Experience Venice Travel - The City of Canals

When it comes to famous tourist destinations in Europe, certain names immediately come to mind: mentioning France brings to mind the luminous capital, Paris, adorned with the Louvre Museum and the thousand-year-old Notre Dame Cathedral; talking about Germany, one thinks of Berlin - a historical witness, with its famous Berlin Wall; mentioning the Netherlands, windmills and Amsterdam with its bicycles lining bridges over canals come to mind...

So what about Italy? Surely, Italian pasta, pizza; Milan - the fashion capital, Rome - the cultural and historical capital, with the Roman Colosseum, the leaning tower of Pisa, and another enticing tourist destination that I want to introduce is the 'city of canals' Venice.

Venice, or Venezia in Italian, is the capital of the Veneto region in the province of Venezia. This city stretches across several small islands, in the Venetian lagoon along the Adriatic Sea in northeastern Italy. Venice is built on an archipelago consisting of 118 small islands formed by about 150 canals and a shallow lagoon. The city is built on these islands connected by about 400 bridges. To understand more about the geography and history of this city, you can refer to Wikipedia!

My seven-day trip to Italy. The first 'mission' is a dreamy Venice tour followed by Rome. I traveled with a friend, spending 3 days and 2 nights in Venice. We started our journey at night, catching a train from the center of Germany to Stuttgart Airport, then with just a 1-hour and 10-minute flight, we arrived in Venice. I booked the hotel and flights about a month in advance through Booking.com and Ryanair. The flight ticket was 9.99 Euros, with an additional 6 Euros for a carry-on suitcase not exceeding 10kg, along with a handbag. Around 8 a.m., we reached Treviso Airport; then, we bought a 12 Euro bus ticket to Mestre station on the main island of Venice.

The hotel check-in time was 2 p.m., and luggage storage was allowed, so we took a leisurely stroll to admire the scenery while gradually heading back to the hotel to drop off our belongings. The hotel we stayed at is Combo Venezia. Here, the rooms are beautiful, clean, and located on the main island. Near the hotel is a water bus stop to islands like Murano, Burano, or into the central part of the island, along the main canals of Venice. To save money and for sightseeing purposes, we planned to buy a 24-hour public transportation ticket for the days we visited Murano and Burano islands. On other days, we relaxed and strolled around every corner of Venice.

Above are some pictures of the hotel we stayed at; we booked a room in a 12-person dormitory. Initially, I thought it would be bunk beds for all 12 people in one room, but later found out we got a private room. This is a huge plus for those who like privacy.

The hotel also offers breakfast, lunch, and in the evening, there's a DJ. Especially, there's a library here too. I was really pleased with this hotel. You don't need to go far; right at the hotel, you can get a series of super glamorous 'insta-worthy' photos. You may consider staying here if you have the opportunity to travel to Venice independently!

The sight of houses amidst the cool blue waters is quite common when traveling to Venice.

In this article, I want to introduce the famous attractions on the main island of Venice that I visited and share experiences of getting around in Venice. I'll write it chronologically. Because Venice is a combination of islands connected by bridges, the main modes of transportation here are water buses, gondolas, and of course, walking. Generally, be prepared to walk a lot during your trip, but walking while admiring the beauty of Venice is definitely worth it.

To prepare well for the trip, Google Maps is a handy tool. Download the map while still at home when there's no Internet. My travel experience is to use the paper map usually provided by hotels. It marks famous tourist spots, boat docks, and other useful information. Note that the streets in Venice are relatively similar, so in the evening, I recommend returning early to the hotel area or only moving around familiar areas to avoid getting lost.

You may not know: travelers can easily move from Venice to surrounding islands with ACTV Vaporetto Boat Tickets and Venice Sightseeing Bus Tickets booked on Klook!

The attractions on the first day in Venice include San Marco Square. Here you will see San Marco Square, St. Mark's Campanile Bell Tower, Doge's Palace, the Governor's Residence, and the Clock Tower.

We bought tickets to the Campanile Bell Tower for 8 Euros/person to enjoy the panoramic view of Venice at sunset. You won't regret it at all. Admiring the city bathed in the golden hues of dusk from a high vantage point is an incredibly romantic experience for independent travelers in Venice.

Then, we strolled along the Grand Canal and Rialto Bridge to soak up the lively nighttime atmosphere of Venice. Nightlife here can be described as 'rich in sounds, rich in emotions'. You can hear the inviting calls of restaurants, the sound of water lapping against the gondolas, the distinctive music from the street performers' shows, and the myriad languages of tourists from around the world. You'll surely be mesmerized by the candlelights, lanterns dancing in the night.

I happened to pass by the famous sighing bridge in Venice. Here, I met a lovely friend who was also taking photos of the bridge and even helped me take some pictures.

Quick tip for #teamKlook: Don't miss out on the Walking Tour in Venice to wander through the colorful streets of Gothic architecture, admire the magnificent San Marco Basilica, the historic site of Piazza San Marco, and much more.

On the second day in Venice, we chose to visit the two islands of Murano and Burano by water bus.

For Venice enthusiasts, Murano Island is probably not an unfamiliar name. Located north of Venice with a rather 'modest' population of just over 5000 people, it boasts many famous attractions such as Santa Maria e San Donato Church, San Pietro Martire Church, and the Murano Glass Museum at the Giustinian Palace. The island is also renowned for its intricate glassmaking industry.

Meanwhile, Burano Island - with its colorful small houses - serves as the perfect check-in spot for Instagram enthusiasts. The locals here also have the habit of hanging out their clothes and blankets in front of their houses, creating the very characteristic colors of each street. Don't forget to bring your camera when traveling to Venice, especially to Burano Island!

Pro tip from #Klook: You can explore Murano Island, Burano Island, and many other interesting destinations with the Murano, Burano & Torcello Sightseeing Tour available at a very affordable price on Klook.

On the third day of our self-guided Venice trip, we checked out of the hotel and took a leisurely stroll around the area near Mestre Train Station. We visited a church, the name of which escapes my memory, and stumbled upon an exhibition called “Spirit of Murano”. Wandering aimlessly around the streets without a plan turned out to be not such a bad idea after all.

Oh, don't forget to check out the quaint little bookshops in Venice! Here, you can buy English books, old magazines, or postcards as gifts for your loved ones or friends. Passing by the eye-catching fruit stalls, pottery shops with artisans hard at work, you can truly appreciate the artistic spirit that thrives in this small city.

If you're not into walking, you can also sit by the tranquil blue waters, watching the boats glide by, refreshing your soul and getting ready to bid farewell to Venice.

So, our three days in Venice have come to an end. Personally, I adore Venice in every little detail - the colorful houses, the boats moored along the small canals, the exquisitely arranged restaurants, the antique shops,... If given the chance, I would love to come back here. I hope you all have a delightful trip and experience Venice in your own unique way.

Many thanks to Lê Thị Diệu Thương from 'Travel Blogger Rookie' for the insightful sharing. Hopefully, you'll have many more exciting trips in the near future.

Hey #teamKlook, planning a DIY trip to Venice? Don't forget that Klook offers a wide range of day tours/activities/services in the 'city of canals' for you to enjoy to the fullest. And that's not to mention the plethora of articles sharing experiences, tips, and DIY travel tips on Klook's Blog. What are you waiting for? Start exploring now!