7 Ways To Save Money In Venice, Italy | Live Lovely Travel

Venice Italy was just as amazing as I thought it would be, but so much pricier than I imagined! While in Verona, food was extremely affordable, so we were a bit sticker-shocked when we got to Venice. Being an island where everything has to be shipped in by boat as well as being one of the most touristy areas of Italy, this trip can hurt your wallet. Of course, there are some things you won’t want to miss out on (like a gondola ride), but you can save plenty of your hard earned cash with these easy tips. Some of these we learned by making a few tourist mistakes and others we wised up to along the way. These are seven simple ways that we saved money during our visit.

One. Skip the hotel. Hotels in this area can be expensive. We stayed in a room through Airbnb, which saved us some money during our stay. We were so busy exploring that the room was not super important, but we ended up finding this amazing place along the way (pictured above). 

Two. For small meals and snacks, eat on the street: think pizza from street side vendors (very romantic to eat on a spot along the water or sitting by a bridge) and for breakfast or espresso, drink and eat at the counter standing up as you will be charged extra for sitting in. 

Three. Wear comfy walking shoes so that you can walk back instead of having to take an expensive water taxi, which will cost you at least sixty euros for a 12 minute ride! If you really want a tour by boat, take one of the larger and less expensive water buses instead. Gondola rides cost 80 euros per boat (not per person) so you can save the cost by sharing a ride and splitting it with friends or another small group. You will also save money by riding earlier in the day, as gondola rides after seven in the evening can be priced at 100 euros! (That is around $115 for a 30-40 minute ride.)

Four. You don’t have to skip on souvenirs. Go for a smaller half-face mask instead of a full-faced one. A small Venetian mask should cost no more than 5-6 euros. If the prices are much higher, shop around at another outdoor stall or shop. 

Five. Eat and shop at places that are further away from the tourist spots and crowds. The further you walk away from busy and popular areas, the more affordable you will notices that the prices become. Also, ask locals where they love to eat. They may have some of the best suggestions for affordable and delicious dining. 

Six. This one is a given, but watch your wallet. You probably heard it all before, but there are pick-pockets in Venice, just as there are in every touristy area around the world. I really noticed it here though, more that other places we have been to. My husband almost had his wallet snatched when he was taking a picture on the side of a bridge. There was a group of young people hanging out and one whistled and made a motion to a girl standing on Matthew’s right and she leaned over to reach in. Thankfully, we were both vigilant. Another tourist we met was not so lucky when her phone was snatched by a man selling roses. 

Seven. Don’t fall for street scams. A popular one in Venice is a man will hand you a rose, then ask you to pay for it. One time a man tried to get me to take a rose and I said no thank you. He kept trying and actually grabbed my arm to force me to take the rose so I dropped it and quickly walked away. There are other scams in Italy, but this one is the most common in Venice. 

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