Venice

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Eco-friendly travel guide to Venice advises how to be a responsible tourist. Learn how to explore the attractions in a sustainable way and how to respect the local people and culture. Make your trip green by supporting locally owned hotels, organic restaurants and other businesses. Read more on how to protect the environment by making conscientious choices and how to travel green in Venice, Italy.

Canal Grande and Rialto Bridge, Venice - part of UNESCO World Heritage Site


  • Air quality: 4.5 / 5
  • Exploring by foot: 4.5 / 5
  • Exploring by bicycle: 4 / 5
  • Public transportation: 4 / 5
  • Parks: 4.5 / 5
  • Outdoor activities: 4.5 / 5
  • Locals' English level: 2.5 / 5
  • Safety: 4.5 / 5
  • Accommodation: US$40 - $1500
  • Budget per day: US$80 - $2000

Responsible Travel

Venice is an excellent destination to visit whenever a tourist is headed to Italy. Undoubtedly, the beauty of the city itself is enough to place it at the top of the list of many travellers and explorers. The city has a small population of just under 300,000 people and they try not to adversely impact the environment in any major way. However, the robust tourism of the city is the major reason behind the need for eco-friendly measures to ensure sustainability as far as possible. Venice is a city which sees anywhere between 20 to 30 million tourists on an annual basis. If you are one such tourist who is visiting the city to explore the serenity and the stunning canals, we recommend that you try to be as eco-friendly as possible. Take active measures to ensure that your trip to the city doesn’t impact in any negative way. In this section of the article, we shall discuss a few such tips that you could follow to travel as responsibly as possible to Venice.

To begin with, try and use public transportation as much as possible. While there aren’t too many options and the comfort of a private car or a cab is far more superior, it is recommended that you use the waterways, the trams, and the buses, these are efficient, cost-effective, and they certainly help you reduce your carbon footprint. In addition to this, Venice is a city whose beauty is par excellence and exploring it by foot or on a bicycle shall also serve to be a phenomenal experience.

A big part of responsible travelling includes living in your destination in such a manner that you utilise the local resources in the most optimal possible way and one such way for you to do that as a tourist is to stay in an eco-friendly or a green hotel. This shall help you ensure that you reduce your impact on the environment and choosing a good green hotel shall provide you with all the amenities and facilities in a much more sustainable manner.

The local markets are known to be a treasure trove, here you will find everything from antiquities to locally produced goods that reflect the fine craftsmanship. Additionally, this shall help the local economy in a major way as you shall put money directly into the pockets of the manufacturers/creators and possibly skip out the middleman. This will further enable you to support these small industries that don’t operate out of greed and utilise the city’s resources carefully.

Similarly, try and explore local food at simple restaurants to enjoy legendary Italian cuisine. Avoid big food chains and global brands at all costs. The smaller bistros, restaurants, and even food carts shall serve you some of the most authentic dishes, more so, if you plan to cook your own Italian meal make sure you get the ingredients from local food markets and not supermarkets. The freshest produce including vegetables, seafood, and all kinds of meats shall be found at these markets, they shall be priced appropriately as well and often serve to be the difference between a good home-cooked meal and a great one.


Air Quality and Pollution

The air quality in Venice is known to be stupendous, as a tourist, you will enjoy fresh air no matter which part of the city you are exploring. With AQI scores in the range of 40-60, you can be assured of pure air at all times. Yes, the smaller population, the lack of too many industries, and minimum carbon footprint of the residents contribute towards ensuring this, you as a tourist must further this by ensuring that you pollute as minimum as possible. Use public transportation or electric vehicles. Try walking and cycling over shorter distances, and do not smoke in public areas. More so, make the most of the good air quality by roaming around the areas of the city that are surrounded by greenery. The canals are also stunning if they aren’t overflowing and flooding the city.

