Nuts-and-bolts information to plan your trip, plus a checklist of essentials to include when you pack.
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Planning:
Entry Requirements: U.S. citizens need a valid passport to enter Italy; no visas are required for visits under 90 days.
Security: Venice is one of the safest cities in Europe and violent crime is rare. Pickpocketing is a major problem, however, particularly during high season. Mind your valuables at all times and be especially cautious when riding the vaporetti (water buses).
Time: Italy is six hours ahead of U.S. eastern standard time.
Money: The currency of Italy is the euro. For current conversion rates, go to OANDA Currency Converter. www.oanda.com/convert/classic
Phone Calls: The city code for Venice is 041. For calls to Venice from outside Italy, dial your country’s international access number + 39 (Italy’s country code) + 041 + the six or seven digit telephone number. For calls to Venice from inside Italy, dial 041 + the number.
When to Go: Winters in Venice are cold, damp, and dark, with average temperatures from the low 30s F (-1 to 1ºC) to mid-40s F (4 to 6ºC) from December-February and just a few hours of sunlight; thick fog frequently blankets the city in the winter, but snow is rare (and enchanting). Summer can be oppressively hot and humid, with daytime temperatures in the 80s and 90s F (26 to 37ºC), humidity in the high 80s (30 to 31ºC), and frequent thundershowers. High season runs from April through October in Venice; accommodation can be hard to find, so reserve in advance.
Getting There: Venice’s Marco Polo International Airport is served by several international carriers. Direct flights from the U.S. come from Atlanta, Philadelphia, and New York; connecting flights usually change planes in Amsterdam, Frankfurt, London, Paris, or other European cities. The airport at Treviso, about an hour by bus from Venice, is served by European low-fare carriers Transavia and Ryanair. Travelers arriving at Marco Polo have several options to reach the city: Bus, car taxi, the Alilaguna boat (www.alilaguna.it), or a water taxi. From Treviso, take the ATVO bus (www.atvo.it). There is a train station, Venezia Santa Lucia (not to be confused with Venezia Mestre, on the mainland).
Getting Around: In a city without cars, everyone walks or takes a boat. You can travel from one side of the city to another lengthwise in about an hour; walking from Rialto to San Marco takes about 20 minutes. The public transportation water bus system run by ACTV (www.actv.it) is expensive, costing about $8.50 for a single ticket for visitors; multi-day passes can save money. Buy tickets and passes at booths before boarding; single-ride tickets are sold on board if you forget. Water buses run down the Grand Canal and circumnavigate the city, stopping frequently. Water taxis are pricey, costing about $130 from the airport to the center of town.
Checklist:
Tips: Good shoes are paramount. Visitors to Venice walk more than they imagine. “Comfort is the first requirement; sneakers are rarely the best choice, either for their appearance or feet-saving properties.”—Nan McElroy author, Italy, Instructions for Use. A sturdy pair of stylish leather shoes is better, and in winter, waterproof shoes are a plus.
Street Vendors: Do not purchase fake designer handbags from street vendors; travelers caught buying them are subject to enormous fines (about $14,500). Bag sellers may bolt into crowds if the police approach, so give them a wide berth.
Mosquito Repellent: Mosquitoes, zanzare in Italian, are pervasive. Bring repellent for evening dining al fresco, or buy some at a local pharmacy.
Umbrella: Though its annual rainfall isn’t significant, Venice is prone to frequent thundershowers, even in summertime.
Ear Plugs: Overall, the city tends to be quiet, but early-morning delivery boats or late-night revelers may wake you up. “Earplugs can come in handy at the oddest times, and be a real sleep-saver.”—Nan McElroy.
Pocket-Size Binoculars: “[Pack a pair of compact binoculars] for all those ceiling paintings, and for the lagoon wildlife.”—Jonathan Buckley, author, The Rough Guide to Venice & the Veneto.
Lightweight Top: Women should carry a lightweight top, even in summer. Serves as a quick cover-up for exposed shoulders when visiting churches and keeps you comfortable in case of overzealous air conditioning.
Natural Fabrics: In summertime, synthetic clothing is a nightmare in Venice’s humidity.
Dress Clothes: “Pack clothes that are nicer than what you normally wear because in a country where style matters above nearly all else, Venice is more stylish than anyplace else.”—Jeff Booth, travel writer and photographer (www.travelphotographer.net). Think casual but elegant in the daytime, a bit more dressy for dinner. Leave shorts, T-shirts, and sports shoes at home.
