Venice - tourist trap or bucket list destination?
I was always a bit hesitant to visit Venice, afraid that the masses of tourists would overshadow the beauty of the city. Stories about overdimensional cruise ships in the harbour of the small city and overcrowded canals just don’t really sound inviting. Photos of idyllic bridges and the colorful houses of Burano do however look very inviting and convinced us to give Venice a try anyway.
To avoid high season we decided to visit Venice for a long weekend in March. I don’t know if it is because of my lower set expectations, but I really loved Venice. Strolling over the Piazza San Marco while the sun was rising, sipping from an overpriced Aperol Spritz in front of the Basilica di San Marco, overlooking the canals during blue hours, having a seafood risotto surrounded by the colorful facades of Burano and trolling around without a plan other than just enjoying the city, it was all amazing.
Tourist trap? Maybe. Bucket list destination? For sure!
With the help of these cliches, we could enjoy the beauty and atmosphere of Venice even more:
Venice is indeed pretty crowded. Visiting outside of high season and avoiding summer time, carnival, easter and the weekends can however make a difference.
Landmarks such as Basilica di San Marco, Piazza San Marco and Palazzo Ducale are always busy, also in March. Because we had mostly great weather and we loved walking around so much, we decided to visit only the Campanile di San Marco (the bell tower of the basilica) to enjoy the views over the city from above and skip the rest. Be there before opening hours to avoid queueing as much as possible is always a good idea.
Tourism seemed to be really concentrated around Piazza San Marco, Ponte di Rialto and the shopping streets. I didn’t expect to find empty bridges but we did, especially in the neighbourhoods of Cannaregio and Castello. The canal of Fondamenta dei Ormesini was a great spot to sit along the canal or to find some great spots for lunch.
Coffee is so affordable and so good. We started everyday with a coffee at Pasticceria Bonifacio, an amazing small traditional bakery around the corner from our hotel.
Especially those moments before the crowds arrived (around 9:00) and after sunset were magical in Venice. It can be hard at times, but it was so much worth it to get up early!
Paying €10 for a tea or a spritz on Piazza San Marco may be overpriced, but we enjoyed the views so much, that is was totally worth it. It is the experience that counts.
