10 Things Americans Often Get Wrong About Venice (And How to Fix Them)

Venice is magical — but it’s also unlike any other city on Earth. That’s part of its beauty… and also why so many American visitors land here with a few well-meaning misconceptions tucked into their carry-ons. 😅

Don’t worry — it’s not your fault. Venice doesn’t play by the rules of modern cities. There are no cars, no straight streets, and sometimes, yes, the water does come up to your ankles. But that’s the point. Once you understand how Venice really works — how locals live, move, and eat — the whole city transforms from “confusing” to completely captivating. 🧭✨

Here are 10 things Americans often get wrong about Venice — and exactly how to fix them like a pro traveler (and maybe even fool a Venetian or two). 👇

---

1️⃣ Thinking You Can Uber to Your Hotel 🚗❌

Let’s start with the biggest shocker: there are no cars, taxis, or Ubers in Venice. None. Once you step off the train or water bus, it’s just you, your luggage, and a labyrinth of bridges and canals. It’s part of Venice’s magic — and also part of its challenge.

The Fix:

• Book a private water taxi in advance for a movie-star arrival directly at your hotel dock. (Trust us, there’s nothing like gliding past palazzi at sunset.)
• Or hop on the vaporetto — Venice’s public water bus — for a scenic, local-style ride.

👉 Plan it easily with our Venice Airport to Hotel Transfer Guide — and start your trip stress-free, just like a Venetian.

---

2️⃣ Overpacking Heavy Luggage 🧳😬

Picture this: you’ve just arrived in Venice, excited to explore — but now you’re dragging a 50-pound suitcase over six bridges, dodging gondolas, and sweating through cobblestone alleys. It’s not the elegant entrance you imagined. 😅

Venice was built centuries before wheels and elevators. That means bridges with steps everywhere, no cars to help you, and sometimes narrow alleyways you can barely fit through with a large roller bag.

The Fix:

• Pack light — a carry-on and small backpack will make your life 100x easier.
• Use luggage storage services near the train station or major squares if you arrive early.
• Consider porter services to move bags for you — they’re worth every euro after a long flight.

👉 Check our Guide to Venice Deliveries to understand how locals handle logistics without wheels — it’s a marvel of daily ingenuity!

---

3️⃣ Expecting Early Dinners 🍝🕖

In New York or L.A., dinner at 5 PM might feel normal. In Venice? You’ll find yourself alone — possibly with the cleaning staff. Venetian dining runs late and leisurely.

The Fix:

• Embrace aperitivo hour between 5–7 PM — it’s the Venetian version of happy hour, with spritz and cicchetti (small bites) at local bacari.
• Book dinner between 7:30 and 9 PM to dine like a Venetian, and don’t rush — meals here are meant to be savored.

👉 Become a pro at Venetian snacking with our Venetian Cicchetti 101 Guide — your passport to eating (and drinking) like a local. 🍷

---

4️⃣ Thinking Venice Is Just St. Mark’s Square 🏰

Yes, St. Mark’s Basilica and the Doge’s Palace are breathtaking. But Venice is so much more than its postcard landmarks. The real magic happens in the quieter corners — where laundry flutters above canals, children play soccer in hidden squares, and the rhythm slows down to a heartbeat.

Too many visitors spend their entire day between Piazza San Marco and the Rialto Bridge, missing the neighborhoods where Venetians actually live.

The Fix:

• Wander through Cannaregio — for artisan shops and real Venetian life.
• Get lost in Dorsoduro — home to art, elegance, and the best canalside strolls.
• Explore Castello — peaceful, green, and authentically local.

👉 Our Hidden Venice Guide reveals neighborhoods where you can experience the city far from the crowds — the way Venetians prefer it.

---

5️⃣ Booking the Wrong Hotel Location 🏨🧭

Venice looks small on the map — but when every bridge and alley counts, location matters more than you think. Some travelers book in Mestre (the mainland) or far from major landmarks, only to discover that reaching the heart of Venice can take 45 minutes (and multiple boats).

The Fix:

• San Marco — best for first-timers and luxury seekers.
• Dorsoduro — quiet, romantic, and full of art.
• Cannaregio — authentic, local, and slightly hidden.
• Giudecca — peaceful luxury with postcard skyline views.

👉 Find your perfect match with our Best Luxury Hotels in Venice Guide — curated by locals who know which rooms come with real magic (and which don’t). ✨

---

6️⃣ Misunderstanding “Acqua Alta” 🌊🫧

Ah, acqua alta — the famous “high tide” that makes headlines every winter. Many visitors imagine Venice sinking underwater for days. In reality, it’s a temporary, natural rhythm that locals take in stride — part inconvenience, part spectacle.

