VENICE on a Budget: When to Go, Where to Stay, What to Eat, And Much More

Venice on a budget? Is that even possible?
Agreed, visiting Venice can be pretty pricey.
After all, you find yourself at one of the world’s most unique places – and it comes with a price tag.

However, if you follow my simple hacks, visiting Venice on a budget is easy and still very enjoyable.

I’ve been coming to Venice for years – at least every other year to visit the Biennale di Arte. Consequently, I’m not going there for these overpriced touristy places and services. I enjoy Venice on a budget – and believe me, I enjoy it to the max.

Therefore, in this post, I’m sharing my best tips on when to go, where to stay, what to eat, and more.

Insider Tips to Make Your Stay More Enjoyable

No, I will not surprise you with the information that there is Saint Mark’s Square to be visited, the clock tower to be climbed and many canals to be rowed. You’ll find all this in every guidebook, on each website, or even in the smallest brochure.

I’ll make you Venice-savvy and show you how to get more for less.

When To Go

Yes, thinking of Italy, sole comes to mind. Gelato melting in the sun, running over your fingers, and dripping on your favorite white dress.

Italy is the epitome of summer. And summer is the busiest and most expensive season – I would avoid it at any price. It’s hot, it’s full, it’s expensive.

If you haven’t been to Venice before, you want to stroll through the narrow alleys. You’d like to admire the fantastic architecture and sit on benches in small parks. Then, you should rather pick the shoulder seasons from March to May and September to October.

Even then, you won’t get lonely, but it’s much better than in the summer months.

Venice in Winter

So, you’ve been to Venice before, you have lost your way a hundred times in the narrow alleys and taken a thousand pictures of the scenic squares and structures and now want to see all the great museums, churches, and scuole from the inside. In this case, you can happily come back between November and February. Except the Christmas week and the Carnivale weeks in February.

You’ll find accommodations more easily and you’ll pay a fraction of the summer rate.

However, the whole concept is completely different from summer vacation. It’s quite cold and a rough wind is blowing from the waters. Also, there tends to be acqua alta, the infamous high tide. Then, Venetians have to put up pedestals to be able to walk the streets.

So if you’re coming for the exhibitions, for Tintoretto’s amazing paintings at the Gran Scuola di San Rocco, for Tizian’s Annunciation at the Chiesa di San Salvador, and all the other wonders, this is the time. All the great sights like Saint Mark’s Basilica and the Palazzo Ducale are significantly emptier. Lines are shorter, everything is better.

Also, if you are coming for one of the biennials, it doesn’t matter that much which month you pick. Therefore, you can happily opt for a less sunny period. To get an idea of what this mega-event is all about, check out this post on the last edition of the Biennale di Arte.

How To Get There

Train

From other Italian cities or neighboring European countries, you’ll probably get to Venice by train. Despite all complaints from frequent travellers, Trenitalia, Italy’s national railway company, offers a really good service at very reasonable prices. However, especially on weekends, trains tend to be very full, particularly the regional ones. The only recommendation I’d like to give you is to make a reservation in advance where possible. And to travel as light as you can to be more comfortable.

In Venice, there are two train stations: Mestre on the mainland and Santa Lucia at the historic center. Trains between these two stations are going frequently. Therefore, if you accidentally get off at Mestre, it’s no biggy. The next train will take you to the final stop in a couple of minutes.

Also, if you choose to find accommodation at Mestre, you can get by train to Santa Lucia in about ten minutes. The ticket costs 1,45 €uro. Despite the longer rides and the slightly higher costs, there are a couple of reasons why staying in Mestre is a brilliant idea – I’ll get to that later.

However, if you are an environment-friendly traveller or on a railroad trip across Europe, Venice can be quickly and easily reached for instance from Vienna, Munich, Ljubljana, and even Zurich in about 6 hours. From Vienna, you can even take a sleeper train. How cool is that: You fall asleep in beautiful Vienna and wake up in wonderful Venice!

