We are pleased to present a new Solo Travel Destination Post from Klaudia, to complement an earlier one from Emily. Both are members of the Solo Travel Society: Klaudia is from Poland, Emily is from the United States. They both submitted reports from their solo trips to Venice, each from their own unique perspectives. Do you have a solo travel destination that you would like to recommend? Submit your description here, along with a few photos, and share it with fellow travelers!
Languages spoken: Italian, English
Laundry day.
Reasons to Visit Venice
Klaudia's Story
Solo travel rating: 1.5 (1 is easiest, 4 is most difficult. Please see chart below)
I visited Venice in November 2014. I wanted to go there in the winter to escape the summer heat and the crowds. I still remember what it felt like to see the waterfront panorama for the first time – mesmerizingly beautiful and moving. I suddenly understood why so many artists have wanted to paint Venice over the centuries – the light here is simply extraordinary, covering everything in a pink and blue glow. Being there and experiencing it felt like an incredible privilege. I guess I was hoping to find my own artistic calling there.
I stayed near the San Marco Piazza, where Venice’s main attractions are located. I would wake up very early which allowed me to explore this area in peace. I especially liked the Bridge of Sighs linking the Doge’s Palace with the New Prison. Its lovely name was given by Lord Byron and according to a legend, if two lovers kissed on a gondola under this bridge at sunset, their love would be eternal.
Venice is a city of marble palaces built on water and its existence in seemingly impossible conditions comes close to a miracle. Seeing the Grand Canal was a wonderful experience and something that had been on my must-do list. The gondola tour, however was very expensive so instead I chose to take the water bus (vaporetto) which took me all the way from San Marco to Piazzale Roma, for just a few euros. I felt really special on this short cruise and I couldn’t believe that this is what traffic looks like in Venice.
The further from the Grand Canal, the murkier the water. The buildings are run down and the damage is much more visible. Still, I found this strangely appealing. I felt like I had been transported to a time centuries earlier, walking along the canals and narrow streets, as if accompanied by ghosts of the city’s past. Venice was revealing its true face to me, away from the splendor and luxury of the Grand Canal. At the same time I felt sad about the uncertain future of a city that loses itself in the indulgence of the present moment, waiting for the waves of the Adriatic to swallow it up completely. The plaster is falling off and the mold grows thick on the walls, but still, Venice manages to be captivating.
My favorite place in Venice was the Jewish quarter, which came to existence in 1516 and is therefore the world’s oldest ghetto. A small population of Venetian Jews live here up to this day. The place was peaceful and quiet. Autumn leaves were falling, kids were playing ball on the cobbled piazza, and I was sitting on a bench, eating an apple and watching life slowly go by. I found interesting antique shops with a wide selection of books, maps, and religious paraphernalia, bakeries selling Jewish specialties, and many kosher restaurants. If I lived in Venice I would probably come here every Sunday for a coffee and a cannoli – my favorite Italian dessert.
Italians usually order their coffee at the bar and drink it standing – chatting, reading the paper, or simply watching people pass by. I realised that the queuing system here is quite different than in London–actually I was not sure where the queue began and where it ended, but I got there eventually.
There are so many churches in Venice, but my favorite one was Madonna dell’Orto, a 15th century Gothic structure, also known as “Tintoretto’s Church.” I was mesmerized by Tintoretto’s beautiful paintings and moved by simple dried flowers on his grave.
I noticed that there were many small altars everywhere in Venice. Most of them were beautifully decorated with fresh flowers, which made me think that they are seen as an important part of the city, respected and celebrated.
One day I went for a walk down the promenade from Piazza San Marco and reached Via Garibaldi, where I found many cafes and restaurants, as well as a small park. There were no tourists there, only Venetians going about their daily business, buying vegetables from the market stalls, walking their kids to school, or having coffee. I noticed how many old people there are in Venice. I later heard that many young ones leave in search of jobs.
If you ever visit Venice, please allow at least a few days to get acquainted with the city. By all means, see all the important sights in touristy areas, but as soon as you do, don't be afraid to put away your map for a few moments and lose yourself in the back alleys and narrow streets. Wander along the quiet canals and explore a different kind of Venice, away from the crowds. The city you will then encounter may be less glamorous, but so much more enchanting.
Piazza San Marco
Gondolas.
Solo Travel Destination Rating System
Safety – 1 (1 very safe, 2 safe in most areas, 3 be cautious at all times.)
Language – 2 (1 English is first language, 2 English speakers easy to find, 3 English speakers rare)
Navigation – 3 (1 easy to navigate by transit or car, 2 poor transit, car necessary, 3 not easy to get around)
Culture – 1 (1 Similar to North America or Western Europe, 2 Different from above but relaxed and easy, 3 Challenging)
Average Rating – 1.5 (1 is easiest, 4 is most difficult)
Passing under the Rialto Bridge.
Emily's Story
Solo travel rating: 1.5 (1 is easiest, 4 is most difficult. Please see chart below)
Everyone has heard of Venice, so I don't know what to say here except that, yes, it's fabulous and a must-see for all! Venice is one of the most visited cities in the world, due to it being one of the world's greatest and most beautiful cities for art. Museums abound! And really, the city is a museum in and of itself. I read that the city has over 50,000 visitors per day and there is a definite reason for that!
The entire city is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and it's not surprising, as it is perhaps the most unique city I've seen to date. I would also say that it's one of the most romantic cities I've visited and for once, I was actually wishing I was not traveling solo through it…and that is rare for me to say.
St. Mark's Square was just lovely and GREAT for sitting at one of the cafes surrounding it and people watching – and literally, I could have done that all day! Riding a gondola and vaporetti on the Grand Canal was a treasure I will never forget.
I downloaded free Rick Steve Audio Guides that told me all about the city. There was one that you could play while making a full circle loop on the Grand Canal in a vaporetti (canal public transport).
To get there, you can fly into Marco Polo International Airport, named in honor of its famous citizen, or take a train into Venice. The trains connect the city to Rome in 3.5 hours and Milan in about 2.5 hours. Florence is one of the stops, so be sure to check out that city, too, if traveling by rail!
To get around the city, there is a very cool vaporetti system (boat “bus system”) with 3-4 day passes available for unlimited use.
There is some concern that Venice is a sinking city, so visit while you can!
Gondola ride through a small canal.
St. Mark's Basilica
St. Mark's Square.
Solo Travel Destination Rating System
Safety – 1 (1 very safe, 2 safe in most areas, 3 be cautious at all times.)
Language – 2 (1 English is first language, 2 English speakers easy to find, 3 English speakers rare)
Navigation – 1 (1 easy to navigate by transit or car, 2 poor transit, car necessary, 3 not easy to get around)
Culture – 2 (1 Similar to North America or Western Europe, 2 Different from above but relaxed and easy, 3 Challenging)
Average Rating – 1.5 (1 is easiest, 4 is most difficult)