When tides rise, raised walkways appear, locals pull on boots, and life continues as usual. The lagoon gives, the lagoon takes — it’s all part of the Venetian dance.

The Fix:

• Don’t panic — it usually lasts 1–3 hours, max.
• Buy waterproof boots (sold everywhere during high-tide season).
• Enjoy it! Seeing reflections ripple across St. Mark’s Square is pure Venice magic.

👉 Our Acqua Alta Guide explains why the water rises, what to expect, and how to embrace it like a Venetian.

---

7️⃣ Assuming Everyone Rides Gondolas 🚤

Contrary to popular belief, Venetians don’t take gondolas to work. 😂 These iconic boats are for ceremonies and romance, not daily commuting. Locals get around by vaporetto, private boats, or on foot.

The Fix:

• Try a traghetto — a simple ferry gondola that locals use to cross the Grand Canal for a few euros.
• Save your gondola ride for sunset or nighttime when the canals quiet down and reflections glow golden.

👉 See the difference with our Private Gondola Ride — a serene, story-filled journey through hidden canals you’ll never forget.

---

8️⃣ Treating Venice Like a Day Trip ⏰

Venice doesn’t reveal her soul in a few hours. Day-trippers and cruise passengers often rush through the main sights, grab a gelato, and leave before sunset — missing the best part entirely.

Because Venice truly awakens when the crowds leave. As twilight falls, the air softens, the canals shimmer, and church bells echo across the lagoon. That’s the Venice locals fall in love with — and the one most visitors never see.

The Fix:

• Stay overnight — even one night transforms your experience.
• Take an evening stroll or moonlit boat ride when the city feels almost private.
• Watch dawn rise from a quiet bridge — no tourists, just water and light.

👉 Our Venice Itinerary Guide shows how to plan the perfect 2–3 days — because the best version of Venice starts when everyone else goes home.

---

9️⃣ Ignoring Local Etiquette 🙏

Venice is a living city, not a theme park. People actually live in those historic palazzi, send their kids to school across those canals, and queue at the same bakeries you photograph. The best visitors are the ones who appreciate that balance between magic and respect.

The Fix:

• Don’t sit on bridges, church steps, or monuments to eat — use cafés or benches instead.
• Keep your voice low in residential areas, especially at night.
• Dispose of trash properly and avoid single-use plastics.
• Remember: canals are not swimming pools (yes, it happens!). 🫠

👉 Learn more about Venetian life in our How Locals Live with So Many Tourists in Venice article — it’s eye-opening and heartwarming in equal measure.

---

🔟 Underestimating How Easy It Is to Get Lost 🧭

Venice is a glorious maze — and that’s what makes it irresistible. Every turn hides a surprise: a secret courtyard, a tiny bridge, a bakery with pistachio cream pastries you’ll dream about forever. But yes, even GPS gets confused here. Google Maps? Often lost too.

The Fix:

• Follow the yellow signs pointing toward Rialto, San Marco, or Ferrovia (train station).
• Keep an eye out for church towers — your best old-school navigation system.
• Most importantly: enjoy getting lost. It’s how you find the Venice everyone else misses.

👉 Our How to Get Around Venice Like a Local guide is your compass to mastering Venice’s maze — without ever breaking a sweat.

---

💬 Bonus: What Venetians Secretly Love About Americans 🇺🇸❤️

Here’s a secret: despite the occasional eye-roll, Venetians actually adore American travelers. Why? Because Americans are curious, generous, and genuinely enthusiastic. You ask questions, appreciate history, and often end up staying longer than planned — exactly what this city deserves.

Venetians still tell stories of famous American visitors who became part of local lore — Hemingway at Harry’s Bar, Henry James at Palazzo Barbaro, Peggy Guggenheim on the Grand Canal. You’re in good company here.

👉 Dive deeper into these stories in our American Writers in Venice article — a love letter to the long affair between Venice and the United States.

---

✨ Final Thought

Venice isn’t difficult — it’s just different. It rewards patience, curiosity, and a sense of humor. Once you understand its rhythm — the slow boats, the late dinners, the watery detours — the city stops feeling like a puzzle and starts feeling like a poem.

So unpack your assumptions, pack light, and let the lagoon guide you. Venice has been charming (and confusing) travelers for a thousand years — but with the right mindset, you’ll experience it the way we locals do: as the most extraordinary place on Earth. 🌊🇮🇹

✨ Travel Smarter. Join Our Private Venice Tours and Experience the City Like a True Insider. ✨