Visit Venice - The Don'ts of Visiting Venice, Italy

[@Phigalilly]

Getting lost on my own in Venice after dark was my favorite part of my entire trip to Europe. It was like a dream. I wandered for hours, loving every moment.

[@luckycharms797]

Would it be safe for a woman to explore Venice after dark?

[@سيليا-ش1ل]

Chris hughes i doubt that you are a woman.

[@andym28]

Hours? You must have a terrible sense of direction.

[@syedhassansaeed]

Lookout towards Venice kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z4mafaeuf9KWnqc

[@scootergreen3]

It's like a maze there.

[@despicabledog]

My tip as an Italian for foreigners coming to Venice: DON'T act like a tourist and you'll be fine. I know that it's easy to get excited when visiting a new country but if you're not careful you're going to spend all of your money very unwisely. Italy has been hit very hard by the economic crisis and if you don't know where to go they WILL try to screw you over, simply because tourist cities (Venice and Florence above all) are full of rich and spoiled tourists. Here are my tips: 1)Don't go to bars or restaurants near famous attractions (like St. Mark Square) because they ARE outrageously expensive. We Italians we call these places "tourists bars/restaurants" cause they are made to screw dumb tourists over. We Italians would never go to these places, and you shouldn't neither. 2)Don't take a gondola ride if you can't split the cost 4 or 6 ways. 3)Find accommodation in Murano island, it's a lot less crowded and a LOT cheaper. 4)Don't be that guy that comes to Venice to spend all of his time in St. Mark square, go visit the rest of Venice and Murano island

[@happyhornet1000]

I'm a tourist that visits cities like Venice and Florence, but I'm far from rich and definitely not spoilt. I work very hard (11 hour days!!) and earn every penny I make, so I can visit beautiful places like Venice. Please don't generalise. I never understand tourist bashing. Yes, sometimes tourists can spoil the very thing people come to see, but take tourism away from places like Venice and see what happens to the local economy! It will sink faster then Venice itself!

[@FemininelyFifi]

I must say, i like your comment, I also get @happyhornet1000's point though, but i am going to Venice for two days in December, Christmas and the 26th (We call it Day of Goodwill in South Africa) not sure what the Italians call it. What activities would you recommend? I am enamored by the Musica A Palazzo and it looks like by brand of a great evening, but is there no other place where i can have a great opera experience in Italy for less than R1 600 (€94)!!!!!! either way, i would love to have an amazing once in a lifetime trip but i really cant break the bank any further.... its broken!!!

[@reynaroque9515]

Thank you for your advice I am going to visit Italy for my first time

[@enniopaone]

Bro, Italy has been hit by the Economic Crisis since the Unification in 1871.

[@TacticalHamsterDance]

Note that if you get an accommodation on a peripheral island, you will need to take a vaporetto every day which is very expensive unless you get the 24-hour ticket. A single ride costs 7.50 €, luckily you can get 1-day ticket for 20, 3-day for 40 or a week for 70.

[@hyljix]

The final "don't", don't go on a cruise ship, it's literally destroying the buildings because the waves are eroding the rock away

[@martinamiao4144]

I live really close to Venice, I went there at least 30 times per year and I still get lost but every time I get lost I find some really cool place, so please, get lost, it's part of the experience

[@andrew-xr1de]

Venice is NOT a huge island. You can walk across the length of Venice in 20 minutes,,,that is if you don't stop to look at everything. If you get lost ,,,DON'T WORRY its fun to find your way back---remember you are on an island so you can't go very far. You will ALWAYS find your way back And I promise this. You will always find something that you want to go back to but can't seem to find it. HAVE FUN PEOPLE! from a first generation Italian/American.

[@valentinadona207]

Being Venetian, I really appreciate when someone shows such a comprehsion of the city. Not everyone understands and respect Venice, you definitely know and love this place. Thanks :) ❤

[@marcoscarpa4894]

1st Don’t: don’t treat Venice as Disneyland... there are locals living and working

[@Venetianmappingandanimations]

@Steve D yes they are many, around 50,000 in the historic centre

[@Venice_Mestre]

Dighe

[@magusking9215]

Look dude I'm in Venice right now and I tell you, you asked for it - it's called Neo Capitalism. So you made your bed, now sleep in it. I laugh at all the Indian and Chinese workers here Hhhhhhhh - that's just the way the world goes. This city will be under water soon anyway

[@mikeo9074]

Magus King don't do drugs

[@magusking9215]

@@mikeo9074 LOL, funny - I don't. Nice deflection of a harsh reality (if you're a Venitian)

[@rmccabe117]

Hi! Just a quick note about our trip to Venice this past September. We watched all of your videos and obviously some others including reading everything we could get our hands on. Long story short, we spent the majority of our 7 days in Venice not going to the normal tourist places but walking in no particular direction trying to get lost. WE did many of the big tourist sites but we put our spin on them. Three mornings we woke up at 5:00 and hit the streets by 5:30am. We were two of 5 people in Saint Marks square!! There are two Venice's, one calm and incredibly quiet and one that's full of thousands of people on a mission. We found so many tiny family restaurants that were actually highlights of our trip. Talking, as best we could to the owners who are so proud of their business and we never felt anything but warmly welcomed. Venice surpassed our wildest dreams of what it would be like and we'll be back same time next September too. Your advice, suggestions and enthusiasm greatly reduced a lot of anxiety that my wife had about being in a "foreign" land. Keep doing what you do so well!!

