5 Venice Locations Away From Tourists
In my recent Venice photography videos, I had a few comments and messages regarding how quiet Venice was. This was in contrast to what most people imagine when they think of Venice. Most people imagine packed streets with no room to move. Well I am here to say that it is true.
The central and touristy parts of Venice are unbearable especially during peak season and weekends. However having spent a month living in Venice, I can safely say that 95% of people only stay within a small central part. Actually most of Venice is pretty quiet and chilled out. In this blog I will share with you 5 parts you have to visit for a quieter experience.
Castello
Castello is located towards the east of the main island and is very much a residential area. From the centre, it is about a 20 minute walk and I would suggest half a day to explore this area. Start on one side and zig zag your way across. On a sunny day you will see all the locals hang their washing out between the buildings. It’s nothing novel but looks cool. Although I would recommend exploring it all, I would like to highlight San Francesco della Vigna. A beautiful church yard which is tourist free and amazing for photos. Also make sure to explore some of the parks. Venice does not have much green space, so this is a refreshing change. There is an amazing cafe garden called Caffe La Serra which is located in the Viale Garibaldi. Finally while you’re there make sure to pop to the tiny islands on the edge of Castello such as Isola di San Pietro.
Dorsoduro
Dorsoduro is located towards the south west part of the island and is an area full of locals and students. I didn’t realise that Venice would have such a bustling student population. Similar to Castello, this area is not on the direct tourist path and although some parts can have more tourists (especially the further east you go), in general it is chilled and not too busy. It is also full of great little cafes, bars and lots of food. Finally in the mornings and late afternoons, the light is just amazing. The narrow streets get lit up perfectly and will provide endless photo opportunities. Once you’ve done shooting, head down to the water and grab a Spritz from one of the many bars.
Cannaregio
Now it’s time to head to the north west of the island and explore what is know as the Jewish district. Cannaregio is a large area and quite a few parts will be very touristy. However if you head all the way to the most north west part of the island, you will have no one there. Then you can explore by heading east and zig zagging all the streets. It is all residential and even the first two canals will be quiet, however the Rio di San Girolamo canal can get pretty busy with locals especially around sunset. I would suggest to avoid The Rio Tera Lista Di Spagna as it is the main high street which will be unbearably busy. Instead just go a couple streets in and you wont have to deal with 1000 tourists.
Giudecca
If the previous three spots were a little too busy for you, then I suggest hopping on a boat and crossing over to Giudecca. It is the large island that you can see from Dorsoduro and it is mostly residential and a little industrial too. In contrast, there are hardly any tourists there and it makes for a nice escape from the bustle of the main island. I suggest getting off at Sacca Fisola and then walking east. No specific route, just go with the flow and zig zag your way around. Finally when you get to the end, grab another ferry over San Giorgio. To be honest this could have easily been a bridge crossing but the ferry runs very frequently. There you will find a great museum and a beautiful sunset spot.
Pellestrina
If you really insist on going to where no tourist ever goes, then you need to go to Pellestrina. I am sure you get the odd tourist, but considering how remote it is, you will be lucky to see one. First get the boat over to Lido and then jump on the 11 bus heading to Pellestrina. The cool bit is that the bus has to go on a ferry to cross from Lido to Pellestrina. That was one of my favourite parts. Then stay on the bus for a while until you’re about 3/4 of the way up. Jump out and head towards to sea. You will now find hardly anyone there. No shops, no cafes and no people. It seems like a small fishing village due to the high number of fishing boats all moored up. From here slowly head back towards Lido and whenever you had enough walking or you’re bored, find the nearest bus stop, jump on the 11 and head back to Lido. In total set aside a whole day for Lido and Pellestrina.
