How To Spend A Weekend In Venice

The perfect weekend get away in the floating city, famous for its winding canals and timeless architecture, Venice offers a unique escape from the everyday. We’ll show you how best to spend your weekend in Venice…

Water Taxi

A non negotiable has to be a bond arrival into Venice…taking the water taxi into Venice from the airport. The transfer will set you back approx €105-€160 depending on the number of people travelling but it is sure worth it. Your driver will drop you off at the nearest water taxi dock to your accommodation, some accommodations will also have their own dock.

Water Taxi, Venice

Aperol

It’s got to be an aperol spritz to start the Italian trip off, and you’ll find them available for as little as €3! For the best sip seek out a local cafe where you can enjoy your drink, people watch and soak in the Venetian culture. We like Campo Santo Stefono square, filled with locals, less touristy and just a 15 minute walk to Rialto - ideal!

Campo Santo Stefano, Venice

Breakfast

When we’re in Europe we love nothing more than strolling around to find the most rustic cafe where the locals have breakfast. We enjoyed Le cafe, again on Campo Santo Stefano square, serving croissants to be dipped into espressos and ham and cheese toasties with fries - that’s an acceptable breakfast on holiday, right?

Shopping

Venice is no Milan for shopping however it still boasts an array of designer stores, high street brands as well as independent Venetian boutiques. Stroll through the narrow streets to discover boutique stores filled with handmade jewellery, leather goods and Murano glass.

Saint Laurent, Venice

Frito-Inn, Venice

A casual, no frills food spot in Venice is Frito-Inn, a popular spot known for its fried seafood, pretty much a hole in the wall! We opted for the fried mixed fish and the tempura shrimps - a great snack whilst wandering the streets of Venice!

All’ Arco, Venice

A renowned quaint Venetian wine bar praised for its cicchetti, is the perfect spot for an afternoon vino and a bite, serving up the most delicious cicchetti on the island. With minimal seating and a no reservation system be prepared to queue, this place is always bus but well worth the wait!

Ostaria Boccadoro, Venice

We wouldn't say the Venice food scene is top tier however a restaurant stand out for us is Ostaria Boccadoro, a creative fish focused Venetian restaurant with rustic touches. Their simple yet elevated dishes are executed perfectly. For antipasti we enjoyed a raw fish appetiser; tuna tartar, raw seabass with strawberries and balsamic vinegar and raw tiger prawns as well as sautéed mussels and clams. For Primi we opted for lemon, prawn and courgette risotto along with the seafood ravioli - both delicious. Secondi was a T bone sirloin steak served medium rare, with roasted vegetables and Italian potatoes. We highly recommend checking out this spot!

Farini, Venice

Definitely not the most authentic place in Venice however Farini is well worth a visit, a pizza and snacks parlour with indoor seating. You won’t miss this place as the window displays will sure catch your eye!

Farini, Venice

Harry’s Bar

Harry’s Bar is the home of the Bellini and an iconic spot in Venice, founded by Giuseppe Cipriani - yes the owner of Cipriani! Harry’s bar has a old world charm, cosy interiors and a great selection of cocktails as well as the signature cipriani cake, if you haven't had the chance to try this cake then visiting Harry’s Bar or Cipriani in Venice is a must do!

Gondola Ride

Whilst in Venice it is almost a given that you have to take a Gondola ride, approx €80 for a 30 minute trip, a truly relaxing way to see the city!

Pasta making

If you haven’t made pasta before then there’s no better place to start than in Italy. We highly recommend booking a pasta making course, typically held in a family home and taught by the the family, a wholesome and authentic experience!

Murano and Burano

Although we didn’t get the chance, we would have taken a boat over to Murano and then to Burano. Murano is renowned for its glassblowing and fresh seafood, whilst Burano is a lot smaller and is known for its colourful buildings and handmade lace. You can visit both of the islands on a water taxi or the water bus.

We want to be real over and unfortunately there are a few spots which we would probably not head back to…

Caffe Florain, Venice

The oldest coffeehouse in Italy serving coffee, drinks and sweet treats at a heavy price tag! The round of coffee below cost a whooping €71, however this did include a €6 euro fee to listen to the choir who were performing. A lovely spot to sit, people watch and listen to the Italian sounds however a little pricey for us!

Suso, Venice

Suso, a gelato parlour located near the Rialto Bridge but a bit too much of a tourist trap, with huge queues and average gelato. We recommend finding an authentic gelato shop a bit off the beaten track!

Tiramisu Gelato - Suso, Venice