[@ATaylor369]

The real magic of Venice happens away from all of its tourist sights! My advice is to avoid the crowd.

[@IsnavysPerez]

Qualche raccomandazione?

[@organboi]

@@IsnavysPerez No reply. Not surprised. He or she probably has no idea.

[@armininaskirt729]

When i was in Venice the best part of it were the non tourist areas at night. Please go to those places at night its way better than allthe other stuff.

[@christinesponem4531]

We were just in Venice, and were seriously upcharged for a meal when we first arrived. The menu prices seemed reasonable, so we stopped for a nice meal. ALWAYS ASK FOR THE PRICE!! if they offer anything like garlic bread or a nice local wine, ask for the price. The wine ended up costing us €150 a bottle, the fish was €120 with a minimum of 2 orders. I expected the bill to be €120, it was €500. Then the credit card reader wasn't "working" and they offered to escort us to the ATM. Fortunately we were with a local resident and he dealt with it. When we checked online, this particular establishment has a reputation of this behavior. In some places there is a price for not asking ahead of time. That experience aside, I found most restaurants to be honest and worth going to. The name of the restaurant was Ai Do Fradei.

[@mi-yl2nr]

Christine Sponem we call them tourist trap :)

[@andreal5445]

OMG. You were ripped off

[@veronicav924]

Omg for real? Haven't you seen the menu before ordering? 😑

[@wem-c9f]

My family is definitely going to be totally looking like tourists and i hope the restaurants are not going to whip out tourist menus, if they have such a thing 😂

[@MrMilanoLau]

I checked Google map; there are two Ai Do Fradeis in Venice. Which one are you referring to?

[@monjardin0004]

If you want to eat well, with the locals and at a reasonable prize look for "Bacari". They are small shops, with just few tables, they look like small pubs and serve the so called "cicchetti" which are many different kinds of appetizer/finger food. Each appetizer coasts between 1,50€ and 2€. Some examples of cicchetti: croutons with smoked salmon and cheese, croutons with different kinds of ham or salami, or with grilled vegetables, croutons with creamed cod or anchovies and onion, fried zucchini's flowers stuffed with mozzarella cheese and anchovies :D, meatballs, fried cod, mini hamburgers...these are just few examples of what you can find! :D Just few suggestions:1) look for the bacari in the hidden roads (no need to go super far from the main tourist attractions, but maybe don't go 2 minutes far from piazza San Marco), for example there are many good bacari not far from the the jewish quarter. 2) bacari are very small and get closed early between 9-9.30 p.m. so, if you go at 8 pm you may have problems finding a table, I suggest to go before that time. I usually took 4 cicchetti and a glass of white wine, the average bill was 12€!! Of course, if you eat more cicchetti you will spend more :D anyway, the Bacari is a highly recommended experience!

[@travis9201]

I was always skeptical of his videos thinking it was random BS. But after traveling to Venice and a few other places, this guy really does his research and he is speaking the truth.

[@fudzzz]

My wife and I are planning to leave for our long overdue honeymoon to Europe in November and we've gotten addicted to your videos. Thanks so much. We have 2 days in Venice as part of the itinerary and were so happy to see you just uploaded this! Very useful advice, salut!

[@jocelynwolters293]

Enigma, congratulations! Have a wonderful trip.

[@woltersworld]

Enigma awesome. Congratulations by the way!

[@petermcnany5530]

Do Belgium as well (Brussels, Bruges, Ghent, Antwerp.)

[@ltcm777]

I will offer a few tips of mine: 1. Stay within Venice at night. Not Mestre or the Mainland. Because you want to see a beautifully lit up and quiet San Marco at midnight when all daytime tourists are gone. 2. Get a museum pass and use their washrooms during visits. You can time it so that you can use the washroom again at the restaurant next, then at another museum again. 3. If all else fail, there is one single McDonalds in Venice where everyone is using its washroom for free, if you do not mind the lineup of course. 4. Pick a hotel that is nearby a major water bus station so even if you have to, you do not need to carry your bags too far. 5. Visit Santa Maria Della Salute. Also the Academia on the way too. 6. Take the Secret Tour itinerary from the Duce Palace. Costs extra but well worth it. 7. Take the organized tour offered for the Basilica as well and you can avoid the line up. 8. Take the gondola to cross the Grand Canal standing up, just like the locals do. Quite a few stations you can try this out, just search for it. Much cheaper than the expensive ride.

