Most train stations spit you out onto a taxi rank and a sad sandwich shop. Venezia Santa Lucia spits you out onto the steps of the Grand Canal. Boats everywhere. Domes across the water. No cars at all, because there's nowhere to put them. It's one of the great "wait, is this real?" moments in European travel.
Venice was the other city we protected when we trimmed the plan. We gave up Florence partly so we'd have more time here, and it was worth it.
Getting around a city with no roads
Your feet and the vaporetto (the water bus) are your whole transit system. Line 1 is the slow boat down the length of the Grand Canal, and it's basically a sightseeing cruise for the price of a bus ticket. Grab a spot near the front or back where you can see out.
Walking is the real move, though. Venice is a maze of alleys, tiny bridges, and dead ends that suddenly open onto a quiet square with a church and a well and exactly zero other tourists. Put the map away for an hour. You'll find your way back eventually. Probably.
Weirdo tip: go early, stay late
Venice fills up with day-trippers in the middle of the day and empties out in the evening. Staying overnight means you get the city at its best: early morning before the crowds, and late evening when the canals go quiet. If you're only visiting for the day, check whether Venice's day-tripper access fee applies on your date before you go.
Next stop: the grand finale
From Venice, Italy's high-speed trains make Rome an easy few hours south. We boarded with salty hair, sore feet, and full hearts, ready for the last leg.
