What avid traveller hasn’t imagined about exploring the bustling streets of Venice at least once? Read on to learn all about the amazing Venice canals in Italy and to know if it is worth a visit.
Venice, also known as the City of Canals tends to be one of the first places that immediately comes to mind when contemplating a trip to Europe, with its vibrant locations, captivating gondola rides, and historic bridges.
But given the hype, it is obvious that the cost must be high and all tourist attractions crowded, so, should you visit the Venice canals in Italy?
What Exactly are the Venice Canals?
Venice canals in Italy are a haven for travellers, no doubt, and it is best experienced by wandering in its canals, streets, and town squares. As you explore Venice’s waterways and eventually get lost, you’ll fall more in love with the city than you ever imagined.
Discovering Venice canals in Italy by walking is one way to get beyond the tourist crowds and explore the city by yourself. And with 177 canals and 391 bridges, you will tire yourself out if embark upon exploring each one of them.
We believe it is a magnificent city that should be on everyone’s bucket list, but, there are a few things you must know first, delve in for those!
What to do in Venice While Exploring its Canals?
There are several things you can explore in Italy, but my top picks are:
1. Meander through the Venetian Lagoon in Traditional Boats
The Venice Lagoon is, in reality, Italy’s biggest wetland as well as one of its most significant coastal environments in the entire Mediterranean basin.
Today, you can simply rent an antique customized Venetian boat in Venice and go to the several swimming sites in the lagoon where usually there are fewer tourists. There are also some fantastic beaches scattered across the lagoon that are easily accessible by waterbus.
The average depth of the lagoon is 10.5 metres (34 ft), and the depths of a small canal are as little as 2 meters.
2. Stroll on the Renowned Rialto Bridge
Rialto Bridge serves as one of Venice’s most magnificent bridges. This bridge is also known as the ‘Lover’s Bridge.’
Night strolling excursions after a delectable dinner on the Rialto Bridge and the opposite side of the Grand Canal are a must-do in Venice.
Nothing could be more beautiful than strolling down the canal beneath the bridge and staring at the reflected light of the marbles in the canal.
Engaging in the narratives of locals, legends, and superstitions will undoubtedly add a cherry on top of your journey. You can take a break from walking and hire a water taxi while you traverse the canal to the other side of Venice.
The most amazing vistas from and around the Rialto Bridge should not be missed. These are some of the most iconic photographs of Venice.
You can explore the bridge to take pictures, enjoy the walk on beautiful surrounding streets, and spend time admiring the magnificent sight of the city’s canals. It’s astounding to walk over and into the San Polo region to learn about the Rialto Bridge’s history.
You must also visit the Accademia Venice, a wooden bridge and an architectural marvel for sure!
3. Shopping, Photographing, and Spending!
Venice has several well-known shopping districts. The Rialto Bridge neighbourhood is renowned for its traditional markets that sell fresh vegetables, seafood, and handicrafts. The streets surrounding St. Mark’s Square also feature luxury boutiques and exclusive brands.
Venice is recognized for its indigenous crafts, which have been created here for generations and are difficult to get outside of it. You can find many luxury shopping possibilities among Venice’s picturesque canals and bustling streets.
Designer outlets, handcrafted Venetian artifacts, glass wonders, and more are available here.
Venetians like getting all dolled up, so you’ll feel more at ease in elegant basic clothes. If you want to take the spotlight with your fashion labels, this is the place to do it. There will be a lot of luxurious purses on display, so choose the one you like!
Also, wear comfortable shoes during the day because you will be walking a lot.
4. Saunter along the Never-Ending Modern Art Hubs
Venice is most recognized for the Renaissance masterpieces that it has created over time. Unlike the Florentine painters, the Venetians emphasized on effects of lighting, ornamentation, and sensuous subjects.
Tour the Palazzo Grassi to explore wealthy industrialist François Pinault’s exclusive collections. In brief, Pinault has turned his love for modern art into a number of the world’s most important museums.
The Peggy Guggenheim Gallery is one of Italy’s foremost museums of twentieth-century American and European artwork. It is housed at Guggenheim’s older residence, Palazzo Venier dei Leoni, on the renowned and classic Venice’s Grand Canal.
Guggenheim’s private collection, classics from the Hannelore collections, an artwork park, and art shows may all be found here.
The Cini complex, which holds Venice’s biggest garden, exhibits of art, architect Ettore Sottsass’ records, and a labyrinth devoted to novelist Jorge Luis Borges, can easily be spent a day in whilst exploring.
You can also go to the nearby Le Stanze del Vetro, which is a study and display venue devoted to 20th and 21st-century contemporary manufacture of glass.
5. Ride in a Gondola!
Several Venice canals in Italy feature gondola rides, and this is one of the many reasons to love Venice!
Venice is well-known for its magnificent gondolas. Renting a gondola is also among the city’s most romantic activities.
A gondola ride provides a breathtaking view of Venice. Venice is always beautiful, but it’s even more so from the water!