Similarly, in Venice, the climate, in general, is also quite exceptional. Enjoying a humid subtropical climate, any tourist can visit in the summer months which last from May to September and find the average high ranging between 16 to 28-degree centigrades while the average low in those months is between 10 to 18-degree centigrades. However, during the remaining months of the year, you will find the average high ranging between 6 to 10-degree centigrades and the average low is around the 0-degree centigrade mark. The city also witnesses a decent amount of precipitation, so when you are planning a trip to Venice, pack your bag according to the season in which you are headed there.


Respect the Culture

When you travel to Venice, you will have to keep a lot of things in mind if you wish to avoid upsetting any local Italian people that you will encounter. To begin with, it is recommended that you always dress smartly whenever you are headed outdoor. With the nation as a whole being a fashion capital for the world, Venice too has high standards of dressing, so make sure you are looking dapper if not your best for any outing. Secondly, whenever you are trying to make conversation, avoid stereotyping them, “Mamma Mia” and typical hand gestures are definitely jokes that aren’t appreciated here. Furthermore, the local people do tend to be fine with constructive criticism but this must be done as subtly as possible as they can tend to be hot-blooded and may be provocative. In addition to this, they hate any sort of commentary from foreigners about their nation and politics. Along these lines, make sure that you never mention World War or fascism while having a conversation, these are forbidden topics unless you wish to be hated in Venice. Religion is also a very sensitive topic here and it is best if you leave out the Church, the Pope, and anything to do with Christianity if you aren’t going to speak about any of them in a good light.

As a tourist, if you aim to be the “good tourist” in town, it is suggested that you spend time with locals bonding over pop culture, try discussing music, movies, and sport. Bonding over wine and other spirits is also a great idea but perhaps the best option is sharing a meal with the local people. The heavenly Italian cuisine is ideal for almost any and every occasion and you too could try your hand at making some fresh pasta or rolling pizza doughs. Families play an important role in any individual’s life, so if you are invited to dine with a local person’s family, consider yourself special. Show respect to all the members, especially the seniors such as parents and grandparents, more so if it is a woman who invites you over to her house for a meal. Make sure that you take something for the family such as a bottle of wine, going in empty-handed would be a sin. While things may seem uptight early on, as the meal progresses and a few drinks are polished off, you can be assured of good fun with music and dance. Also, specifically in Venice, it is recommended that you keep things low at night as the locals hate being disturbed and avoid typically touristy mistakes such as standing for too long on bridges, clicking photos without consent and let people pass by you in narrow lanes if you are walking slow and exploring.


Top 10 Places to Visit

Venice is known to be one of the most scenic destinations across the globe and given in this section of the article are the top 10 places for you to visit when you are on a trip to the city:

