Venice is unlike any other city in the world. The city is built on wooden piles and is crossed by more than 150 canals! The sights are endless in this exciting city: the famous Rialto Bridge, St. Mark's Square with St. Mark's Basilica, built between the 800s and 1000s and featuring a 99-meter-high campanile.
The Doge's Palace, which is connected to the city prison by the Bridge of Sighs, and St. Mark's Library (St. Mark is the city's patron saint and his symbol is the lion), to name but a few.
Despite the city's fame, Venice is relatively small, with no more than 306,000 inhabitants.
Tourists as far as the eye can see
Tourism is of course extensive and as a tourist there is a lot to consider when visiting this unique city. 12 million visitors flock to the city every year.
This means you should try to avoid summertime when the hordes of tourists are at their peak. Spring and fall are a great time to visit Venice, but winter can also be an option - if only because the number of tourists is low and you get a sense of having the city to yourself.
During the day the city is bustling with life, but in the evening Venice is a quiet and romantic city. In the evening, take a gondola ride on the canals and enjoy the city's beautiful buildings while feeling like you've been transported back in time.
St. Mark's Square
Make your way into the smaller, narrow alleys; here you can get a good portion of spagehtti for a reasonable price and visit small, cozy shops.
The real old Venice can be found in the Castello neighborhood, where laundry is hung on lines between houses and pasta is cooked in large pots in the middle of the streets.
If you are looking for shopping, calle merceria is recommended, it stretches between St. Mark's Square and the Rialto Bridge. Also around Lista di spagna you will find plenty of nice shops, bars and restaurants.
Venice is famous for its glass art, and you can find a few such souvenirs for a fairly reasonable price.
How to get to Venice?
The easiest way to get to Venice is by plane, Marco Polo airport is about 1.3 miles outside the city. You can get to Venice by bus or taxi. A single trip by bus costs 3 euros. If you're staying in the city for a few days, you can buy a weekly pass, which entitles you to use public buses and gondolas.
Otherwise, it is possible to explore the city on foot. The distances are not great and you can stumble upon many little gems if you go on foot.
With its unique wooden buildings, water and canals, Venice is a city of romance. Why not treat your loved one to a long weekend of love in this extraordinary city?