The Times They Are A-Changin’

Do you remember those days when you had to validate your ticket before boarding the train? I’ll never forget a trip from Venice when I realized about 90 seconds before departure that I hadn’t validated my ticket. Now I had the choice between racing to the machine on the platform and risking the train leaving without me. Or staying on the train with an invalidated ticket and risking the controller fine me.
What did I do? Well, with my heart pounding like crazy, I ran to the machine, had almost a heart attack when the train made this exhaling sound as if it was about to leave, yelled noooo, stamped the ticket, ran back, hopped on the train – off we went.

Well, good news: Those days are over – at least when you buy your ticket online which I highly recommend. Not only can you check in e.g. validate your ticket comfortably on your phone. You can also alter your booking before you check in!
That’s such a great service: You go online, choose your connection, and pay. Then you’ll get an email reminding you that your ticket isn’t valid until you check in online. This is a very easy process including two clicks.
However, you shouldn’t do it too early because until you’re checked in, you can change your ticket free of charge. Been there, done that, worked like a charm.
Therefore, I’d recommend checking in only as you get to the train station.

Bus

Flixbus is conquering the world – at least the world’s European part, hence it’s also serving Venice. It might not be the fastest way to travel, but it’s quite comfortable and definitely the cheapest. For instance from Munich or Vienna, a one-way trip sets you back around 30 €uros, from Rome, it’s only 25 €uros.

The Flixbus stops in Venice are at the Tronchetto parking lot close to the cruise terminal as well as at the Mestre train station.

To check schedules and prices, visit their website.

Flight

If you fly into Venice, you’ll land either at Venezia Marco Polo or Treviso airport.

Treviso is about 40 kilometers from Venice. The easiest way to get either to Mestre or Piazzale Roma at the historic center is by ATVO bus. It takes about an hour and costs 10 €uros one way or 18 €uro if you buy a roundtrip.

Arriving at Marco Polo, you have various options to get to Mestre or the historic center. The ATVO bus #35 takes you there in 20 to 30 minutes for 10 €uros one way or 18 €uros if you buy a roundtrip. An alternative is the ACTV-bus #5 going for the same price to Piazzale Roma and back. To get from the Marco Polo Airport to Mestre, you take either a ATVO bus or the ACTV-bus #15.

A far more spectacular way to travel from Marco Polo to the Centro Storico, Venice’s historic center, is by the Alilaguna boat. Especially on a sunny day, it’s just dreamy and actually the first beautiful sight of your beautiful vacation.

Alilaguna stops at various stations around the main island and then goes to the Lido. So it’s recommendable to check where you’re staying and get off near that spot. A one-way trip by Alilaguna costs 15 €uros to the Centro Storico and the Lido and only 8 €uros if you’re getting off in Murano. The roundtrips will set you back 27 €uros and 15 €uros respectively.

If you choose to go back to the airport by Alilaguna, too, take into consideration that the space on the boat is limited, and if it’s full, it’s full. Since I’m a nervous person, I would not risk it. Also, after having enjoyed the canals for a couple of days in Venice, I can comfortably go back to the airport by bus and be sure to get there on time.

Where to Leave Your Luggage

But what if you’re not staying at the historic center? Then you can still go by boat, but in this case, I’d advise you to get off at the Cruise Terminal (Blue Line) and cross the Ponte della Costituzione to the train station Santa Lucia where you can leave your luggage and start exploring the city right away.

Especially during the summer months, the storage at the main train station Santa Lucia is often full so you have to either wait or choose a privately operated consigne bagagli: A couple of stores offer to store your stuff for a little fee, and there are even various locker rooms at different spots in the center. But be aware that these places close much earlier than the one at the station.

To leave your luggage in a safe spot in the vicinity of the Piazzale Roma – that’s the final stop of all public road traffic to and from Venice – I can recommend the storage place The Golden Luggage. It’s right across from the Vaporetto stops. Prices start at 6 €uros for a small suitcase and go up to 10 €uros per day for a large one. Fair and square.
They are open every day from 8.30 a.m. to 8 p.m. and also offer some touristy services.

Where To Stay

Sleeping at the Centro Storico of Venice

Prices for accommodations are much higher from March to September. In November, I paid a fraction of the high season’s price. Also during the unpopular Winter months, the city is emptier than in Summer – albeit, never abandoned.