  • Venetian Ghetto: Following up of the astounding must-visit puts around in Venice is the Venetian Ghetto. It was built up in 1516 and marks as one of the most famous verifiable spots around in Venice. It goes back to be considered as the principal ghetto in the city. The spot currently retains a wide scope of mainstream Jewish occupants and the whole road and region are penetrated by Jews in general.
  • Santa Maria Gloriosa Dei Frari: A big name in the top vacation destinations in Venice is Santa Maria Gloriosa Dei Frari, a staggering Gothic church by the Franciscans. The church, façade, and the insides look calm, creative, and enchanting. Moreover, the congregation shows some acclaimed recorded compositions, figures, and models by most famous craftsmen of the Renaissance time frame. Irrefutably, this is one of the not-to-be-missed vacationer places in Venice.
  • Teatro La Fenice: Teatro La Fenice is a drama place of Venice and numerous famous Italian performance have performed here. Its compositional appeal makes it one of the most wonderful and must-visit places in Venice. La Fenice has facilitated numerous popular operatic debuts and exhibitions of acclaimed writers like Rossini, Bellini, Donizetti, and Verdi. The development was crushed by fire episodes threefold yet it was consistently modified and restored to its unique wonder. No big surprise, Teatro La Fenice is one of the most celebrated vacationer locations in Venice.
  • Murano: Murano is a group of islands in the Venetian Lagoon which is one of the most famous spots of vacationer enthusiasm for Venice. This collection of seven islands connected by spans and isolated by eight channels is celebrated universally for glass making, glass items, and mirrors, it is subsequently known as the Glass Island of Venice.
  • Basilica di Santa Maria Della Salute: The congregation is a tremendous octagonal structure containing ringer pinnacles, arches, and a dazzling façade brightened by sculptures of the four evangelists. The inside comprises of eight transmitting houses of prayer and three special stepped areas enriched with canvases of the Virgin Mary. The dazzling church is definitely one of them not to be missed spots to visit in Venice for nothing. The Basilica di Santa Maria Della Salute or Basilica of St. Mary of Health, mainstream essentially as La Salute, is probably the biggest houses of worship and most significant vacationer places while investigating Venice. This Roman Catholic Church is situated by Punta Della Dogana between the Grand Canal and the Giudecca Canal.
  • Ponte Dell'Accademia: Founded in the year 1984, the Ponte dell'Accademia is one of the main four bridges around in Venice which permits the people on foot to stroll around on to cross the Grand Canal. The bridge is made of wood and metal pieces and is arranged around the southern finish of the waterway. This bridge is regularly a significant well-known spot for the couples to visit and celebrate in.
  • San Giorgio Maggiore: The San Giorgio Maggiore is a curious little island situated over the tidal pond from the St. Imprint's Square. It was planned by the popular designer, Andrea Palladio, the excellence of the congregation lies in the exterior clad in the shining white marble. The open and extensive insides further add to the excellence of the spot considerably further. The canvases of the "Las Supper" and the "Fall of Manna" decorate the passage.
  • Burano: Burano is very pleasant which makes it one of the top spots to visit in Venice. The vivid anglers' homes make for incredible scenery to click pictures here. One can likewise purchase nearby things like margarine treats which are classified "bussolai buranei" and different items here.
  • Ca' D'Oro: It is locally referred to as the Palazzo Santa Sofia, the Ca' d'Oro is considered as one of the most puzzling palazzos that go back to the fifteenth century. The ornamentation on the pink and white structure is unquestionably something that passages your consideration regarding the centre. It is situated close to the Grand Canal and shall be worth your while for a quick visit when you are in the region of the city.
  • Bridge of Sighs: It is suggested that you do not get hindered by the name, The Bridge of Sighs is the interfacing bridge between the Doge's Palace and the New Prison. It was built in 1600 and is arranged over the Rio di Palazzo. The bridge was planned by well-known development architect Antonio Contino. The bridge is named so on the grounds that legends have it that the detainees would moan at the last perspective on the bridge.
Panorama of the La Fenice theatre interior


Explore

The city as a whole is immensely popular amongst tourists and you will find no dearth of them at any time of the year and in any part of the city. Especially famous amongst couples and honeymooners, you shall feel love all around you. Thus, you can be assured that there is absolutely no dearth of attractions for a traveller to explore in Venice. The sections given below list out a few such attractions that you must visit on your trip to the city.


City Parks

  • Parco delle Rimembranze: Also known as Pineta di Sant'Elena, it recalls the fighters that passed on in the subsequent universal war. This wonderful park is brimming with tall trees, plants and seats. There are likewise brilliant youngsters' play territories, huge zones of grass and there is even a roller-skating arena. This park is an ideal spot for a picnic. The Pineta di Sant'Elena, situated on the island of a similar name, offers a beautiful stroll through a pine backwoods on a fenced way that runs along with the bowl of San Marco, giving stunning perspectives on the tidal pond and avoiding the Public Gardens of the Biennale. Close by is the enormous soccer arena - Stadio Penza.
  • Serra Dei Giardini: Toward the start of 1990s the utilization of the Serra Dei Giardini was ceased and it gradually fell into improper maintenance in the next years. Because of an exact reclamation, the city brought back the antiquated excellence of the Greenhouse in the point of keeping up its unique use, just as to guarantee its community through organic and naturalistic exercises. After its development, the Serra Dei Giardini spoke to for all residents a position of work, gone down to a few ages of planters as long as barely any many years prior. Throughout the winter, the Greenhouse premises were utilized to keep up certain species delicate to cold yet in addition for the creation of numerous different plants later used to improve the region flowerbeds in Venice and its islands. Situated in Castello, La Serra dei Giardini is only a couple of moments from the Giardini Della Biennale. Verifiably known as Serra also known as Margherita Greenhouse, was underlying in the year 1894 with the expectation to make a tepidarium made of glass and iron to have the palm trees and other beautiful plants being used at the contemporary International Art Exhibition.