[@bsant54]

If you want to see it lit up go to Giudecca across from it for a better view. Mestre is cheaper for tourists and 14 min. by train. Any Venetian, including this one a few years back, will tell you that the best time is in the early morning...why it is called La Serenissima.

[@agnesfrank2734]

Re #6 = Duce was the "nickname" of Mussolini. The palace you try to refer to is the Doge Palace. Just saying...

[@CP140405]

We spent a week in Venice... rented apartment... just off the Grand Canal... loved every minute of it. And yes, wandering the back "streets" is a lot of the fun...

[@mikedonovan8811]

Don't drink the canal.

[@ReformedSooner24]

No shit Sherlock

[@isabellarrrrr]

i have seen people washing their face with canal water. it's...literally a swamp. just don't.

[@tigervalley62]

I mean.... Obviously

[@eliskakordulova]

The "getting lost" thing is so accurate, I got completely lost as well. I stood in a corner for at least 15 minutes , wondering where I am, studying the map, then gave up, went along the street and found out I was just like 100m away from my hostel. The narrow streets all look so similar!

[@janinejohnson5014]

#12 - When walking in narrow streets or over busy bridges with crowds of people, don't stop suddenly blocking the way for others behind you so you can take a picture. Think of it as being in traffic in your car - you wouldn't suddenly come to a complete stop and block the cars behind you. Some people are not tourists with all the time in the world - they are trying to get to work or go home. Step to the side, out of their way if you want to stop.

[@solmoman]

same as everywhere

[@gedcallaghan1098]

You can sit down just off saint mark's Square near gardens and a free drinking water tap.Directions...go past the winged lion statue on a pillar,walk towards the water,(gondolas etc),past the end of the shops on right of saint mark's Square and turn right.walk for few minutes and there are little quaint market stalls...and lots of free seats.Enjoy

[@LaLa-qb2ps]

Are the quaint market stalls where you can sit for free? Do you need to buy food or drink while you sit. When you say free drinking water tap - do you mean a water fountain?

[@JasonM74]

Hi Mark. We just got back from Venice last week after 10 days in Italy. Your videos were such a huge help to us (me , wife and two teenage kids). It definitely made our trip more rewarding. You and your wife are an inspiration that one can make a few sacrifices in order to travel and see the world with the kids. Thanks so much!

[@jocelynwolters293]

jason michaud, so glad y'all took your kids along! Keep it up!

[@eigrontopediax]

I'm going for a 10 day trip to Italy from tomorrow. The last 2 days will be in Venice.

[@DirectionlessStudent]

Getting lost in Venice is actually a "must do." You're on an island -- or more accurately a bunch of tiny ones. Point being, if you just keep wandering you will eventually hit either the Grand Canal or the larger lagoon and at that point it will be easy to get your bearings. Venice was made to be walked in order to experience its charm. There is this startling contrast that happens when you wander lost through a bunch of shadowy, cooler narrow streets and alleys only to unexpectedly emerge onto a busy piazza or wide avenue along the Grand Canal and be bathed in warm, Mediterranean sunlight. 😮😮😎 The constant interplay of light and shadow is a part of Venice's architectural and artistic charm -- it's a major part of what makes Venice so unique and if you are limited in time it would be better to spend it experiencing that interplay than to go into the many museums. I have been fortunate to travel all over this great world in my life and I tell you truly that there is no place like Venice for wandering aimlessly -- it's almost like it was built for that.

[@PaulDiLillo]

BOYCOT CRUSE SHIPS! Don't stay on a HUGE CRUSE SHIP docked in the lagoon and take day-trips to the city leaving your toilet mess and then go back to the ship. CRUSE SHIPS are ruining the lagoon with their wakes and waves eroding delicate building foundations...plus the mega ships ARE UGLY!

[@nanemoon9968]

Plus you don't get to see anything! Stay there for a few days, get out of bed early and take the first vaporetto to San Marco. Enjoy how this beautiful place is just waking up. Be the first in line when the basilika opens. Back out you will then see how this place gets crowded. It's time to visit some minor museum. Take a stroll through some old streets Away from the crowd. Take a long nap at the hotel (in summer visit the beach Lido) .Wait patiently untill all those pesky cruiseship invadors are back on their big ugly boats. Start the evening with a nice Aperol Sprizz or any other beverage of your choice Then go out dining with your loved one(s).

[@michaeljohnangel6359]

I agree sig. DiLillo, the cruise ships are soooo ugly. They are a sin.

[@missles]

Paul DiLillo stfu

[@LickPersianPussy]

I have not (in 30 years of global travel) AND will never use a cruise ship. Cruise ships are for toads.

