A Survivor’s Guide To Canals, Islands & Crowds

Ahhh, Venice. There’s nowhere in the world quite like it. Floating in a gondola down a serene canal lined with candle-lit restaurants, listening to the gondolier serenading with gentle romantic tunes.

That’s how you imagined Venice too?

I hate to burst that bubble, but with over 20 million tourists thronging to this island each year, Venice is not exactly serene or relaxing. Sure, it’s an engineering miracle, encircled by calm lagoon waters, but it’s also the most expensive city in Europe for tourists and a royal pain in the ass to get around. However, there’s no denying it’s magical allure that simply must be experienced at least once in a lifetime.

I visited Venice to see if it lives up to the hype and to explore the epicentre of the Venetian Empire that thrived during the Middle Ages and Renaissance. Here’s my handy 2 day itinerary that covers Venetian museums, icons like Rialto Bridge and Doge’s Palace, and then spends a day away from the maddening crowds…