Here are some tips on where to eat in Venice inexpensively, and what to see for free in the city: the lagoon is ready to amaze you!
Venice is not cheap – we all know that. Indeed, according to some surveys, here the prices of hotels, transport and especially restaurants are the highest in Italy. So, should we drop the idea of a trip to the lagoon? Absolutely not: with our tips, you can organize a low-cost but absolutely unforgettable weekend enjoying the canals, magnificent monuments and great food… at affordable prices! Let’s focus in particular on the food: where can you eat in Venice for little money? and when you’ve eaten, discover the ten things to see in Venice!
© Osteria Da Codroma
I cicchetti: eating well while spending little
There is only one essential secret: avoid the typical tourist areas and places and go to the more down-to-earth part of town. In the past we had already accompanied you to discover Venice’s “bacari”, great places to eat as the locals do. Today we want to add a few suggestions: to eat inexpensively, you can go for cicchetti, small appetizers or snacks similar to Spanish tapas to go with a good glass of wine, and offered at affordable prices.
Where to sample cicchetti in Venice? Two examples out of many: the Osteria al Ponte, which offers tastings and crostini for €2 euros, as well as charcuterie and cheese boards and affordable starters, and Bacareto da Lele, where you can find mignon sandwiches for only €1 and an ombre de vin, glass of wine, for 80 cents.
© Bacareto da Lele
Eating in Venice on a budget: the street food option
Street food (of high quality) is taking hold in all the major Italian cities. Whereas perhaps we can considerRome to be the Italian street food capital, also Venice has interesting proposals: try for example the fried fish “scartossi” (excellent those of Acqua&Mais accompanied by polenta, at about €5) or the mozzarella in carrozza (try it at the Rosticceria Gislon).
© Rosticceria Gislon
The worker’s menus to eat in Venice
Outside the city center, where squares and monuments give way to more residential areas, many eateries offer the worker’s lunch, but note well: without sacrificing quality; the menu comprises local produce and delicious typical specialties.
In Castello, for example, find Trattoria alla Rampa with a €13–€15 deal for first course, main course, wine and coffee (between noon and 12.45 pm). Here you can eat fish in Venice inexpensively, incredible but true!
© Trattoria alla Rampa
Looking for a low-cost lunch? Follow the students!
So who are the crowd that are always on the lookout for low-cost solutions in most cities? Why, the students, of course! So, let’s take a cue from them to find good but inexpensive menus and go to Da’a Marisa, where a hearty first course with bread, coffee, and water costs only 10 euros, or to La Cambusa, which offers simple but tasty dishes a stone’s throw from the University.
© Cambusa
Things to do in Venice for free
Looking for a low-cost itinerary in Venice? Even without entering museums or paying places, the atmosphere of the lagoon is unique and absolutely incredible, not only during the mythical Carnival period but also throughout the rest of the year. It’s no accident that so many movies are set in Venice. In addition to delving into evocative alleyways and canals and relishing the majesty of St. Mark’s Square, we suggest a few goodies, starting with the legendary Libreria Acqua Alta: a venue with free admission where you can enjoy creativity, culture and a romantic view of the canals. Here the books are stored in tubs and canoes!
© corriere.it
Then, you can watch the Bridge of Sighs from the nearby Ponte della Paglia, go to the Music Museum (with many masterpieces of Italian violin making), and visit the Basilica of Santa Maria della Salute, one of the best expressions of Venetian Baroque architecture. Oh, and don’t miss a stroll in the Venice Ghetto!
Many wonder if it’s possible to enter the city’s most famous museum, the Doge’s Palace in Venice, for free: well, free access is reserved only for certain categories including children, the disabled and MUVE Friend Card holders.
To Venice with Italo
Your low-cost trip to the lagoon starts off on the right foot if you take advantage of one of Italo’s convenient deals, which offers you many trains to Venice from anywhere in Italy: save money and choose comfort and High Speed!
