9 Tips for Venice

1: Get yourself the Venezia Unica Card. This will give you access to Venice's public transport system (the water buses called vaporetti), allowing you to get around the city with ease. Another good thing about this card is that you also get to benefit from discounts at museums, etc.

2: Visit the Acqua Alta Bookstore. This isn't anything like the bookstores you're used to seeing. It may be one of the lesser-known attractions in Venice, but, this quaint little store is another world and is a must see in my books. Also spend time in a magical mask shop, tucked away in one of Venice's many secret back streets and discover authentic Venetian craftsmanship passed on through many generations. Click here for more  details on both the Aqua Alta Bookstore and the mask store.

3: Saint Mark's Square is the most popular attraction in Venice, and everyone should visit it at least once. One of our top tips for Venice is to try visiting early in the morning, at first light if possible, to avoid the crowds.

4: Take a day trip out to Burano. Definitely worth a visit, Burano is an enchanting little island near Venice filled with colorful fisherman's cottages. 

5: Don't miss the Rialto market. Once again, it's best to visit early in the morning to discover everything this market has to offer before the hustle and bustle of the day begins. Staying nearby would help. There's a great hotel around the corner that used to be the old post office called The Poste Vecie. Find details here.

6: Try to avoid eating at McDonald's and KFC. While you're in Venice why not sample the local cuisine? There are many great affordable restaurants in Venice, and after all the city does have over a thousand years of culinary history. 

7: Don't drink any Starbucks-style coffee. Rather drop by one of the many local bars and treat yourself to a real Italian cappuccino or espresso. One thing to take note of is that if you stand at the bar, you pay a lot less than if you were to sit. You'll find a list of things not to do in Italy here.

8: Some of Venice's best sights are down the lanes leading past quieter, smaller canals. Here you can savor the true beauty of Venice. These are some of the best moments to experience in Venice. Don't let your phone or tablet steal your attention and cause you to miss the moment.

9: One of the top tips for Venice is to simply sit somewhere, even alongside a canal, and watch the world go by.