Visiting Venice on a Budget

Venice is one of the most beautiful and unique cities in the world, and once visited will never be forgotten. But can you visit Venice on a budget and still get to explore this magical place?

Venice is one of the most expensive cities in the world to visit, let's not pretend, but you can still travel on a budget and experience a lot of the sights and atmosphere.

Budget-Friendly: Navigating Venice's Affordable Accommodation -

You can see and explore Venice on a long weekend trip, but finding a good quality place to stay at a reasonable cost can be challenging.

Make sure to choose accommodation far away from the Grand Canal in the San Marco district, as this is where the prices can be very high. As a lot of the great sites of Venice are within walking distance getting to them from wherever you stay is very easy.

You can choose like we did to stay on one of the other Islands of Venice such as Murano or Burano. Costs will be a lot lower than on the main island and it is very easy to get a boat or vaporetto to and from the smaller islands.

Going off-season can also be a lot cheaper in months like November or February, where you can sometimes find great bargains.

Navigating Venice's Waterways: Budget-Friendly Tips -

There are cost-effective ways to explore the iconic canals and islands, including budget-friendly water transport options. As mentioned the Vaporetto or water taxis are great for getting around and are good value.

You can use them to explore many parts of the city and the other islands such as Murano which are well worth visiting. There are about 20 water bus lines in Venice.

You can buy tickets which are valid for 24, 48 or 72 hours. Tickets for several days are much cheaper than for one day. These water buses can get very crowded, especially in the summer, but most trips are pretty short.

Water taxis are another means of transport in Venice. These are smaller ships you can rent like a normal taxi with a driver. Water taxis, like taxis in other cities, can be rented individually and you can go where you want. The price will be more expensive than the Vaporetto but a lot more personal.

Once on the main island it is very easy to get everywhere on foot, it is one of the surprises we had of getting lost and finding small squares and restaurants and soaking up the atmosphere away from the main tourist attractions.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW BARGAIN THINGS TO DO IN VENICE

Free and Affordable Attractions in Venice :

Just walking around the city is a joy as it is, so you don't need to spend a fortune to explore.

St. Mark's Square is the most famous in Venice, the iconic Piazza San Marco is free to visit, but buy anything from the cafés around the square and you’ll pay a lot for so beware.

There are certain rules when you visit the square such as you’re not allowed to sit on the floor or steps anywhere around the square and don’t feed the pigeons. Take time to enjoy the atmosphere and the orchestras playing at the cafes.

One of the most popular free things to do in Venice is visit the Basilica San Marco, remember the queues can be very long but move quickly. You aren’t allowed to take any backpacks or large luggage inside, these have to be deposited at a free baggage storage centre separate from the Basilica, so leave your bags BEFORE you join the queue.

Also, remember No photography is allowed inside the Basilica.

CLICK HERE TO BOOK ENTRY INTO THE BASILICA

The Rialto Bridge is another of Venice’s iconic landmarks. take that classic Venice photo alongside it or take one of the Vaporetto water buses which pass under the bridge to see it from the water.

The Rialto Market is one of the last remaining markets in Venice, the locals who remain in the city still come here in the morning to buy fresh fish, fruit and veg. Here you can buy healthy snacks and get a taste of what it must be like to live in Venice.

There are many free and paid walking tours of Venice which can be great for getting some of the history of the city and landmarks and it stops you getting lost in the many alleyways which can look very similar.

Visit Murano and Burano islands. The beautiful islands of Venice have speciality crafts and are well worth the short boat ride.

Murano is known for its famous glass blowing and it's still to this day the island’s principal industry. You can visit one of the numerous glass factories in the small town. You can also visit the Murano Glass Museum with over 4,000 objects on display.

Burano is one of the islands in the Venetian Lagoon. It is famous for its lace and colourful houses. Families used to paint their homes in bright, cheerful colours as a way to make their homes more visible from the sea. It's worth taking the time to stroll its photogenic streets and snap photos of its unique beauty.

CLICK HERE TO BOOK MURANO AND BURANO BOAT TOURS

You can explore its lacemaking traditions and also visit Burano's leaning tower. Burano is a working fisherman’s island, you can get super-fresh seafood here—for a fraction of the price it would be over in Venice.

You don’t think about Venice as a place for wonderful gardens, but the Biennale Gardens and the Park of Remembrance are two beautiful green spaces to explore with great views across the lagoon.

It is fascinating just being a people watcher in Venice just to see how the local people live their lives. From rubbish collection to emergency services like an ambulance to fruit and veg stalls on floating boats, visiting this fantastic city even on a tight budget is so unique.

Here is our article Venice: A Journey Through, Waterways, and Romance.