Planning and executing a budget friendly trip to one of the most popular tourist destinations can feel like a task and a half. So here is a short summary of everything I learnt from mine :)
Stay and travel
Accommodation and transport can be the most expensive part of budgeting a trip. My biggest tip is therefore only travelling to Venice for the day rather than staying over. Two of my favourite big cities that are incredibly well connected to Venice are Padua (Padova) and Verona. It means you can also escape to a quieter more peaceful location, and explore more of the wonderful Italy.
VERONA STATION
You can book various train journeys from Verona Porta Nuova to Venezia S.Lucia from two hours to one. Though, I thought longer train journeys would be cheaper, at the time of travelling (February 2024) or writing (March 2024), that really hasn't proved to be the case, so surely the quicker the better at this point.
We used https://www.italotreno.it/en to book ours. But if you find the Italian version on your browser and need English, there is a language switch at top right hand side of the screen between EN and IT. Sounds daft but it took me a moment to find it haha! Booking two weeks in advance means ticket price goes from 26 euros (night before) to 9euros per person one way.
Verona is fabulous, the train station is walking distance from the centre, where you can find many affordable stays and attractions.
PADUA STATION
Padua is another wonderful city, a little closer to Venice but also gorgeous and historical. If you are after delicious bars, cocktails, beers and incredible local food, that might be the place for you. Probably the same distance from the centre to the station (Piazzale della Stazione) as for Verona.
Food, Glorious Food
Coming in close second when it comes to trip expensiveness can often be the food, especially in a tourist heavy location. So of course, I recommend bringing your re-fillable water, and packing lots of snacks. Treating yourself to fewer Aperol Spritzs (speaking from personal experience ahah!) and local delicacies, will most definitely help budget.
But I couldn't recommend more treating yourself to a wonderful lunch. You will probably know, the rule is that the closer to the centre, the more expensive. I feel so fortunate that we've been able to find a stunning place called Osteria Mocenigo (link to Trip Advisor). The owners speak English and English menus are available, but the food is absolutely local and Italian haha. You will mostly find locals there, especially off-peak lunch time hours, because it is incredibly delicious and fairly priced. I would go back there in a heart beat, and feel really lucky to have found this place.
And finally, after a long day of walking, if you are early back for your train, Hotel Carlton on the Grand Canal offers a delicious Spritz and chips in their downstairs bar. You can sit outside, it's a reasonably quiet and well priced location for a little stop over, given how close it is to a beautiful bridge and the train station.
My Top 7 free things to do in Venice
So without further ado, here are my favourite free things to do in Venice:
Get lost in the streets, take random turns through the beautiful narrow streets of Venice, you cannot go wrong
See Piazza San Marco and the Benedetto Marcello Music Conservatory (Casino Royale, 2005)
Visit the Rialto Market (The Tourist, 2010)
Imagine yourself in the company of Harrison Ford at the Campo San Barnaba (Indiana Jones and The Last Crusade, 1989)
Window shop on the Calle Larga XXII Marzo or Fondaco dei Tedeschi
Search for your favourite Venice Walking Tour on Spotify or YouTube and follow it for free at your own pace
Stand on the Bridge of Sighs
And remember, travel safely, keep an eye on your belongings, and stay frugal, and sustainable :)
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