I personally experienced the least amount of tourists end of February right after the carnival.

Especially if you’ve been to Venice before and do not need this Venetian overdose, you might want to check out accommodations on the Veneto’s mainland like at the adjacent city of Mestre, or even farther away like Quarto d’Altino.

Although I’ve also witnessed strikes and heard many complaints, I insist that Italy has a comprehensive and reliable system of public transport. Therefore, it is really easy to commute to the historic center and back, I’ve done it during many stays myself.

However, I totally understand if you want to stay right in the center of this amazing city. Therefore, here’s a map with some suggestions on where to rest your head*:

Booking.com

Sleeping in Mestre

The closest and best accessible alternative to the Centro Storico should be Mestre. You can get to Venice Santa Lucia from there by train for 1.45  €uros. But there is also a tram as well as many buses going every couple of minutes for 1.50 €uros for a single trip. If you buy a carnet of ten tickets, you even pay only 1.40 €uros. Also, those buses and trams are included in the travel passes I’ll introduce below.

Although Mestre is less expensive than Venice, it’s not cheap since the trick of staying ten minutes away from the action is not so very genius. Hosts in Mestre are aware of that and know what they can ask from you. However, I’m always paying around 50 €uros per night at small private lodgings respectively self-catering studios.

On this map, you can check out whether there is suitable accommodation for you in Mestre*:

Booking.com

Sleeping in Quarto d’Altino

Another alternative is the hotels at Quarto d’Altino*, a charmless place less than half an hour by train from Santa Lucia. Surprisingly, there are a couple of houses like the Crowne Plaza* and Best Western Hotel Airvenice* in that area.

The trains to and from Venice go every 30 minutes and one trip costs 3.90 €uro. It’s not the best option, but it’s an alternative just the same. I myself did it twice on really short stays and it was okay. Commuting all the way out there for a longer time, though, might be unnerving.

On this map, you can check out whether there is suitable accommodation for you in Quarto d’Altino*:

Booking.com

How To Get Around

On Land…

As you might know, the Centro Storico and most of the smaller islands in the Venetian lagoon are car-free. Therefore, you simply cannot avoid a lot of walking. As a matter of fact, neither can you avoid taking some kind of boat. You have to take a Vaporetto at least if you want to visit some other islets such as the Giudecca, Isola di San Servolo, or the Isola die San Giorgio Maggiore.

Nevertheless, even if you stay and visit just the landmarks within the very core of the Centro Storico, you cannot avoid walking a lot. On city breaks, I’m used to going for miles and miles. However, in Venice, you’ll walk those miles even if you try to walk as little as possible. If you go only straight from the train station to Saint Mark’s Square, it’s already more than 2.5 kilometers. And yet you have to add all those little detours because you’ve spotted that cute little church or a gelato parlor or as you lost your way. Also, don’t expect that Vaporetto to stop to be right in front of your accommodation. You’ll probably have to cross a couple of bridges to get to your nearest stop.

Therefore, make sure to wear really comfortable shoes, take some breaks, and treat yourself to a Vaporetto ride from time to time even if it’s just for a couple of stops.

Venice has the tacky gondolas, and there are very expensive water taxis. However, there is also a very comprehensive net of Vaporetti which are basically water buses.

…And On Water

Although the Centro Storico, the fish-shaped historic center of Venice can be reached and also explored by walking, this is not an option if you want to visit also the other islands scattered in the Venetian lagoon. There is a total of 120 isles of which only 11 are permanently inhabited. Those, you can reach only by boat.

Fortunately, apart from public land transport, the ACTV transport company has also a comprehensive net of vaporetti, water buses taking you to any place in the lagoon on a regular schedule.

Once the regular Vaporetti are suspended, there are a couple of nightly connections; hence, you never get stuck on any of the islands overnight.

ACTV has an excellent website and even an App for iOS and Android. To get an overview of your options, check out their very neat system map.

