Visitors will have few problems coping with things to do in Venice. The whole city is geared towards accommodating the tourists, who can heavily outnumber the locals in the summer. A little local knowledge is always a help though and these few planning tips should ease your way around.
Location
Waterworld Venice could hardly be in a more romantic location. The city sits in a huge lagoon off the coast of northeast Italy. To the south is the Adriatic, turned by Venice into a mere water feature, while the magnificent Dolomite mountains rise on the mainland to the north. A long causeway links Venice to the affluent Veneto, a vast, fertile plain that extends to the Austrian border.
History
Venice was built on a clutch of easily defended mud banks by Veneto mainlanders fleeing the Goths as they looted their way to Rome in the 5th century. By 1500 it was one of the wealthiest trading cities in the world and by 1700 had carved itself a huge empire that spanned most of the Mediterranean.
But by the 18th century Venice had become a byword for decadence and when Napoleon marched in he and handed the city over to the Austrians in a political deal. Eventually freed from Austrian rule in 1870 it began trading on its artistic and architectural treasures and has become one of the world's hottest tourist destinations, attracting 20m visitors annually.
Language
Italian is spoken in a Venetian dialect but almost all speak or understand basic English. To get better service and a warmer welcome it's a good idea to master a few basic phrases.
Fortunately Italian pronunciation is particularly easy, with each word spoken as it is written. Put the emphasis on the last but one syllable as in prEgo and soften c and g before i or e, so cinque (five) is chinkay and giorno (morning) is jeeorno.
A few basic phrases (emphasis on the capital letter)
Good morning - bUon giOrno
Good evening - bUona sEra
Good night - bUona nOtte
Yes - si
No - no
Please - per favOre
Thanks - grAzie
You're welcome - prEgo
Excuse me - mi scUsi
Numbers (1-10)
uno, due, tre, quattro, cinque, sei, sette, otto, nove, diece
Opening times
Opening hours of museums, palaces and visitor attractions change frequently so it's best to check with tourist offices. Some museums close on Mondays.
Toilets
Venice is well served by public toilets which are signposted and cost 50c. You can use toilets at railway stations, museums or cafes. They are marked il bagno or il gabinetto.
Telephones
There are coin and card booths throughout Venice. Hotels will often add a big markup for calls. Phone cards (carte or sceda telefonica) can be bought at shops with a black and white T sign. International calls are cheaper after 10pm and local calls after 6.30pm.
For an ambulance dial 118, 115 for fire and 112 for police. For all three services dial 113.
The postal service is notoriously bad over the summer and postcards may take a month to arrive.
Health
EU visitors with an W11 form get free state medical care. Jabs are not needed. You can find doctors under Medici in phone books and most speak English.
Pharmacies close 12.30pm-4pm and half day on Saturday. Night and Sunday rota services are posted on the door. Pharmacists are well trained to treat minor injuries.
Tap water is fine but many prefer mineral water. Venice is difficult for the disabled. Though main bridges are now fitted with ugly ramps, the smaller one have steep stone steps.
Money
Banks usually open 8.30am-1pm but changing cash involves long queues and form filling. Don't bother. There are plenty of ATMs (bankomat) and multilingual exchange machines. Credit cards are accepted almost everywhere.
Basilica figures
Jewish memorial
San Polo street
Castello windows
