Venice: Charming, Cultured and Cheap?!?

Ahh Venice the floating city of cliché romance.

What better place for a romantic weekend getaway, or a short trip for lovers of history and art?

Ignoring my sarcasm, Venice is indeed a place worth visiting, the quaint narrow streets intersected with canals, the beautiful glass work from Murano, the famous Rialto Bridge and stunning churches galore, it certainly lives up to its' guidebook image. But what the travel guide's don't tell you is that it's expensive, often crowded, and small enough to walk around in a day if you don't mind putting the leg work in. So how should you really enjoy this city without spending lavish amounts of cash? Here's my advice on getting the most for your money (and a bit extra) out of a weekend away in the land of gondolas.

Firstly, don't ride a gondola. "How could I visit Venice and not ride a gondola?!" I hear you cry, but to be honest the stereotypical gondola ride has become just that, a tourist trap. Most rides cost close to £80 ($100) for 40 minutes and while some streets can only experienced by canal, most of Venice is designed to walk around, and so you will not be missing much. By all means do not stop yourself from going on one if you want to do it, but beware of the steep price tag (and extra time charges!) and don't feel you need to ride one to experience Venice. A cheaper way to traverse any waterways or go between the islands is by the water taxis that can be found whizzing along the main canals all through the day. They are not the cheapest public transport ever, but there are plenty of tourist travel passes you can buy for unlimited travel on water taxis, buses and trams for reasonable prices so it’s a good idea to check out the information at the airport or tourist office. Plus you can wave at those poor mugs on the gondolas as you speed pass. Priceless.

Okay, so moving on from what I suggest you don't do, here's some suggestions of what you SHOULD do in Venice. A great place to start is the Rialto bridge, a favourite for tourists. It's crowded, noisy and you will be in about 100 different people's photos just by walking across, but it's definitely a must. The bridge is lined with shops and stalls (avoid buying souvenirs from these as prices are steep but they are great for browsing) and the view of the city and the grand canal is a great one.

If you're looking for some cheaper shopping or café's for lunch the surrounding back streets are full of small local businesses looking to cater to the hordes of tourists so head off the main street and go exploring! You can't get too lost as signs to major sightseeing spots are everywhere and some great places for lunch or to grab a bit of Venice to take home can be found. We stopped for lunch at a small café and bar next to the Venice Armoury, hidden just round the corner! Venice is all nooks and crannies so definitely keep an eye out for any hidden gems. (Oh and if you see a small pizza stall in the street or a takeout window in the wall grab a slice! The home cooked traditional Italian pizzas are to die for and much better than any restaurant. This also applies to gelato!)

So now you've had lunch and wandered around the narrow alleys you've probably stumbled upon St. Mark’s Square, which is home to the St. Mark’s Basilica and Doge’s Palace (and more architecture then you can shake a stick at). Just behind the square is also the Venice Hard Rock café (one of the smallest in the world don't you know) and more beautiful canals so it’s a bustling, lively area and a great spot for some holiday snaps. Be warned the main sights in Venice, such as the Basilica, do charge for entry but most are worth shelling out for (though if you're feeling the pinch there are plenty of free to enter smaller churches and museums on the islands!) Discounts for children, students and seniors can also be found so be sure to ask at the ticket counters. We spent most of our time appreciating Venice from the outside of buildings and didn't feel we had missed out on much, so you can avoid buying tickets and still enjoy the city.

Another money saving tip for your weekend getaway you can do before you even go, by actually looking outside of Venice for accommodation. Most of the transport passes include nearby Mestre so it's really easy to get to from the airport and from Venice itself, and hotels are so much cheaper! We stayed at a Novotel there and saved A LOT of money! Though to be honest I wouldn't suggest staying at that exact hotel as the food was dire and it lead straight onto a main road, with no pedestrian access. . .but you get the idea! You'll be surprised how much difference a 15 minute bus ride can make to the prices, and check out local 'Air Bnb' rentals too as you might find a good deal!

My final piece of advice for getting a bit more out of your weekend break is a bit off topic, but I highly recommend LEAVING Venice and getting a train to nearby Verona! The tickets were around €10 each (so a bargain!) and the hour long train takes you through some great Italian countryside and small villages. Keep your eye out for the fields of rolling vineyards and rustic villas, but also look for long abandoned villages and building damaged and left since WWII! One particular warehouse you will pass is littered with machine gun bullet holes in the concrete walls and cracked windows, for instance, overall it makes a truly interesting journey! Once you arrive in fair Verona there is great shopping and restaurants of course, and more beautiful architecture to gawp at (including a colosseum still used as a theatre!) . One thing not to be missed is the famous Juliet's balcony where you can get a photo of you doing your best "WHERE FOR ART THOU ROMEO?" monologue, and if your feeling extra lovey-dovey, leave a 'love lock' or graffiti on the surrounding walls. If not, find a seat in the nearby main square, order a nice cold beer or glass of wine and enjoy the murals on the building around you as vendors in the market show off their goods. It's a great day out and if you manage to get through most of Venice in a day it can be a breath of fresh air to fill up more of your weekend.

Hopefully this post has inspired you to visit Venice, or at least feel like it is more than just its stereotype! It's been a couple years since I went with my fiancé now, and while I (the hopeless romantic) loved the city, tourist traps and all, he felt it was all a bit too commercial. A bit too 'rose tinted'. But it was these little tips we figured out that made us enjoy the weekend more and we did have a great time. So really the best advice I can offer is make sure you go with someone you can enjoy it all with (or failing that someone rich who can pay for everything!).

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