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Venice is one of the most famous cities in the world. It is one of the most romantic and unforgettable cities with people flocking to visit it from all around the world. There is even an expression in some countries in Europe (e.g. Germany) that goes something like "See Venice and die." In other words, once one has seen Venice, one can live the rest of one's life with the fulfillment of knowing one has seen the best of what the world has to offer.

But is Venice actually worth it or is it just another tourist trap? It is true that there are scores of tourists in Venice, but that hasn't come at the expense of the city's character and vibe. Venice is a stunning city and one that is well worth visiting.

There Are Plenty Of Places Without Tourists In Venice

While there are plenty of tourists in Venice, it does not just feel like another tourist trap. The historic island is large and tourists only tend to crowd around certain parts of the island (like St Mark's Square, the main shopping street, around the train station, and the famous Rialto Bridge (where Spider-Man was attacked in Spider-Man: Far From Home).

  • Touristic Places In Venice: St. Mark's Square, Rialto Bridge, The Main Shopping Streets

If one is planning to get a drink or food in these popular parts of Venice, one should be careful to check the prices first (they may be very high tourist prices). But take the time to wander around the city and one will find plenty of cafés and restaurants frequented mainly by locals.

  • Tip: Have A Drink Where People Are Speaking Italian

All of Venice is an outdoor museum and so it can be difficult to know which places are not so touristic. A couple of tips would be to avoid the popular places above (only if one wants to be off the tourist drag) and stop by places where the customers are speaking Italian. If the menu is also only in Italian, it can be an indication that the place has a local clientele.

St. Mark's Square is the heart of Venice and a must-see, just expect the prices to be accordingly higher if one would also like to dine in the square.

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Locals Are Friendly To Tourists

In some places, locals get tired of so many tourists seemingly overrunning the place they call home. It can get frustrating for locals that every time they go outside some tourist asks for directions or for their picture to be taken.

  • Attitude: Positive Toward Tourists

But the Venetians are mostly glad of the tourists. After a difficult few years of the pandemic, tourists are finally returning to Venice and the locals are happy about it.

Venice is a place where the locals make one feel welcome and at home. It is not a tourist trap where one feels like locals only see them there to spend money.

  • Tourists: 5.5 Million Tourists Annually (2019)

According to statistica.com, Venice is the eleventh most popular tourist destination in Europe (discounting Antalya and Istanbul in Turkey). It has nearly as many tourists as major cities like Madrid, and Berlin received around 5.5 million tourists in 2019.

Related: Here's why Venice Can Be Even More Stunning When It Rains

Venice Can Be Visited On A Budget

While many may consider Venice to be an expensive place to visit, one can actually easily visit the city on a backpacking budget. Because of the superb trains running every ten minutes connecting the modern part of the city on the mainland with the historic island of Venice, one can choose from accommodation on the mainland.

  • Accommodation: Stay On The Mainland To Save Money

The train to the island only costs around $1.50 and takes around 10 minutes.

Trains Mainland Venice To The Historic Island:

  • Cost: Around $1.50 One Way
  • Duration: 10 Minutes
  • Frequency: Every 10ish Minutes

Summer can be very warm and this is when the tourist season is in full gear and the costs are the highest. Go in the spring or autumn and the weather will be cooler and costs will be lower.

Hostels are a great way for backpackers to save money while in Venice. E.g. in the summer, the cost of a dorm bed at Anda Hostel can be as much as $40.00 per night but in the off-season as low as $15.00.

In short, Venice is one of the urban wonders of the world and so does not need to be a tourist trap. It is one of the most rewarding places to visit in all of Europe.