Gondolas may be noticed almost everywhere throughout the city on all waterways. There are also numerous locations where you may hop on a gondola.
What is the Ideal Time to Visit?
The beginning of May is regarded as the best time of the calendar year for touring the Grand Canal in Italy because of the pleasant and warm weather brought by the sun’s regular emergence.
It is recommended that you choose the boat ride alternative before 9 a.m., when there are fewer tourists around, instead of in the later afternoon or evening hours. If you choose an evening gondola trip after 7 p.m., the tickets are relatively high.
The finest months for touring Venice are April, May, September, and October. These are the peak periods of fall and spring.
Visitors from all over the world come to see the Grand Canal because of the centuries-old castles that have been built on both sides of the canal. The majority of these historical palaces date from the 13th through the 18th centuries, under the reign of the Venetian Republic.
These magnificent historical structures display the opulence of Venetian families throughout the Venetian Republic’s reign.
These magnificent royal residences, together with the Grand Canal, represent a variety of styles, architectural designs, and mythical ideologies of locals.
The canal features palaces inspired by the Gothic era Baroque, and Byzantium styles, as well as aspects of Renaissance and Neoclassical architecture combined with modern design.
Enjoy a daytime touring excursion to soak up in the warm sun and explore the beautiful buildings throughout the city, or opt for a twilight gondola ride for an intimate yet thrilling adventure.
Choose a gondola which also features folk songs in the background for an authentic Venetian adventure!
Is a Trip to Venice Really Worth It?
Venice is considered one of the many places that must be experienced in person to appreciate this enchanted place. Throughout the day, the city constructed around and along the canals is a bustle of activities as tourists flock to the gorgeous metropolis.
Since there are so many renowned Venice canals in Italy, apart from the Grand Canal, you must also visit the Giudecca Canal if you have some time to spare.
But, with such a large flood of mass tourism and current reports of a tourist tax being levied on each visit, is Venice still worthwhile?
It’s beyond comprehension how Venice continues to stay afloat. And the deeper you get into Venice, the more perplexing it becomes. Venice is an architectural marvel because it was built on several lagoons.
Venice is a one-of-a-kind Italian city. One of the characteristics that distinguishes the city is that it is car-free! There are no automobiles on the tiny islands of Venice. This is one of the most significant reasons to visit Venice, as it will be a new experience.
Venice is quite tranquil because there are no cars, hence no horns or pollution. It’s almost as though you’re travelling back in time! While there are several water taxis and a water bus, walking is the best method to get about.
Walking through the narrow alleyways of Venice is a lot of fun. It’s also quicker and cheaper. Also, if flying from another country, to know if you can travel internationally with a DUI, click here.
Important Things to Know Before Visiting
Given its allure and one-of-a-kind landscape characteristics, it may come as unsurprising that Venice is a tourism trap.
To put it another way, costs have risen due to the city’s ever-increasing appeal to tourists from all over the world. The more crowded the city becomes, the more costly it gets to dine out or see the monuments.
Venice is primarily being promoted to the luxury tourism business, therefore a rich population typically finds themselves here, disembarking from cruise ships with plans to splurge, shop, gamble, and do almost everything worth it in Venice.
Plan for your Venice vacation to cost between 70€ and 105€ per individual per day. This also excludes any pre-trip expenditures like travel costs (train/flight/bus) or any kind of insurance you choose to take.
However, if you plan ahead of time and do some digging, you can tour the city on a budget.
Venice’s 150 canals, 417 bridges, and 118 islands make it simple to get confused – but that’s the entirety of the excitement. Walking is one of the best ways to discover the true reality of Venice; you’ll undoubtedly discover the peaks and hidden treasures of your vacation by simply wandering around aimlessly.
However, be aware that the tiny alleyways and flowing streams might impair your perception of the right path, making it easy to become lost.
EndNote
Despite the city’s reputation for attracting thousands of tourist throngs from all over the world, plenty of things to do in Venice are worthwhile to visit at least once.
Venice has something for everyone, from boat excursions in the lagoon to the historic center holding secrets to Santa Maria della salute to panoramic vistas from the bridge to art galleries, castles, and renowned bridges.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How many canals are in Venice Italy?
150 canals crisscross the city of Venice, shaping the city into a network of little islands interconnected by bridges and tunnels. There are 150 unique canals, but the Grand Canal is the largest and most striking of all.
2. What are the Venice canals famous for?
The Grand Canal is well-known for its bustling gondola fleet and medieval mansions. Barges transporting fresh fish, pork, and fruit to the canal’s numerous markets can be seen in the early hours of the day.
3. Why is Venice full of canals?
One of the most well-known and renowned canal systems in the world is found in Venice. The first inhabitants of Venice had to drain parts of the lagoon, excavate canals, and strengthen up its shores before they could begin constructing on the islands.
Also, before travelling, have a look at things tourists should never do in Venice to be on the safer side.
Have fun travelling!
How Venice continues to stay afloat? This article contains a valuable information about it.