Venice offers canals, historic architecture, and a unique charm, but it’s no secret that this world-famous Italian gem can be a heavy strain on your travel funds. At Flight Tribe, we believe you don’t need a princely budget to unlock the magic of Venice.
By planning cleverly and utilising our insider know-how, you can explore this iconic city authentically and without breaking the bank. This guide will cut the typical Venice costs (such as £80 gondola rides) down to £2 traghetti or free walks, saving you hundreds compared to standard tourist pricing.
Table of Contents
- Time your trip to Venice
- Getting to Venice Without Breaking the Bank
- Where to Stay: Affordable Bases in Venice
- Getting Around Venice on a Budget
- Eating and Drinking on a Budget in Venice
- Must-Do Budget Activities in Venice
- Unique Budget Tips to Stand Out
- Budget Breakdown: What to Expect
- Final Thoughts: Venice on a Budget
- Venice on a Budget FAQs
Time your trip to Venice
Though Venice’s €80 gondola rides and sky-high hotel rates might suggest luxury, beneath the surface lies a city of myriad free wonders and low-cost thrills.
Planning when to go to Venice can save you even more cash. If you’re thinking about visiting in the quieter months (November or February, for example), you’ll find:
- Thinner crowds
- Cheaper hotels
- Better flight deals
The canals still shimmer, and you’ll feel like you’ve got the city to yourself.
Getting to Venice Without Breaking the Bank
A little planning can go a long way to you making the most of your time in the City of Bridges. From budget flights to scenic train rides, here’s how to get there for less.
Fly Smart: Budget Airports and Beyond
Though Venice Marco Polo Airport is the typical choice, don’t exclude nearby options:
- Venice Marco Polo Airport: The typical and most convenient choice, but not the best for saving money.
- Treviso (Ryanair hub): Just under 30 miles away, with flights as low as £20 return from the UK if booked early—compared to £100+ for typical Venice Marco Polo fares.
- Verona: Also under 30 miles away, with a scenic 90-minute train ride for €9 through vineyards and historic towns like Vicenza.
See our cheap flights to Italy page for the latest deals and best fares.
Consider flying to other airport like Verona for cheaper routes to Venice.
Where to Stay: Affordable Bases in Venice
While the city centre can be pricey, choosing the right neighbourhood can save you a fortune without sacrificing the experience. Here’s where to find the best value stays.
Embrace the Edges
St Mark’s Square and other central districts can see hotel prices well over £200 a night. Quieter areas like Cannaregio or Santa Croce, though, are much more accommodating to budget travellers.
- Hostels like Cannaregio’s Generator Hotel can start £25 per dorm bed.
- Family-run guesthouses like Al Portico have basic doubles that range from £60 to £80.
- Top pick: See the deal for Hotel Agli Artisti in Cannaregio. It’s traditional, charming, close to the station, and often under £100 per night for two.
By staying out of tourist hotspots, you can rest assured you won’t overspend on your accommodation, all while enjoying the charming architecture and atmosphere of Venice’s outer districts.
Mestre: The Mainland Money-Saver
If you want to make some serious savings, set up camp in Mestre, just a 10-minute train ride (which costs £1.45) from Venice’s historic centre.
- Hotels: Check prices at Hotel Venezia, where they typically have double rooms starting at £50.
- Perks: You’ll be out of the way of tourist markups on food and drinks. Mestre’s streets are also less crowded, which is a nice reprieve from the hustle and bustle of Venice.
Getting Around Venice on a Budget
Whether you’re walking, hopping on a vaporetto, or taking a shortcut across the Grand Canal, there are a number of ways to navigate Venice on a budget. It may be known for its canals, but that doesn’t mean you have to break the bank to explore them.
Walk It Out
Being as compact as it is, Venice works wonders for those willing to stroll its labyrinths. Enjoy its charming absence of cars by taking a 30-minute stroll from the train station to St Mark’s Square, all at no cost, with great views, and plenty of opportunities for photos. Make the most of the detours on the way: Dorsoduro or Cannaregio can provide half the fun.
Save with the Vaporetto
It can be hard to resist taking the water buses (vaporetti) through Venice, even though they’re pricey at €9.50 a ride. If you’re thinking of making regular use of them, a 24-hour pass costs €25, giving unlimited rides (including to Lido) versus €9.50 per trip otherwise. Once you get it validated on your first trip, you’ll be set for a full day of canal-cruising.
Traghetto: The €2 Gondola
If you’re desperate for a gondola ride but unwilling to part with €80, you can hop on a traghetto, a shared gondola ferry crossing the Grand Canal. And it’s only €2. It’s quick, authentic, and will get you the bragging rights without the hole in your wallet. Spots like Santa Sofia and San Tomà have them available.
Eating and Drinking on a Budget in Venice
Though Venice does have a reputation for pricey dining, there are lots of ways to eat well without breaking the bank. From local cicchetti to aperitivo deals, here’s how to enjoy Venice’s flavours on a budget.
Cicchetti: Venice’s Answer to Tapas
If you’re happy to skip sit-down dinners, visit the bacari (local bars) for cicchetti, which are bite-sized Venetian snacks that double as a meal.
- Options: Polpette (meatballs) or crostini with baccalà (cod) for €1-€3 each.
- Hotspot: Cantina Do Mori, the oldest bacaro in Venice, offers classics with house wine for low prices. Stand at the bar to dodge table service fees.
Aperitivo Hour: Drinks with Free Bites
You’ll find that Venetian bars offer aperitivo from 18:00-20:00 most nights. Order a €3-5 spritz (try Select, Venice’s original, over Aperol) and enjoy the complimentary nibbles that come alongside, such as olives, bruschetta, or even pasta dishes.
