Each year, million of tourists visit Venice and the vast majority of them will pay too much to eat mediocre food in tourist-traps. Luckily Venice also has a lot of (hidden) great restaurants and most importantly 'Bacari', which is their version of a Spanish Tapas bar. Bacari usually serve a variety of small colourful, budget-friendly dishes which change continuously based on the season (some actually change hour by hour). These small dishes are called 'cicchetti' and are meant to be the perfect companion to a glass of wine or a Spritz. Think of these Bacari as your local neighbourhood bar, and be ready to bend elbow to elbow with the locals. Here are my favorite places to eat, drink, snack and stay in Venice!

Venezia

In this list and interactive digital map you'll find my best tips on what to do during a weekend in Venice. It includes:
- 1 artisanal breakfast option,
- 3 aperitivo options,
- 2 restaurants,
- 3 off-the-beaten path activities.

Don't forget to save ☑️ this map for future use!

Venice, VE, Italia

Veneto, Italia

Best of Venice  

Eating well in Venice doesn’t have to be hard! These are my favorite spots in the city for a good bite at any budget. 

Venice, Metropolitan City of Venice, Italy

Tasting Italy: Venice 🇮🇹 

If you're headed to Venice and want to eat some of the best meals of your life, grab this list! 

WHY THIS LIST INSTEAD OF MY FREE VERSION? Because this way, you have options! 
Find yourself hangry and need food ASAP? You'll find great, authentic options on this list near you no matter where you are! 
Your first choice restaurant is full? I include plenty of options, so you have backups in each neighborhood! 
In a really touristy area without a reservation? This gives you a cheat sheet for eating well anywhere you find yourself! 

Everywhere on here I've personally eaten or had it recommended to me by someone I trust living here at least 5 years.

In this guide, you'll get: 
- an interactive map to help navigate you to each spot
- recommendations on typical dishes to order
- Categories include: restaurants, cicchetti & cheap eats, coffee & breakfast, wine & cocktail bars, gelato

🇮🇹 Tasting Italy: Venice Foodie List

La Serenissima- One of the most important ports of the Mediterranean and home to some incredible art,food and wine. It's an open air museum. 
The Rialto Market is right on the Grand Canal.
It can be really crowded on these tiny streets, watch your wallets.

I❤️ Markets: Venice

THE DAY-BY-DAY GUIDE TO THE HIGHLIGHTS OF ITALY - ROME, FLORENCE, VENICE, & MORE 🇮🇹

I've been fortunate enough to visit Italy multiple times and even more fortunate to have been guided by true Italian friends. Here, I take all that I've learned from those travels and distill it into one perfect itinerary that hits the big highlights. 

This itinerary is a great fit for first-timers since it'll take you to the absolute must-see spots in Italy. You certainly won't see all the boot has to offer (just plan on coming back for future trips, plural, to make that happen), but you'll see the most iconic places at a reasonable, enjoyable pace. You'll be able to soak up all the history, food, wine, and dolce vita these cities have to offer. After this first taste, you'll be dying to come back for more!

🗺️ Main Itinerary Stops:
- Rome | 2 full days / 3 nights
- Orvieto | Pit stop
- Tuscany // Montalcino | 2 full days / 3 nights
- Siena | Pit stop
- Florence | 2 full days / 3 nights
- Tivoli | Pit stop
- Rome | Overnight for return flight 

🗺️ Optional Extension Stops:
- Pisa | Day trip (+ extra night in Florence)
- Bologna | Pit stop
- Venice | 2 full days / 3 nights 
- Modena | 1 full day / 1 night here or nearby  

📣IF YOU WANT MORE INFO BEFORE PURCHASING ➡️ Check out the free preview of this guide. It includes:

- OVERVIEW STATS: Including trip length, ideal season, trip speed, physicality, trip themes, who this trip is best for, cost, and how to get around

- STOP-BY-STOP OVERVIEW: Including number of days at each destination and number of activities, restaurants, and hotels included in the full version of this guide

- EXAMPLE ITINERARY DAY: An example day from the full version of this itinerary, so you can see the level of detail and travel style you can expect!

- BONUS - HOTEL RECOMMENDATIONS: All the same recs from the paid version! Consider supporting my work by booking through the links provided - it’s much appreciated!

Montalcino, Province of Siena, Italy

Orvieto, Province of Terni, Italy

Pisa, Province of Pisa, Italy

Tivoli, Metropolitan City of Rome Capital, Italy

Modena, Province of Modena, Italy

Tuscany, Italy

Siena, Province of Siena, Italy

Bologna, Metropolitan City of Bologna, Italy

Rome, Metropolitan City of Rome Capital, Italy

Florence, Metropolitan City of Florence, Italy

ITINERARY | 9-14 Day Italian Highlights

If you're visiting Venice, Italy save this culinary guide on what and where you should be eating. Venetian cuisine is quite unique, and the city itself doesn't always get the best rep, but that's because it's easy to fall for the tourist traps if you don't know where to go and what to order. Enjoy this guide to learn what are the typical dishes to try, and 17 restaurants/bakeries/bars to try them at. I've also included my full guide on "cicchetti" (Venetian tapas), and 24 restaurant/bars where to eat them.

What and Where to Eat in Venice, Italy

Discover the Splendors of Venice with Our Exclusive 4-Nights in Venice Itinerary for the Discerning Traveler.