National Parks

  • Giardini Savorgnan: The Giardini Savorgnan is one of only a handful public parks present in Venice, among which we feature those of the Royal Gardens in San Marco and the ex-Papadopoli park at Piazzale Roma. The nurseries are found simply behind Palazzo Savorgnan which was worked toward the finish of the seventeenth century by the draftsman Giuseppe Sardi. To arrive at Giardini Savorgnan, take the Lista di Spagna to Campo San Geremia and subsequent to intersection Ponte delle Guglie. Proceed with the Fondamenta Savorgnan and enter the nursery doors. It can likewise be gotten to by a passage set in a side road of Campo San Geremia.

The recreation centre likewise has a region for kids with slides, swings and so on. The Savorgnan park is frequented by youngsters as well as by numerous inhabitants. Vacationers who unintentionally locate this green space in this middle exploited now and then to ad-lib an excursion or to rest from their long strolls around the city. The Gardens are essential for the Palazzo Savorgnan. Speak to one of the biggest green regions of the city, a territory quite perfect. Conceived as a greenhouse possess a zone of almost ten thousand square meters accepting the type of two square shapes out of stage between them. Appreciate the reviving shade of its annoy trees, oaks, linden trees, chestnuts, plane trees, evergreen oaks and yew trees.

Giardini Savorgnan


Beaches

Venice as a city does not have beaches right in the heart of the city, however, you certainly can find a few beaches at a short distance and some of these are listed below:

  • Malamocco Beach
  • Lido di Jesolo Beach
  • Venice Lido Beach
  • Punta Sanbioni Beach

All of the above-listed beaches lie within 20 to 90 minutes from the central part of the city of Venice and can often be accessed via two-wheelers, four-wheelers, and buses.

The mesmerising Lido di Jesolo Beach


Landmarks

  • Grand Canal: It is one of the most well-known spots to visit at Venice around evening time, to appreciate the staggering nightfall and watch the shimmering water of the trench. The exciting and sentimental Gondola ride in the Grand Canals makes it one of the must-visit spots to visit in Venice for a special night. Additionally, appreciate the perspective on the Venetian Gothic and Early Renaissance exteriors of the castles that fall off the sides. Canale Grande or Grand Canal is the most significant symbol of Venice-fixed with beautiful and energetic looking royal residences and mansions on the two sides. The waterway is perhaps the best spot to visit in Venice and wanders through the city in a crisscross manner with a couple of stunning bridges worked over it.
  • Piazza San Marco: It is the most jam-packed public square and one of the most happening spots to visit in Venice, situated before St. Imprint's Basilica and Doge's Palace. The square is isolated from the castle by a little inland stream, known as the Rio Batario. This is where all the administration structures and different workplaces are situated in Venice. It is no uncertainty perhaps the best spot to visit in Venice.
  • Doge's Palace: It is one of the topmost tourist attractions in the city. Being one of the celebrated spots to find in Venice, Doge's Palace is a monstrously excellent and beautiful royal residence, situated on the bank of the Grand Canal. During the prosperous olden days, it was the Seat of Government, the Palace of Justice, and the official habitation of Doge. The artfulness and soberness of its Venetian Gothic engineering and stylistic layout set it a class separated.
  • Rialto Bridge: Watching the gondolas and pontoons going under the bridge, presenting on the bridge, viewing the neighbouring new market, and visiting Bartolomeo at one extreme corner of the bridge. It is a significant intersection purpose of the Canal. Being worked over the Grand Canal in 1588. Other than connecting two swarmed roads of the city, the bridge is viewed as probably the best spot to visit in Venice, Italy.
Doge's Palace facing the sea


