08/04/2009

10 smart tips for a lowcost holiday in Venice

Everyone thinks that Venice is an extremely expensive destination. It may be true, but with HostelsClub's hints and tips, you'll be surprised at how many things you can do in Venice for free or on a very small budget!





Venice is our hometown, so who better than us to advise budget travellers on visiting our beautiful city? So let's begin:

Start your day on a budget: go into any small café, order a cappuccino and a croissant and it will only be around 2.50 euros. Make sure you stand at the counter to have your typical Italian breakfast otherwise you’ll pay double the price!



Always dreamed of going on a Gondola ride but your budget doesn't stretch that far? Take the local’s Gondola, the Traghetto, which takes you across the Grand Canal for only 2 euros. The ride is only a few minutes but you can say you have been in a Gondola! You can catch the Traghetto at the Rialto Market which is in itself a nice place to go in the early morning, to see the fishermen sell their fish.







Go on a Grand Canal Tour by Vaporetto (waterbus) number 1. You'll get to see places that are otherwise inaccessible on foot for just 7 euros (one way). Get on at Piazzale Rome and get off at St. Marks square (direction: Lido) to have a full tour of the entire Grand Canal.



You can visit as many churches as you like for free! Some of them are really beautiful, like the Basilica San Marco on the San Mark's square. Just make sure you have your legs and shoulders covered, or you may not be let in.



Feel like having a swim to get away from the humid Venetian Heat? Go to the beach on the island of Lido, take your towel instead of hiring a bed and relax for the day on the beach. Some beaches are private, but there are many free areas, such as Blue Moon or towards the Murazzi. You can even have a BBQ on the beach in the evening!



If you want to see a panoramic view of the most famous Venetian square then we suggest heading to the Island of San Giorgio Maggiore and pay a few euros to go up the bell tower and enjoy the amazing view of St. Mark's Basin, the Doge's Palace and the Basilica. A shorter queue, cheaper price, and a better view that going up the more famous Bell Tower of St. Marks.







If you need to go to the bathroom, go into a café, order an espresso and use the toilet after, this will cost you the same as going into public toilets and you get a coffee too! Just remember, it's strange to order any coffee than an espresso after 12 pm!



In late afternoon head over to Zattere: this is Venice's most popular promenade, the perfect place to either have a stroll or just sit and drink the bottle of wine you just bought at the supermarket and watch huge cruise ships go by and the sunset. When going for drinks avoid touristic places, but instead, go into the small alleys and see the other side of Venice: Giudecca, Castello and Cannaregio are some quieter and non-touristy areas where it's just perfect to get lost on purpose. Order a Spritz, the local Venetian drink with prosecco, sparkling water and Aperol. If you stand you will only pay 2 euros for a drink but if you sit the price may go up. Go to Campo Santa Margherita on a Thursday night and enjoy free live music, order a pizza at the takeaway and eat it on a bench, it's the student ritual so you know it will be good and cheap. Three options to save on food: first, shop like a local at the Rialto Market, buy some fresh vegetables and seafood and cook an Italian style meal in your hostel. Second, go to a bacaro (typical local bar) and taste Venetian snacks called cichetti (toasted bread topped with cheese, ham or seafood, fried seafood sticks, meatballs...) Also tramezzini, gourmet sandwiches filled with fresh ingredients and mayonnaise are a must-try, and at only 1.50 euro each, you can try as many as you can! And thirdly, if you feel like going out for dinner in a restaurant but don’t want to spend too much, make sure you order pizza or pasta, this is always cheaper than meat or fish. Look for restaurants that don’t charge you a cover charge (a fee you pay for simply sitting down).

You can also check out our video on 10 things not to miss in Venice!

Needless to say, HostelsClub Team will be proud to help you save on your accommodation too with heaps of hostels you can book in Venice...let's see how cheap a holiday in Venice can be!