What to skip in Venice
Built from every Venice verdict we publish. Each links to the full reasoning and what to do instead.
Skip this option
- An unbooked driver or tout outside arrivals, from Marco Polo airport to Venice: which way?
- A short stop of a few hours (cruise or connecting excursion), from Venice: day trip or overnight stay?
- Mestre (mainland), from Where should you stay in Venice?
Only if it fits your trip
- Is a gondola ride in Venice worth it?: It depends: a gondola ride costs a fixed 90 euros by day for up to five people, and reports say it is worth it when timed away from the midday crowds near Rialto and St. Mark's Square.
- Is a Venice vaporetto pass worth it?: Depends: the official 24-hour travel card costs 25 EUR and beats single tickets from the third ride in a day, which suits island days but rarely a visit spent walking the historic center.
- Is St Mark's Basilica worth the ticket?: Depends: the basic entry is 10 EUR on the official site and the full ticket is 30 EUR, but the one recent traveler report in the log describes ticket-limit friction when booking several seats online.
- Is the Doge's Palace Secret Itineraries tour worth it?: Depends: the official 40 EUR guided tour is worth booking if you want a guide through the palace's hidden offices, archive and torture chamber, but it is a skippable add-on if you are new to Venice on a tight schedule or need a step-free, open route.
- Is the Lido worth a trip from Venice?: Depends: worth a half day if you want a bike ride along open boulevards or a quieter pace than central Venice, and easy to skip if your days in Venice are already full.