Museums

  • Jewish Museum: Jewish Museum is one of the significant vacationer locations and celebrated destinations in Venice. It was established by the Jewish Community of Venice and is situated in Campo of the Ghetto Novo. The gallery features important things made by material producers, goldsmiths, and coppersmiths alongside old books and compositions portraying common and strict existences of the network.
  • Ca’ Rezzonico: Ca' Rezzonico is a public gallery situated on the bank of the Grand Canal and perhaps the best spot to visit in Venice. This is one of the eleven exhibition halls overseen by Fondazione Musei Civici di Venezia authority and has remarkable assortments of compositions and models including magnum opuses by Titian, Mantegna, Van Dyck, Tullio Lombardo, and Bernini. The exhibition hall additionally brags of its sublime assortment of Venetian glasswork and old interiors.
  • Peggy Guggenheim Collection: The exhibition hall premises involving bistro, bookshops, libraries, and showed works of lesser-realized current craftsmen is unquestionably one of the great spots to visit in Venice. Peggy Guggenheim Collection is one of the principle attractions in Venice. Arranged in the Dorsoduro sestiere, Peggy Guggenheim Collection is a cutting edge workmanship exhibition hall on the bank of Grand Canal. The exhibition hall is housed in the living arrangement of American beneficiary Peggy Guggenheim. She had a gigantic assortment of memorable fine art, which was exhibited to general society after her demise.
Ca’ Rezzonico


Eat

Italian cuisine is widely renowned across the globe and some of the most popular dishes in Venice are very much part of the Italian cuisine itself, a few of these dishes include:

  • Lasagna
  • Focaccia
  • Tiramisu
  • Gelato
  • Pizza
  • Pasta
  • Carbonara
  • Risotto
  • Bottarga

Almost all of these dishes are now popular overseas and most travellers may have tried some sort of localised variant of these dishes in their native countries, however, here in Venice, you shall find the authentic version of these dishes, given in the sections below are some of the best restaurants to explore in town.

You can't come back from Venice without trying the Gelato, it is like committing food blasphemy


Traditional Local Restaurants

  • Ristorante Riviera: Riviera’s imaginative interpretation of Venetian cooking and its inconceivable area secure its place as one of the top eateries in Venice. Foodies should come here to appreciate one of their delectable mixed drinks and mouth-watering pasta dishes as they serve gnocchi, ravioli, pappardelle and spaghetti too. Everything on their menu, from their sublime starters to their perfect sweets, will make an enduring memory and a satisfying vibe of fulfilment. This is Italian food at its best and you must experience it at all costs.
  • Ristorante Alle Corone: The Hotel Ai Reali is truly outstanding in Venice, as is its eatery. The lavish lounge area is ideal for an exquisite soirée or an extravagant lunch, and you are ensured to appreciate a dazzling supper with magnificent help. It has an occasional menu, which gives newness and flawless taste throughout the entire year, alongside an unbelievable wine selection. Its dishes depend on Venetian works of art, however, they are made in an especially advanced manner, giving them an extraordinary touch, so even the individuals who are extremely acquainted with Venetian food will find something new. Make a point to book a table ahead of time or else you won't get a seat here.
  • Antiche Carampane: This family-run trattoria Antiche Carampane represents considerable authority in fish, a vital component in Venetian cooking, however, they additionally offer a wide assortment of non-fish based dishes. The comfortable environment makes the flavourful dinner even more pleasant, to such an extent that past visitors have included Natalie Portman, Salma Hayek, Bill Murray and Yoko Ono, among others. They utilise new fish for their dishes as Antiche Carampane was established by a fish distributer's child, which clearly has a gigantic effect, and are resolute about the nature of their crab.


