Venice, Italy Hotels and City Guide

Venice - Travel Tips

Business Tips

Dress Code: Light cotton clothing is preferable for comfort in the summer months. Although air conditioning is likely to exist in the majority of business environments, it is not necessarily available everywhere. For business occasions, a jacket and tie are acceptable.

Greeting Someone In Venice: It is considered very flattering to attempt a little Italian, so try buon giorno (good day) if you feel linguistically inclined. On formal occasions, shaking hands is a well-understood greeting and is quite sufficient. Don't address someone by their first name unless you know them well, however, as this could be seen as rude.

Venice Business Hours and Banking: Italian banks are open on weekdays from 08:30 to 13:30 and 14:45 to 16:15. Commercial office hours vary from one industry and sector to another but in general, most will operate somewhere between 08:30 and 18:00, Monday to Friday.

Smoking: Since January 2005, smoking has been banned in all enclosed public places that do not offer sealed off rooms equipped with smoke extractors. The controversial new law covers bars, restaurants, offices, public buildings, public transport and cinemas. Smokers face fines of up to €275, whilst businesses could be hit for €2,000.

When to Visit - Arts, Events, Weather

Fancy dress and water-based festivities are common special event themes in Venice. The city hosts over 100 regattas, which commence on January 6th with a veterans gondola race, the Regata delle Befana, from S.Tomà to Rialto.

Theatrical types don masks, wigs and regal costumes for the biggest event of all, February's Venice Carnival. For a fortnight, key venues like Piazza San Marco are alive with the performing arts. Performances, balls and pageants, with an ongoing theme of elaborate costumes and masks, are sponsored by local government and held in the city's squares.

Pomp and ceremony typify the Festa della Sensa (Sensa Feast Day) celebrations in May, with city dignitaries sailing from St Marks Square to Port of S Nicolò to mark Venice's ties with the sea at the Sposalizio del Mar (Wedding with the Sea) festival. The Vogalonga boat race is a tumultuous event with thousands of participants.

The unmissable summer event for modern arts afficionados is the biannual Biennale di Venezia, which for over 60 years has hosted festivals of film, art, music, architecture, theatre and dance in the Giardini Pubblici pavilions.

Other highlights of the year in Venice are the regatta and fireworks festival, the Festa del Redentore; on the third weekend of July; free music concerts all over the city for Venezia Suona on July 3rd; the Venice Film Festival – once described as 'Cannes without the hassle' - brings together cinema's great and good on Lido island from late August; whilst the Regatta Storica Grand Canal gondola races have been entertaining Venetians for over 200 years in early September. The races feature a fine procession of historic sailing craft and a highly competitive trial of strength between the Venetian gondoliers.

The extraordinary Basilica Santa Maria della Salute hosts the religious festival of La Salute (All Saints Day) in November, whilst the year concludes with ends in theatrical style with the many Venetian masked balls.

Venice averages between 80 degrees and 90 degrees Fahrenheit in summer, and around 50 degrees in winter. High humidity can be a factor in high summer, whilst rain and thunder are not infrequent due to Venice's Adriatic Coast location. Spring and autumn temperatures generally range between 60 and 75.

It is useful to remember that August is Italy's official holiday month and many shops, restaurants and services are likely to be closed or offering a reduced service.

Public Holidays

1 January: New Year's Day
3 January: Bank holiday
6 January: Epiphany
25 March: Good Friday
28 March: Easter Monday
25 April: Liberation Day
2 May: Bank Holiday
30 May: Spring Bank Holiday
2 June: Republic Day
15 August: Feast of the Assumption
29 August: Summer Bank Holiday
1 November: All Saints Day
8 December: The Immmaculate Conception
25 December: Christmas Day
26 December: Feast of St Stephen

Value for Money Sightseeing

Venice Card: The Venice Card is a good option for visitors wanting to get full benefit from the city's public transport, attractions and entertainment. These flexible tickets can be used extensively across the city for discounts, are valid from one day, three days or a week, and are available for Juniors (aged 29 and under!) and Seniors. The Venice Card also covers Alilaguna motorboat shuttle services to and from the airport and discounts of up to 20% at restaurants, bars and nightclubs showing the Venice Card logo.

