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Venice is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Europe. Millions of people visit the city every year, but is Venice worth visiting alone?
I like to try to give as definitive answers as possible (based on my own experience) to help you plan your solo travels.
But giving an answer to is Venice worth visiting alone is more difficult than a yes or no like it was in my is Seville worth visiting article.
Venice is more complicated, and I think it boils down more to whether or not Venice is a place you want to visit rather than is Venice worth visiting alone.
There is nothing about Venice that would make the city less enjoyable to visit alone compared to visiting with a group.
Well, minus the romantic gondola rides. Those are always better with someone rather than alone.
In this article, we’re going to discuss why you may or may not want to visit Venice alone, so you can decide if it is right for you.
The answer to is Venice worth visiting alone is solely dependant on your travel style, interests, and budget.
Because it certainly isn’t cheap. In fact, I found it to me significantly more expensive than anywhere else I’ve been in Italy.
Table of Contents
Reasons You May Want to Visit Venice Alone
There is no doubt that Venice is a beautiful city. The canals are stunning, the architecture is lovely, and the winding streets are so fun to get lost in.
Venice is busy, but it doesn’t have the same hustle and bustle as Rome does. It’s a small city with a laidback energy.
This makes it a really good city for inexperienced solo travellers to visit. You won’t get overwhelmed in Venice, and you’ll build some confidence in your solo travel skills.
Because Venice has so many tourists every year, the city is set up for tourists. Most restaurants and shops have English-speaking staff, and there are multiple tourist booths throughout the city to help you if you need.
You’ll also be able to meet other tourists easily in Venice if you’re social and want to meet new people to explore with.
Overall, if Venice is on your bucket list and you need to see it before you die, it is totally worth visiting alone.
It’s a very easy city to travel in. You’ll probably get lost walking around the winding streets, but you’ll always find your way to the water and can follow the water back to your accommodation.
And if that’s the biggest complaint and risk there is with visiting Venice alone, that’s a good thing!
Travelling from Venice to Rome is one of the best European vacations by train and another reason you may want to visit Venice as a solo traveller.

Reasons You May Not Want to Visit Venice Alone
Okay. Now onto the reasons Venice may not be worth visiting alone.
Firstly, Venice is comparatively expensive to the rest of Italy. If you’re on a tight budget, you may want to skip Venice.
Food, accommodation, and souvenirs will cost you more than pretty much anywhere else in Italy (except maybe Cinque Terre).
On average, Venice is 7.9% more expensive than the rest of Italy.
Another important thing to consider when deciding is Venice worth visiting alone is your health.
Venice isn’t an accessible city.
If you have any mobility issues, you probably don’t want to visit Venice alone. There is tons of walking, the streets are narrow, and there are bridges or stairs throughout the city.
There are no cars in Venice, and it is up to you to get around by your own by walking through the city. The boats can’t get you everywhere, and you’ll be walking quite a bit.
If you have a disability, be sure to read this article on accessibility in Venice before committing to a trip to Venice.
Tips for travelling alone for the first time
Something to Consider
Finally, it is important to consider the ethical cost of visiting Venice.
As we all know, Venice is sinking, and the millions of tourists visiting every year isn’t helping the situation.
I’m not saying you shouldn’t go to Venice because the city is sinking, but it should be a consideration.
Firstly, if you do want to visit Venice alone, try to plan your trip during off-peak times. This limits the number of tourists in the city at one time.
Plus it’s less crowded, so you have a more relaxing holiday.
Secondly, if Venice isn’t a place you really want to go and are just going because it’s popular and you feel like you should go, don’t go.
I never really wanted to go to Venice but a friend asked me to go with her. If it wasn’t for her, I wouldn’t have gone. I also don’t plan on going again unless someone else begs me to go with them.
Is Venice Worth Visiting Alone? My Honest Opinion
I personally think Venice is one of the most overrated cities in Europe.
Please don’t hurt me for saying that!
There is no doubt Venice is a gorgeous city, but it doesn’t feel authentic at this point.
Young locals are leaving the city in heaps and bounds, and there are more tourists in the city than there are locals.
The big draw of Venice is undoubtably the canals. There is no arguing that they’re beautiful, but it isn’t the only city in Europe with canals like that.
If you’re going to Venice solely for the canals, consider visiting Annecy, France instead. It’s much more relaxed and has the same small canals. There is different architecture, but it is no less beautiful.
If you’re going to Venice for the architecture, consider visiting Bologna or Florence. The architecture isn’t exactly the same as Venice, but they’re two of the most beautiful cities in Italy.
So, is Venice worth visiting alone in my opinion?
Yes and no.
It’s a no for me. I also think it is a no for anybody who doesn’t really want to explore Venice and hasn’t been dreaming about visiting Venice.
It’s a yes for anybody who has been dreaming about visiting Venice. It is on the top of their bucket list. They planned a trip to Italy just to visit Venice.
I’ll never tell you not to visit Venice.
I will tell you, however, that if you’re meh about Venice and just adding it to your itinerary because it is a famous city, there are probably better places in Italy you can visit.