Vegetarian and Vegan

  • La Tecia Vegana: To begin with, reservations are suggested. The restaurant is a 10-minute stroll from the central station. The vegan eatery gives a multi-language menu that offers decisions like ravioli, eggplant lasagna, lentil burger, seitan and polenta, chickpea omelette, Panzanella, and soup. Sweet choice incorporates tiramisu and various cakes. You are bound to have a sumptuous meal here without harming the environment either.
  • VgOloso: To begin with, beware of the erratic timings, bit otherwise an informal and easygoing restaurant which was established just 4 years ago seems to offer a differed scope of vegan food and desserts, including ravioli, pasta, lasagna, burgers, and crepes. Generally gluten-free and natural. This is an excellent choice for most vegans as there aren't many purely vegan restaurants in town otherwise.


Street Food

  • Antico Forno: Not excessively far from the Ponte Rialto, this "old broiler" is somewhat holed up behind a marble section. It represents considerable authority in baked foods. You can go for a sandwich, request an entire pizza to remove or pick a cut of pizza or their special pizzaccia which is a hybrid of pizza and focaccia later finished off with any semblance of mushroom and cooked ham, or zucchini and red pepper.
  • Frito Inn: A mother-and-daughter team run this unassuming seared fish spot. You'll realize you've reached their friggitoria when you see a monster window opening onto a little piazza, no uncertainty with a line out the front and cooking frittura di pesce to arrange, served liberally in cartoccio. The sizable paper cones start at six Euros a pop, loaded up with either blended fish such as calamari, prawns and latterini, a minuscule white fish that is cooked and eaten entire or you can choose squid alone or with prawns. These scartossi which is essentially seared fish served in paper are a staple of Venetian food. It is a must-visit for those looking to enjoy authentic street food.
Pizza is a street food staple in Italy and a must try


Drink

The Italians are known to be a very particular breed when it comes to their drinking habits. Here we just aren’t talking about alcoholic drinks but we are also referring to the non-alcoholic ones. In this section of the article, we shall discuss some of the popular drinks that you can enjoy on your trip to Venice. To begin with the non-alcoholic drinks, it is an absolute no brainer that the various kinds of coffees that Italy has given to the world are popular here, right from Espresso to Cappuccino and even the Macchiato.

The Italians in Venice are known to be very particular about their alcoholic drinks and the time at which they consume it. There are different types of alcohols to be consumed at different times, even before and after meals, if you consume the wrong one at the wrong time you certainly shall be warranted to a few stares. Some of them are devoured as aperitifs and some as digestives. Albeit huge numbers of them can be drunk both when feasting. The drinks include beer, dessert wines, vermouth, liqueurs and wine.


Tap-water

Publicly available tap water is definitely extremely fit for consumption in Venice. As a tourist, there is no perceivable reason for you to purchase expensive bottled mineral water. This practice of drinking tap water shall also help you avoid using disposable bottles and encourage you to use reusable water bottles.


Organic Cafés

Healthy organic restaurants are more than just a fad these days, people are increasingly conscious about sustainable food habits and these organic cafes and restaurants cater to just this category of consumers. Hence, you shall find quite a few of these in Venice as well and they are listed below:

  • Fiumefreddo Bio
  • Ghimel Garden
  • Frary’s
  • La Zucca


Breweries

The Italians have always been known to be particular about their brews and they do have some of the choicest of breweries to choose from to enjoy a pint, you could visit some of these listed below:

  • CRAK
  • Devil Forest Pub
  • Birreria Pedavena


Activities

While Venice may seem like the perfect tourist destination with plenty of activities to do, you will soon realise that the city is extremely crowded with tourists and you may feel the urge to do some off-beat activities. Some of these include going and enjoying a few drinks and a meal with the local people.You can also go enjoy Gondola rides which are the highlight in Venice. Lastly, it is recommended that you go out and get lost at night in the city and explore as much as possible, it is undoubtedly at it’s stunning best post-sunset.


