75 |
The famous gondola rides are very expensive, but also something you’ll never forget so they are worth it for those who can afford them.
Walking tours are the best way to see the sights in a short time, although boat tours can be enjoyable and feel less crowded as well.
| Month | High F | Low F | Precip (inches) |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 42 | 30 | 2.3 |
| February | 47 | 33 | 2.1 |
| March | 54 | 39 | 2.2 |
| April | 61 | 46 | 2.5 |
| May | 70 | 54 | 2.7 |
| June | 77 | 61 | 3.0 |
| July | 82 | 64 | 2.5 |
| August | 81 | 63 | 3.3 |
| September | 75 | 58 | 2.6 |
| October | 65 | 49 | 2.7 |
| November | 53 | 40 | 3.4 |
| December | 44 | 32 | 2.1 |
Summers in Venice can be hot and steamy, but that doesn’t stop insane amounts of people from rolling in every day. Spring and autumns can be quite nice and the crowds are definitely a bit thinner. It can snow in winter but generally that doesn’t cause problems. It rains evenly through the year, so you can’t really be sure to avoid it.
| 21 Mar | 6:12am | 6:24pm |
| 21 Jun | 5:22am | 9:03pm |
| 21 Sep | 6:56am | 7:11pm |
| 21 Dec | 7:47am | 4:30pm |
The city is also quite expensive by Italian standards, though it can be done on a moderate budget if you are careful. Hotels on the main island are notoriously expensive, but you can find reasonably priced places a few kilometers away on the mainland. There are a few hostels in Venice as well, though none on the main island itself. Check our list of recommended cheap Venice hotels for some very well located and highly rated choices.
Venice hotels are at their busiest and most expensive during summer, with a particular spike in July and August. Prices tend to be a bit lower in spring and autumn, even though the city is still extremely crowded. During winter some deals can be found, sometimes by just walking around. You can find rooms cheaper than these prices, by quite a bit, if you are willing to stay 5 to 10 km from the main island.
| Rating | Price(USD) |
|---|---|
| 37.63 - 105.38 |
| 43.01 - 166.67 |
| 51.61 - 197.85 |
| 86.02 - 268.82 |
| 325.81 - 389.25 |
| Type | Price(USD) |
|---|---|
| Hostel Bed | 26.88 - 58.06 |
Most visitors coming from outside of Europe will land in another city and then reach Venice by train. The airport doesn’t have long-haul flights coming in, but you can fly into Rome or Paris and then change for a flight to Venice.
The Treviso Airport is only a bit farther than the Venice Airport and it has most of the cheaper flights from within Europe, but the airport transportation can be tricky if you are coming at off hours.
Venice is a perfect city for walking since it’s flat except for the many bridges and there is no car traffic. If you are going to or from the main train station you can take the vaporetto, which is basically a boat-bus that stops at many key places around the islands in a loop.
| Type | Price(USD) |
|---|---|
| Taxi from airport to Venice dock | 602.15 |
| Water taxi from airport to any hotel | 135.48 - 172.04 |
| Public bus from airport to Venice dock | 8.60 |
| Vaporetti (water bus) ride | 8.60 |
| One-day Vaporetti pass | 21.51 |