Venice apartments and accommodation – where to stay
The mysterious, romantic and unique Italian city of
Venice is a wonder to behold. Built on a marshy Venetian lagoon using wooden planks, walking around the city is a fascinating and engaging experience. It is a geographically unique city and originated in the mid-400s. The city sits on an archipelago of 118 islands and it was originally chosen as a good place for a settlement because those living there were trying to escape a barbaric invasion - settling on many different small islands made it more difficult to be attacked.
Venice has 117 canals and an impressive 400 bridges, 3 of which have been around since Venice’s beginning. It is a hugely popular holiday destination and receives 18 million tourists every year. Venice’s unique nature is proving to be a hindrance as the years go by and the precarious nature of its existence is leading many to leave the city. A flood in 1966 prompted many to relocate and the city is slowly sinking into the ocean. Houses in Venice are expensive to maintain and the cost of real estate means many who work in the city do not live there anymore. What better time than now to visit the city – see it before it disappears! Hotels and hostels are notoriously expensive and many tourists choose to sleep in
Mestre. If you are looking for more affordable accommodation in Venice, why not stay in an apartment. They are somewhat cheaper and you’ll get to experience what it is really like to live in the city of Venice.
Fun Facts
Venice is running out of people! Many people are leaving the city and some believe it will be a ghost town by 2030.
50,000 tourists visit the city every day.
You need a license to operate a Gondola. Extensive training and an examination are required before you’re able to get a license and only 3 or 4 are issued annually.
Venice got its first female gondolier in 2010.
What to do in Venice
Venice has many interesting attractions. We recommend you start your Venice adventure at
St Mark’s Square, Venice’s most impressive and beautiful plaza. Marvel at the stunning architecture and view out to sea and enjoy a coffee in one of the picturesque cafés lining the square. For a small fee you can take a trip to the top of the
Campanile, a bell tower in the square. There are stunning views from the top and you’ll get an idea of Venice’s size and unique character.
St Mark’s Basilica, also located in the square is worth a visit. There are three museums located in the building and there is also the opportunity to go to the roof of the building for an impressive view. Next door to St Mark’s Basilica is
Doge’s Palace, another of Venice’s must see attractions. This beautiful gothic palace originating from the 1300’s is filled with artwork. Away from St Mark’s Square, there is much to see in the city. We suggest you take a stroll down one of the thousands of calli (alleyways) in the city for a glimpse of life in Venice. You’ll find craftsmen and women at work, cosy bars and romantic restaurants. We recommend you take a walk around peaceful
Burano Island, which has impressive architecture and houses painted in different colours. It’s a nice break from Venice’s often crowded streets. Locate the
Penny Gugenheim Museum in the city, it has a gorgeous sculpture garden and an impressive collection of paintings including work by
Picasso.
A different side to Venice
Most people who visit Venice will only see one side of the city, but there’s more to this city than meets the eye. Our suggestion – take a walk around the city at 6am, you’ll get the streets to yourself and get to experience a really peaceful side to the city. Also, we recommend you head outside of the city centre. Go to the west to
Dorsoduro by the docks. Several interesting churches are located here –
San Sebastiano,
Sacristy and
Angelo Raffaele. These beautiful historic buildings are well worth a visit and you’ll see exquisite paintings and beautiful
Veneo-Byzantine architecture. Also worth a visit is the
Venetian Arsenal, located to the east of St Mark’s Square. Built in the 1100’s, this complex network of shipyards is now a quiet and open space to walk around in.
Getting around Venice
Venice Marco Polo Airport is located on Italy’s mainland. All major airlines fly to the airport and it is located 7km from the city. You can choose to get to Venice by either land or sea.
AirportLink is a boat service connecting the airport with Venice. Private water taxis are also available. A cheaper way to reach the city is to take a bus. The buses run every quarter of an hour and take 22 minutes to reach the city. There is also a train operating between the airport and the city. Venice is small enough to walk around on foot and you can go from one end of the city to the other in under an hour. As it is no allowed to drive in Venice, it is a real pleasure to walk the streets. If you would like to quickly get around the city water buses (vaporetti) are the best option. Tickets are available from newsagents and tobacconists. For tourists it is best to get an unlimited travel ticket or
Venice Card. These entitle you to travel on any water bus as and when you please giving you the freedom of the city.
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