Venice / Nearby attractions

Make it happen: Venice will crown your stay in Bibione

Venice makes for a perfect vacation destination. It has the museums, it has the palaces. Churches and historical monuments add up. Obviously, plenty to go around, and not nearly enough time to visit all those attractions during a typical vacation, let alone in a day or two. But you must make it happen.

If for some reason you decide on the Venetian Riviera and find Bibione matches your vacation plans, it would be nothing but a loss to miss out a boat trip to La Serenissima. There’s some serious shopping you can do here, or go sightseeing: its parks and gardens, the islands in the lagoon, the romantic cafes and stylish restaurants, the canals and the prospect of a gondola tour: what a perfect recipe for a jaw-dropping vacation.

Venice highlights

Some speak ill of Venice, calling it a tourist trap. But you’d better decide for yourself. If you have a penchant for cultural tourism, the lagoonal city is all geared up: more than twenty museums – whatever you do, don’t miss out Palazzo Ducale, the National Museum of Archeology and the Academy Galleries – and a dozen or so historical palaces and monuments.

For sightseeing, consider a gondola tour and admire the world celebrated Ponte dei Sospiri and the Rialto Bridge. Basilica di San Marco is a must, whether you’re a believer or not: it is a historical monument dripping with architectural merits and home to a wealth of art masterpieces.

Shop, if you will, but keep in mind Venice is not for the thrifty. In all cases, you can always do some window shopping, for that you won’t have to ravage your wallet. Look for the cafes and restaurants that have been part of Venice’s life for centuries: Grancaffe Quadri, Caffe Florian and Antico Martini are definite musts of your trip to Venice.

There’s a lot going on in the City of Masks. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is an all-season destination in its own right.

How to get from Bibione to Venice

On land, you have to cross the 107 kilometers between Bibione and Venice in order to get la La Serenissima. It’s not a complicated route, but it’s neither the most popular way to travel between the two destinations. However, if you’re behind the wheel you should first head north to Portogruaro, and then turn west on the A4 Motorway. Exit the motorway in San Michele Vecchio and take A 57, and follow it until you get to SS1, Via della Liberta. That will lead you straight to Venice.

Keep in mind in Venice there are plenty of limited traffic zones, so getting around by car won’t come in handy.

Alternately, take the bus. It’s not that expensive and it’s efficient. Visit ATVO to see the bus lines and check schedules and prices. Also, check with your hotel or at the tourist information office for extra suggestions.

But the Venetian Riviera is, in the end, all about the sea. So why not take the opportunity and plan a boat trip to Venice? The only shortcoming: you might not get enough time to search out Venice. But you can spend a few good hours here and at least get a taste of what a real vacation in Venice might be like.