How to make the most of a romantic Valentine’s Day weekend in Venice. 6 incredibly useful travel tips to make your stay in Venice unforgettable.
If spending a romantic Valentine’s Day in Venice is high up on your bucket list and want to find out the ins and outs of planning the perfect holiday to Italy, then you have come to the right place.
We have celebrated our 5th Valentine’s Day together in Venice this year and I can truly say it has been one of the most beautiful trips we’ve ever taken.
We’ve been to the famous sights, tasted that amazing food, marveled at the architectural beauty all around us, and documented everything for you here below to help you have a wonderful experience too.
So here is everything you need to know to make your Valentine’s Day holiday in Venice a magical one.
6 Travel Tips for The Perfect Valentine’s Day in Venice
1. Consider 3 Days for Your Valentine’s Day Trip to Venice
Wondering how much time you need to truly enjoy Venice at a relaxed pace? My recommendation, and one of the best travel tips I can give you for Venice, is to consider 3 days.
Having visited it for just a few hours (many years ago), as well as having enjoyed the city for several days this February, I can definitely see the difference having the extra time brings to the entire experience.
In 3 days you and your loved one will be able to truly enjoy and discover Venice with its charming little streets, the famous sights (like the Basilica San Marco or the Doge’s Palace), and the hundreds of gondolas-filled canals.
If 3 days seems a bit much, then the second-best option is, of course, to reserve at least 2. 48 hours is still a decent amount of time to experience the city without feeling rushed.
And if you only have a few hours to spend in Venice, it is still definitely worth seeing, especially if you’ve never seen the city before. You will be mesmerized by the architectural beauty and uniqueness all around you.
2. Find a Hotel in the City Center, It Will Be Worh It!
This is one of the best travel tips for Venice that I can give you.
Spending a little more to enjoy the comfort and the views of a beautiful hotel is SO worth it! Think of it as your Valentine’s Day present to each other. 😉 (as did we)
We spent 3 wonderful nights at the H10 Palazzo Canova and I cannot recommend it enough!
Note: we pay for all our travels and accommodations with our own money so this isn’t a sponsored post. I’m sharing with you guys our experiences and the best places we go to in order to inspire and help you make the most of your holidays .
The H10 Palazzo Canova is a gorgeous 4-stars+ hotel with an absolutely amazing location, right on Canal Grande! You can reach it in a 2-minute walk from the famous Rialto Bridge.
Stepping out every morning in the heart of Venice was truly a dream, so to me, this is the BEST place to stay when traveling to this beautiful city. You’ll have the gondolas at your feet, right at the entrance, as well as many restaurants just along the canal. What could be better than this for a romantic Valentine’s Day in Venice?
The hotel is very well connected to public transport as The Rialto water bus stop is right on the opposite side.
Everyone was very friendly and welcoming, and the rooms are super comfortable.
I loved to see their focus on sustainability, especially on reducing plastic use. There were no more single-use toiletries in the bathroom, but full-size bottles of Rituals shower gel, shampoo, hand soap, and body lotions.
(Curious how you can help remove plastics from the ocean and reduce your impact? Have a look HERE)
Even if you won’t be staying at the hotel, you should not miss its rooftop bar that offers spectacular views of the canal. Perfect for enjoying a cocktail in the afternoon sun after a long walk through the city.
3. Look for Authentic Venetian Restaurants
The Perfect Valentine’s Day Dinner in Venice
While you might be tempted by the touristy spots in St. Mark’s square or along the Canal Grande, consider going for more authentic Italian restaurants for a true Venetian experience.
You will find them mostly hidden deeper into the city, along the narrow streets of Venice, away from the noisy, crowded locations.
Have a look HERE for the best gluten-free restaurants in Venice and our choice for our romantic dinner or Valentine’s Day.
Of course, it’s best to make reservations a few days upfront, especially on occasions like this, when generally good restaurants are fully booked.
4. Travel by Water Bus or Taxi
Make the most of the water public transport system. Why chose a bus when you can cruise on the canals and enjoy the romantic views on your way to and from the airport.
As Venice has its own airport, flying here is pretty convenient.
From here there are several options to reach the city. You can take a:
- private water taxi: the most comfortable option but also the priceiest. Here are some websites I found where you can book a water taxi: option 1 and option 2. There are more options, of course, with a simple Google search you can choose whichever you like best.
- water-bus (this is the option we went for): take the orange line for the fastest route to the centre. The price for a return ticket is 27EUR/ person and it’s valid for 30 days. The boat leaves every hour fron the airport (strating from 8.50 in the morning) and ride takes approximately one hour to the centre – Rialto stop. You can find the timetable and book your tickets HERE.
- city bus: the trip takes about 30 minutes and the fare is 7EUR.
5. Plan Your Trip Off-season and During Weekdays
Summer months are VERY busy in Venice, so my recommendation to you is to opt for off-season travel.
Even during our February trip for Valentine’s Day, there were still MANY people in Venice, generally a mix of Italian and other European tourists.
(Our visit coincided with the Carnival start when apparently 80.000 people came to Venice that Sunday).
Also, if possible, opt for weekdays rather than weekends. It makes a hell of a difference! During the week there are far fewer tourists and, if you’re lucky, you will feel like you have the whole city to yourself.
6. Don’t Order a Cappuccino After 11 am 🙂
This is a no-no in Italy and probably the funniest of my Venice travel tips for you. It actually came from an Italian friend of mine so I trust it fully.
If you don’t want to look like a tourist, make sure to order your favorite latte or cappuccino only in the morning, until 11 am. After that, Italians do not consume milk-based beverages.
Of course, you will still be served if you ask for it, but just something good to keep in mind.
For more Italy travel tips and generally things Italians cringe on, I have a whole blog post for you HERE.
Hopefully, you’ve enjoyed reading this blog post and found my travel tips for a magical Valentine’s Day in Venice useful.
Don’t forget to PIN it for later 😉
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