Are you excited about a romantic Venice getaway?

Weather you are planning a Venice honeymoon, anniversary or maybe just a little getaway, Venice is a great location to make your dreams come true.

Maybe you already have it planned or maybe you are dreaming of a future trip.  This will be your guide on what you can do to make this the most magical, romantic time of your life!

Venice is a great choice as a destination for love.  The Italian people are in love with love.  Going on a romantic Venice honeymoon or anniversary is a great option!

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I want you to imagine a beautiful canal between picturesque buildings, the sun is setting and you are in a gondola with the love of your life.   This may be the most romantic thing you will ever do in your life. Really!  What can beat it?

The gondola rides offered in Venice are the best in the entire world.  The whole experience will bring you great joy. Your private gondolier will take you down many canals and out into the Grand Canal. The water is so blue and your surroundings are breathtaking. You can add a musician and have romantic songs sung in Italian the entire time.  This will really set the mood to your romantic Venice Getaway!

Pro Tip

Romance comes with a price tag! 80-100 euros for a 40 minute ride, and an extra 120 euros for the musician!  Is it worth it?  You will have to decide!  Personally, I would book ahead of time so you do not have to negotiate a price when you arrive.

As you plan your romantic Venice trip, remember timing is everything. One of the most romantic times of day is the sunrise in Venice. If you are coming from the United States you will most likely be jet lagged, and will want to wake up early.  My advice is do it!  Wake up at 5:00 AM and hit the streets.  Having the feeling of being completely alone with your love is one you will not regret.

Romantic Venice Vaporetto Ride

A Vaporetto ride in any other part of the day will not be romantic because, it will be crowded and uncomfortable.  The rides begins at 6:00AM.  It is almost as good as the gondola ride at this hour.

If you want to learn about the history of the city and about the Grand Canal, download a audio tour from Rick Steves.  Relax and enjoy a romantic ride down the Grand Canal.

A sunset cruise is also another amazing time of day to explore romantic Venice!

Pro Tip

Venice is overly crowded until 4:00 pm each day because of all the cruise ships that port nearby. This may take away some of the romantic vibe but don’t let it.

Romantic Venice Walk

Take your sweetheart on a long romantic walk.  Venice has amazing narrow alleyways and, as a result you can truly get lost!  But not too lost. The city is three by two miles, so you can eventually find your way. But who cares. When you are with the one you love, being lost is both an adventure and a dream.

Holding hands and passing the time talking about your dreams and hopes will be one of the highlights of your trip.  We actually went on one of these beautiful long romantic walks and found that we were actually lost!

Pro Tip

Make sure to download Google Maps before you attempt this walk or your night may go from romantic to frustrating!  We were so grateful for Google Maps!

The ambiance of a hotel really makes it or breaks it for me.  We stayed in the heart of the city.  As we looked out of our window there was nothing but blue water.  We could see the gondoliers rowing around. It was the ultimate romantic experience.

We stayed at the Westin that overlooked the Grand Canal.  Ultimately, my discovery was staying at the right place really does set a romantic mood!

Personal View

I personally think staying in Venice is the way to go. We had family and friends suggest staying outside of Venice in Mestre, and then taking a train in.

I’m glad we didn’t. I loved staying in Venice. Being able to wake up early and be in the streets of Venice, by simply stepping out of my hotel.  Not having to worry about a commute at the end of the night. Having the city more to ourselves when the cruise ships left. It was great!!

Pro Tip

Keep in mind that most hotel rooms are very small in Europe.  This hotel was beautiful and very romantic but was no exception.  I still felt very comfortable and loved being there with my husband.

Some of our friends suggested Airbnb’s but if you are going for the romantic vibe it could be tricky to find on the meets your standards.

While the crowds are high in the middle of the day, a great little boat ride away is a place called Murano.  If you want a romantic date, take a Vaporetto (water taxi) to the Colonna stop to Murano. 

Murano is famous for glass making. If you walk down Fondamenta dei Vetrai street, you will see all the glass shops along the canal, which are incredible!

Glass Museum

There is a glass museum that displays the history of this amazing type of art work.  We also saw a demonstration with a true Venetian glass maker; so cool!  Murano is also a great place for a romantic walk.  There are little stores along the dock that are so inviting.

Walking Tour in Venice

Now, if you and your sweetheart love to learn and want to gain a great grasp of the Venice area a walking tour might be something to consider.

Pro Tip

Walking tours are affordable and fun. The only downside is that you will be with other people on this adventure!

Cooking Class In Venice

This tour is at the top of romantic choices!  A local will take you on a food walking tour to sample some of the best local cuisine.  Then they will take you to their home and you will prepare a 3 course meal.  Amazing!

Venice Photography Tour

If having a guided tour of Venice at sunset is appealing to you this photography tour would be a must.  A local will guide you around the city and help you capture the most romantic pictures.  If you love photography this is for you.