Things to Know When Visiting Venice Alone
If you’re decided you want to visit Venice alone, there are a few things you should know before your trip.
These have nothing to do with travelling alone in Venice, but they’re things I wish I knew before visiting Venice.
I’m not going to cover the most common things to know before visiting Venice. You’ve probably read them a million times already.
I’m going to cover what I wish I knew about Venice. They may be odd things, but I hope they help you plan your trip!
The Boats are Very Slow
I’m a fairly impatient lady. I think to move quickly, and the boats in Venice move very slowly.
There are public transportation boats from the airport, around Venice, and to other nearby islands.
Side note: I highly recommend visiting Burano and Murano when in Venice.
The public transportation boats are the best (and cheapest) way to get to and from the airport and to the other islands.
If you’re trying to get around Venice, I recommend walking.
Anyway, the public transportation boats are slow.
Painfully slow.
You need to leave yourself extra time to get where you want to go. Google Maps may tell you it takes a certain amount of time to get somewhere, but it often takes longer.
Secondly, bring something to keep you entertained on the boats. A book. A podcast. Anything.
Don’t Assume You’ll Find Your Way Home Without Google Maps
I’m pretty good at finding my way around. Especially if I’m walking to one place and then directly back to my accommodation.
That wasn’t the case in Venice.
There are so many small, winding streets that look the same. It is super easy to get confused, take a wrong turn, and end up nowhere near where you wanted to be.
I suggest you rely heavily on Google Map when in Venice.
Be sure to load your maps while you have wifi, so you’re not stranded in the middle of Venice without wifi to use Google Maps.
Even if you think your walk will be easy because you’re going straight across the city, use your Google Maps.
There are plenty of winding streets and bridges along the way.
There are arrows on some of the buildings pointing the way to the train station, for example. They’re quite helpful so be on the lookout for those in addition to using Google Maps.
What I wish I knew before backpacking Europe alone
You Won’t Meet Many Locals
The local population in Venice is shrinking. There aren’t a ton of opportunties for young people, and a large portion of them are moving to other cities.
If you’re hoping to make local friends or hear from a local about their experience in Venice, it won’t be easy to find them.
Of course, there are shop, restaurant, and attraction employees, but they don’t have time to chat with you.
You won’t have one of those moments where a local comes up to you in a coffee shop and starts talking to you. I’ve had that experience a few times in other cities. They’re really special, but you won’t get it in Venice.
I’m not saying that’s a bad thing by any means.
I just know a lot of people enjoy speaking with locals while travelling to try to get a more authentic version of the place they’re visiting. You’re more likely to casually run into a young person born in Venice in Rome than you are in Venice.

Be Respectful of Locals
On a similar note, be respectful of the locals you do come across in Venice.
They have to deal with their city being overrun by tourists and have to work around the tourists to get their normal life activities done.
The most common place you’re going to run into locals is waiting for the public transportation boat.
They have their own line and are often welcomed onto the boat before the tourists.
Don’t complain. Don’t try to get in their line even though it is likely shorter.
They’re likely trying to get to and from work. They pay taxes. They deserve to be able to use the public transportation easily without having to wait in line for ages with tourists.
Pick Pockets are Everywhere
Venice is small, overcrowded, and full of unsuspecting tourists.
This makes it a great place for pick pockets to get a big loot.
Luckily, there are a few simple steps you can take to make sure you’re not one of their victims.
- Carry your purse on the front of your hip or in front of you
- Keep your wallet/phone/valuables as close to your body as possible
- Don’t carry anything in your back pocket
- If you have a backpack, use the inside pockets for your valuables. They’re harder to get to that way
- Know that pick pockets often work in pairs. If someone points out your shoe is untied or tries to have you sign a petition, these are signs they may be trying to pick pocket you. Move somewhere else to tie your shoe and say no thank you to signing the petition
There is a Tourism Tax Starting in January 2023
The last important thing you need to know is there is a tourism tax coming to Venice in January 2023.
This tax will only affect people who are visiting Venice as a day trip. If you’re staying in Venice, there is already a tax built into the cost of your hotel.
A large portion of the tourists that visit Venice are on cruises and are only in Venice for one day. This impacts hotels and restaurants.
I personally think the tax is a good addition to Venice and will help the city thrive in the future. Others aren’t happy about it.
Being aware of the new tax is important when trying to decide is Venice worth visiting.
I think if you do visit Venice, it’s worthwhile to stay for at least two days.
There is no sense only going for a day, not seeing everything, and paying a tax to get into the city.

Activities in Venice You’ll Probably Love
Conclusion
I know this article didn’t give you the most direct answer to the question is Venice worth visiting alone.
That’s because there isn’t a cut and dry answer.
It depends more on your travel interests and budget than it does on the city itself.
For me and my travel style, Venice isn’t the right choice. But for you and your travel style, it might be the perfect choice.
I hope this article gave you a little sense of how you can decide whether or not Venice is the right destination for your next solo trip.


