Venice warnings! What things tourists should not do in Venice?

Don’t Ride the Gondolas

Gondoliers in their black-and-white striped gondolas cruising around the canals is a must-do experience. Gondolas are among the most recognizable symbols of Venice. What you might overlook is riding inside of them. Although being onboard a gondola may seem like the ideal Venetian dream, the reality is much less romantic. For 30 minutes, gondolas cost at least €80 ($90 USD). Sure, you may squeeze up to six people inside the gondolas and try to divide the cost with another two couples looking for love in Venice, but believe us when we say that spending an unpleasant 30 minutes crammed with strangers inside a small gondola isn't as romantic as you might think. 

If you want a gondolier who can sing as well as you've read about, the price goes up even further. In the end, those euros could be spent so much better on a romantic dinner along with a quaint canal, where you’ll listen to gondoliers singing, not for their customers, but just for themselves. You may begin your Vox City audio tour of Venice the moment you land. Get started with our state-of-the-art navigation tools straight away to streamline self-guiding, and pick from a large number of suggested walking routes. You can feel the city's deep cultural roots as you approach iconic landmarks like St. Mark's Square and Basilica, the Doge's Palace, the Grand Canal, and the Rialto Bridge.

Expect to pay with card

Many of the better taverns, stores, and eateries around here do not accept credit cards, and even if they do, cash is generally favored. This also illustrates the continued vitality of the culture of small, family-owned enterprises on a bigger scale. If you want to join in, it's a good idea to have some cash on hand, and you shouldn't be too surprised if you're asked for some spare change.

Sit down in the alleys or on bridges

Even though it attracts visitors from all over the world, Venice's small-town infrastructure can make it difficult to navigate during rush hours. Here, walking is the primary mode of transportation. It's the same as if you stopped your automobile in the middle of a four-lane highway to sit down on the bridges or in the tight alleys. Ample open areas, or "campi," can be found throughout the area. 

If you're in a crowded area, like a grocery store or an alleyway, remember to keep an eye on how much room you're taking up and whether or not you're impeding traffic. When navigating through tight streets, its best practice to keep to the right. Given the limited spare space, city dwellers would do well to exercise particular consideration for one another. You can also use Vox City's app cutting-edge navigation features right away to simplify self-guiding, and select from a wide variety of suggested walking routes.

Buy knockoffs and low quality

Venetians will be bombarded with people trying to pass off mass-produced goods as authentic souvenirs. You'll find American masks manufactured by machines, Chinese "Murano" glass, and oil paintings produced in an industrial setting by employees earning low wages. A red flag should go up if the price of an item seems suspiciously low. Use good sense and investigate thoroughly to avoid falling for any of these common tourist scams. You will be helping folks who are performing decent, honest work while also receiving something of actual value.

Eat in places with other tourists

A sure clue that a restaurant is pricey and serves subpar food is that it is packed exclusively with out-of-towners. Make an informed decision on where to eat based on your preferences, whether you prefer planning ahead or winging it. 

If you're in the area and you spot a pub or restaurant that seems to be popular with the locals, it's probably worth checking out.

Leave trash in the street

This may seem like common sense, but you'd be surprised at how much trash is left in the middle of the roadway in inappropriate areas. At the day's conclusion, you can find discarded bottles, napkins, and ice cream cups littering window sills or perched atop wells. You won't have to look far to find a public garbage can in the city; they are frequently stationed in the city's larger campi and along its main roadways. Think about how much garbage you're producing, especially in terms of plastic bottles. You can save money by not buying water in bottles and instead filling up at one of the many public water faucets.

Don’t Limit Yourself

The majority of cruise ship passengers in Venice do not venture outside the island. More people arrive from the railway station, and once they're inside, they don't want to leave the Grand Canal. Even though there is a lot to see and do in Venice itself, it would be a shame to come all the way here and not see the islands that surround it. 

Visit Burano and Murano instead by taking the vaporetto. It's a great way to observe the ocean and the surrounding scenery, and the trip only takes around 45 minutes. Both islands are significant to Venice's artistic, culinary, historical, and cultural landscapes. Your journey won't be complete without experiencing the unique character and atmosphere of each, which is very different from the glitz and grandeur of Venice.

Looking for the best Venice attractions? Then give up your search. Check out our blog for the best things to do in Venice and put it on your bucket list if you're travelling to Italy. This stunning must-see packs an incredible amount of accessibility and diversity into a little area. In no time at all, you'll realize why this Italian beach village is a perennial favorite among vacationers. When planning your time in Venice, you may also want to read up on some of our blogs concerning other possible stops on your Italian adventure. Do check them out too by following the link.