Many people want to travel to Venice and see the city founded over 1,600 years ago. It is a beautiful city of waterways and unique buildings that captures the imagination and the mere mention brings to mind images of Carnival masks and romance novels. It is truly a wonder of engineering and history.

Daydreaming about Venice and traveling there are two completely different things, however. Getting there can be exciting depending on how you arrive and knowing what you are getting yourself into is essential before you visit this city on the water. First of all, how are you arriving? Your options are pretty open: train, plane, boat, or even by car.

If you Fly In

Know that you are flying into nearby Maestre and you will need to navigate your way to the island. There is a train station, a bus station, and a water taxi near the airport that makes it really easy to make your way to the island. Just follow the signs to the transit and you will be there in no time. It’s a little bit of a hike, so wear comfortable shoes.

If you Boat In

Are you taking a water taxi from the mainland or getting off of a cruise ship? If a water taxi, then you're fine. Just know the address of where you are trying to go ahead of time and your driver can get you there. If you are coming in a cruise ship or ferry, then make sure you double check where the port will put you in and brace yourself for that location compared to where you want to be. You may be walking for a while through some confusing walkways. The main island of Venice is not a large place, but it is very easy to get lost with all of the bridges and narrow passageways.

If you Train In

The main trains in Europe will take you straight into Venezia Santa Lucia and this is a great place to get dropped off. There are water taxis and water buses right outside the train station that can help you get where you need to go. As with anything, it is more advantageous if you research which routes you will need and the cost of those routes ahead of time so that you don't get taken for a ride (pardon the pun).

If you Drive In

Driving in is something that I have never done and know very little about. From what I have seen and heard, drive to the mainland side of Venice and walk or ferry in. Driving onto the edge of the Historic District is a nightmare.

As with all of my travel advice, the message is the same: Plan. Plan your trip and understand where you are going. And, I don't mean plan every last detail of where you are going to go, what you are going to see, and how long you are going to see it for. Quite the contrary. Leave your trip as open-ended as possible so that you have the opportunity to see and do everything that you want to along the way. Get lost, have fun, see things you never thought about and experience a new world in a new way.

But first, you must plan. You need to know the basics about the city that you are traveling to, especially one like Venice. This rolls me into the next section about this place.

It is crowded and it is easy to get lost

The streets are very narrow in many places and there aren't really any wide open spaces for you to gain your bearings. It may seem odd, but the main landmark that I used in my recent trip was the Grand Canal. Peering through the buildings from on top of the many bridges, I was able to often see the Grand Canal. As long as I was walking in line with it, things worked out ok. It's not always the fastest route, but if it gets you there without incident, I'll take it.

Land of a Thousand Bridges

Realistically, Venice has closer to 400 bridges and they are all unique, but it is easy to get confused. Streets and walkways are not laid out in a grid pattern and are not easy to follow, by any means. It is important to have a basic understanding of the direction that you are trying to head and no real appointments to get to. You can always walk around with your nose stuck in a map, but that both makes you a target for hustlers and keeps you from experiencing the subtle beauty that is the architecture of Venice.

Eat Everything

As with all my advice in Italy, eat everything you see! There is lots of seafood to be had here. The wine is a little more expensive and you’ll have to dodge men with carts bringing food into the restaurant. This leads to higher prices on a lot of things, but it’s often worth the effort.

Glass Blowing

There are a few islands around Venice and some are better known for glass blowing than others, but be aware that while Murano is known for its glass blowing, there are less expensive glass shops on the mainland of Venice.

Regardless of how you feel going into Venice, the moral of the story is to wander to your heart’s desire. If you get lost and can’t do something you thought you wanted to do, find something else. Everywhere you look in Venice is something interesting, I assure you. While the gondola rides are extremely overpriced and kind of a gimmick now, sometimes it can be fun being a tourist.

Thanks, y’all!

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