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Short City break in Venice

Stretched across 117 small islands in the marshy Venetian Lagoon along the Adriatic Sea in northeast Italy, Venice, with its world famous canals has so much to offer for a short city break.

Bridges

The Rialto Bridge and the Bridge of Sighs are probably the two most famous bridges in Venice. The Rialto was the first bridge to cross the Grand Canal and dates back to the 1500s. The Bridge of Sighs got its name from the prisoners who walked over the bridge before being held in the dungeon or executed, so the sighs came from realising that the view through the bridge’s cutwork was their last view of Venice. There are smaller bridges all over Venice that cross the canals but be aware, it is very easy to get lost if you wander around and start crossing over bridges. The best views of the bridges are from the canal, so get yourself on a gondola tour and keep your camera handy!

Murano

Located north of Venice, Murano is famous for its decorative hand-blown glass. For a glass souvenir, bargain with the shops for lower prices than the Venice shops. The glass factories send boats over to St. Mark’s Square to lure over customers, take advantage of the free boat over and get the Vaporetto water bus back.

Piazza San Marco

St. Mark’s Square is the main square in Venice and has long been a central meeting place for Venetians and tourists. The square has a clock tower, the Basilica, restaurants, bars and shops. For a refreshment, head to Café Florian, dating back from the 1700’s and still popular today.

Basilica San Marco

The present St. Mark’s Basilica dates back to 1063. The ornate building is filled with amazing mosaics, domes, statues and the High Altar that allegedly contains the remains of St. Mark. This church is a must-see for any tourist to Venice!

Gondolas

Although many will tell you the gondolas of Venice are a tourist trap and can be quite expensive, where else can you have the experience of riding an authentic Venetian gondola? A gondola ride can be very romantic if taken around dusk, and if the price seems too high, the ride can be split with others; bargaining is also permissible for a better price. If you don’t want to be shocked and taken advantage of, make sure to ask the price before taking the ride. The rides usually last from 45-50 minutes and will take you around the canals of Venice.

Lido

Lido is an island between Venice and the sea located between the lagoon and the Adriatic. Take a vaporetto over to the island and spend the morning relaxing on the beach, you can rent a cabana (huts with thatched roofs) before doing a spot of shopping and tasting the local cuisine.

Acqua Alta

High tide in Venice is known as acqua alta, and if you’re unprepared for it your feet can get wet. The local Venetians know when it’s coming and carry around their wellies in preparation. Sometimes the water can flood most of the city, other times only the lowest areas are flooded. It can be a problem for the boats trying to get under the bridges so check out the tide times for the days you will be in Venice if you want to stay dry!

Arts and Crafts

In Venice, you have a chance to buy beautiful handmade goods without breaking the bank. Remember that in Venice there is no added tax since it is already added into the price so you can negotiate prices in the shops. There are many different types of shops selling crafts ranging from carefully stitched linens to jewellery and artwork to decorative carnival masks – you can usually see the craftsmen making products you can buy.

If you really want to enjoy your trip to Venice, don’t forget to take out your cheap holiday insurance as soon as you book your trip. It is important that you remember to check that your cheap holiday insurance policy offers you the level of cover that you need for your break before you buy it.