[@missles]

Will_hack_for_plane_fare stfu. U have never been on a cruise. Go on one and then comeback and let us know

[@LeonardoMizar]

Hi Wolter, if you are now in Venice I am one of the few Venetians survived, I live in S.Margherita square and if you want to take a spritz with me and other venetians to learn something new tell me and it will be my pleasure to meet you. Tonight I'll be at Filo's bar in s.giacomo. I tell you this because I saw lots of your videos and I think that the real tourism is when you can live togheter with the locals. Bye!

[@livinginvancouverbc2247]

His first name is Mark, his last name is Wolter.

[@jocelynwolters293]

Leo, that is a nice offer. We are not in Venezia now. This was filmed some months past. Grazie!

[@martinamiao4144]

If you would haver come back just let us Venetians know so we can have a chat :)

[@maryjomw]

Hello Leo. I am going to Venice with friends and family next week. Please, is there a restaurant you would recommend that we visit? We are staying close to the Rialto, but enjoy exploring, and we are looking for someplace that a local Venetian would enjoy. Grazie.

[@johnhaines4163]

I'd add - Don't go in the Summer. I've been there twice out of season, April and early June, and it was busy but not overwhelmingly so. I think it's wonderful. It has a sort of magic.

[@LaLa-qb2ps]

Is September considered summer?

[@johnhaines4163]

@@LaLa-qb2ps No experience of September, but I'd probably avoid it. It's partly an issue of how busy it is, also can be an issue with heat leading to smelly canals.

[@qveta9296]

Hey man! I am watching this video just now because I am planning my first trip to Venice and I just wanted to let you know how awesome I think the pictures with your family are. A nice man showing his love for his family. Keep up the good work!

[@sunnydaze2359]

Be careful when you eat in Saint Mark square. I was there many many years ago& I don’t know if things have changed but, I ordered an ice cream cone & asked how much it was & The man said do you want it standing up or sitting down ? I said what’s the difference ? He said $.99 standing up , $11 if you want to sit down. True story. Because remember it is Saint Mark Square.

[@tinahuegel]

I'm currently travelling around the world and I always watch some videos on KZbin before I arrive at a new city. I love that your videos are so informative! Helps a lot when you go somewhere for the first time! :D Thanks!

[@gabrielperez3128]

I visited venice 3 years ago, and you are spot on. I wanted to add on to what you said for tip#1 and that is that in venice and most of italy a lot of hotels do not have elevators so, that extra weight can be a big pain

[@whitetyger06]

As someone's who's had the pleasure of visiting Venice, I can confirm all of this!

[@Antelitteram]

You deserve to have a TV show or, at least, to work on a regular TV channel. I mean it. Didn't you receive any offer? Saludos desde Barcelona.

[@woltersworld]

Anchulifer we were interviewed a couple times but nothing came of it. The shows they asked us about have never even come to TV anyway. But hopefully one day.

[@rtgtx]

Nowadays being a successful KZbinr might be as good as working on a regular TV.

[@Cherylebreaux]

I love watching your videos as sort of inspiration for one day being able to travel abroad. It's so interesting to see the different cultural do's and don'ts.

[@woltersworld]

+Cheryle Breaux :)

[@andreatomassini202]

+ Wolters World Hi Mark! Nice video as always. I read recently that some tourists here in Rome have been fined and have seen their drones seized by the police, due to our laws concerning airspace...,can you please talk about it in one of your next videos? Thanks. Keep up the good work, cheers from Rome

[@amaanmohamed7743]

Cheryle Breaux i

[@marcoceoletta5492]

Grande Wolters! Sei un ottima guida turistica e lo dico come italiano! Sei sempre molto preciso e corretto nelle tue spiegazioni. La descrizione che fai del'Italia e' sempre molto appassionata e dimostri di essere realmente appassionato alla nostra storia e alla nostra cultura (in particolar modo quella veneta, io sono di Padova). Spero di poter vedere ancora tanti tuoi video su KZbin e che rimarrai ancora qui in Italia per tanto tempo. Ti voglio bene, grazie!

[@jessibertic5084]

the selfie stick selling is so obnoxious there! I love Venice but I do remember always getting harassed to buy a selfie stick

[@jocelynwolters293]

Jessi Bertić and sometimes getting smacked in the face/head/shoulder with one because people are unaware of their selfie sticks! Eek!

[@jessibertic5084]

Jocelyn Wolters oh yes!! Gotta bob and weave around those things!

[@rpperkins09]

They need to be banned like they do at many museums and Disney parks.

[@mikegruber172]

bigot?

[@bradthompsonuk2011]

A street mime performer? Trying to get a laugh from other passers-by?

[@kayleemiddlebrook7305]

I loved going through the mostly empty back streets of Venice. Our group was a traveling band and choir, and a small group of is met this amazing mask store owner, about a 5 minute walk away from San Marcos Piazza. She loved chatting with us, and we were even able to sing Ave Maria to her. That was 1000x better than paying for a gondola ride. I won't ever forget that.

[@jocelynwolters293]

Kaylee Middlebrook and that is what travel is all.about!

