Venice is one of the most romantic destinations, expensive and fancy. People come here to enjoy the carnival (14 February thru 4 March) and soak up the theatrical atmosphere. That ambiance doesn’t come cheap in the city center. A room at the Aman Venice goes for about 1,400 euros per night.
But suppose you move away 100 meters from the city center.
In that case, you’ll find the ordinary life of a small European city, with budget supermarkets, inexpensive local cafes, and the usual life of locals. Below are some tips that will help make your stay unforgettable and budget-friendly to save money without losing impressions.
Where to stay
The most classic option that most tourists use is to book a hotel using one of the booking services, such as Booking or Agoda. However, you need to understand that such a stay will be pretty expensive. But there is still a budget option. If you look at booking sites beforehand, you can find an affordable hotel or a hostel in Venice. But if you arrive at a tight time, there may be no budget accommodation.
If you have absolutely no money, couch-surfing is worth it. You will most likely be able to find the option in the suburbs. But again, you should plan this before, as the number of volunteers is much higher than the offer.
The option we recommend is renting in Mestre on the mainland on the west edge of Venice. The town is close to Venice (14 minutes by train) and affordable.
How to Get to Venice
You can get from Mestre to Venice by:
Train
You may buy tickets from a ticket booth, but you can also buy them in Tabacchi shops. High-speed trains from Venice Mestre to Venice Santa Lucia (Venice central station) take just 10 minutes, and the journey costs 1.4 euros per person one way. A regular train for the same price would take 12 minutes. Catch your train and jump off at Venice Santa Lucia and immediately immersed yourself in the atmosphere of fairy-tale Venice. Trains run from 5:00 to 23:40 at short intervals.
Bus
At night, you can take bus N1 from the train station to Venice or bus N2 from Corso del Popolo station every half hour until 5 a.m. for 1.4 euros per person.
During the day, buses #2 and #7 run from Mestre station to Piazzale Roma (Venice) from the Rampa Cavalcavia “Vempa” stop within a few minutes intervals.
What to eat
As in any popular tourist city, the prices in Venice’s center are primarily high, although the cuisine here is not always the most delicious. However, away from the center, the prices are quite democratic.
When you wander the remote streets of Venice, please note that most establishments display price signs right on the street, so you can decide in advance whether to go inside.
The places below are highly recommended, offering tasty and filling snacks:
• Crepes House by PePe offers pancakes with meat, fried eggs, chocolate mousse, banana and many other fillings for about 5 euros.
Location: Fondamenta S. Giobbe, 548/B, 30121 Venezia VE, Italy
• Osteria Ae Forcoe prepares incredibly fresh and tasty sandwiches with various ingredients: sausage, cheese, shrimp, and mushrooms. The price is affordable, 4-7 euros.
Location: Salizada S. Canzian, 30121 Venezia VE, Italy
• Coop. Venice has the Coop supermarket chain where you can buy ready-made food. This can save you a lot of money compared to visiting expensive restaurants.
Find the closest one to you on Google map or look for this one right near Ponte de Rialto: San Marco, Riva del Carbon, 4173/4177, 30124 Venezia VE, Italy.
• Local fast food. Popular fast food in Venice is instant spaghetti. In these places, you get a box to make your own pasta with the chosen sauce and filling at your discretion. The cost of such a dish will be around 10 euros. Travellers highly recommend these locations:
Dal Moro’s: Calle de la Casseleria, 5324, 30122 Venezia VE, Italy
Pasta y sugo: Fondamenta Gherardini, 2341, 30123 Venezia VE, Italy
Travel Hack: Most tourists in Venice drink Prosecco. However, if you want a truly authentic experience, buy a bottle of Bellini. This bright, fruity, spiced drink will add a festive touch to your stay in Venice.
How to get around
Venice has no public transport or cars, so all tourists travel on foot, regardless of their budget. Several options exist if you want to see the city from the water.
• Gondolas:
Traditional city transport — gondolas —is too expensive for one person (100-120 euros per hour), so it is better to travel on them only in a company of 4 or 5 people. This is not a budget option, but perhaps you can gather a group of people directly in the gondola parking area by car sharing principle.
• Vaporetto:
The Venetian water bus vaporetto is a local entertainment. A trip along routes 1 and 2 along the Grand Canal will allow you to see the city in all its glory. An hour-long trip on such transport costs 7 euros from the moment you validate the ticket. A single ticket purchased from a special machine must be validated upon boarding.
What to see on a budget
Venice has dozens of museums and gallery complexes that house works of art from various eras, from the Renaissance to the present. Entrance to one of the museums costs 3 to 10 euros. You may choose a tour of the La Fenice theater for 7 euros. If you want to visit numerous places, take the Venezia Unica card, as it will save you money.
You can also visit Venice for a vacation during the Venetian Carnival (40-45 days before Easter) or the film festival (August- September).
At this time, you can easily meet movie stars and other famous people on the street without paying because everyone is just walking around.
If you have free time, stroll in the Biennale Gardens area. Tourists rarely come here, and it’s a place to enjoy Venice without the crowds.
Travel Hack: If you want to see the city from a bird’s-eye view, there’s no need to stand in a long line at the Campanile San Marco, the tall tower in the popular square. Head to the Fondaco dei Tedesci, where a great free viewing platform exists. But, make a booking beforehand on the website!
Takeaways
Even if you have only one day to visit Venice, you may see its glory and prosperity on a tight budget during this time. Don’t deny yourself the pleasure of seeing this fantastic city. It is guaranteed that you will want to return here for much longer next time. You do not need high-end restaurants to form your impression of the city, and booking a hotel in the central square is unnecessary.
With the right approach, Venice is a modern fairy tale accessible to everyone.
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Read more about Venice here in Dispatches’ archives.
Galyna Rogovska is a travel expert with extensive experience in content creation. She is an enthusiastic globetrotter who has visited 25-plus countries, and an explorer with a passion for adventure.
