“It is always assumed that Venice is the ideal place for a honeymoon. This is a grave error. To live in Venice or even to visit it, means that you fall in love with the city itself. There is nothing left over in your heart for anyone else” – Peggy Guggenheim

Destination: Venice

Number of times visited: Once

Mode of transport: I flew Ryanair but a number of low-cost airlines fly there including Jet2 and Monarch. Once we touched down I hopped on the airport bus to actually get myself to the city. Tickets for this service can be purchased in the arrivals hall. So if you’re not freakishly organised like me, do not panic!

Getting around the city: Vaporetto! Since Venice is a city on water this is essentially the public bus in boat form. If you have ever dreamed of sailing down the Grand Canal then this is definitely the bargain way to do that. The other options are a water taxi or a gondola. The first is insanely expensive and so is the later, plus the later has the added benefit of scaring me. (p.s: If you are wondering no the gondola men do not sing just one Cornetto. I know, I know, it disappointed me too)

Things to eat: I’ve heard that when visiting Venice seafood is actually the best thing to eat. It’s fresh and there is plenty of it since they’re a city that literally floats on water. But when I visited Venice it was my first time in Italy…So, instead I ate everything stereotypical! A diet that consisted of pizza, biscotti and more gelato that any human should be able to consume. (Dad & I always have Gelato/ice-cream eating competitions)

Embrace touristy things: I only had one whole day in Venice so I was all about touristy activities!

• See the Rialto Bridge – Life seen from the Rialto Bridge is truly magical. I could stand on it for hours and just watch the world go by.
• Visit the Piazza Di San Marco – I had seen this in so many movies. It is another great place to people watch. Grab, a drink, live life like an Italian would in a piazza, socialise in your beautiful surroundings and bask in the sun.
• Sail down the Grand Canal – I don’t know if this is something everyone wants or if it was just a silly little dream of mine. But I discussed earlier on how I made this happen.
• See the Basilica Di San Marco – I only ogled the outside of this beautiful building. I wasn’t dressed appropriately to go inside. But it is on my list for the future.
• Get lost in the back streets – Venice is a city that you will get lost in! Not in the romantic sense, in the literal sense. But believe me you will have no problem with it. This is how you see the inner workings of the city. We all know Venice is a city on water but you never really think about how daily life works…Police boats and builders in boats did make me giggle.
• Campanile Di San Marco – This is not the original bell tower, the first collapsed and was later replaced. There is a lift don’t worry you don’t have to climb. The view is spectacular and fun fact for you: There are no canals visible from the bell tower.

I will always have a special place in my heart for Venice. After wanting to go to Italy for years, Venice was my very first Italian adventure. It is a magical mythical Disneyland for grown ups – I hope to go many more times in the future. Everyone should visit this surreal city. After all, it won’t be there forever and in the end we only regret the chances we don’t take.