[@kayleemiddlebrook7305]

+Jocelyn Wolters I completely agree, I hope you guys keep making videos!

[@alfrtz7603]

My tip about Venice is use Google maps routes. Since the main streets are (over)crowded, it actually takes you to those empty (and consequentially faster) side lanes that you would never even notice. Some are surprisingly beautiful and may open into a campo or largo. Get lost in Venezia is very romantic but if you have to be on time for a train or a concert it may be very irritating to be late!

[@JLjal]

I'm currently in Venice, it's 2.30am and I'm just in from a nighttime walk! If you feel comfortable it's the best time to see the city during the summer! Not too hot and nobody else around... also great for photography!

[@lynnejames5937]

I stayed in a convent in Venice. It was just behind Piazza San Marco and quiet and clean. I recommend this for women travelling alone, safer than a hotel. Some convents will only accept women as guests, but you don't have to be Catholic to stay in them. The only drawback for some people is that there is a curfew, (10.00, 10.30 or 11.00) so staying out late is not possible if you are into night-clubbing, etc. Personally, I'm usually so tired from sight-seeing that all I want to do after 10.00 is sleep anyway, so the curfew was never a problem.

[@AndreaChineduNwoke]

Lynne James Do you remember the name of the convent or the resource you used to find out about booking it?

[@michaeljohnangel6359]

I always enjoy your videos. Complimenti!! I'm English and have lived and worked in Florence for the past 30 years; therefore I know Italy well. Your advice to visitors is always brilliant!!!

[@meatman6660]

Went off season (March) it was GREAT tide levels were down (no platform walking or cruise ships). Never got overcharged at a tourist restaurant (lucky me). Got lost A LOT. Got a Suunto Finnish compass to clip to my watch after this trip. Found a Italian/Chinese fusion restaurant (Marco Polo theme). Lastly one of my biggest expenses was getting from the hotel to the train station early Sunday morning. Early, Sunday, motor launch, drag luggage 3 blocks, 120 Euros 2015. 2nd best vacations ever. 1st is off season in Paris. Hotel in Latin Quarter in the old hotel from Charade movie, Carry Grant and Audrey Hepburn stared in this 60's classic, another story.

[@janethrivera4215]

What kind of clothes do you recommend to take when traveling to Venice in March.?

[@ahmadsamadzai8255]

Thank you for videos. They've been great help for us. We are in Venice and it's beautiful. It's been a bit hot and the air-conditioning has been so so but survivable. lol. This part of Italy is simply stunning.

[@Aleksitaly92]

#12 Don't jump in the water!

[@jocelynwolters293]

Aleksitaly92 😂😂

[@woltersworld]

Aleksitaly92 it's a bit nasty :)

[@bri0332]

Logan and Jake Paul

[@danielebain1468]

You can be fined up to 2,500€ for that so.. eh

[@johntravolta9917]

I live near Venice. Your advice is very good. Only a careful tourist can give such real and precise advice. Congratulations

[@woltersworld]

+John Travolta thank you JT. I appreciate that.

[@albear972]

Getting lost in Venice is the best part of the city. Sir! We concur with you 100% That, getting lost in Venice was truly a magical experience! We want to go back!

[@KlassyKat45]

I wish I had the time and money to travel the world like Mark has. Been to Venice (part of a bus tour in 2014) and loved it. The gondola ride was a bonus AND a bigger bonus is that there was a man singing in the gondola behind us.

[@stevesmith180]

I agree about staying out of Venice proper. We stayed at a B&B at Venice Lido. We walked Venice and the hustle and then came back to the island and rode bikes around the streets, hung out with some locals, and even sat on the beach for a bit. It was a nice change to be around the locals instead of the crazy tourist life.

[@marydavis9005]

Thank you so much for all this advice! We are going there early May and are trying to find the easiest way to get around Italy and your video was VERY helpful!!

[@smudgewhite55]

Love your videos - and sorry Jocelyn, but you look stunning in every photo! Just back from four days in beautiful Venice and agree with everything you say except about the public toilets - they're 1.50 euros, spotlessly clean and well supervised, and in each one you can pick up a map of all the public toilets which is also useful to find out where you are! Sometimes easier to use them than a crowded café. Also, we downloaded the Ulmon app to our smartphones - free, can be used offline and absolutely fantastic. Yes, half the fun is getting lost and strolling round all the quiet back streets - but when your feet hurt and you're tired and you want to find the restaurant you marked earlier it's brilliant! Took a paper map as well but found the app much better to use - (husband loved it -- it's a man thing, maps). Thanks for all your work on these videos, very much appreciated!

[@jocelynwolters293]

Smudge White paid, clean toilets must be quite new...and the news brings joy to my heart!

[@michaeljohnangel6359]

The €1,50 is for the person who sits there & keeps the toilets clean. It is the only pay she/he gets.

[@anythingarian]

The city is slowly sinking as it is; if you bring heavy luggage, you'll just accelerate the sinking.

