I’ve dreamed of visiting Venice since first seeing the film, The Tourist, back in 2010. The incredible architecture, charming canals weaving through the city, and the hopes of seeing Angelina Jolie jetting off in her luxury yacht. I finally made this dream destination a reality this past fall, when I booked a train to Venice for the weekend.
The magical waterways of Venice ended up being everything I imagined and more… a lot more in fact. What travel forums failed to prepare me for was the infamous Aqua Alta, or high tide, that invades Venice this time of year. The streets were flooded with about 1 foot of water for several hours per day, forcing guests to wear storm-trooper-esque, plastic boots over our shoes. It was quite the experience, to say the least.
But wet socks and all, my weekend here was amazing. The city was a crossroads of fascinating history and modern perspectives. I’ve curated a list of my favorite spots and put together a travel guide for anyone else eager to trace the steps of Alexander Pearce (The Tourist reference…)
TO STAYI stayed at an Airbnb in the Cannaregio district, nestled about a 15-minute walk from San Marco, it was the perfect mellow area to call home base. The host was extremely helpful, it was easy to check in, and only a 20-minute walk from the train station.
*Given my au-pair budget, I don’t eat out too much when I travel. Staying at an Airbnb enabled me to get some groceries at the local market and pack lunches and snacks while exploring the city.
SAN MARCO
My first stop was St. Marks/San Marco’s Square. You could probably spend the whole day just in this area, exploring all the museums and attractions. Given my limited time in the Venice, I only spent a few hours here but loved every minute.
To See:
- Church of San Marco
- TIP: Go inside! The line may look daunting, but trust me, it moves fast and is so worth it—and is free!
- The Campanile
- Doge’s Palace
- Bridge of Sighs
To Do:
- Museo Correr
To Eat:
- Caffe Florian: the oldest coffee house in continuous operation. It is a beautiful place to sit and enjoy a coffee and the view of the Square (and a few photos for Instagram)
- Harry’s Bar
- Bar Gelateria Al Todaro Dal 1948
RIALTO
From San Marco, I walked along the water front towards the Costello area and looped my way back up to the Rialto district, stopping first at Libreria Aqua Alta (this whole loop took about 1.5-2 hours at a leisurely pace).
I will be honest, the Rialto was not my favorite neighborhood (very touristy with mainstream shopping), but no trip to Venice would be complete without seeing the Rialto Bridge.
To See:
- Rialto Bridge
- Rialto Mercato
- DFS Terrace
- PRO TIP: DFS is a big shopping center in Venice, definitely out of my price range and not really of interest to me… however on the roof they have a terrace open to the public! The terrace offers city views and is absolutely breathtaking any time of day, but especially at sunset. You can make a reservation on the website, but I was able to go up without any reservation.
To Eat:
- Al Merca
DOSODORO
This was my absolute favorite part of Venice. Dorsoduro is known as a more authentic area of the city, with less tourists, unpretentious cafes and small boutiques. If you have the time, I would spend a whole day here.
To See:
- Palazzo Cavalli Franchetti: In my opinion, this is the most beautiful building in Venice—and it happened to have a fascinating exhibition on Memphis furniture when I visited, and an Ai Wei Wei sculpture in the garden. Can it get any better than this?!
- Ponte Dell ’Accademia
- Gallerie dell ’Accademia
- Peggy Guggenheim Collection: One of the highlights of my trip, hands down. The collection showcases the works of prominent modern artists and is housed in the home of Peggy Guggenheim.
- Ca’Rezzonico
From Dorsoduro, you can stroll north through the “University Area”, where the lively streets are filled with students and have a much younger feel. There is no shortage of museums, some others include:
- Parochial Santa Maria Gloriosa
- Scoula Grande di Rocco
JEWISH GHETTO
Wind your way through the streets and canals until you get to Ponte degli Scalzi, and eventually end up in Cannaregio. From there, you can get to the Jewish Ghetto, setting of Shakespeare’s famous Merchant of Venice. I did not get to spend too much time here, but it is definitely worth checking out.
MURANO AND BURANO
If you end up with extra time in your itinerary, you can visit Murano and Burano, both accessible via waterbus. Due to my limited time in the city, I just stayed in Venice, but think that both of these islands are good options if find yourself with extra time.
And that concluded my perfect weekend in Venice. I’ve attached a Google Map with my favorite sights and attractions. Please do not hesitate to reach out with any questions!
Ciao!
.
auparis 