Responsible travel to Venice

September 2, 2022 12:11 PM

I know Venice has struggled to remain a real city under the crush of tourism. I loved visiting and would like to go again, if it's possible to do so in a way that's good for Venitians.

Obviously no AirBNB, and avoiding peak season and tourist traps. What else should I consider?

posted by sepviva to Travel & Transportation around Venice, Italy (4 answers total)

hire a local guide. eat at local restaurants. buy local stuff.

the problematic tourism tends to be people coming in on cruise ships (I can't think why the city is still letting big cruise ships dock there, someone must be getting paid off big time, it's an atrocity.) Come in the off season, spend your nights locally, spend your money locally, hire a local guide to show you all the fantastic places that aren't the Basilica or the Rialto, buy locally made art and souvenirs instead of the imported junk. There are (or were, when I was last there a few years back) still local artisans making masks and glass and other beautiful things, and they need your business.
posted by fingersandtoes at 12:31 PM on September 2, 2022 [9 favorites]

Get off the main islands for at least a day - I like Sant’Erasmo.

Consider taking a daytrip or two to visit some other parts of Veneto and the wider region, too: Treviso, Chioggia, Villa Pisani, Padua, the Valdobbiadene hills where prosecco comes from…or if you wanted to go a little further afield, what about Trieste, Ferrara or Ravenna?
posted by mdonley at 2:09 PM on September 2, 2022 [1 favorite]

Response by poster: Thanks! Recommendations for hotels (particularly small and locally owned) or places to shop would be very welcome!
posted by sepviva at 7:01 AM on September 3, 2022

Best answer: The folks at Venezia Authentica are a wonderful, rich resource for all things Venetian, especially for the responsible traveler. We took a great walking tour this last spring.
posted by dbmcd at 6:35 PM on September 4, 2022 [2 favorites]