Boat Passes: Two unlimited use travel passes are available: Blue Passes include all public transport by water bus (vaporetti) and regular bus plus free use of public toilets from €14 and reduced parking fees, whilst the €29 Orange Pass extends to museum entry to key attractions like the Museums of St. Mark's Square including the Doge's Palace; the 18th century museums including Ca' Rezzonico on the Grand Canal and the Murano and Burano Island Museums specializing in glass and lace. Junior Blue Passes start at just €9.
However, boat passes for larger groups may not viable: four or more travelers using public transport will not save money against hiring a private water taxi, which is also more comfortable and faster.

Other Passes: The Rolling Venice pass for 14 to 29 year olds costs just €5 and provides a range of visitor discounts: the pass is available from tourist offices and train stations. Students can use ISIC and IYTC cards for reductions up to 50% in museums. The Chorus Pass allows entry to 15 of Venice's finest churches - including Frari, Madonna dell'Orto and Maria dei Miracoli - funds from which contribute to church restoration.

Some of Venice's key attractions are free, including the grand Basilica di San Marco, the baroque masterpiece of Santa Maria della Salute and the gothic SS. Giovanni e Paolo churches. A host of superb spectator events are held in Venice – notably the pre-Easter Mardi Gras where the city is awash with masked party goers.

Visitor Essentials

Tourist Advice: The Venice Tourist Board is located at Castello, 5050 Fondamenta San Lorenzo 30122 - Venezia - call +39 0415298710, fax +39 0415230399. Their recommended itineraries include the best of the historical centre, the islands, archeology and art. More useful Travel Tips here.

Telephones: Public telephones accept euro coins, tokens and phone cards, sold in tobacconists, newstands and post offices. Many public phones now accept international credit cards.

Internet Cafes: Venice has cyber cafes conveniently located near the train station and elsewhere. For a full list click here

Emergencies: For police and general emergencies, call 113 from any phone. There are two forms of police, military (carabinieri) and civilian (polizia). For medical emergencies, phone 118. The Ospedale Civile of Venice can be reached on 041 529 45 16 and the Red Cross ambulance service on 041 528 63 46. The fire service can be reached on 115; road assistance on 116. The nearest US Consulate in Milan - call 02 290 351. The British Consulate in Venice is at Piazzale Donatori di Sangue 2/5, 30171 Venezia-Mestre; call 04 15055990. Opening hours are 9am to 4pm.

Banks: Italian banks are open Monday to Friday from around 8:30 am to 1:30 pm and from 3 - 4 pm, though some banks in tourist areas stay open all day during the week. Most banks close on weekends and national holidays.

Flood Risk: Venice's streets and plazas usually flood several times a year, during which time the city deploys temporary raised walkways. It is not uncommon to see St Mark's Square submerged under three feet of water during 'acqua alta'. Listen out for the special warning sirens on wet winter days! Updated tide forecasts are published here.

Disabled Travelers

The tourism industry in Venice is very mindful of the challenges Venice sets for disabled travelers, with its prevalence of bridges, boats and canals.

Visit the Comune di Venezia site for extensive information on disabled visitor facilities and services including getting around, accommodation, dining, cultural attractions and maps and itineraries.

APT tourist offices can help with lists of wheelchair-accessible accommodation and free maps of wheelchair-friendly routes on all the islands.

All public "vaporetti" boats are accessible by wheelchair with the exception of line 52. Venice's train stations at Mestre and Santa Lucia are both accessible to the disabled and fitted with access ramps, disabled toilets and Welcome Centres.- contact 041.785570 from 7.00 am to 9.00 pm. Assistance to board the trains is available given 24-hours notice.

Travelers with impaired vision can download tactile maps from the Venice City Council website. Informa Handicap offers phone helpline for physically disabled and deaf travelers in Italy - call 041 534 17 00 on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays.

Venice Tipping Advice

As well as a standard service charge, expect to tip between 5% and 10% to waiters in restaurants for good service. Taxi drivers should also get between 5% and 10%, whereas chambermaids and bellboys should get up to EUR 1.00 per day / bag. Smaller tips to any other staff are sure to be appreciated, as tipping is widely practised in Italy.

Venice Dining Tips

Don't assume that all restaurants and bars accept credit cards - ask before ordering. Restaurants which accept credit cards will not allow you to put a tip on the card. Many smaller retailers do not accept American Express cards.

Cicheti, similar to restaurant antipasta, are often delicious and inexpensive snacks served in Osterie e bacari taverns. Other treats include saòr, bigoi in salsa, tripe, liver alla veneziana and fish fries.

A small 'bread and cover' charge (pane e coperto) of between €0.50 and €15 is added to restaurant bills except when eating 'tourist menus'.

Hotels in Venice, Italy