Romantic Venetian Restaurants Along the Grand Canal

I think food is essential for any great romantic date atmosphere.  Dining along the Grand Canal would make your night unforgettable!  I love the idea of sitting at a little table staring into the eyes of my one and only.

Keep in mind, you are paying for the view and the experience and not necessarily the delicacy of the  food.

Top Recommended Romantic Venetian Restaurants 

One place that may have it all is called Taverna al Remer.  This restaurant is in a candle-lit warehouse that has a private pier to overlook and enjoy the canal.

There are five restaurants that over look the Grand Canal;  Bancogiro Stretch. Bar Naranzaria, Caffe Vergnano, Osteria al Pescador, Bar Ristorante Bancogiro, and Bar Ancora that invite you to have a stunning view of the canal.

Another option is a four course meal prepared just for you.

I wish a romantic picnic in the moonlight was an option, but in most parts of the city it is forbidden.  So don’t count on that.  I am not exactly sure why but it is a law.

Pro Tip

A popular place at night is St. Mark’s Square. There are restaurants and live bands. It is a bit crowded, but a wonderful experience! Personally, I think that St. Mark’s Square in the morning is a better way to experience romantic Venice atmosphere.

Should you stay in Venice your whole honeymoon or other trip? No, you should plan maybe two or three days, but you can do most sites in Venice in a relatively short time.

What Other Italy Cities Are Romantic

Tuscany

La Taverna Di Cecco Siena Italy

(Just think about eating amazing food in the area of the country)

Italy is a very romantic place, and there are other areas that give you different experiences.  I would recommend going to Tuscany. Driving through the beautiful country side and stopping in Siena and other towns.

Lake Como

Or if you love nature, take your significant other on beautiful hikes near Lake Como to the North of Milan.  This area can be very magical because of all the natural beauty all around.

Amalfi Coast

Consider skipping Florence on your romantic getaway, unless you love art and museums.  Personally, I would head straight down south to the Mediterranean Coast.

Amalfi, Positano, and other cities along the Amalfi coast give you scenic views of the mountains and sea, and provide beaches, eateries, and streets carved into the mountainsides.

Florence

(We just ran 3-4 miles from our hotel to get to the top, sweaty kiss but who cares when you are in love)

If you love art Florence may be a romantic stop for you.  Florence is more of an art and history city. It is beautiful, but can be crowded, and we enjoyed it more for the museums.

If you are in Florence, consider going on an early morning run up Michelangelo’s Hill to get a panoramic view of the city. The trek up the hill is pretty in its own right, and the view from top is gorgeous.

Cinque Terre

Image Courtesy of EU . org

If you don’t make it down south, consider visiting Cinque Terre. These villages are beautiful, and gives you the coastline feel that is similar to what you would get down south, but at the same time unique!

Pro Tip

Many of the places I list above can be very touristy. One way to avoid the crowds is to stay at the location of choice. Crowds take a while to gather, and dissipate in the evenings.  We found this to be true not only in Venice, but in other places as well.

Capri

During our stay in Capri we loved experiencing it without crowds. While we had a wonderful time doing the Blue Grotto, our absolute favorite part was when the crowds took the boats back to the mainland. This made taking strolls down peaceful lanes compared to crowded alleys earlier in the day.

One exciting thing we found was a restaurant that was hidden and unlike many other places that were closed since they catered to tourists, this one stayed open.

We had a beautiful view of the sea, and a nice quite dinner. That is until later in our meal, when the locals started to arrive! Then we got to “people watch” as the place filled up. We felt like we got a taste of both Italian food and culture!

Hidden Gems

Also, consider going off the beaten path. We loved Gaeta. Look for some hidden gems that do not have many tourists, but offer a local flare, serenity, and a relaxing time with the person you love!

Check out my How Rick Steve’s Saved My Italy Trip Video!

Hopefully, this gives you an overview of what a romantic Venice vacation could look like.  Start planning your Venice honeymoon, anniversary, or romantic getaway now.  Italy is beautiful and you will not regret embracing the love the Italians have for love!

Facebook Group

If you need advice about your upcoming trip Planningaway has a private Facebook Group full of amazing people that will answer any questions you might have.  Join us and we can help!

Also, if you would like a Free Italy Guide with Itineraries and Restaurant suggestions sign up and I will email them to you.

Where will your next stop be? Maybe Florence to Rome  or maybe down to the Amalfi Coast?  We loved everywhere we visited in Italy be sure to check out my adventures in Italy!

If you are planning a northern or central Italy vacation be sure to check out my other post  Venice , Pisa and Lucca, Romantic Venice, Siena, Florence.

If you are looking for a southern Italy itinerary be sure to check out Capri, Pompeii, Gaeta, and the Amalfi Coast.

Top Travel Tips for Italy is another great place to look for great Italy advice.