When visiting a city like Venice, it's always interesting to take advantage of special offers.
These will give you access to special discounts or locations in town.
Today, I've put together a few tips that you might find useful in Venice.
A good deal in Venice: article summary
Negotiating your gondola ride
To avoid being ripped off by a gondolier, find out the standard rates for a gondola ride. In general, it costs €80 for 30 minutes per day and 100 euros per night.
This price is for the whole boat, not per person! Up to six people can board a gondola. You can then divide the price accordingly.
Before boarding the gondola, don't hesitate to ask about the price. If the gondolier tries to tell you that the price will be higher for any reason, they're not telling the truth. Let them know politely but firmly that you know the rates are fixed.
Discuss the itinerary with the gondolier before you leave, and don't pay him in advance! Pay them at the end of the 30 minutes once they've taken you on the promised route.
Make sure you top up. If you don't have the exact amount ready, the gondolier will take the excess as a "tip" and you'll have to pay it back. won't give you change.
The best way to find the best ice cream in Venice
Real fruit ice cream always tastes better than ice cream made with artificial flavoring. So, are you ready for the most delicious of Venice travel tips?
To spot the best ice cream, simply take a look at the coloring. If it's brightly colored, think bright green for pistachio ice-cream or bright pink for strawberry ice-cream. it's probably made with artificial flavoring.
Real ice cream has a more subdued tone. Try to spot the pastel colors. It's more likely to be authentic, fresh and delicious Italian ice cream.
It goes without saying that have to look for ice cream stores in the adjacent streets and not in the main tourist areas. As well as saving on the price of classes, you'll find establishments offering better ice cream!
A gondola ride for two euros
If you don't want to spend 80 or 100 euros on a gondola ride, you can still enjoy the experience for much less: just two euros.
What's it like? Climb aboard a gondola crossing the Grand Canal. This means of transport is called a traghetto.
Traghetto means "ferry ride" in Italian. It's not a fancy ride, and the trip only takes a minute or two, but it's long enough to take a quick photo and get an incredible view of the Grand Canal.
Taking a traghetto ride is an authentic and affordable way to discover Venice. One of the most popular traghetto crossings can be found on the wooden quay just outside Venice. next to the Rialto fish market.
Don't get ripped off buying carnival masks
One of the most popular souvenirs you can buy in Venice is your own carnival mask.
Almost every souvenir store you pass will sell masks. However, to avoid buying an overpriced fake, make sure someone is inside the store making the masks.
Real carnival masks are made right in the store. If you go in and don't see anyone making masks, they probably sell cheap "made in china" masks.
If you want to be sure of enjoying a traditional mask, the best place to find it is in the San Polo district of Venice.
Good deal in Venice: be careful when buying Murano glass
The second most popular souvenir of Venice is the coloured glass from Murano. Almost every souvenir store you pass will sell plates, ornaments and cups made from this pretty, colorful glass.
To avoid being fooled by a fake Murano glassI recommend buying it directly on the island of Murano itself. It's a short boat-bus ride from Venice. And you can be sure that the glass is authentic.
However, if you're buying from a store in Venice, be sure to check that the glass is labelled "Made in Murano" or "Made in Venice". Don't be fooled by products labelled "made in Italy", they're usually fakes.
Real Murano glass won't be too colourful, either. it won't be extremely cheap.
Get lost in the old town!
If you're looking for an exceptional experience in Venice, I highly recommend getting lost. The city boasts hundreds of churches and numerous museums. I'm sure you'll get lost, you'll manage to find a typical.
You'll also feel like you're in a completely different city once you get away from the chaos and crowds of tourist areas like the place Saint-Marc and the Rialto bridge.
One of my favorite neighborhoods to stroll through is Cannaregio. Located in the north of Venice, this quiet district has a more local, less touristy atmosphere.
Cannaregio is the perfect place to take a sunset stroll and stop for dinner somewhere along one of the canals. A perfect spot, especially if you're a couple.
Visiting Venice is an exceptional experience. However, if you take advantage of one of these great deals, I assure you that your trip will be unique and all the more magical for it.
What to do in Venice in 1 day, 2 days, 3 days, 5 days, a week?
Whatever the length of your stay, I invite you to download my special Venice guide.
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