Venice On a Budget: Cheap Things to Do & Money Saving Tips
Venice is one of the most popular tourist destinations on the planet. People come from far and wide to experience the magic of the city on water – and they’re usually willing to pay for it. It’s pretty well known that Venice has a reputation for being pricey. And it’s true, a trip there certainly can take its toll on your bank account, but it doesn’t necessarily have to be that way! Whilst living in Venice as a student for 6 months, I was always looking for cheap things to do – and there are plenty! Some of the city’s best attractions are accessible for just a few euros, or – better yet – free! Here I’ve put together my guide to visiting Venice on a budget; including 10 cheap things to do and see, and my top money saving tips.
More Venice Blog Posts:
- For even more inspiration for your itinerary, check out my ultimate VENICE BUCKET LIST: 80 Things to Do in Venice
- If you haven’t found accommodation yet, read the full blog post here: Where to Stay in Venice
- Read the full post on getting to Venice when you land: How to Get from Venice Airport to Venice
- Plan out how you’ll be getting around Venice here: How to Get Around Venice – A Guide to Public Transport
- Find out more about the floods that occur in Venice here: High Water in Venice – What Happens When the City Floods
10 Budget-friendly Things to Do:
1. St Mark’s Bell Tower (Campanile di San Marco)
The bell tower in St. Mark’s Square is the tallest building in Venice (99 metres high), and one of the most iconic landmarks of the city. Luckily, visiting Venice on a budget doesn’t mean you have to skip the most impressive sights such as the bell tower. You can ascend the tower in an elevator and enjoy unparalleled views of the city in all directions, for only €8! Keep in mind that the tower is a popular attraction so you may want to visit early in the day before it gets super busy.
2. Take the Traghetto Across the Grand Canal (A Gondola, But Budget-friendly)
The traghetto, or ferry, is a gondola which makes short trips back and forth across the Grand Canal. It’s an authentic Venetian method of transport, taking people from one side to the other in places where there’s no bridge to cross. The traghetto is probably one of the lesser-known transport options in Venice, and a must-try when visiting Venice on a budget! A crossing on the traghetto allows you to enjoy the experience of a gondola ride, without spending a small fortune! There are numerous traghetto stations along the Grand Canal – the main one I took is located next to the Rialto Market. These boats run for most of the day, weather permitting, and cost €2 a go.
Tip: Venetians usually stand up on the traghetto! Also, try to pay in coins rather than notes. This is one of my personal favourite budget-friendly things to do in Venice, as I feel like one of the locals!
3. Enjoy an Espresso
What better way to take a break and refuel on your busy days in Venice than with an Italian coffee? Lucky for you there are bars located all over the entire city where you can enjoy an espresso, or other caffeinated beverage of your choice, for just a few euros. (€1-5)
4. Climb the Scala Contarini del Bovolo
The Scala Contarini del Bovolo is a grand palace with a open-air spiral staircase hidden away down a narrow alley. In my opinion, it is one of the city’s hidden treasures, and certainly not what you’d expect to find when you turn the corner! Whilst visiting Venice on a budget, the affordable €7 entrance fee is worth every cent for the breathtaking views offered from the terrace at the top.
5. Grab a Cheap Aperol Spritz
Aperol Spritz is a bright orange alcoholic beverage, made up of Aperol Liqueur, Prosecco, and soda water, usually served with ice and a slice of orange. This popular drink has now made its way to other countries, where it is served in many restaurants and cocktail bars, and with a high price tag too! However, this delicious drink originates from Venice and the Veneto region, meaning there are great spots all over the city where you can get one for as little as €3.
6. Taste Some Cicchetti
This goes hand in hand with my previous point. Cicchetti are small snacks and side dishes usually served with an alcohol beverage, typically found in Venetian bars. One of my favourite streets for bars like this is called ‘Fondamente Misericordia’, but there are many others to be found all over the city. Cicchetti are very affordable – you’ll be able to try a decent selection, as well as a spritz, for less than €10!
7. Try a Pot of Fresh Pasta
There are multiple fresh pasta bars in the city, which make their pasta in-house. You can choose your pasta shape and sauce, and it’ll come in a small (but deceptively filling) pot for you to take away. These usually cost between €5-10, depending on how many extras you choose to have!
Tip: To reduce your single-use plastic consumption, try and remember to bring your own travel cutlery set for eating on the go! I have a bamboo cutlery and straw set, in a convenient travel case, which I keep in my handbag at all times. In general this is a great habit to start, and it can be carried with you wherever you go from then on!
8. Take the Vaporetto Along the Grand Canal
The vaporetto is the Venetian public transport water bus. These boats usually have some outdoor seats at the front and back ends, as well as a large standing area. These are the best places from which to admire the impressive views as you cruise along the city’s main canal. Below you can see the gorgeous pink palazzo I lived in throughout my time studying in Venice. It’s one of my favourite that can be seen during the journey along the Grand Canal (but I might be biased!) The vaporetto costs €7.50 for a single journey, or there are whole day and multi-day tickets available.
Read the full post on getting around the city and prices here: How to Get Around Venice – A Guide to Public Transport
9. Visit a Art Gallery or Museum
In a city as rich in culture and history as Venice, you really will be spoiled for choice in terms of galleries and museums! Some of my personal favourites are Ca’ D’oro, Gallerie dell’Accademia, Museo Correr and Ca’ Pesaro Galleria Internazionale d’Arte Moderna. Don’t get me wrong, there are so many options that it would be pretty expensive to visit lots of them during your trip. However, visiting one or two that you really like the sound of is a great activity worth making time for during your trip to Venice on a budget! Particularly as there’s so much to learn about this fascinating city.
