5 Ways to Enjoy Venice Like a Local

There is no place in the world quite like Venice. It is magical and beautiful, yet can get extremely crowded and chaotic. If someone only visits for a day or two and only stays in the most crowded areas, they may never feel the true charm of the city that exists beyond the “tourist zone.”

Here are 5 Ways to Enjoy Venice Like a Local:

1. Get Out Early

In the early morning, before the hoards of cruise ship tourists arrive, Venice is at its local best. Boats delivering their goods weave through the canals, kids walk or scooter to school, and the scents of freshly-baked croissants  fill the streets. The sun is still low at this time, so there is a cool morning breeze and a freshness to the air that make for a perfect morning exploration. It’s fascinating to watch how every product is brought in by boat and then carted over bridges and kids especially love watching the trash boats at work. Make sure to pop into cafe for a quick cappuccino and enjoy it standing at the bar (counter) with the locals on their way to work. There is never a dull moment in early morning Venice!

2. Get Lost in the Back Streets

In order to fully appreciate Venice as a living city, and not just a tourist destination, you need to explore its back streets – far away from the tourist traps near San Marco and Rialto. My suggestion – start walking as far as you can without hitting the other side of the lagoon, and just get lost. Venice is really quite small, so you will never be too far from the center. When you start to see laundry hanging so colorfully above canals and streets, then you know you have found the “real local Venice.”

3. Eat Cichetti and Drink a Spritz

Cichetti (pronounced cheeketty) are Venice’s answer to tapas. Some are fried, others are served on bread, but they are all delicious Venetian specialties that make great snacks or even a meal. The locals will stand at a local cichetti bar and enjoy them with a spritz – the orange Venetian cocktail made with Aperol, prosecco, and bubbly water served with an olive and an orange inside. They are incredibly refreshing and go very well with some freshly made cichetti!

4. Go For an Evening Stroll

Every evening around six-o’clock (or as we like to say, spritz o’clock) the locals will all venture outside to meet up in the local square for a drink and then take a stroll through the streets to window-shop, see friends, and enjoy a gelato. This passegiata (stroll) will usually last until about 7:30pm when the Venetians head home to prepare dinner. I love this tradition that I have found in all the Italian cities I have visited – it creates such a wonderful sense of community that is hard to find these days.

5. Take to the Water

The Venetians pride themselves on their vicinity to and history with the sea. They love their seafood, boats, and dozens of tiny islands dispersed throughout the lagoon. To truly enjoy Venice like a local, you must somehow venture onto the water and see its beauty as it shimmers beyond the sparkling lagoon. Although a gondola ride is wonderful, there are other ways to get out to the water. You can take a vaporetto (waterbus) all the way down the Grand Canal (preferably at sunset when it is less crowded and gorgeous!) to the island of Lido. You can hire a water taxi to take you around the lagoon and to the nearby islands (this is pricey, but very convenient!). There are private boat tours that take you on a large boat with dinner and music. You can even hire a kayak and enjoy the unique view of Venice from the canals. The key is to view the floating city of Venice the way it was created to be seen – from the sparkling sea.

To enjoy Venice like a local is to see it beyond the tourist shops and crowds and to touch the heart of this vibrant and historical gem shining so brightly on the sea.

Have you ever visited Venice “like a local”? Share your story with us!