[@woltersworld]

+Aljaž Glaser exactly

[@joandeborah1503]

Hahaha

[@certi_muteeb7320]

Exactly Exactly Exactly Exactly Exactly Exactly Exactly Exactly Exactly

[@gmmgmmg]

funny but it's not accurate, Venice is not technically sinking, it's the water that it's rising ;)

[@thepentium2080]

Non diciamo stronzate dio porco

[@markstockton8925]

Just back from Venice a few days ago and can safely say the best city break ever. Its great as you can spend as much or as little as you want. We done a mixture of both. Had a few drinks on the canal which were pricey but go back a few streets and have a few with the locals which is way cheaper and more enjoyable. The difference can be as much as 20 euros per drink per person. It was still busy late September but I guess with everything that has happened last few years with covid etc it was to be expected.

[@DianneRini-xs2vw]

You are both wonderful, love your help and advice.

[@woltersworld]

Thank you

[@SeverityOne]

We spent three days during our honeymoon in Venice. The water taxis (the wooden brown ones, like in the Tomb Raider game) cost 125,000 and 150,000 Lire, respectively. I caught a pigeon on the Piazza San Marco (it didn't say it was illegal to catch one, just to feed them) but my wife didn't want it. And we bought a beautiful glass clock on Murano (650,000 Lire), which one of our cats later broke. It's a beautiful place, but I prefer Rome and Florence.

[@milanvans9586]

Hi, Wolter, I found your channel today by accident. I love it, it's great. I'm a guy from Amsterdam, Living now in Prague. So I watched your video's on both cities and I have to say they're spot on. I will entertain myself this weekend probably with the rest off your videos. Thanks for uploading quality unbiased reviews and travel tips!

[@26Bluegb]

Pigeon poop is very acidic and does a lot damage, so please please don't feed them!

[@jocelynwolters293]

26Bluegb YES!!!! Save the architecture!!!!

[@michaeljohnangel6359]

They also carry parasites that can (and will, if you get close and are unlucky) live on human beings.

[@princepsferalis5711]

Pigeons are like winged rats. Some time you can see falconers at work as pest controller in Venice.

[@progfan71]

I would recommend traveling to Venice in the off season, a lot less crowded. The local Venetian government has been playing with the idea of limiting the number of tourists allowed every day due to more than 200,000 people visiting Venice over Easter 2017 and causing incredible delays and inconvenience to locals. Besides, Venice in the summer months smells and lines for attractions can be several hours long. Not my idea of a good time.

[@dorsa4086]

progfan71 is it busy in late August?

[@questionmark4348]

FWIW: I used a GPS with the Garmin Venice map and it worked well to find our way around but you have to have a "good hand held" to pickup a signal in those small alleys and streets. Garmin GPSMap 60 cx is the one I used... the newer model is now the GPSMap 64s. P/S I also had my garmin automotive gps along and it would not pick up a signal

[@woltersworld]

+Question Mark cool. Thanks for the tip!

[@gabrieleriva651]

I like Wolter’s addiction for Aperol Spritz always getting refreshed when they are in Italy!

[@mikederp9612]

My family is from venice and dates back to 1400 1500ish. Sad to see it's just a giant tourist spot now when it used to be the largest sea power and trade hub for the Med.

[@paolobortolini5866]

Bravo! Simple,exausthive, useful, clear and correct. I really appreciate when you say locals are nice if you are nice to locals, and the advice you give to visit other cities in Veneto( unfortunately you forgot Treviso that’s only 20 miles north of Venice and very nice) my only advice is Ask locals for places to eat not for tourists;

[@isabellarrrrr]

i live in venice and i love your accent when you speak italian! also i'm not finished with the video but just... peeps, DON'T STOP IN NARROW STREETS! you're blocking the way! otherwise, venice is beautiful and i hope you all enjoy it!!

[@getin3949]

Beautiful wife, gorgeous kids, thank you. I will never get to Venice but your talk was excellent and very informative. I'm certain many thousands of people will benefit from it.

[@seawitch9847]

8 weeks till our anniversary trip to Venice. Neither of us have ever been to Italy. We’re excited to go. Great to know this stuff, thank you!!

[@katiekoniuch6690]

Your videos are so informative, thanks for the great tips!

[@enricazanatta572]

Go to Treviso! Only 25min by train and it’s a beautiful little medieval town well known as little venice😉

[@isamaaltaein8672]

Thank you Mark for shearing this nice video .We always when planning for vacation go back and checking every videos for the country we going to, and always your video is the best help us a lot. thank you so much.

[@EozOrange]

Your channel is one of my go to binge-watch channels. I hope to run into you somewhere around the world someday, and also to return to Venice. I went there on a day trip last Easter so the tourist numbers weren't excessive but it was still warm and the sun was shining. It was wonderful. Hopefully the scaffolding covering the exterior to the Basilica de San Marco will be gone next time :-P

[@woltersworld]

+Zoë Harmar thank you zoë that is super awesome of you.

