Venice on a budget
Venice is renowned as one of the more pricey European city break destinations but providing you’re armed with a bit of inside knowledge, you may be surprised to discover there are plenty ways to do it on the cheap. If you’re backpacking or your budget is tight, steer clear of the expensive restaurants and sightseeing tours – there are plenty of sites and historic attractions that can be explored either completely free of charge or at discounted rates. Check out our tips below:
Art exhibitions
Every other year Venice is home to a huge international art show - the Venice Biennale, which takes place all over the city. While the two main sites at Giardini and Arsenale do require an entrance fee, there are plenty of other affiliated shows scattered around that are free to enter, and many are housed in impressive historic buildings and landscaped grounds which can be admired in their own right.
Churches
Venice is inundated with a wide architectural range of churches, many of which are free to enter. One of the most popular is St. Mark’s Basilica, one of Venice’s most magnificent - so be prepared for queues. Art buffs should check out the church of San Vidal which houses an imposing painting by Vittore Carpaccio above the high altar, as well as the Church of Santa Maria del Carmel which contains impressive paintings by Lorenzo Lotto and Cima da Conegliano.
Festivals and events
With a bit of research and timing, you may be able to catch one of Venice’s festivals and events without having to pay a penny. May is a good month to visit thanks to ‘heritage week’ which hosts a number of free events usually performed in local museums. Also check out the Carnival during February which showcases plenty of free entertainment and costume-clad revellers in the popular St. Mark’s Square. Finally, keep your eyes and ears peeled whilst you’re there – posters and ‘whats on’ leaflets are always a great source.
Food
Restaurants in Venice are notoriously pricey. The best thing to do if you want your euros to go further is avoid the tourist-thronged eateries and eat on the go – stock up with picnic/snack food from supermarkets or if you’re not that organised, you can usually pick up take-out pizza slices, warm sandwiches and bowls of pasta in local bistros at reasonable prices.
Discounted admission fees
You can pick up a variety of tourist discount cards such as the Rolling Venice card for discounted admission to a number of Venice tourist attractions. Being either old or young also works in your favour, with over-65s and under 18s gaining automatic free entry to state museums.
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