There are so many things to do on a romantic Venice getaway.
Of all the places to go on a romantic holiday, Italy has so many contenders, and high on the list is Venice. Venice is a wonderful place to go for a romantic getaway with your favourite high-class travel companion escort. Yes, it can be touristy — but with a carefully planned itinerary, you can enjoy all that it has to offer and miss (some of) the crowds.
Where better to invite your favourite travel companion on your next FMTY?
The enchanting — and slightly bewildering — thing about Venice is that the city is effectively a living museum. And you know how I feel about a museum date! Everywhere you look is a pretty square, a beautiful building, an ancient church full of priceless art. And that is without the incredible Venice Biennale.
This means it’s an amazing place to spend a few days. But where do you even begin?!
Perfect things to do on A Romantic Venice Getaway
Galleries and Sights
Ca’Rezzonico
Get there early and have a coffee in the café (a hidden gem with fantastic coffee and a perfect little terrace on the canal) and then see the Tiepolo ceiling frescoes, and the spectacular Murano-glass chandeliers.
Galleria dell’Accademia
Simply a beautiful collection of art. And when we were there, Anish Kapoor had a huge Biennale exhibition which we thoroughly enjoyed seeing. Make sure you get a photo of the view from the bridge!
Peggy Guggenheim Collection
A beautiful building and garden, with a really fun gift shop, too! I enjoyed the collection, which is kind of a checklist of a modern art who’s who.
Missing this morning coffee view 🥺 someone take me back to Italy, I'll be such a good girl ❤️ pic.twitter.com/EybnKI42nB
— Rachel Fox 🇬🇧 London, Paris, FMTY (@RachelFoxLondon) May 31, 2022
Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute
Want to see an impressive collection of Titians? This is the right place! Take in the Old Masters in the Sacristy and enjoy the lovely architecture.
The Doge’s Palace
This tour is one of the best I’ve ever enjoyed. We had a knowledgeable guide who took us through the Palace, explaining the art, the rooms, and the history of the Doges of Venice. Plus, I got to cross the Bridge of Sighs. But by far the best thing about this was the Anselm Kiefer exhibit as part of the Biennale. We snuck back in after the tour ended so we could stand and marvel at this. Breathtaking.
St Mark’s Basilica
One of the most incredible sights of Europe. Do the private night-time tour — it is absolutely enchanting. Seeing that gold ceiling glowing in the lights… the Basilica was silent; it felt precious and, dare I say, holy. A very special experience that I will always treasure. If you do only one thing on this list, make it this — and that’s really saying something.
💚🤍❤️ OMG TWITTER! Where am I??! 👀🇮🇹 pic.twitter.com/C6SppDWDWj
— Rachel Fox ✨ London, Paris, FMTY (@MissRachelFoxxx) May 16, 2022
Omg did I tell you? I went to Venice?? And the big question — are there more photos coming??? pic.twitter.com/HLTifo6KN7
— Rachel Fox 🇬🇧 London, Paris, FMTY (@RachelFoxLondon) May 19, 2022
Gelato
In Italy, I’m a have-a-gelato-whenever-you-see-one type of person, because you really can’t go too far wrong. So I pretty much have a gelato from every stand I see!
But here are my top three: the best gelato in Venice.
Gelato di Natura
At Campo Santi Apostoli, for great flavours and a super-cute location — sit under a tree by the canal and watch the world go by while you enjoy your gelato!
Bacaro del Gelato
This place has simple flavours, done exceptionally well — and it’s next door to a wonderfully cute wine bar, Vino Vero.
Gelatoteca Suso
is called the best gelato in the world, and the queues will attest to its popularity. I had the wonderful pistachio and cherry, and it was divine. It was a hot day, so it dripped all down my fingers, though…
Restaurants
Al Timon
An intimate, no-frills restaurant popular with locals, this is a hidden gem. The local wine is cheap and excellent, and the meat board for two should not be missed: a perfect steak, home-fried potatoes, fresh veggies and a juicy chunk of grilled pineapple. Make sure you’re hungry!
Vino Vero
So charming, we came here every day. The most adorable canal-front wine bar, this is the ideal place for an afternoon of wine and cicchetti in the sunshine. Is there anything better in this life than sitting by a canal in the sunshine, getting slightly tipsy off Italian wine, and having a giggle with a lover?
Sora Al Ponte
The most beautiful, tiny restaurant where, if you’re lucky, you’ll get one of the tables on the bridge. Everything was delicious, but the Mama Mia (spaghetti and meatballs) was exceptional, second only to the friendly, homey service.
1000 Gourmet
The most fantastic place for unusual pizza toppings (try the pistachio and mortadella). This place gets very busy, but here is a hack: ask for a takeaway, and head down to the lagoon to grab a couple of cold Birra Morrettis from a street vendor. Perch on the wall (ignore the do not eat here signs) and watch the sun set over the water. Stealing kisses between bites is not optional.
Enoteca Schiavi
Another one for excellent canalside cicchetti and an exceptionally nice wine list. Best enjoyed sitting in the sunshine by the water, or in the park on the other side of the canal. Watch the boats go by, and bask in the glory of being Venice.
Other ideas
Saturday is a busy day in Venice, so it’s a good day to get out of town.
Nearby Padua, or fair Verona, where we lay our scene, are beautiful for a day trip. Or catch the ferry to the cemetery island, Isola di San Michele, to see the graves of Dhiagilev, Stravinsky and, my favourite, Ezra Pound.
The key to a great holiday is having a few unmissable things booked in advance, and a few in-between things that you’d like to see.
Mix in a selection of great eats and drinks, and of course, the perfect hotel, and there you have it!
I am an expert at itinerary-planning, whether we’ve got a few days or a few hours, away or at home in London. So if you need to get away this summer, get in touch and let me organise a few days of fun and relaxation.
Rachel
