When you arrive in Venice, it feels like a dream. Believe me, it is a fairy tale made real and even more so, if you are lucky to go with someone you love. It is undoubtedly a highly touristy place but the beauty of its scenery is breathtaking. When I went there in 2019, it was for a romantic break with my husband. Yes there was the annoying crowd with their maps and their selfie sticks. I just looked beyond them and I saw the ever-changing blue of the canals, the grandeur of the buildings and the unique hue of the walls… This is what I am talking about. Here are some do’s and don’ts that you will (hopefully!) find useful when planning to visit Venice.
Enjoying Venice’s unforgettable views at the Cipriani
Don’t forget your trainers
Don’t do like me and forget your trainers. When I realised that the only vaguely comfortable pair of shoes I had packed was a pair of heeled ankle boots, I painfully regretted it after an afternoon of walking around the endless streets and piazzas of Venice. The best way to discover Venice is by walking around and getting lost in the maze of its narrow streets is certainly part of its charm. No wonder why you can find so many trainers shops in Venice! It was such a relief to put on a brand new pair of Stan Smith to comfort my blistered feet.
The Doge’s Palace
Don’t overload your days
When you travel somewhere as special as Venice, what matters is to create beautiful memories. When I reminisce about my trip there I feel transported on the Grand Canal again and recall the beauty of the scenery or sitting at the terrace of the Cipriani sipping a sweet Bellini… Yes I know, it sounds super cliché. Maybe yours will involve commenting on the colourful crowd comfortably sitting at the best table of a café or impressing your fiancé with all your superb knowledge of the renaissance masterpieces at the Galleria dell’Accademia…
Let throw away over the canals the ideal bucket list or at least make it your own… If you pack your days with endless visits, not only you will end up in a foul mood but most importantly, it will be such a shame when your most memorable culinary experience will be the half baked panini that you painfully scoffed on a stressful walk from the Doge’s Palace to the Church of San Giorgio Maggiore!
enjoy a bellini or two at a terrace overlooking the Grand Canal
There is nothing more romantic and relaxing than having a drink whilst enjoying an enchanting view like the Grand Canal whether at sunset or on a sunny day. Take the time to choose a place that will make this moment (and your pictures!) unforgettable. We chose to have lunch at the terrace of The Gritti Palace for a long al fresco lunch. Bonus – it was a super glamorous people-watching spot!
An exquisite decor at La Fenice
Do something unique – go to the opera!
If you want to do something unique and different, go to La Fenice. It is a definitely unique experience. Even if you are not a music lover, you will enjoy being surrounded by the beauty of the building and the elegance of the people. And if you love the Opera, it will simply be heaven for your senses.
We went to see La Traviata and although it is a rare occurrence for us to go to the opera, we truly enjoyed it. Well, except for the part where I had a to run through the busy streets of Venice in my stilettos!
It is always lovely to have an occasion to get dressed to the nines but manage your timing well as if you are late, they will not let you in!
