If you’re looking for romance, may we suggest Venice, Italy? If you’ve never been before, it’s definitely a bucket list destination. Since Venice is made up of 117 smaller islands in the Venetian Lagoon, there is no road traffic. For that matter, there are no roads, only narrow cobblestone lanes. The islands are separated by canals and linked by many, many bridges.
Upon arrival at Marco Polo International Airport, visitors are met with their first decision – to pay a few Euros and take the Vaporetto (boat bus) with all the other tourists and their luggage or to pay $100 to travel in style in an Italian high-speed racing boat limo.
The boat bus option slowly makes its way from the airport up The Grand Canal, with designated stops along the way. Next, comes the fun part… navigating the way through endless cobblestone alleys, up and over numerous bridges with luggage in tow, while attempting to find your hotel in this ancient labyrinth of a city.
The alternative – the high-speed boat/limo – offers classic and very powerful wooden boats that are small enough to maneuver through the narrow canals and then drop visitors at their hotel doorstep. We suggest this option.
There are plenty of accommodation choices in Venice. For this particular trip, the destination of choice was the NH Venezia Palazzo Barocci, a former palace turned hotel. Considered to be rather pricey for a Junior Suite, the room offered 2 balconies with positively spectacular views and was fittingly furnished with Venetian opulence. The hotel location was spectacular, set on the Grand Canal and overlooking The Rialto Bridge. It’s conveniently located within walking distance to almost everything, but far enough away from the main square madness that guests can get a restful night’s sleep. There is also a Vaporetto (boat bus) stop directly outside the front door.
After checking in, it’s time to explore the city and the best way to start is to take the boat/bus from one end of the canal to the other and then back again. The ride takes roughly an hour and a half and you’ll get some great views of Venice so bring a camera.
One of the nicest things about Venice is that visitors simply can’t get lost while exploring countless shops and restaurant gems hidden along the many cobblestone alleys. Given the many tours through the alley, it’s highly possible to encounter a sudden swarm of people. But it’s easy to duck down the next laneway, escape the crowds, and keep right on exploring. Simply put, it’s awesome.
St Mark’s Square with its cathedral, palace, and Bell Tower is one of the main attractions and gathers the most visitors. The square is lined with shops, boutiques, and cafes. And there are outdoor patios that feature live classical music every evening. Seating on the patio automatically elicits a cover charge added to your bill, but a basket of potato chips is complimentary.
The Cathedral is spectacular and the tourist line-ups to get in seem endless. But guests with a little knowledge can skip the line by visiting the website HERE to reserve an entry time. It’s a little-known fact that can be an excellent time-saver. The Doge’s Palace is also worth a visit. It contains many works of art and is a great way to see how Venetian royalty lived.
The best view in town is a quick elevator ride to the top of the Bell Tower, directly opposite the Cathedral. The line-up can also be long but it moves quickly and rewards tourists with an unobstructed 360-degree view of Venice.
The Bridge of Sighs is just around the corner on the canal. The bridge linked the prison with the palace where legend has it that you could hear the sighs of the condemned as they were being led to prison and were getting their last views of daylight.
The Rialto Bridge is another very popular attraction. Sundown is the best time to visit, just as the lights are coming on. This offers beautiful photos of the hustle and bustle on the canal below. The bridge is lined with souvenir shops and it’s great to hang out at one of the cafes for an espresso or gelato and some people-watching. Following the alley past the bridge will take visitors to the train station and fish market, which is interesting to see if you don’t mind the intense smell.
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- St Markus Square
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- Basano del Grappa
If you have time, a tour of the Veneto Region is recommended, as an hour or two drive from Venice towards the Dolomite Mountains. This tour includes stops in Bassano Del Grappa, the town best known for The Grappa (spirits made from grapes) it produces. Lunch is provided in a small-town rustic restaurant, followed by a tour and tasting at Prosecco Vineyard.
Explore to your heart’s content, enjoy a great meal, and drink some world-class wine. And then sit back, close your eyes, and surrender yourself to the magic that is Venice.