Getting Around Venice and the Tourism Machine

Anyone looking for an inexpensive vacation in Europe, strike Venice straight off your list.

Not that the city wasn’t lovely. The canals are as beautiful as a painting (of which there are many). The architecture was ancient, with one house in the Gothic style next door to the soft rounded arches of a house from the Victorian era. The food was also good, true Italian food, like seafood spaghetti or fresh bass, which they bone for you at the table, and fresh if purchased in the right places. But don’t expect to get anything for free.

The truth is, when very few were brave enough to travel by plane after September 2001, Venice’s tourist industry boomed. A tour guide informed me that at that time Venice received about 11 million visitors per year. Now the yearly tourist estimate is closer to 20 million, and the industry experts predict an extra 5 million on that already large number by 2012.

As you’d expect of any city that counts tourism as a major industry, the prices in Venice are astronomical. It was not uncommon to see a can of Coke (300 ml) with a price tag of €3, especially in the busy area near Piazza San Marco, where the Doges Palace and San Marco Cathedral are located. In one particular instance, which I remember with disturbing clarity, we sat down to eat at a restaurant on the grand canal that was affiliated with our hotel because we got 20% off, being residents of that particular hotel. This restaurant sold Coke not in cans, but in bottles, and the price listed on the menu for one bottle of Coca-Cola was €6.50. Needless to say we paid too much for lunch that day.

It goes without saying that you need to look at the menu before you sit down. The other thing you need to think about if you plan on visiting Venice is transportation. The transportation in Venice has two major modes: by foot or by water. The city center is a collection of islands attached by bridges, and a fit walker can move from one end to the other in about an hour. If you are up for a lot of walking, I suggest sticking to it, because travel by water will drain your funds quickly.

If you are tired of walking, or you need to get to one of the islands that is not connected by a bridge and a winding street, you have two choices: the Vaporetto, which you can think of as a big water bus, or a taxi boat. If you don’t plan to walk much, I wouldn’t advise taking a taxi everywhere. They cost twice as much as a taxi car on the mainland.

On the other hand, the Vaporetto is a moderately-price form of transportation, and quite enjoyable to ride, but only if you plan ahead. A one way ticket on the Vaporetto is €6.50 per person. This ticket lasts for 60 minutes, during which time you can get on and off as many times as you wish. Doesn’t seem quite worth it for a one way pass, does it?

You can also buy tickets for larger increments of time, 12 hours, 48, 72, etc., up to a 7-day pass. The 7-day pass costs €50. If you plan to ride the Vaporetto frequently, and you must do so to get to the islands of Murano, where they make the glass, and Lido, where the free public beach is located, you will realize quickly that the multi-day passes are worth the cost.

Needless to say, if you find yourself in Venice, the best way to save money is to go off the beaten path. Wander away from the major tourist attractions after you’ve had your fill. Restaurants, souvenirs, and clothing all become more reasonable in price in proportion to the distance you are from the crowds.

I must also mention the Gondola, because I said in my previous article that I would ride one. I did, if not because my Nana insisted then simply to say I did it. It’s important to note that Gondola’s are not an appropriate form of transportation any longer. You pay to ride one in blocks of time, and they take you right back to where you started. The gentlemen in flat-brimmed straw hats and striped shirts standing on bridges all over the city will tell you that it is €80 euro for half an hour, but you can probably talk them down to €70. If you get some other like-minded tourists to ride with you, it will be cheaper because they charge for the time, and not per person.

With a little luck and a lot of diligence, my notes can help you save money in Venice, a city where you must not expect anything to be cheap. As for me, I’m not sure where I’ll find myself next, but I’ll be taking notes and watching prices, as always. If you’ve been to Venice, share some pointers with your fellow travelers in the comments below. Best luck and cheap travels, my friends!