I was only able to stay for 2 days in wonderful Venice due to my budget. However I was able to see everything that I wanted to see and more. Below are my favourite places and bet tips to see Venice in 2 days.
Getting there:
Arriving from Tronchetto bus stop I recommend catching the train to Piazzale Roma for €1.50. There is a company trying to sell tickets to San Marco when you get off the bus but these are overpriced. Piazzale Rom has all the vaporetto and taxi tickets you need.
Depending on where you are staying there are different methods of arrival. I stayed on the island suburb of Giudecca at Generator Hostel. This suburb is completely cut off from the main island and as a result I had to catch the vaporetto every morning to the main junction. I recommend staying here as it is cheaper and less crowded.
The best value for money is the 72hr vaporetto/train ticket. This lets you catch the vaporettos (water buses) am unlimited amount for €28 when a oneway ticket is €7.50. Then you can just wait at the pontoon and hop on and off like you would a bus.
View from Vaporetto of Giudecca
Favourite Suburbs:
San Marco is the main suburb and contains Doges Palace, St Marks Basilica and main plaza. I would not recommend eating here as it is very touristy and expensive but it is a great place to sit, people watch and take in the history.
Castello is also a great neighbourhood with the arsenal dock and submarine museum. Tucked in Castello are also very cheap stores to buy gum boots or covers for your shoes. This is only if the wind & rain has caused flooding in certain canals. People in San Marco sell them for €10 where you can get them for €2 in the back shops.
My absolute favourite suburb was the Santa Croce & San Polo area, here has the best gelato, winding passages aswell as a lot of specialty stores tucked away. It is so extensive, without a lot of tourists that you can spend hours there. I purchased handmade masks in different styles from a store in the San Polo area. There are also heavily discounted jewellery and mask stores around as tourists do not seem to be as thickly present.
Taken in San Polo
Best gelato:
I was very lucky that the day I spent out exploring was exceptionally hot and sunny. So I made it my mission to test out a lot of Gelaterias in the area. My favourite was Alaska Gelateria. It had amazing combinations, was tucked away near a lot of lovely Resturant’s. The best part one scoop was €1.50 with €1 for every scoop after that, this is very cheap for Venice and was so delicious you feel like you are ripping them off!
Alaska Caffe & Pistachio gelato
Grand Canal viewpoints:
Apart from the main bridge that overlooks the Grand Canal there are many great places to see the canal which isn’t completely overrun by tourists and selfie sticks. Santa Croce was a great place to sit and watch the gondolas drive past whilst eating gelato, there are also beautiful facades on the other side of the canal undisturbed by tourists.
Santa Croce viewpoint of Grand Canal