Which Ticket to Buy

While at 9.50 €uros, individual tickets are ridiculously expensive, there are travel passes that are actually not that bad. The more days you buy, the cheaper your rides become. Here is a chart on how much you pay for a day pass in 2024:

24 hours	48 hours	72 hours	168 hours (7 days)
25 €uros	35 €uros	45 €uros	65 €uros

Note that a 24-hour ticket can even be used on two days since the clock starts ticking the moment you validate your ticket and lasts actually 24 hours. With the other tickets, it’s the same, obviously.

Rolling Venice

Young people under 29 years of age get an even better deal with the Rolling Venice Card. This title costs 6 €uros and is valid for one whole year. Not only do you get great discounts at many museums and other places of interest. You also pay only 27 €uros for a 72 hours-pass instead of the regular 45 €uros. Unfortunately, you can actually buy only 72 hours-passes. But if you stay for instance for a week, you can get two so that you pay only 54 €uros in total.

The passes are also valid in other parts of the Venetian area like for instance on the buses on the Lido di Venezia and on buses, trains, and the tram in Mestre. All in all, they are a really great deal.

There are passes that include trips from and to the Marco Polo Airport. However, keep in mind that as you activate your pass at the airport, the clock starts ticking. It might be cheaper to pay that extra fee for those trips in order to activate your pass later when you need it for your sightseeing.

Rules And Regulations

In the past, basically no one really cared if you paid for your Vaporetto trip or if you just hopped on the ferry and off you went. Yet, this changed dramatically. During my week in Venice this year, I was checked five times! Also, I witnessed how the inspectors could not be talked into anything or charmed. If a passenger did not have a valid ticket, he had to pay 9.50 €uros for the regular fare plus a fine of 50 €uro.
Nevertheless, the inspectors granted them two options: cash or credit card payment.

Also, here’s a little technical tip: If you have a valid ticket and the turnstile still refuses to let you through when you tap, you’ve definitely tapped at the wrong entrance. At busy stations such as Piazzale Roma or Ferrovia, there are actually two entrances: One for tourists and one for residents. When the Vaporetto arrives, the passengers in the resident queue have priority boarding. I think this is a very practical and fair solution. Since the residents are already so disturbed by the masses of tourists, they should at least have priority when taking the Vaporetto.

So if your perfectly good ticket declines, try the other entrance.

Venice Entrance Fee

Yes, it’s true: In its fight against merciless over-tourism, Venice installed an entrance fee in 2024.

Travelers to Italy who want to take a day trip to Venice will no longer have to pay an entrance fee as the test ends. However, from 2025 the fee will be permanent and will also double.

After the end of the world’s first test with a fee for day visitors, Venice wants to continue charging admission in the future. The test run ended in July 2024. From next year onwards, up to ten euros will have to be paid if it gets particularly crowded in the lagoon city on the Italian Adriatic. This entrance fee is intended to regulate destructive overtourism.

Discounts

As I said, I will not tell you that the Doge’s Palace and the Rialto Bridge are to be visited.

But I tell you that you can visit sights at a cheaper price and without waiting in line. All you need is the Museum Pass*. It grants you free entrance to the 11 most important state museums and palazzi in Venice. The best way to get it is by ordering it online*, this way, you save even more time.

To visit only the landmarks around Saint Mark’s Square, you can obtain a general ticket for 25 €uros. It grants access to the Doge’s Palace, Museo Correr, National Archaeological Museum, and the Biblioteca Nazionale Marciana. With the Rolling Venice Card, it’s only 14 €uros. To visit the Doge’s Palace, you can make an online reservation for a specific day online, however, not for a certain hour. Yet, you’ll be granted priority access.

Keep in mind that especially during high season, saving time should be your priority. You won’t be able to avoid waiting in line at Vaporetti, museums, landmarks, eateries…you name it. So at least try to keep those waiting times as short as possible.

Like in most other touristy cities, there’s a free walking tour in Venice, too. Every day, there is a tour at 10 a.m. as well as at 3 p.m. that takes about two hours. You can book online and meet the group at Campo Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari.

Extra-Tip

During the Biennale di Arte, which until the COVID pandemic has taken place every odd-numbered year, many of the old palazzi are housing the so-called country-pavilions. While these buildings normally cannot be accessed as you please, during this mega art event, you get to see outstanding art at outstanding structures – for free!

Since 2022, the Biennale has been taking place during even-numbered years.