Yoga and Retreats

Yoga was once a form of exercise and meditation that was practised only widely across Asia. However, over the years this has become a globally practised form of exercise and here in Venice to you shall find quite a few yoga centres, given below is a list of retreats that you could visit for a rejuvenating experience:

  • Jaya Yoga Venezia
  • Yoga Pilates Venezia
  • Centro Yoga Namaste
  • Future Yoga School Venice


Accommodation

Venice as a city is one of the most visited tourist destinations in the world and a major chunk of the visitors headed here are solely in town for tourism purposes and as a result of this, you shall find a rather decent amount of accommodation options available to you. While there are only a handful of budget options, the rest is slightly pricey and opulent.

Hotel Cirpriani, Venice


Green Hotels

Green hotels play an extremely important role in ensuring that the tourists who are travelling to the city live there by impacting nature in as minimum ways as possible. Right from providing efficient appliances to sustainable amenities and good recycling programmes you can expect these green hotels to cater to your every basic need without increasing your carbon footprint. Given below are a few such green hotels you can consider:

  • Farmhouse Ca ‘Danieli: As the name suggests, it isn’t a conventional hotel but it is a place where you can stay in the lap of nature and enjoy basic amenities in a sustainable manner. Here you can treat yourself to organically grown farm produce as well.
  • Corte di Gabriela: It is a famous four-star hotel that offers environmental affectability and vitality recuperation which are the two central boundaries onto which the plan of Corte di Gabriela is based.


Hostels and Guest Houses

  • Generator Venice: The hostels in Venice may not even feel like hostels considering the kind of amenities that they offer. Generator Venice is one such hostel with exquisite interiors, modern amenities, and an excellent location.
  • Anda Venice: Unlike the above-mentioned option, And Venice is a modern hostel with the latest amenities and chic interiors. You shall have vibrant spaces to live and socialise in and they definitely catch the pulse of the younger generations.


Apartments

Renting apartments in Venice is known to be quite an easy option. However, the rental rates are known to be quite high and as tourists you may want to consider the option if you are living for long periods of time, or if you value your privacy, or if you have a couple of friends living with you, that way you get to avoid the exorbitant rates and rigid rules and regulations of hostels and hotels.


Couchsurfing

Couch Surfing is a very commonly practised concept in Venice and most of the young adults are the ones indulging in it. If you have a great profile, if you are dynamic, then you can approach a host and make suitable arrangements, just make sure you are as uptight as your host expects you to be and help out with a few chores and share a token of appreciation at the end of it all.


Camping

The Italian folk are known to love the outdoors to quite a considerable extent and given in this section of the article are a few places that you too could visit as a part of the camping experience:

  • Camping Venezia Village
  • Camping Rialto
  • Village Camping Marina di Venezia


How to Get There

Reaching the city of Venice is not known to be too difficult and some of the most sustainable ways to reach are the railway and the buses. Given in the sections below are more details about the different ways in which you can reach the city.


Air

The Marco Polo International Airport serves the city and you can reach her from almost every major city in the world. In addition to this, the city is well connected to the airport via trains, buses, taxis, and even motorboats.

Marco Polo Airport


Bus

The long-distance buses in Venice originate and end at some of the major cities and towns around the city. You could often make use of these to reach Venice but they are always the second preference of travellers.

Bus in Venice


Train

The railway connects Venice exceptionally well with the rest of the country of Italy. The Santa Lucia Train Station which is situated on the northwestern edge of the city is the hub for all trains in and out of the city, so book your tickets and hop on to reach Venice from any major city in the country.


Hitchhiking

Hitchhiking in Venice is not known to be an alien concept, the local people can be quite helpful and give a ride to tourists headed to destinations in their path. But as usual, the risks are considerable especially if you are carrying valuable goods on you.


Others

The major other mode of transportation in Venice is the waterways which include plenty of passenger ships and boats that ferry between the various islands surrounding the city. These are also used for transportation in canals that connect different corners of the city.