[@MrRedsjack]

I used to take a daily coffee at Saint Mark Square cafe, just sit at the BAR not at the tables. Prices are different depending were you sit! Table price for a coffee is 10$ at the bar is 2$. If you sit at the fancy tables the guy with the violin will be available to play for you and the waiters will come to serve you and you will get hit by a very high "cover" charge. At the bar that's not included in the bill but you also will not get the nice napkins and the nicer chairs.

[@SewICreate]

We’re planning a Europe trip for this year and your videos have been the most helpful, thank you!

[@Thrallldom]

Thnks for the reality checks.. And then "other island" ideas!

[@elnaferreira8418]

Thank you Mark - wonderful and helpful video as always and brings back loads of sweet memories!!! And Jocelyn you always look stunning! Keep going folks - I travel with you!!

[@drdewott9154]

Ok I'm nearly done with a vacation to Venice and I have got a tip for y'all who want a cheap gondola ride. Look out for the shuttles. In a few places there are cheap shuttle gondolas which will take a few people from one side of Canal Grande to the other for just a few euros each. I went on one north of the Rialto bridge by a market and that one was only 2 euros per person each way, so that was really nice. I know there are other shuttles like that but that was just the one that I found. Also yeah go and check out the other areas, I mean I went to Murano today and it was incredibly cozy and easy to get to.

[@RaylanGivens123]

Great video as always Mark.

[@ROXCANADA2023]

Great!! I don't know how you can travel so much with all the family. Thank you your advice are good

[@woltersworld]

We really make it the #1 financial priority so we cut out a lot of other "fun stuff"

[@natsal2553]

OMG this is such perfect timing!!!! I’m going to Venice in April on a 10-day study abroad program for school 😁

[@woltersworld]

+Natalie Salinas awesome. Have great trip!

[@claudiaamadasi7721]

I'm from Padova, thanks for suggesting my city, it's not really famous like Venice, but i'ts really nice and has many things to see (S. Antonio, as told, but also Prato della Valle and Cappella degli Scrovegni. It's worth visiting, while in Veneto! :)

[@pierrezavala675]

love the details..amazing video

[@anrn5303]

thanks so much for great info!

[@buckybarnes3803]

Good job saint mark! I loved Venice, went there twice. The second time we stayed on Morano. You have to pay money on the boat to get over to the main island, but it was a great experience.

[@woltersworld]

+Bucky Barnes yeah we started staying off the island because it just paid off for the price.

[@doloresmorales6209]

Thank you for the info. I am planning to go to the festival. Any suggestions?

[@annayordanova8228]

Thank you kindly for this informative video.I am going there in July.

[@HPDM14]

My two tips for Venice: 1. If you are going in the autumn or winter months then take a good umbrella. I went in the November and it was pouring with rain on one day, the problem is though is that there aren't many (free) sheltered public spaces so be prepared to pay for a snack and drink just so that you can take shelter (and use the toilet) - connected to this tip is eat and drink slowly, don't rush, enjoy the scenery and the chance to rest your feet because again unless you can pay then there aren't many free places to sit and rest. 2. If you see a really cheap deal for a holiday in Venice then first check where the hotel is based, the likelihood is that it is on the mainland which is cheaper but you will spend more time commuting to the island and if your going in November like I did then expect to spend a good 40 minutes getting to Rialto from the mainland. On the return journey from San Marco or Rialto there are more stops which takes FOREVER to get to the train station. I love Venice, its beautiful and true gem, but boy can it be expensive!

[@phantomscribbler6835]

Thanks Mark, good information. Venice is on my bucket list.

[@AntPDC]

...and, in St. Mark's Square, DON'T sit down on kerbside steps, or basically anywhere public seating isn't provided (there are only a very FEW benches). If you do, you'll incur the wrath of a hectoring "St. Mark's Guardian" (they are sometimes called the "manners police"). They wander around all day in yellow T Shirts moving people on and harassing the (hordes of) tourists who transgress the "no sitting" rule. Cafe seating is exempt from this rule of course.

[@ryannewton1025]

AntPDC odd

[@danieljacksontaylor]

An

[@bradthompsonuk2011]

But, don't sit at a cafe if you're not going to be a customer. Don't forget about coperto if you are eating or drinking.

[@bradthompsonuk2011]

I usually stay in Mestre or the beach town of Jesolo and make the trip to Venezia/San Marco an excursion.

[@syedjavedahmad9719]

Thanks for the tips, we are visiting this summer.

[@lucapietrangeli270]

This was awesome! I wanna get lost in venice

[@Frengo69]

And also, BE KIND with the locals and the residents! don't forget the manners and they will personally take your hand and guide you throughout the city

[@madame_pest]

Love Venice... Use GPS better than map... Also use vaporetto to see grand canal instead of gondola

[@woltersworld]

Sophia Pavlidou exactly:)

[@jameshatfield8410]

Agree - I always use stuff like goggle maps when on Holiday

[@madame_pest]

James Hatfield they are very useful... Especially when you need to use public transportation...