Island Hopping

Although it’s very touristy, indeed, on a sunny day, an organized trip to the other Islands like Murano with its glass artisans, the fishing village of Burano with its lace industries, and the great church houses of Torcello is just beautiful.

If you want to visit those three gems on your own, you should buy at least a day pass. You can then catch the vaporetto #12 at the stop Fondamente Nove. If you are coming from Piazzale Roma or the train station, you can also take vaporetto #4 and then change to #12 at the stop Faro on Murano. Why? Because it can get really crowded over the day, hence, the best itinerary is to take an early vaporetto to Burano so that you get to Torcello by vaporetto #9 around 10:30 when the Basilica Santa Maria Assunta opens her gates. Eventually, you spend a couple of hours in Burano before you end your day at Murano.

This way you strive a bit against the stream of visitors.

Nevertheless, another valid option is to visit the three isles on an organized tour. This option is even not more expensive than going by yourself. However, you have to stick to their schedule and itinerary which can be a bit of a drag. On the other hand, you don’t have to jiggle timetables and check out routes. You just hop on a boat and leave the planning and organizing to others*:

While the trip to Murano, Burano, and Torcello is very popular, there are other great outings if you have a day to spare. You can hit the beaches of the Lido di Venezia off the shores of the Centro Storico or the Lido di Jesolo which is a bit further east. While the first can be reached by various Vaporetti like #1, #6, or #10, to get to the latter, you take Vaporetto #6 to Lido and continue by Vaporetto #14 to the stop Punta Sabbioni. Just like on the Lido di Venezia, you can then continue to the beach or explore the island by bus. Yes, there are vehicles on the Lidos.

Where To Eat

You might have noticed by now that I am very passionate about art – but also about churches and temples, alleys, and squares. Although I like cooking and love food, when travelling, I consider it a waste of time. Actually, I think this is one of the few downsides of travelling by myself. Sitting around at a restaurant for an hour by myself just to stuff face is not for me.

Plus, in Italy, they are especially chilled about serving, here you learn where the word waiter stems from. You wait for him to bring the menu, you wait for him to take your order for drinks, you wait for him to come back with your drinks, you wait for him to take your order for food – and it goes on and on till you wait for him to finally take your money.
I’m not making time for this.

Fortunately, Italy is a street and fast food heaven. I’m not talking burgers’n’fries here, I’m talking juicy pizza, fat-dripping focaccia, or sandwiches with prosciutto di Parma; everything that’s guaranteed vitamin-free and rich in carbohydrates.
So I’m having a piece of heaven for lunch while pacing to the next museum. In the evening, I enjoy an epic aperitivo and call it a happy foodie day.

Pizza

It’s very difficult to find bad pizza in Italy, and many of the stands that sell a slice of pizza for about 3 to 4 €uro will be even excellent.

The best one in Venice is definitely Rizzo. They have various stores around Venice, selling bread, pastries, and hearty snacks.

Tramezzini

Ever heard of Tramezzini? They are triangles of soggy, unroasted toast, but that doesn’t matter since the bread is only the wrapper for the delicious fillings.

These are not a couple of thin slices, nope, they are a big heap of the finest Italian delicacies: prosciutto, egg, gamberi, which are shrimps, carciofi, in English artichokes, radicchio, you name it. To help the shredded stuff hold together, they are stirred with just the right amount of mayonnaise to a heavenly mixture and then bedded between two slices of toast.
It’s good that the toast is mushy because this way, there is more capacity for the filling.

I limit myself to three pieces in one meal, but let me tell you, the choice is far harder than the soft bread.

The juiciest tramezzini are waiting for you just around the corner from the Accademia at

Italian Etiquette

At Italian bars, there are often at least two different prices depending on where and how you enjoy your treat. If you grab your tramezzino to go or devour it quickly standing al banco, hence, at the bar, you pay a fraction of what they charge if you sit down at a table and order comfortably al tavolo. The price difference can be significant, to say the least, especially in tourist areas. On the other hand, I often have a coffee and a bite not because I’m hungry but because I want to sit down for a couple of minutes, hence, I bite the bullet. Don’t even think about ordering at the bar and then sitting down. Even if they don’t say anything, which isn’t even probable, you’ll definitely be the ugly tourist.