Moving Around

Venice as a city offers quite a few different modes of transportation for tourists visiting, many of these are eco-friendly too, keep reading this section of the article for details about the same.


Walk

Venice is quite an average-sized city. But one must remember that the city has a lot of exquisite places to visit, pieces of architecture, and markets for you to enjoy on foot, so walking tours or even walking solo is definitely an option.


Bicycle

Cycling is quite common in Venice and you too could easily rent a bicycle and tour around town, it is extremely safe, it is rejuvenating and though you may have to navigate through tight spaces, it shall be enjoyable.


Electronic Vehicles

Electronic vehicles are not very common in Venice just as yet, it is mainly the public transportation that has gone electrical. However, you may find many EVs on the streets and even a few hybrids but most of them shall be private vehicles.


Public Bus

The public bus is in a way the backbone of the city, efficiently ferrying passengers to different corners at minimal costs and since many of these run on electricity, they are green as well.


Tram, Train and Subway

The trams in Venice are an extremely popular mode of transportation. As a tourist, try to use these as far as possible as they are extremely sustainable, efficient and economical.

Water Taxi


Sustainable Shopping

Sustainable shopping is an essential part of every eco-friendly tourists’ journey. This is extremely important as you can directly contribute to the local economy and single-handedly deal a blow to greedy capitalists. Shop from local stores if you wish to get a hold of authentic craftsmanship and avoid polluting greedy mega-corporations.


Food Markets

Venice has quite a few popular food markets, a few of these are listed below:

  • Rialto Market: It is an extremely popular destination amongst foodies and here you can enjoy locally sourced food products, ingredients, and enjoy a few delicacies from food carts.
  • Mestre Market: Here you can get everything from pizzas to fresh vegetables, much of your shopping bag contents shall be determined by need and whatever be the occasion you shall find your needs here.


Flea Markets

Flea Markets are an interesting place for most tourists to find knick-knacks and perhaps even a few rare artefacts, it could also serve to be the perfect place to pick up souvenirs, hence given below are a few places you can explore:

  • Mercatino San Martino: Here you shall find bling including jewellery and shoes.
  • Bisonni: Here you can shop for swimwear, denim jackets, cowboy boots and pretty much anything that was popular in the 80s.


Second Hand Stores

A few popular second-hand stores in Venice mainly deal with items of clothing, furnishings, and decor, some well-known stores that you could visit for a bargain are:

  • Yesterday
  • Granmercato Del Uscato
  • Mercatopoli Rubano


Eco-Fashion

With Italy being one of the leading fashion destinations in the world, you certainly can expect Venice to have eco-friendly fashion stores, some prominent names that stand out are:

  • Alternative Apparel
  • Olderbrother
  • ChristyDawn


Recycling

Venice is known to have quite a robust recycling program and this includes most of the waste being categorised into two parts. One comprises of Tetrapak, cardboard, and paper while the other comprises of metals, cans, plastics, and glass.


Waste

Venice is undoubtedly one of the cleanest cities in the world and the waste collection method is quite strict with residents having to adhere to specific methods of segregation, packing, points of disposal, and even time of disposal.


Work and Study Abroad

Venice being one of the major destinations in Italy is no doubt and similarly one can be assured that there are plenty of universities and job options that attract people from all across the globe to move here either temporarily or permanently.


Exchange Student

The major universities in town offer comprehensive exchange programs and scholarships too. With famous universities being housed here, students often need to work hard to score good grades and nab these scholarships.


Au Pair

Au Pair as a concept is quite popular in Venice and you too could apply, not only are you entitled to a good place and a nice family to stay with but you also get good pay in exchange for daily chores.


Volunteering

Venice is a city where the people are socially responsible and you too could give back to society by joining hands with these socially responsible people and organisations that work selflessly for the people. Be a volunteer for a cause that you truly believe in, finding this gig isn’t too difficult as you could rely on online postings or words passed through your social circles.


See Also