There is no place like Venice. This destination has attracted millions of tourists worldwide. However, as you plan your trip, there are a few things to know before going to Venice.
1. The Crowds
Venice is a very popular tourist destination; therefore, be prepared for large crowds. Unfortunately, there is no way or place to break away from tourists. By fluke, we arrived in Venice the same weekend as the Festa del Redentore, aka Feast of the Redeemer Festival (July 16-17, 2022). Everyone and their cousins were in Venice, so it was even more crowded. If you are traveling with small children, the crowds and the noise can be overwhelming.
2. The Mosquitos
Venice is surrounded by canals that are breeding swamps for mosquitos which results in an unusually high number of mosquitos. Mosquitos are unavoidable even with diligent application of repellent. As someone with skeeter syndrome, this was no fun. Parents traveling with small children in strollers may find it worthwhile to have mosquito nets over the strollers.
3. It’s Expensive
Venice is notoriously expensive, and it is important to budget accordingly. Accommodation is at a premium, transportation is expensive, and all the food is imported from other regions of Italy, thus making it so expensive.
4. The Ability to Walk
One thing for sure is that you will be walking A LOT. The city has narrow streets and alleyways, and there are no cars. So if you’re not comfortable walking long distances, Venice may not be the right destination for you. For reference, we walked 15K steps during our day of exploration. Also, if you are traveling with small children in strollers; in that case, you may find it tiresome after going up and down steps several times as you cross bridges.
5. Adult Oriented Activities
Many of Venice’s attractions are geared towards adults, so finding activities that will keep your children entertained may be challenging. That being said, there are parks in Venice; you’d just need to seek them out as they are not on the well-trodden tourist routes.
Hope this helps you know what to expect in Venice; also check out 5 Things To in Venice in One day. If you enjoyed this blog post, I’d love to connect with you on Instagram or TikTok.