Venture into the heart of Venice, a city steeped in romance, history, and unparalleled beauty. First-time visitors will be swept away by the iconic canals, architectural marvels, and the vibrant atmosphere that makes Venice a crown jewel of Italy. Whether you're gliding through serene waterways on a traditional gondola, marveling at the intricate mosaics of St. Mark's Basilica, or indulging in authentic Italian cuisine at a picturesque waterside trattoria, our itinerary is designed to help you seize every precious moment in this floating city.

Explore hidden corners, seek guidance from a local expert, and immerse yourself in the charming districts that lend Venice its distinct allure. Embark on an unforgettable voyage through the City of Canals and unveil the true spirit of Venice in just four remarkable nights.

What to expect in my itinerary?

- itinerary customizable to your interests
- 4 & 5 star Hotel recommendations with booking links based on my site inspections and partner relationships
- Extensive restaurant recommendations, some with online booking links
- Private tours with booking links that are worth the splurge

Feeling a bit overwhelmed by all the choices? Let's hop on a call together, and you can pick my brain about anything and everything Venice related.   See the link included at the end of this itinerary, or my consultation services offered on my page. 

Complete Itinerary for Venice - 4 Nights

A list of my favourite places to eat in Venice! Cafes, Cicchetti, and restaurants- this list is perfect for any foodie traveller. 

Italy

11 Delicious Eateries in Venice

14-Day Italy Road Trip: From Milan to Rome mbark on an unforgettable journey through Italy, exploring its diverse landscapes, historic cities, and charming countryside. This 14-day itinerary will take you from the fashion capital, Milan, down to the Eternal City, Rome, with stops in some of Italy's most iconic destinations along the way.  

14-Days Italy On The Road Trip

This was the blueprint for our Honeymoon, but this trip can be used for any couple looking for a romantic getaway to Italy. We begin in Venice before traveling to Florence, 3 Tuscany Cities and Wineries, and ending this dream getaway in Positano on the picturesque Amalfi Coast. Each day has been thoughtfully planned to give you the ultimate vacation. 

Pro Tip: We travelled June/July, but you can opt for May/June or September/October for lower prices and less crowds while still enjoying nice weather.  They will also harvest the grapes and olives around October. If traveling off-season, please note some recommendations may be closed for the season.

What's Included in this Guide?
*Day-by-Day itinerary with what to do, where to stay, and what to eat for 12 days (2 in Venice, 5 in Florence/Tuscany, and 5 in Positano/Amalfi Coast)
*Day trips to 3 Tuscan Wineries and Cities
*Day Trip to Pompei on the way to Positano
*Boat Trip to Capri and various Grottos
*Various museum and tour recommendations
*Guidance on the Hand of God Hike on the Amalfi Coast
*An Italian Dream vacation come to life

Disclaimer: My wife cried on the way to our first Winery as we drove through Tuscany. She had not had one sip of wine yet. Tissues are not required, but may be recommended.

Positano, SA, Italy

Lucca, Province of Lucca, Italy

Capri, Metropolitan City of Naples, Italy

San Gimignano, Province of Siena, Italy

Ravello, SA, Italy

12 Day Romantic Italian Getaway: Venice-Florence/Tuscany-Positano/Amalfi Coast

Get ready for the ultimate European adventure with this 2024 - 2025 travel guide, packed with everything you need for an unforgettable journey through Italy, France, and Belgium! 

We’re talking about must-see landmarks, hidden gems, top-notch activities, and mouth-watering dining spots that will have you falling in love with each country. 

This guide has everything from Rome’s ancient wonders to Paris’s romantic charm and the picturesque canals of Bruges. Plus, I've scouted out the best Instagram-worthy spots so you can capture every magical moment. Let’s make your European dream trip a reality! 🌍

France

Belgium

European Getaway: Italy, France & Belgium

Venice, Italy

Venice & Modena

Al Covo

One of my favorite restaurants in Venice and arguably one of the best, family run by Venetian-Texan power duo Cesare and Diane since 1987.

Refined Venetian cuisine.

The menu changes daily depending on what they sourced that morning at the fish market and on what is growing in their garden on the nearby island of Sant'Erasmo.

The restaurant is part of The Alliance of Chefs and Slow Food Presidia.


Order:
- boiled baby shrimp and boiled mantis shrimp;
- artichoke salad;
- clam pot;
- spider crab pasta in the crab's shell;
- spaghetti "allo scoglio" ("with seafood");
- spaghettti with local red ttuna, capers, olives and pistachios;
- homemade tagliatelle with lamb ragù;
- roast Adriatic "Gentile" sole;
- medley of fried seafood;
- fried Venetian cream.

Al Covo is a simple yet refined restaurant that serves typical dishes from Venice and the Veneto region in general. Portions are generous, fresh and beautifully presented. They have a focus on local varieties of fish, such as monkfish wrapped in crispy pancetta with a celeriac fondue 

Special meal place. Chef Cesare is from Tuscany and his wife Diane is from USA. I went there years go and will never forget being told to NOT put lemon on my fresh fish as it would kill the flavor of the fish! Live and learn.

   This rustically elegant restaurant is close to the Riva degli Schiavoni and is much frequented by tourists. The menus are delightfully varied and listed under three full - flavoured headings.

A true taste of Venetian cuisine. Led by a husband-and-wife team, this is a welcoming, local-favorite spot is committed to using locally sourced, seasonal ingredients for innovative dishes.

Fine dining spot, mostly seafood. Order whatever the daily specials are - they’re based on what was the best catch that morning. They source sustainable ingredients. Lives up to the hype! 

FRESH VENETIAN CLASSICS

🏆 Michelin Recommended

A high-quality, family-run restaurant that turns out great food without pretention. 

A family-run restaurant that blends Venetian and Mediterranean flavors.

Al Covo

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