Welcome to The Floating City! Better known as Venice, Italy, this city sprawls across more than 100 little islands and prides itself on the fact that there is not a single road within city limits – only canals. These waterways are the main mode of travel for anyone looking to get around the city. Should you want to experience the cuisine, or the history offered here, you will need to board a small boat – often referred to as a gondola. But be warned, carrying your luggage while boarding one of these may pose a problem or two so you are best off utilizing the luggage storage in Venice. Seeing as this city is unrivaled by any across the world, you will want to get the most out of your time here. Even if it is just a single day. To aid you in this effort, we have put together a few ideas on how to spend a day in Venice as if you were a local resident. So please, keep reading!
The Grand Canal
No matter how you go about it, you will not be able to avoid interacting with water while in Venice so you may as well lean into it. The best way to do so is by visiting the landmark waterway within the city known as The Grand Canal. Here, you will get the full picture of just what Venice is – a true city on top of the water. Imagine a highway but on the water. Surrounded by ancient buildings and deep-rooted Italian culture. Truthfully, without a visit here your mind can only grasp so much of this concept. So do everything in your power to make your way to The Grand Canal.
St. Mark’s Square
Though the city of Venice cannot be described in one word, an attempt to do so might yield the word iconic. Be it a movie, television show, photograph, or other form of media, you have likely seen a glimpse of this city. Rightfully so – there really is no comparable city in the world. One of the locations you may recognize from your glimpses of Venice is St. Mark’s Square. Many see this location as the central hub for all that happens within the city. Not in the way that Times Square is crazy as all get out but in a way that has this peace and tranquility to it. Maybe it is the water that the city rests upon which brings about these feelings but regardless, be intentional about making your way to St. Mark’s Square. You will not regret it.
Find some local fare
Italian people do many things well, but at the top of this list is making and eating great food. Thankfully for your sake, this food is not hard to come by. Assuming you found your way to Piazza San Marco (Italian for St. Mark’s Square) then finding some local food will be a piece of tortellini so to speak. See, this square has many pathways which branch off from it. Down these you will find all the Italian mom and pop restaurants you could ever dream of. Perhaps your mind has been set on finding some incredible gelato? Then it is likely no more than a couple minutes from the center of St. Mark’s Square. The same can be said about pasta, tramezzino, or any other traditional Italian food you can think of.
Doge’s Palace
Do not let the name of this breathtaking building confuse you – it has nothing to do with the cryptocurrency of the same name. In fact, Doge was the titular name for the leader of the Republic of Venice. Yes, you read that correctly – this city was once a sovereign state all to itself. However, times have changed drastically. You will no longer find this style of local government taking place within the walls of the palace. But you will bear witness to a style of architecture that is no longer practiced in the modern world despite its beauty. Furthermore, there is a wide variety of artisanal works on display within the Palace itself. So, all in all, this really is your one-stop-shop for Venetian culture and history.
If we were to be totally realistic with you, a single day in Venice is not enough to take in everything the city has to offer. Even those who live here might tell you they have not experienced all their great city. Therefore, it will benefit you greatly to plan out the limited time here and the ideas above will help you in doing so.
