A travel journal

Venice, Again and Again

Notes, photographs, and honest recommendations from someone who keeps coming back.

Recent Stories

Guides, walks, and observations from thirty-something trips to Venice

Getting There

Marco Polo to Venice: How to Actually Get There

Water buses, land buses, water taxis, and the option I wish I'd known about on my first trip. A breakdown of every way to get from the airport to the city.

14 min read

Exploring

14 Things Worth Doing in Venice (And a Few Worth Skipping)

After thirty visits, here's what still pulls me back and what I'd quietly skip if nobody was watching.

15 min read

Neighborhoods

Where to Stay in Venice: A Neighborhood-by-Neighborhood Take

San Marco, Dorsoduro, Cannaregio, Castello — each sestiere has a personality. Here's how to pick the right one.

13 min read

Food & Drink

Eating in Venice: Cicchetti, Seafood, and the Bars Nobody Tells You About

I've eaten cicchetti at probably forty different bars in Venice. These are the ones I keep going back to.

12 min read

Landmarks

San Marco Without the Crowds (Yes, It's Possible)

The piazza at 7am is a completely different place than at noon. One is yours. The other belongs to ten thousand strangers.

10 min read

Experiences

Gondola Rides: Worth the Money or Tourist Trap?

Everyone has an opinion. I've taken five gondola rides and have some thoughts on when it's worth it and when the traghetto does the job.

9 min read

Day Trips

Murano and Burano: Glass, Color, and Getting Away from the Mainland

Two islands, two completely different reasons to visit. One for the craft, one for the camera.

11 min read

Budget

Venice Doesn't Have to Bankrupt You

A realistic budget guide for a city with a reputation for emptying wallets. Spoiler: the best things here aren't the expensive ones.

11 min read

Planning

When to Visit Venice: Month by Month, No Sugarcoating

Every month has trade-offs. I'll tell you exactly what to expect, including the ones the tourism board doesn't mention.

10 min read

Getting Around

Vaporetto, Traghetto, Water Taxi — Getting Around Venice by Boat

Everyone talks about gondolas. Almost nobody mentions the traghetto — same canal, fraction of the price, and you stand up like a local.

10 min read

Markets

Rialto: The Bridge, the Market, and the Best Aperitivo Nearby

Go for the fish market at 8am, stay for the spritz at sunset. A guide to Venice's oldest commercial heart.

9 min read

Festivals

Venice Carnival: What It's Actually Like (Not What Instagram Shows)

The masks are real, the crowds are intense, and the experience is nothing like the photos suggest. Here's what to actually expect.

11 min read

Art & Culture

Venice for Art Lovers: Galleries, Churches, and the Biennale

This city is basically an open-air museum. But some rooms are better than others, and the entry fees add up faster than you'd think.

12 min read

History

Doge's Palace and the Bridge of Sighs: A Proper Visit

Skip the audio guide, buy the Secret Itineraries tour, and see the parts of this building that most visitors never reach.

10 min read