Day Trip to Venice Italy from Milan

Our one-day visit to Venice started early in the morning, boarding a high-speed Frecciarossa train from Milan Central Station.  Round trip cost was about 130 Euros total for two people, booked via the Trenitalia a few website months in advance.  I selected first-class seats for this journey because it is over two hours each way (and prices for Italian train transportation is very reasonable), and the small coffee and snack offered are a nice bonus.  It was a typically hot day in August, and as soon as you arrive at Venezia San Lucia station you are aware of the monstrous number of tourists present. Bring snacks and especially water in the summer, and you will save yourself a lot of time and money.

Using our downloaded offline Google Map, we first navigated slowly to the Peggy Guggenheim Museum (above), which is at the opposite side of the island.  Admission starts at 16 Euros for adults, and it is definitely worth the price if you love modern art from the 1940s-1960s.  TIP: If you want to go inside the Basilica and the Doge's Palace, you should definitely head there first thing, or book a private tour--the line doesn't really get any shorter later in the day, and standing in line in the afternoon sun is NOT fun.  You've got a few options for getting around Venice--some may want to use the Vaporetto (water bus, about 8 Euros per person) or private water taxis, of course you can take a (overpriced) gondola ride through some canals, or just walk through the maze of seemingly endless alleys.  After seeing the lines of people waiting in the sun for the water buses, we decided we'd rather wind our way through the shaded paths between picturesque buildings, and avoid the crowds of tourists somewhat.  Following the guide-signs posted around the island makes it easier to get to the main attractions like the Rialto Bridge, Piazza San Marco and the Basilica (plus public restrooms!), but try to enjoy and explore the back streets of Venice and not be in a hurry.  There are so many great restaurants, beautiful canals and small shops throughout the island, all hidden away from the busy areas, and it is really fun to turn a corner in Venice and have no idea what you'll find! 

Crowd in Piazza San Marco around 6pm

Impromptu lunch from Farini--also a fruit/veg market nearby

Many sit-down restaurants in Venice prefer you to make a reservation for dining around dinner time, so if you prefer a more formal experience try to plan ahead for what else you plan to see, and how long it may take you to get back to the restaurant.  The other option is to find take-away places serving cicchetti, which is a loose term for small servings of pre-made quick bites, often for fantastic prices compared to most restaurants.  Some of our favorites:
We Love Italy:  Pizza, pasta and salads
Frulala:  Awesome fresh smoothies (available with alcohol too)
Acqua e Mais:  Polenta with seafood and veggies
Dal Moro:  Pasta
Bigoi:  Pasta -- they have other locations in northern Italy, too
Farini:  Bakery, pizza, sandwiches

Several small grocery stores can also be found dotted around Venice, including Coop and Conad.  The Despar Teatro is a great store to hit before you leave Venice, as it is not far from San Lucia Station and has a nice variety of produce and pre-made bites (you have to scan your receipt at the door to exit!).

We had a great time exploring Venice, and we hoped to have time to get into the Basilica San Marco and the Doge's Palace, but didn't get there with time to stand in the very long line.  TIP: Make sure to check the times that each is open during your visit--the times will vary according to season--and you may be able to pre-purchase tickets, as well.

One other thing to watch for is the Acqua Alta alerts, where parts of Venice can become flooded in a short period of time.  The government posts some information on expected sea levels here, unfortunately it's mostly in Italian, but it may be helpful during your visit to know if you need to get to higher-ground.  Finally, trains leaving from Venice in the evening can be very crowded and possibly sell out of seats, so it is wise to book your tickets in advance.  As mentioned, short-distance train service in Italy is very affordable, so even if you miss your train and have to wait a bit for another connection, you shouldn't be out too much money.

Our visit to Venice was fairly short, and so is this blog post!  But truly, you will enjoy your trip to Venice more if you DON'T plan it out too much, other than maybe getting to a museum and a visit to Piazza San Marco, and just go with the flow.  Explore, meet some locals, enjoy some great Italian food, and enjoy the areas where there aren't a million tourists.

Thank you for reading, and travel safely!

Two high-speed Trenitalia Frecciarossa trains, waiting to take you to your next destination!