Traveling to Venice in winter? Here are some tips

It’s been a while since I was last in Venice – I’m talking about more than 15 years ago – and think that a visit is long overdue. And while doing some research, I came across some handy resources.

Venice is an indisputably popular destination all year round, and if you want to take in the sights without the crowds, this would be one of the best times to go. As mentioned in the article by The Telegraph “Venice attractions: what to see and do in autumn”,

By November, however, the city empties out, its alleyways echoing with the footsteps of locals and a smattering of out-of-season visitors.

In any season, Venice’s churches and museums offer antique glories aplenty, but there is also a vibrant contemporary art scene, even away from the Art Biennale.

Where to stay in Venice

The last time I was in Venice, it was a last-minute overnight stay in the peak of summer, which meant we ended up in a “pensione” just around the corner from St. Mark’s Square paying, of course, an exorbitant price.

I didn’t even think that there were neighborhoods (sestieri) in Venice much less 6, and gained invaluable insight in this handy post by Walks of Italy on The Neighborhoods in Venice. With a detailed breakdown as to the sights in each sestiere and why you would want to stay there, I’ve narrowed it down to a couple sestieri but to pick one is definitely a challenge. San Marco sestiere is definitely off my list though it might be for you if

you’re planning on spending most of your time in Venice at the sights here; you want to do some serious designer shopping; crowds, especially between March and October, don’t bother you; you don’t mind spending a lot on food and drink.

The off-the-beaten path sestieri would be my picks, and one that is on top of my list is Cannaregio – “away from the crowds” – and as I would like to visit the islands of Burano and Murano, this would be the ideal neighborhood. Here’s also a handy map of the location of each sestiere on About.com Italy travel.

Talking about places to stay, I’m one who would look for bed and breakfasts or apartments as they tend to me more cozy.  However, a recent article on The Independent “Seeing Venice without pushing the boat out” caught my attention as it featured the city’s first boutique hostel, Generator Venice Hostel, situated on the island of Giudecca.

I’ve never stayed in a hostel before and to consider doing so means that this place has got to be unique. And it is as they also offer a few private rooms starting at very reasonable prices! On top of that, I was basically sold when I saw photos of the interior, which should come as no surprise as

Anwar Mekhayech, designer of Soho House Toronto, is in charge of the interiors of all the Generator hostels. He travelled around Italy in a pick-up, buying furniture for the Generator Venice. “I went everywhere: from flea markets to antique dealers,” says Mekhayech.

Places to eat

I had a terrible dining experience in Venice – average food at ridiculous prices. But that doesn’t have to be your case and will certainly not be mine this time around. Venice can be expensive but it also can be affordable. If you head to where the locals eat, you find great food at decent prices and here’s a few good places listed by Italian Talks in “Where to Eat in Venice”.

Looking for more options? Then you would want to check out the app Eat Venice by Elizabeth Minchilli who also has recommendations of places to eat in Venice on her blog.

Travel Tips for Venice

Acqua alta

One of the downside of traveling to Venice in winter is the phenomenon of “acqua alta” – high tides which usually means floods in the city. Just a few days ago this occurred, earlier than usual, and to give you an idea of how crazy it can get, Daily Mail reported that

Holding suitcases high and dry over their heads, buying emergency pairs of Wellington boots and wading through the knee-deep water, some tourists took the challenge in their stride while others seemed less impressed.

And here’s a photo from Suzanne (The Travel Bunny) – hope she stayed dry – who’s vacationing in Venice.

So how would you get around during acqua alta? In a post from from Walks of Italy on Venice’s Acqua Alta: A Survival Guide they mentioned that

the flooded areas (or you simply want to see what it looks like), use the passarelle, which are walkways elevated above the water. (Please, walk on the right-hand side to avoid being an obstacle to locals!).

Respect the rules

Living in what is one of the world’s most popular destination can take a toll not only on the locals but its already fragile state. As mentioned in the quote above, simple things like walking on the right-hand side to give way to locals, can make a world of difference.

For visitors, some common sense things not to do include swimming in canals as reported in The New York Times, which apparently is not so “common-sense” as it is included in

a list of 10 no-nos aimed at tourists in a new campaign entitled “Venezia è anche tua, rispettala!” (Venice is yours too, respect it!).

And if you are interested in the other “no-nos” here’s the complete list. If the advice by the city isn’t sufficient, a local resident, Monica Cesarato, also reiterates the warning of not swimming in the canal in her list of “What not to do in Venice – Top tourist mistakes” by emphasizing

Venice does not have a sewage system! So much of the waste from residential houses goes straight into the water. Therefore when you see those funny photos of tourists swimming in San Marco during acqua alta (high water), think twice before getting inspired on emulating them!

So while in Venice or any place for that matter, please respect the rules. They really are simple!

Have you been to Venice? Which sestiere did you stay in?