[@barvdw]

In those narrow and winding streets, a GPS isn't always working properly. I mean, it will be able to tell you you are in the city, but that's something you probably already know. You want to know if you're in the right street, or at least in which direction you have to go for it. I haven't been to Venice with one, but Genova or Barcelona have similar street patterns, and it could tell me where I was in about a 2 km radius...

[@TacticalHamsterDance]

I haven't had a problem with using a cell phone with maps app, GPS is usually precise enough if you let it settle for 20-30 seconds.

[@tijmen131]

Getting lost in Venice happens very quickly and is absolutely amazing. My dream is to have like a travel hunt competition in Venice where you have to find certain things/places and do certain challenges at certain places. Doing that will unlock coordinates to a final meeting point which you have to get to before other teams beat you or before the timer runs out.

[@rifka805]

Ciao,Bello!!!! You are the greatest!!! So synaptic!!! Thanks for your great advice! We always learn something with you😘🌟Ciao!!!

[@xpalmita]

rifka805 I like your profile pic Thats one pretty looking cake

[@karenlerato357]

Love your channel. Once Covid ease this is my first trip!! Can't wait!! 👏👏👏💃

[@Guidester]

Tip #1 - don't drive a car in central Venice!

[@woltersworld]

+Guidester ;)

[@michaeljohnangel6359]

Streets flooded. Please advise.

[@joancollee65]

there is a traffic light in venice, but only one.

[@jameshatfield8410]

@@michaeljohnangel6359 haha great comment.

[@bradthompsonuk2011]

If you could actually get one there, you'd earn the right to. Definitely would have to be 4 wheel drive.

[@Night_Sketching]

Another reason why you should not go into a canal, let alone dipping your feet in the water is because venice's sewer system is...well the canals themselves. Yes everything from all the toilets in every house goes right into the canal where you tip your feet in!

[@venice9438]

Great video, grazie.

[@punk1player]

Very true about the 1st dont. Made that mistake. Pay someone to take it up those stairs. Worth the 10 euros. Was surprised about cover charge to sit outside in the touristy areas as well

[@aimeearimbuyutan8129]

What a helpful video, we are going to venice in august and will keep your don’ts in mind.

[@patrickireland9922]

Dumb me visited Venice hauling a 47 lb. piece of luggage and a knapsack weighing 20 more lbs. Lost, I wandered around, with a cane, for 2 hours trying to find my small hotel that no native ever heard of. I swear I climbed over 46 of those little bridges. Finally, an elderly woman, ashamed no native could help me, drew the directions to my hotel on the map I had with me. Once there, I found the hotel absolutely fantastic. All the trouble getting there was worth t, making for a memorable 4 days in beautiful Venice.

[@LivingWalks]

Hi there, I've been enjoying watching through your video's. We film 4k natural sight and sound walks in soulful cities, and it's lovely to discover how we can share and learn so much from each other through channels such as this, especially seeing another's viewpoint, thank you Mark.

[@rachelcamm4990]

Lovely to see you teaching Baby Sign Language to your little one! Fantastic! 👍👍👍👍👍

[@kathiax9552]

I got a very awesome and cheap Airbnb in Murano island and took a bus in the morning to Venice, I don’t remember the cost but it’s not bad. Also since I went with 3 friends, we went by vaporetto (sorry for the spelling) to the very end of the island in St mark square and just walked from there to the beginning. And at the end we took two vaporettos to see everything and it’s way cheaper than a gondola.

[@kathiax9552]

Oh, and the getting lost is real lol but you discover a whole lot when you do !!

[@juanmonge8]

The most important tip: Find out exactly where your hotel is and what stop it is on the Vaporetto. I saw another video. I contacted the hotel, they emailed me directions. Btw maps are pretty useless. If you orientation yourself between Ponte Rialto and San Marco plaza you will be o.k.

[@skiingcrocodile2153]

i live near venice, just a couple of observations: - gondola rides are the tackiest thing you can do in venice, i only see asians and russians go on gondolas. avoid it if you can and spend that money eating somewhere. - try to avoid the main road to and from piazza san marco. it's crowded beyond belief, filled with tacky shops and vendors and the tourist crowds just ruin everything. don't be afraid to get lost, go through the narrow alleyways and explore, maybe keep google maps open to see where you are but even if you get lost venice isn't huge and you'll get to where you're going eventually. - there's NO OTHER PLACE where you want to avoid eating at tourist areas more than in Venice. they'll literally suck your blood out of you if you're dumb enough to go to one of those places (especially in piazza san marco)

[@Joyfulkatz]

Thank you so much! Looking forward to visiting this coming Monday! Your info is very helpful and we appreciate you very much. 😊

[@Gulfstreamer]

Great video and info! Thank you!