Tip: Keep reading for my tip on how to save money visiting the galleries and museums of Venice!
10. Admire Some of the Magnificent Churches
It’s a given that you will come across countless magnificent churches on your trip to Venice. These churches have various different styles and the interior can differ greatly from one to the next. Many even have the paintings of famous artists decorating their walls. Entrance to most of the city’s churches costs just a few euros, or nothing at all. Therefore, this is definitely something to make time for during your trip to Venice on a budget!
However, remember to be respectful when visiting churches in Venice as many local Venetians still come to them to worship.
Money-Saving Tips for Visiting Venice On a Budget:
1. Free Entry On the First Sunday of the Month
This is one of my favourite money-saving tips for visiting Venice on a budget, and it seems that hardly anybody knows about it! On the first Sunday of every month all state-run Italian museums, galleries and archeological sites offer free entry to the public. Planning your getaway around one of these Sundays means you can take advantage of this offer and visit as many museums as you can fit into one day! You can enter some of the city’s most popular museums, such as Giorgio Franchetti Gallery at the Ca’ d’Oro, the Accademia Galleries, and the Oriental Art Museum at Ca’ Pesaro – just to name a few!
2. Save by Staying On the Mainland
One of the biggest expenses of a trip to Venice is usually the accommodation. Venice is overflowing with options for hotels and holiday apartments. However, due to extremely high demand, accommodation generally isn’t very budget-friendly. Of course, booking your trip well in advance will allow you to grab the best value hotel or apartment deals before they’re all gone. Aside from this, there is another great way to save money visiting Venice on a budget. This is to book accommodation located outside of the historic centre of Venice, on the mainland. There are plenty of cheaper hotels, hostels and apartments in Mestre and the surrounding areas. These also happen to be located much closer to the airport. You can travel in and out of Venice every day with a short tram, train or bus ride, and save your money for the sightseeing and food!
3. Visit During Off-Peak Periods
The busiest periods to visit Venice are June, July, August, and during the famous Carnival festival. Carnival usually takes place in January or February, and lasts for two weeks. These are by far the most expensive periods to book a trip to Venice. Crowds of tourists flock to the city from all over the world (even more so than usual!) and prices for everything soar. Therefore, to visit Venice on a budget I recommend scheduling your trip outside these peak times. Unless of course you’re visiting specifically to attend the Carnival. Although the winter months are much colder in Venice, this can be a great time to visit as the city is decorated in Christmas lights, and in general there are far fewer crowds of visitors.
Read the full posts about visiting Venice during winter here:
4. Walk As Much As You Possibly Can
A lot of Venice travel guides recommend immediately purchasing a vaporetto (water bus) travel pass to get around Venice. Personally, I don’t think this is the best advice. Compared to public transport prices in most other cities in Europe, the vaporetto is still pretty pricey. As I mentioned before, one single journey ticket costs €7.50! Simply put, the best way to get around when visiting Venice on a budget is by walking. This is a great money-saver, and luckily for you is also the best way to really experience the city. A lot of the charm of exploring this magical city is in the maze of tiny alleys, and crossing bridges over canals lined with colourful buildings and resident’s boats. You never know what you’ll find around the next corner, and that’s all a part of the fun. Just remember to pack comfy shoes!
Oftentimes, taking the vaporetto won’t be quicker than walking anyway. This is because the water buses can only pass down the Grand Canal – a wide channel which curves through the middle of the city in a sort of ‘S’ shape. Not to mention, the water buses move pretty slowly and make a lot of stops. You’ll often find you can reach your destination quicker by walking as the route on foot is more direct! That being said, if you are unable to, or simply don’t want to, walk so much on your trip to Venice, the next best option is the vaporetto. You can buy 1 day or multiple day passes which are the cheapest option if you’re going to be using it a lot.
5. Avoid Food and Drink in Tourist Hotspots
This money-saving tip is pretty self-explanatory – as easy way to spend less when visiting Venice on a budget. Restaurants and cafes surrounding the most popular tourist attractions, such as the Rialto Bridge and St. Mark’s Square, are extremely expensive. A simple cup of coffee in one of these places can cost around €10, if not more. Instead, I recommend you wander down side streets and into quieter parts of the city. You’ll come across countless more affordable options, and discover more hidden parts of the city along the way!
6. Take Advantage of the Amazing Free Attractions!
Although Venice is renowned for being an expensive city, it also has many great free things on offer. If you need some inspiration for your itinerary, you can read my full post here: 16 Completely Free Things to See and Do in Venice
7. Make Use of the Public Water Fountains
Money spent on food and refreshments can quickly add up when you’re on holiday. Particularly if your trip takes place during the scorching hot summer months. One thing you’ll notice in Venice is that there are little water fountain taps located in many of the squares. These run cold drinking water constantly in the summer, which you are free to help yourself to! This is a another great way to reduce expenses when you’re trying to visit Venice on a budget. I recommend bringing along your reusable water bottle to fill up at these convenient taps. This way you’ll stay hydrated and save money, whilst avoiding wasteful single-use bottles at the same time!
I hope you found this guide to visiting Venice on a budget helpful with planning your trip. Thanks for reading!
Abbey x
