Good evening, sweethearts,
In this article, I tell you about the weekend we spent in Venice. I’m delighted to have been able to make up my own mind about this city, as I’d heard just as many positive opinions as negative ones. Personally? I’m leaning towards the positive! I really enjoyed being cut off from the world, with no cars. Even if the houses suffer from the presence of water, you can’t help but fall under the spell of its canals and gondolas 🙂
Here’s a look back at this romantic weekend. Ready to embark?!
From Venice airport to our hotel
If you’ve read my various articles on the Globe Trotter tab, you won’t be surprised to see that, once again, we flew out of Nantes on Volotea. Yes, it really is possible to fly at low cost from our city, if you get there relatively early and are prepared to leave early in the morning and return late at night. 🙂
For your information, Venice airport is located some ten kilometers north of Venice.
There are several options for getting to your place of residence: boat-bus, boat-taxi, cab, bus, car rental. It all depends on your wishes, your budget and exactly where you want to go!
We chose the bus: the most economical choice
Like all road vehicles, buses must stop at Piazzale Roma at the western entrance to Venice, near the railway station. From Venice airport, the bus journey takes about 30 minutes and will cost you €8 one way and €15 round trip. You can then reach your destination on foot or by vaporetto.
Ticket sales counters and vending machines are located in the baggage hall and in the reception area. Bus tickets can also be booked online on the Venice website, by combining them with vaporetto passes. Buses depart and arrive in front of the airport arrivals hall.
Two companies shuttle you to Venice airport for the same price and about the same time:
ACTV: line 5. From 4.10 a.m. to 1.10 a.m. every 30 minutes. You can also buy a ticket to combine the bus trip with a vaporetto trip for €14, to be used within 90 minutes of validation.
ATVO: line 35. From 5.20 a.m. to 01.20 a.m. every 30 minutes.
Once at the station, we took our first vaporetto towards our hotel. My love found a great hotel on booking with very good value for money in Venice: the Hotel Ca’ Zusto. Expect to pay around €115 per night including breakfast. Let’s be honest, prices in Venice are very expensive. That’s why this price is right, especially as the hotel isn’t kitschy and is very cosy. Another tip: don’t hesitate to contact the hotel directly, which may sometimes match Booking or even offer a more competitive price.
Italian lunch and vaporetto cruise
After checking into our room, a little hunger strikes, and it’s time to find a nice little restaurant for a quick lunch.
On Trip Advisor, we set our sights on a traditional Venetian establishment: Cantina Aziende Agricole, a far cry from the “touristy” restaurants. It’s a really good address, with a top-notch welcome. We each selected some delicious cicheti, which we enjoyed with a glass of local wine… um, just writing that still brings back all the flavors! It was really perfect 🙂
After lunch, it’s time for a digestive stroll 🙂
Venice’s alleyways are each cuter than the last. The canals and gondolas that replace the streets and cars add a magical, timeless touch… You suddenly feel as if time has stopped and you’re on another planet… We’re quick to adapt to this slower pace!
We then take the vaporetto back to the famous Rialto Bridge and St. Mark’s Square.
This is Venice’s oldest and most famous bridge. Its name comes from the Rivo Alto (upper bank) district, which became Rialto through deformation. Built of wood towards the end of the 12th century, it was destroyed several times due to collapses and fires. It was only at the beginning of the 16th century that it was decided to rebuild it in stone. Today, it’s one of the symbols of Venice, where you’ll find a wide range of stores.
Arriving at Piazza San Marco, I pause to contemplate the beauty of the place. The square is monumental, lined with Venice’s most famous monuments. Beneath the arcades are numerous boutiques and cafés, the most famous of which is the Café Florian (beware of the exorbitant prices!).
Luckily, the square is dry this afternoon, so there’s no Acqua Alta phenomenon (Venice floods due to the tides between autumn and early spring). We take the opportunity to do an impromptu photo shoot with our friends the pigeons 🙂 and we’ll be back another day to visit the Basilica.
The evening ends with a sunset over the Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute, which we immortalize.
The next day, we decided to take a day trip to explore three islands close to Venice: Murano, Burano and Torcello. If you’re going to Venice, don’t miss out on these excursions – they’re well worth the detour, especially if you like taking photos, as the colors of the houses, the mosaics and the glasswork will make you want to bring back some pretty shots.
Before boarding the boat, we visit Saint Mark’s Basilica, and are surprised to discover the Acqua Alta phenomenon in the piazza!
Murano, Burano and Torcello
Murano and its glassworks
The town is well known for its boutiques and glassworks.
We really enjoyed exploring the island on foot. This allowed us to enter some beautiful galleries or a glass factory to see the craftsmen at work.
Burano la coloree
The island of Burano is clearly my favorite! It’s a joy to admire and photograph the picturesque pastel-colored fishermen’s cottages. While enjoying a slice of pizza, you can stroll around and admire (although I wouldn’t necessarily put this in my house!) the famous lace, once considered the finest in Europe. I’ll spare you the hundreds of photos I’ve brought back from this island, which is so original it’s almost reminiscent of an amusement park 🙂
Torcello
This is a great island to visit at the end of the day, when the sun is setting. You can really take in the atmosphere, and visit the magnificent Santa Maria Assunta Cathedral without too many tourists. You can also discover vestiges of the island’s glorious past, once home to richly ornamented palaces and churches.
On our last day, before heading back to Nantes, we spend the morning at the Gallerie dell’Academia. The museum houses the largest collection of 14th-century Venetian paintings, from Gothic and Byzantine to Renaissance artists. A must-see if you’re an art lover.
I hope you’ve enjoyed it and that it’s inspired you to take a romantic trip to Venice.
My final tip: a good restaurant for tasting pastas to die for: Trattoria Al Gazzetino. Ask the hotel to book it for you, as it’s a great success 🙂
Do you have any questions or comments about Venice? Did you enjoy my article? Leave me your comments, it’s always a pleasure to read you!
See you soon for new adventures 🙂
