Venice
Undoubtedly the most unique city in the world, Venice is an absolute must visit. Sure, its packed with tourists, the restaurants are expensive and the transportation is inconvenient. But suck it up, this city is simply unparalleled.
This visit was centered around the Venice Biennale, an architectural showcase from the best architects around the world. It's truly a spectacular exhibit whether or not you are an architect, and is definitely worth visiting.
Back to the city, Venice is iconic for its canals, which I'm sure you already knew. Travel guides say this about almost every city, and that is to, "get lost in old town", which is true, but nowhere else is it more relevant than on the entire island of Venice. There's a surprise around every corner, and it makes the city even more exciting to experience. With that said, it isn't a normal city, so here's a quick guide.
How to get onto the island
The answer to this question is entirely dependent on your budget. I came with family in 2014 and we hopped in a water taxi, spent about a hundred or so bucks, and went directly to the front door of the hotel in fashion. This time, we walked out of the airport and turned left, following signs to the bus. We purchased a 3 day tourist pass that allowed us to use all the public transportation on the island during our stay, and chose the option which included the airport bus shuttle. The bus took an hour to get us to the north side of the island, which is important to note because it means you essentially have to take another shuttle boat or find a taxi to get to where your hotel is (unless you are staying on that north side of the island). Clearly, it's not easy, but it's Venice so it is what it is.
Where to go to be in the heartbeat of the city: Piazza San Marco
This is the largest piazza of the city and arguably one of the most beautiful in the world. Saint Mark's Basilica is an architectural gem, and although photos are not allowed inside, the stunning nature of the building will stay with you forever. My personal favorite part of Venice is all around San Marco, and the waterfront promenade just adjacent to the piazza is great for a nice post-lunch-in-San-Marco stroll.
Where to get great, cheap pasta on the run: Dal Moro's
Probably the only place that you can get an affordable meal in the city is at this small hole in the wall restaurant that is wildly popular as a result of its genius and all to rare business model in Venice. Grab a container of pasta and a drink for 8 euros and head to a square to enjoy it in the city.
Where to go to hang with some locals: Jewish Ghetto
This is one of the original ghettos in all of Europe apparently, and has become the only quiet, local area of the city. Tourists have yet to overcrowd this northern region of the island, so everything is as authentic as Venice can get. Stay after dinner for a good night scene with college kids spilling out of bars and into the canals.
Where to get dinner when the quiet, local hangout is still crowded and expensive: Cantina Azienda Agricola
Located just a few steps away from the "main street" of the Jewish quarter, this small little restaurant was a pleasant surprise, as it was reasonably priced and incredibly fresh and flavorful, as you would expect in an Italian restaurant. There are tapas options as well, which was crucial for me because my stomach had grown quite upset with me after failing to find a suitable restaurant for nearly an hour before we stumbled upon this gem.
Where to have some fantastic pizza: Birraria La Corte
Recommended by our well-traveled professor, this large restaurant in Campo San Polo lived up to the hype. Great, friendly service made the pizza taste just that much better, and the slightly lower than average prices was a perfect cherry on top (as was the free shots of limoncello to end the night).
Where to cross a legendary bridge: Rialto Bridge
Obviously, you'll be crossing a lot of bridges, but this one in particular has historical and architectural significance, and is also very aesthetically pleasing.
Where to go when Venice is overwhelming: Murano
Take the 30 minute ferry across the lagoon to Murano, where you will find beautifully colored homes, stunning glasswork and all the canals of Venice. Plus, the best part, there are much less tourists. We stopped for a quick bite at the Ristorante Bar Cicchetti where we had sardines while looking at the fish in the canal. We then went into the Murano Glass Company where we watched some legendary glass blowing and bought some souvenirs. The main square of this island is the Campo Santa Stefano, but the best part of our day here was just roaming around the island and enjoying hearing ourselves think.
Venice is beautifully horrible. Its expensive, crowded and inefficient. But it is without a doubt the most beautiful city in the world, so if you know what to expect and how to thrive, you'll be just fine.