For our recommendation, try Bar Alla Toletta in Dorsoduro for drinks that stretch into a light dinner.
Market Munchies
The Rialto Market is open in the mornings Monday through Saturday, and has an array of fresh fruit, bread, and cheese, which will set you back far less than a restaurant will. Grab a picnic’s worth for less than €10 and enjoy it by the canal, though you will want to avoid bridges or church steps for fines.
Must-Do Budget Activities in Venice
There’s more to Venice than its gondola rides and expensive museums. Some of its best experiences are completely free. Stunning viewpoints and hidden gems are dotted throughout the Floating City, and you can enjoy them all without spending a cent.
Free Sights That Rival the Icons
If you want to skip the €6 Basilica di San Marco entry (though we thoroughly recommend giving it a try if you’ve got the money spare), you can see its wondrous golden facade for free.
You’ll find panoramic lagoon views at Punta della Dogana, and unbeatable sunrises at the Rialto Bridge. Both cost nothing, but they deliver big.
If you’re wondering how to see the sights of other Italian cities without dipping too far into savings, see our Rome ultimate money-saving guide.
Libreria Acqua Alta: A Quirky Freebie
If you’re something of a bookworm, it’s absolutely worth your time to visit Libreria Acqua Alta, an offbeat bookstore in Castello.
To protect its stock from floods, the store has its books stacked in gondolas and bathtubs, with an outdoor “book staircase” that simply must be photographed. Browsing is free, and you can pick up a €3 postcard instead of pricier souvenirs.
Lido’s Free Beach Day
Take a vaporetto ride to the sandy-beached island of Lido, where life is slower and quieter than it is in the city.
There’s a beautiful public beach at the western end, Art Nouveau architecture to enjoy, and perfect for a budget chill day. For cinephiles, it also plays host to the Venice Film Festival, which has its own museum in the Palazzo del Cinema.
Unique Budget Tips to Stand Out
As promised, Venice is filled with hidden gems and unique ways to explore. You can avoid the tourist traps while having an adventure tailored to your own schedule and preferences.
Watch Sunsets at Fondamenta Zattere
If you make your way at dusk to the Fondamenta Zattere in Dorsoduro, you’ll find a free sunset view over the Giudecca Canal. The waterfront promenade is less crowded than St Mark’s but just as beautiful, and it comes with €2 vintage Italian ice cream from Gelateria Nico nearby.
DIY Island Hopping
Tours to Murano and Burano can be expensive.
If you get hold of a €25 vaporetto pass, you can get on the #12 from Donamente Nove to Burano, which takes 45 minutes, then make the short 20-minute trip from Burano to Murano.
Burano’s rainbow streets are free to enjoy, as are Murano’s glassblowers, as workshops don’t typically charge for a quick viewing.
Avoid the Souvenir Trap
You’ll find that masks and magnets are offered to you for €10 or more on the streets of Venice. Avoid at all costs.
These souvenirs are mass-produced and often poorly-made. Instead, visit Ca’ Macana in Dorsoduro for handmade paper notebooks or mini masks from €5. These trinkets are authentic, affordable, and will certainly last you the trip home and beyond.
Budget Packing Tips
Pack smart to keep costs down when you travel to Venice. There’ll be a lot of walking involved, so remember to pack comfy shoes, and you can skip the gondola splurge and explore on foot.
A reusable water bottle saves you from €2 bottled water, and a light rain jacket can prepare you for sudden showers, without needing pricey umbrellas. Less luggage also means fewer fees on budget flights.
Budget Breakdown: What to Expect
With all that in mind, here’s a breakdown of the prices you can expect with our expert travel advice during your trip to Venice:
- Transport: £20 flight, £10 bus from Treviso or £20 train from Milan.
- Stay: £25 hostel dorm or £50 per person per night in Cannaregio.
- Food: £10-£15 daily (with market snacks and cicchetti).
- Activities: £25 vaporetto pass + free sights = £25 total.
- Daily Total: £60-90 per person.
If you act savvy, you can enjoy Venice for far less than you would the standard tourist experience. With affordable transport, accommodation, meals, and activities, you need not worry about breaking the bank.
Final Thoughts: Venice on a Budget
Not only is it possible to go to Venice on a budget, but it’s easy to enjoy with the right planning. There are overpriced clichés and tourist traps everywhere, but stay clear and embrace local shops and sites, and you’ll see a raw, real, and affordable side of this beautiful city. Even a 2-3-day trip can be cost-effective and unforgettable with these tips.
Ready to plan your trip? See our cheap flights to Italy page for great deals on travel, and start your Venetian adventure without fretting over finances.
Visiting wider Italy
If you’re broadening your Italy visit to other cities and towns, please enjoy our other guides below:
Venice on a Budget FAQs
Can you go to Venice on a budget?
Absolutely. With clever planning (like budget flights to Treviso, affordable stays in Cannaregio, and free sights), you can enjoy Venice without breaking the bank. Our guide shows you how.
What’s the cheapest way to get around Venice?
As Venice is so compact, walking is by far the best way to get around without any cost. For canals, try a €2 traghetto ride or a €25 vaporetto pass for unlimited trips in a day.
Is eating out in Venice expensive?
It certainly can be, but local tricks go a long way to avoiding high prices. Grab cicchetti at bacari for €1-3 each, sip a €3 spritz during aperitivo hour with free bites, or shop at Rialto Market for a cheap picnic.
How many euros do I need for 3 days in Venice?
Going back to our budget breakdown, you can expect to need around €180-270 total (€60-90 per day). That’ll cover a cheap flight or train, a hostel or budget accommodation, affordable meals, and a vaporetto pass. All you need for a great trip.
