Is Venice Worth Visiting? 9 Reasons to Consider Visiting
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Wondering if you should visit Venice, Italy?
Venice is the crown jewel of the Veneto region of northeastern Italy. What do you picture in your mind when you hear “Venice?”
Perhaps you are IMMEDIATELY envisioning handmade pasta dishes garnished with fresh herbs or a slice of classic Margherita pizza. Instead of cuisine, maybe you are visualizing the world-renowned and expertly crafted Venetian glassware of various shapes, colors, and sizes.
Alternatively, if all you really know about Venice is based on social media/TV, you might be imagining the professional gondoliers in standard uniform (red or blue striped shirt + dark trousers + black shoes + optional straw hat) as they smoothly navigate gondolas up and down the canals.
With the way Venice is portrayed on TV, social media, and in travel magazines – one might begin to wonder, is Venice worth visiting or is Venice overrated?
Is Venice worth visiting?
To put your mind at ease and to answer your most pressing question: no, Venice is not overrated. (Phew!)
I visited Venice while studying abroad in 2019 and can genuinely say it did not disappoint. I absolutely adored the city.
Visiting Venice in person is an experience unlike anything social media, TV, or travel magazines can give you. To be in the present moment immersed in the culture, to taste the authenticity of the Venetian food and wine, to smell the purity of the fresh air, to hear the vibrance of the Italian language floating around you, and to witness the majestic architecture with your very own eyes are just some of the reasons why a mere screen can never do Venice justice.
Venice is a treasure and is SO worth the visit! Let’s get into the specific reasons to go to Venice, shall we?
Reasons to Visit Venice
Each neighborhood in Venice has its own vibe
While visiting Venice, it is worth your while to explore each individual district. Venice is essentially made up of six districts AKA “sestieri”. The six sestieri are Cannaregio, Castello, Dorsoduro, Santa Croce, San Marco, and San Polo.
Cannaregio has the largest population. It is the sestiere in which you’ll find the local Jewish community thriving, as well as where majority of the locals reside.
Castello, built in the Roman era, is the sestiere largest in size. It features a wide variety of restaurants, bars, shops, and accommodations. The original naval armories and shipyards can be found in Castello, as well as the local Greek community.
If you are looking for premier art galleries, museums, fashion boutiques, indie shops, and a bit of a younger crowd – Dorsoduro is the university sestiere of Venice, and also the highest land area of the city.
Santa Croce is the only sestiere in which cars can travel and is known for being the “least touristy,” quiet, most authentic sestiere. The restaurants in Santa Croce actually serve global cuisine.
San Marco, one might say, is the land of the tourists. As the heart of Venice, San Marco features designer fashion shops, restaurants with multilingual menus, snack stands, drink stands, and gondola tours.
Attractions such as St. Mark’s Basilica, the Bridge of Sighs, and the Doge’s Palace are located in this sestiere. You’ll also quickly find that in San Marco, you will witness so many proposals that it will become oddly standard to just smile, clap, and keep walking.
Last, but not least, San Polo is one of the oldest and most beautiful sestieri of Venice. In San Polo you’ll find the Rialto market with fresh fruit, vegetables, and fish. San Polo is also the smallest sestiere.
The food is incredible
One of the primary reasons to visit Venice is the cuisine. The food in Venice is not only aromatic but tastes exquisite.
“Cicchetti” are budget-friendly, small plates of food that usually consist of fish, shrimp, or sardines served on either bread or polenta (think ‘porridge,’ but cornmeal instead of grain).
When it comes to pizza in Venice, your main options are either standard pizza, pizzette (mini pizza bites), or rolled pizza (think ‘stromboli’).
Of the wide variety of pasta dishes served in Venice, the most popular dish is bigoli in salsa (whole-wheat bigoli pasta in either anchovy or sardine onion sauce).
Venetians have a special love for seafood including shrimp, lobster, squid, sea bass, eel, sardines, anchovies, and clams. Seafood dishes are commonly served fried, grilled, or in pasta.
Traditional Venetian desserts include a unique assortment of cakes, cookies (or biscuits), fried cream, pastries, and pudding. Although gelato is not Venetian, locals do enjoy eating at gelatories year-round.
Murano and Burano nearby are so unique
Murano and Burano are islands that are very quaint, colorful, and full of life. Remember when I mentioned the world-famous Venetian glassware? Due to a significant fire in Venice in the 1200s, Venetian glassmakers relocated to Murano.