A great place for a small panino and a cheap glass of tasty wine is the hole-in-the-wall Bacareto da Lele. Just a few steps from the Piazzale Roma, it’s a great place for a quick bite in the morning. Don’t be surprised to find their local patrons already enjoying a glass of wine at that hour. Since they are open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m., you have plenty of time to join them even after your sightseeing tour. On Saturday, however, they already close at 2 p.m., and they are closed on Sunday.

Aperitivo

I don’t really get the Aperitivo concept, but I still love it. Why I don’t get it? Because an aperitif is supposed to tickle your appetite for a complete meal to follow.

In Italy, the Aperitivo often is a complete meal – and in comparison darn cheap: at the not-over-touristy places you pay between €uro 5 and 8 for an Aperitivo that includes a glass of something like a Spritz and a small buffet with all sorts of niblets. Sometimes, it’s only some potato chips or pieces of bruschetta, but at times, it’s really fancy stuff like tomatoes with crab stuffing or some nice pasta.

The best place to get a delicious Aperitivo is surprisingly located on the very exposed arterial street Strada Nova. It is called Cantina Vecia Carbonera and is located right at the corner of the bridge over Rio Terà de la Maddalena.

As they are closed on Mondays, you might want to just cross the bridge, and right at the corner is a teeny-tiny business called Camin Storto. Their Cicchetti are of excellent quality – make sure to sample their polpette, hence, meatballs, if you’re not a vegetarian. In that case, go for the cubes of grilled mozzarella and gorgonzola – you won’t regret it!

Delis and Supermarkets

If you don’t want to hang around at restaurants and still eat Italian and well, supermarkets can be a great option: You can get fresh bread and cheese from the respective counters. There is a variety of salads and antipasti either pre-packed or at the deli counter.

And finally, there is the hot food counter where you can buy grilled chicken and meats and roast potatoes and other yummy foods that you then can enjoy at your accommodation or as a picnic at a park.

However, do not sit on the stairs of churches or bridges – either resting or picnicking: Venice installed pretty strict laws on how to behave in the city since many visitors didn’t behave very respectfully.

Mind you, Venice is still a city and not a theme park.

Restaurants

Of course, apart from all these snacks, you will be sampling throughout the day, there comes a moment for a seated meal. Blessedly, there are still some good options at Venice that are not a complete rip-off – here they are:

Cà D’Oro alla Vedova
Cannaregio 3912
30121 Venice

Rosticceria San Bartolomeo/Rosticceria Gislon
Sottoportego della Bissa 5424
(Close to Rialto)
30121 Venice

Trattoria dalla Marisa
Fondamenta San Giobbe
Cannaregio 652/B
30121 Venice

Usually, I’m not a dessert person – unless it’s cheese. However, Italian food is just so amazing – even when it comes to dolci, hence, sweets.

My absolutely favorite pasticceria is named…Dolce Vita, the sweet life. Actually, I have nothing to add. Oh wait, there is one thing: One of the best gelato places is just across the street.

Dolce Vita
Ruga dei Spezieri 378
30125 Venezia

Free Drinks

Like in many places around Italy, you can save some money – and the environment more plastic – if you drink the water from the fountains you find in many places and on basically every square.

Yes, for you Italy-rookies, those fountains might not look that trustworthy but don’t worry, unless there is a clear sign stating otherwise, it is tasty clean drinking water.

Glass Souvenirs

Venice is a very touristy place and this comes with loads of nicknack. There are all kinds of magnets and t-shirts and aprons and other trash. But there are also agendas made from quality leather and hand-made paper. I don’t like the masks, but I love the sealing wax in many colors and the artsy seals coming with it.

And although I’m usually not the kitschy kind, I love some of the glass figurines. While the cheap kind was probably pressed in a Chinese factory, there are still some vendors selling the true stuff made right in Murano or at least another part of Venice.

If you want some truly nice high-quality glass souvenirs, there are two shops in the Centro Storico I can recommend.

