Maybe you’ve already guessed this from the other posts: Visiting Venice can be a bit overwhelming. It’s not just the everyday life of a big Italian city: everything takes place in a very small space and things work differently than we – and even mainland Italians – are used to.
Venice is one of the most famous tourist destinations in Europe, if not the world. It is also a city that has become known for overtourism. I visit Venice anywhere from one to four times a year. In recent years, I have had the opportunity to visit the city at any time of the year. During my visits, I have always stayed in Venice for several days and have been able to extensively test many of the best Venice travel guides listed.
Despite its manageable size, I recommend planning your visit in advance, especially if it’s your first time. The Venice travel books and guides in this post should help.
The special and best Venice travel guides
Venice as I love it. A guide to get lost with
“Venice as I love it. A guide to get lost with” is possibly my favorite, both in structure and content, and I highly recommend it to you. The subtitle “A guide for getting lost with” is exceptional and made me buy it when I first saw it. I knew immediately – and I wasn’t wrong – that I would find something suitable and new for my curiosity for Venice.
111 Places in Venice that you must not miss
“111 Places in Venice that you must not miss” is one of the best Venice travel guides that I recommend to passionate travelers and also to locals, because it really does offer special insights that go beyond the usual tourist routes. The author, Gerd Wolfgang Sievers, is a professional chef and has long since made a name for himself as the author of successful cookbooks. His interest in Venetian cuisine led him to spend a long time in Venice. You can find the corresponding cookbook at the end of the list.
The Secret Venice of Corto Maltese. Fantastic and Hidden Itineraries
“The Secret Venice of Corto Maltese. Fantastic and Hidden Itineraries” is a Venice travel book that takes the approach of getting very close to its “protagonist” Corto Maltese. (Corto Maltese is one of the cult characters and icons of the European graphic novel scene, created by the Italian master Hugo Pratt, who himself lived in and around Venice). The book proposes you seven itineraries, described in a completely unusual way compared to normal Venice travel books, accompanied by Hugo Pratt’s wonderful pictures.
To give an idea of the underlying style, I quote the saying on page three: “Viagiar descanta, ma chi parte mona torna mona” (Venetian for: Travel sharpens the mind, but if you start out as an airhead, you’ll come back as an airhead).
Classical Venice Travel Guides and Venice Travel Books
Lonely Planet Travel Guide Venice & Veneto
The Lonely Planet Venice travel guide here in the detailed version. A quick and flexible guide that may not be very original, but is certainly useful for planning your vacation and getting around the city.
Rick Steves’ Venice (2023)
Rick Steves’ Venice travel guide offers a comprehensive and practical overview of the city, including its history, culture, and top attractions. This Venice travel book includes detailed walking tours of Venice’s major neighborhoods, such as San Marco, Dorsoduro, and Cannaregio, with suggested itineraries and insider tips on how to avoid crowds and make the most of your visit.
A book tip for gourmets!
Venice On A Plate: But What A Plate!
Enrica Rocca’s book explores the culinary traditions of Venice, Italy, and features a collection of recipes inspired by the city’s unique cuisine.
The book is divided into sections that focus on different aspects of Venetian specialties culture, including fish and seafood, vegetables, meat, pasta, and desserts. Each section includes a range of recipes, as well as information on the history and cultural significance of the dishes.
Do you want to learn Italian while enjoying a coffee in Venice?
The most successful language learners get into the habit of studying on a regular basis. 50 Italian Coffee Breaks makes it easy to master a simple routine for improving your Italian by effortlessly integrating it into your soothing daily ritual – from a 5-minute espresso to a 15-minute latte.
But what makes the best travel guide?
The best Venice travel guides should be packed with in-depth reports, reviews, well-kept secrets, hidden treasures, and more, making them invaluable before and during a trip.
They should be, too:
- Rich in information to help you get the most out of your vacation;
- Divided into neighborhoods with detailed information on all their peculiarities;
- List the main attractions and activities, shopping, nightlife and accommodations;
- Provides a survival guide on how best to get around the city and includes detailed sections on pre-planning;
- Offer a detailed city map and pull-out detailed maps.
Highlights and suggested itineraries help you tailor your trip to your personal needs and interests. Insider tips help you save time and money, and avoid crowds and trouble spots like the locals.
Cultural Insights provide a rich, rewarding travel experience by introducing you to the culinary specialties, art and architecture, theater and opera of the city you visit. This way, you’ll know when the events you’re most interested in are taking place, and you’ll be able to choose the best time to vacation in Venice.
The best Venice travel guides will not only tell you about the history of the city, but also about the daily life of the Venetians, about the peculiarities of San Marco, Dorsoduro, San Polo, Santa Croce, Cannaregio, Castello and Giudecca, about the excursions on the Lido and on the islands of Murano and Burano.
Venice’s main attractions
Among the most famous monuments are:
- Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari church
- Canal Grande
- Ca’ d’Oro
- Rialto Bridge
- Accademia
- Theater La Fenice
- St. Mark’s Square (“Piazza San Marco”)
- St. Mark’s Basilica (“Basilica of San Marco”)
- St Mark’s Bell Tower (“Campanile di San Marco”)
- Doge’s Palace (“Palazzo ducale”)
- Bridge of Sighs (“Ponte dei sospiri”)
- Procuratie and Museo Correr
- Santa Maria della Salute church
- San Giorgio Maggiore church
- Lido of Venice
- Arsenale
- Ghetto of Venice
- Peggy Guggenheim Collection
- San Michele church
- San Bartolomeo church
- Santi Giovanni e Paolo church
- Santa Maria dei Miracoli church
- Santa Maria Assunta church
- Great School of St Rocco (“Grande scuola di San Rocco”)
- Palace and spiral staircase Contarini del Bovolo
- Grassi palace
- Great School of St Marco (“Grande scuola di San Marco”)
- Ca’ Pesaro
- Museum of the Venetian 18th century (“Ca’ Rezzonico – Museo del Settecento Veneziano”)
- Santa Maria Formosa church
- Santa Maria Zobenigo church
- Santa Maria und San Donato church
But there is much more to discover: Venice, the city of bridges, is spread over 118 islands connected by ferries and bridges. All the buildings and alleys of Venice form a whole, and the best Venice travel guides will give you exactly this picture.
Another important aspect of the best Venice travel guide is to give you good advice for the time between all the cultural activities: Where is the most authentic food and the most fun nightlife? Where are the best places to stay at night?
Find out about the Venetian culinary traditions
A large percentage of tourists in Venice end up in restaurants where they eat poorly and feel ripped off. These Venice travel books recommend places for all budgets where locals eat, bars where you can get traditional Venetian ciccheti, and the best places for vegetarians and vegans. There’s also often advice on ordering food and essential Italian vocabulary.
This post is about food, specifically authentic Venetian specialties, and the typical places where long-time residents and newcomers like to eat.