Throughout centuries, Venetian glassmakers have perfected their skills in crafting world-class glass products like chandeliers, sculptures, lamps, champagne flutes, wine glasses, mirrors, and jewelry.
Locals do recommend that Venetian glass only be purchased directly from Venice or Murano. Due to its popularity, a sizable amount of counterfeit Venetian glass (looks and feels the same) is unfortunately circulating the market.
Murano is estimated to have a population of somewhere between 4,000 and 5,000 people (last census in 2004).
Burano is well-known for its brightly colored homes and meticulous lacemakers.
A local tourist attraction is the leaning bell tower. Why is it leaning?? The answer to that is land subsidence (AKA gradual sinking of the ground). Largely populated with fishermen, Burano is home to about 2,800 people.
There’s lots of great shopping
In Venice, most shops open around 8:30-9 a.m. You can find shops that sell arts and crafts, designer clothing, locally made clothing, handbags, shoes, souvenirs, decorative masks, Venetian glass, antiques, lace, and books.
You can also find markets that sell fresh fruit, fish, and vegetables. Markets in Venice open A LOT earlier than the shops do. The Rialto market, for example, opens in the early morning and is filled with shoppers by 6 a.m.
The currency used in Venice is the Euro, although most merchants accept Visa and Mastercard. I would definitely recommend having both forms of currency on you just to be safe.
The sights are breathtaking
If you’re wondering, “why visit Venice?” an indisputable reason to go to Venice is the sightseeing. The graceful beauty of the canals amongst the picturesque architecture of the palazzos creates enchanting scenery.
As you wander through the narrow alleyways and over the romantic bridges, you become captivated by the timeless charm of this city.
Around every corner in Venice awaits a view straight out of a fairytale and a memory that you will always cherish. Remember to put down your camera and experience how it truly feels to be present in this magical city.
It’s home to one of the most unique bookstores, Libreria Acqua Alta
Even if you do not read for leisure, Libreria Acqua Alta is a quirky, whimsical spot that is not just for bookworms. This bookstore is known for its creative displays, such as books stacked in bathtubs, gondolas, and even a full-sized boat.
The cozy nooks and crannies of Libreria Acqua Alta invite you to get lost in a world of literature. You could spend hours here discovering hidden gems. Who knows, you could even become friends with one of the bookstore cats during your time here.
They live in the library and enjoy napping on the books. Featuring a staircase made of books with a stunning view of the canal, this treasure trove of literary wonders and cats is a MUST-SEE.
It’s car-free, so you can walk everywhere
Although a car ride quickly gets you to where you need to go, the average car emits approximately 4.6 metric tons of carbon dioxide annually. The easiest form of transportation in Venice requires two things: left foot and right foot.
In addition to walking, other popular methods of transportation include water taxi (regular boat that functions as a taxi), gondola, and public vaporetto (large, long boat that operates on a schedule).
Ambulances and police cars are all waterborne as well in Venice. Being car-free means no traffic jams, cleaner air, and more exercise.
There are so many hidden bridges
Venice has around 400 bridges, and it is a dream come true for bridge enthusiasts. From the famous Rialto bridge to the Bridge of Sighs (known for its romantic allure), each bridge in Venice tells a story.
The hidden bridges, however, truly capture your imagination. These lesser-known bridges, tucked away in quiet corners of Venice, offer a sense of discovery, mystery, and adventure.
Crossing these bridges allows you to experience Venice from a unique, different perspective. Finding a hidden bridge in Venice feels like finding hidden treasure!
There’s so much history
Venice has quite a fascinating history that spans over 1,000 years. Originally a collection of small islands, Venice grew into a powerful maritime republic during the Middle Ages.
Its strategic location allowed it to become a major trading hub, connecting Europe with the East. The Venetian Republic flourished culturally and economically, leaving behind a rich legacy of art, architecture, and political influence.
The oldest building that you can find in Venice today is the Ca’ da Mosto palace, which is around 800 years old. Venice’s historical landmarks, like St. Mark’s Basilica and Doge’s Palace, tell the story of a city that once ruled the seas!
Final Thoughts: Is Venice overrated?
The memory of seeing Venice unfold before your eyes for the very first time is an unforgettable one because you quickly realize it is not only NOT overrated, but it is AUTHENTIC.
Is Venice worth visiting? It absolutely is. If you were on the fence about visiting Venice, my hope is that I provided you the insight and inspiration you needed.
Pro tip: watch the sunset over the Grand Canal from a balcony, bridge, or water taxi. Ci vediamo lì!
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