They are both in the San Polo neighborhood which is a less touristy part of Venice – provided that there is a less touristy part in all of Venice.

Dosana is on San Polo 1990, and Fabio Calchera is on San Polo 2586. You’ll find both shops on the map below.

Cash And Cards

Until now, 20 European countries replaced their former local currency with the €uro starting in 2002. Obviously, Italy is one of them. The exchange rate is 1 US$ = 0.93 EUR as of July 2024. However, you can check today’s conversion rate on this page.

Cards are accepted basically everywhere and now, since the pandemic, are actually preferred.

Communication And Connection

Since June 2017, no roaming charges apply within the EU if you have a European mobile phone contract. This involves all 27 countries of the European Union as well as Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway.
The EU roaming regulation applies to all contracts.

In case European roaming is not available, you can simply connect to the internet. At basically every museum, eatery or café, and, of course, hotel, free WiFi is available.

If you insist on being online 24/7, you can get a SIM card, obviously.

The standard voltage in Europe is 220 V and the frequency is 50 Hz. In Italy, they use three plug types, namely C, F, and L.

Whereby, since nowadays, all these chargers have integrated adapters, in general, the voltage and frequency don’t really matter.

By the way, you’ll find comprehensive travel info in my post World’s Most Complete Travel Information – an indispensable globetrotter-classic.

Say It Right

In Veneto, but also in other parts of Italy, a particular language is spoken alongside Italian. Venetian, which was the official language of the Republic of Venice, differs greatly from standard Italian in terms of pronunciation, syntax, and vocabulary. However, if you’ve learned standard Italian, you’ll be totally fine. If you still need to learn some basic vocabulary or brush up on your knowledge, you can do so babbel. Already the trial lesson supplies you with some useful vocabulary – and it’s free.

Zushini, Gnotchi, Raditcho – I’m bleeding from my ears since I hear these mispronunciations so often. Seriously, guys, it’s not so hard.
So here are some general rules.

Letter C

As in any other Romance language, C is hard when written before A, O, and U, hence, it’s pronounced K. Examples: casa = kasa – house – or cosa = kosa which means thing.

If followed by E or I, it’s tch as in witch. Examples: cena = tchena – which is dinner – or cino = tchino – Chinese. By the way, it makes no difference if there is on C or two.

Now, if a C followed by E or I should be pronounced K, an H is added: bruschetta, zucchini, gnocchi, radicchio – brusketta, zukkini, gnokki, radikkio.

On the other hand, if C followed by A, O, or U should be pronounced tch, they slip a – silent! – I in: ciocolata, ciabatta – tchocolata, tchabatta – forget about the I in-between.

Letter G

The same rules apply to the letter G. If followed by E or I, it’s pronounced like in the word judge. Everyone knows this rule from the word gelato, right?!

If it’s followed by A, O, or U, it’s pronounced like the G in guitar, hence, hard: Lago di Garda.

To make it sound hard in front of an E or I, a silent H is added: traghetto or ghirlanda.

On the other hand, to make a G sound soft in front of A, O, or U, they slip a – again: silent! – I in: giardino, Giotto – jardino, Jotto.

Last but not least, let’s get back to the Gnocchi: gn is pronounced like ñ in Señor. So it’s basically ñokki you’re ordering at your favorite Italian restaurant. Buon appetito!

One Or Two?

What seems to be a bit tricky for foreigners is the Italian plural. Albeit, it’s not that complicated. Apart from a few neglectable exceptions, if a noun ends with an a, the plural ends with an e. In general, those are female nouns. Hence, one pizza becomes two pizze – and by no means pizzas!

A noun ending with an o gets an i at the end if it’s a plural. Those are male nouns. One gelato becomes various gelati.
Hence, if you order one sandwich, it’s a panino. If you order panini, they should give you at least two. I prefer tramezzini, anyway – therefore, I never order just one tramezzino.
Nouns that end with an e also have an i at the end. Those can be either female or male, but are far more seldom.

Map

Here’s an overview of the places mentioned in this post.
Clicking on the slider symbol at the top left or the full-screen icon at the top right will display the whole map including the legend.

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Note: I’m completing, editing, and updating this post regularly – last in July 2024.

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