Venice, the floating City – Italy
Our journey began in Bucharest on 26 October, 2022.
We boarded a flight to Sant’Angelo Treviso Airport, the most affordable route to Venice. Although it seemed close on the map, the taxi ride to Marghera cost 100 euros, a piece of advice that would have served us well. Choose a direct flight to Marco Polo Airport in Venice. We paid for the taxi ride with our card, and everything went smoothly. We arrived at our destination, hu Venezia Camping in Town, where they offer accommodation in prefab houses.
They were very clean, and we were impressed. Depending on the option you choose, some even have a small terrace with a bench and table for dining. The hu Venezia Camping in Town also boasts a restaurant with great, family-friendly food at reasonable prices. They even have an outdoor pool, although we visited Venice in October to avoid the crowds. You might wonder why avoiding the crowds was essential. To ensure you have time to use the vaporetto (water bus) and avoid at least an hour-long queue. This allowed us to visit Lido and Murano without renting a separate boat.
We planned using Google Maps to find attractions and establish a route.
On Day 1, 26 October, 2022, we landed at 10 am, took a taxi, checked in, and were already at a halal pizza place by 12:00. We tried pizza with potatoes for the first and last time, but it was worth a try. Satisfied with the meal, we explored the surroundings to familiarize ourselves with the area, including local restaurants and fast-food joints. We even made it to central Mestre, where we visited the train station and inquired about the cost of a ticket to Pisa. It was quite expensive, 400 euros for a round trip, so we abandoned the idea.
On Day 2, 27 October, 2022, well-rested, we ventured further. Using Google Maps’ public transportation option, we paid for our bus ride in cash and made it safely to Venice, Italy. It was a 26-minute walk from our accommodation to the bus stop in Mestre, followed by a 20-minute bus ride to Venice. If you’re arriving by rental or personal car, do not attempt to reach Venice itself. The parking lot at the entrance is congested, expensive, and time-consuming. We traveled for 8 hours and 45 minutes to explore Venice, a time that passed by spectacularly. We returned to our accommodation at 22:56. We visited the Constitution Bridge, the main access point after arriving at the Autostazione Venezia. Be aware that between some buildings, the GPS signal may be lost, but these minor detours were pleasant. [Link to the route here]
On Day 3, 28 October, 2022, we became frequent bus travelers. There’s an app that allows you to buy and pay for your bus ticket effortlessly, ACTV PUBLIC TRANSPORT. We set out to explore Venice as much as possible. We intentionally got lost and reached the local fish and seafood market, where many seagulls gathered. We visited Piazza San Marco, which offers breathtaking views. We continued our walk along Riva degli Schiavoni, where we enjoyed superb panoramas. In Venice, we found a KFC, but local restaurant prices, while not as prominently displayed, were reasonable, and the food was delicious.
On Day 4, 29 October, 2022, already familiar with Venice, we decided to venture even further. We were lucky not to encounter crowds when boarding the first available vaporetto from the main station at the entrance to Venice. We traveled to Lido at 15:00, got off the boat, hopped on a bus, and traveled to Malamocco Alvisopoli. From there, we headed to Capanna ai Murazzi, spending a few wonderful hours on the beach and discovering the locals’ favorite spot. We enjoyed our evening meal at Trattoria Alla Ferrata, a courtyard restaurant away from the bustling street. After dinner, we caught the vaporetto to Murano, even at a late hour, at 18:30 we were on a boat, and at 19:00 in Murano. We visited Ponte S. Chiara and made our way to the Murano lighthouse. We had an evening meal at Approdo Pizzeria Ristorante and a delightful dessert for the kids. We caught the last vaporetto to Venice and reached our accommodation at 21:30. It was a full day, and we managed to see Venice from the water, a very enjoyable experience.
On Day 5, 30 October, 2022, having already visited Venice, we spent a much more relaxed day, navigating without GPS, relying on our experiences from the previous days, and enjoying getting lost, which happened frequently but was very interesting as we discovered new and hidden places in Venice. We even had the pleasure of seeing Piazza San Marco at night, which is a must-do as it offers an entirely different experience. We even had the opportunity to spend time in a park at the entrance to Venice, where we met children and realized that there are still locals; it’s not just a tourist city. On the last day, 31 October, 2022, we left with our bags for one last visit to Venice. We had our last morning coffee and hot chocolate for the kids on the shore of Venice, after which we set off, and once again, we used a taxi, this time paying in cash. We were running late and left a tip for the help because we managed to stay on schedule for our airport departure.
