I believe Venice is a city where you truly get what you pay for, but not always in the way you’d expect. I’ve done the free walking tours, and I’ll always recommend them as a great option in any city. I also value private tours for the access and context they provide. Yet in Venice, I prefer not to pack my days with expensive excursions. This is a place best experienced by feel. I’ll make space in the budget for private water taxis and a well-chosen hotel, and I’ll (maybe) book time-sensitive tickets if they align with the trip, but often I’d rather wander, sit canal-side, and let the city reveal itself slowly. The real investment here is not in how many tours you book, but in how you spend your time. 

On my very first trip to Venice, I was so proud of myself for figuring out the vaporetto ticketing system. I bought my pass, hopped on the water bus, and thought I was doing it the smart, budget-friendly way. What I didn’t do was check the timetable. Hours later, after what felt like endless stops and far too much time wedged among the crowds, I finally got off… more than three hours after embarkment (woof!).

That was the moment I realized the true cost wasn’t money, it was time. Since then, even when my budget was tight, I always carved out room for private water taxis. They aren’t just faster, they’re part of the magic of Venice. Gliding across the lagoon, prosecco in hand, watching the domes and bell towers appear on the horizon is worth every euro.

Venice has world-class museums, from the Peggy Guggenheim to the Doge’s Palace. But to me, Venice itself is the masterpiece. The gondolas, the bridges, the echo of footsteps in narrow calli, the shimmer of mosaics inside quiet churches, it’s all part of an open-air museum.

I’ll always respect those who plan their trips around collections and exhibitions, but for me, the best memories of Venice are made sitting along a canal, people-watching with a glass of wine, or wandering until I stumble onto a hidden campo. The city is a living work of art.

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Where you stay in Venice can shape your entire trip. Once, I booked what I thought was a good deal, only to find the hotel was on the mainland. I was bamboozled by pricing and ended up taking a bus with locals, then walking from there alongside a highway in the pitch black of night. Another time, I stayed in what resembled a shoebox, which left me frustrated and cramped.

On my most recent trip, I chose the NH Palazzo dei Dogi in Cannaregio because I wanted a five-star historical property without the sky-high rates of places like the Gritti Palace. It was the perfect balance. Venice is expensive, but if there’s one place to invest in your stay, it’s here.

I usually prefer hidden bars or local haunts, but Venice is an exception. Some of the city’s most historic hotels have the best views and the most elegant settings for a cocktail. Yes, you’ll pay a premium, but you also get better service, incredible real estate, and a peek into the city’s more glamorous side. Sipping a spritz or a Bellini while the Grand Canal glows at sunset is part of the Venetian experience.

Venice is one of the hardest cities for food if you go in blind. With millions of tourists passing through, it’s easy for restaurants to thrive on convenience rather than quality. Many visitors walk until they’re exhausted, then collapse into the first trattoria with a picture menu and leave disappointed.

The good news is that Venice does have incredible dining. You just need to plan. Research ahead, book reservations where possible, and seek out places in neighborhoods beyond St. Mark’s. Look for cicchetti bars where locals gather, osterie tucked into quiet campi, or restaurants with a reputation for seafood specialties. Venice rewards those who plan their meals as carefully as their museum tickets.