Guests and visitors often ask “how do you get around in Venice?” Finding your way surely needs some knowledge, but it’s easier than you may think.

The first rule that comes to my mind is: forget googlemaps. Or, at least, don’t take it too much for granted. Googlemaps is designed for traditional cities where you can use a car, with straight roads and an ordinary address system (street name, number). Venice has none of these features: to get around, you need to create your own mental map.

What most Venetian do is to locate and remember landmarks: Saint-Mark’s, the railway station, Rialto Bridge are the main ones, but then you can add other ones like the Frari, Rialto Market, campo Santa Maria Formosa or any other place which is of interest for you (office, school, a bakery, your favourite winebar…). You start remembering the way from home (your apartment in Venice!) to the nearest grocery store, then you learn how to go from there to the Guggenheim museum and you find out that on the way you also cross a famous restaurant. Then you learn the way from the Guggenheim to campo Santa Margherita for your aperitivo and you learn that on the way you cross your favourite bookstore. Little by little, without even realizing it, you will be able to walk around in your area. With time, your mental map will expand adding a new landmark each day.

Another tip we can provide is, if you get lost, to follow someone who is visibly walking knowing their way. Venice is a small town, you will surely end up in a familiar place, even if it’s not your destination.

In case you need to ask for directions, try to understand if your destination is close to a main landmark that everybody knows and start asking for that place first.

Next time we’ll provide information about the Venetian address system and how to use it, too!

Meanwhile, don’t hesitate to keep in touch with us at Luxrest Venice and search for the ideal apartment for your stay!