I went to Venice in December 2014 as part of a mini tour of Europe thorough Topdeck.

The weather

For December the weather was pretty mild, it was chilly but dry.

Where i stayed
I stayed in a the fantastic Hotel Ambaciatori which is just just 10mins away by bus from the centre of Venice.

What i did

St Marks Basilica
The Cathedral is truly amazing with its ornate features on exterior and interior of the building. The Cathedral is one of the city’s most iconic and famous landmarks. The pictures I took do not do it justice as the day was very cloudy and grey.

Gondola ride
A trip to Venice is not complete without a ride on a Gondola down the famous canals. A Gondola ride can be expensive as prices start from €80 for 40mins and can go up to €100. Luckily as I was part of a tour group I only paid €25 for a 30mins ride.

Lace making demonstration
I watched a lace making demonstration at a Burano lace school, they still make lace in the traditional ways. Whilst  I wasn’t so interested in the lace making, I loved the building and architecture.

Il Genio di Leonardo da Vinci Museo, Venice
This was a fascinating museum showcasing some of Da Vinci’s work. It is well worth the visit to see  some of the machine and works by one of the greatest artist and inventor that ever lived.

Walking around
I just loafed around with my friends enjoying the sights and sounds of Venice. It is very easy to get lost in the City but it is also easy to find a central point to help point you in the right direction.

BEFeD Brew Pub
BEFed is an amazing pub, I went there for a night out with friends and we had such a good time. There was no pretentiousness, the beer was ridiculously cheap at €12 for a jug of beer and you get free monkey nuts. The shells of the monkey nuts end up all over the floors and make for a great slip resistance.
However the female toilets were rather peculiar, see the picture in the bottom right had corner below.

My Ratings of Venice

My ratings are out of ten and are my own personal views therefore feel free to disagree.

Culture = 7/10
Venice is a rather small city, nevertheless it has loads to offer with museums, St Marks Basilica  and gondola rides to keep you occupied.

People/Friendliness = 7/10
The Italian people I came across were rather pleasant, they were friendly and welcoming.

Attractiveness = 6.5/10
Venice is not as attractive as I thought it would be, perhaps my view is coloured by the fact that when I went, the  weather was rather grey and dull and it made the city feel a little drab.

Food = 7/10
I ate at a local restaurant, I particularly liked the seafood risotto I had.

Affordability = 7/10
Venice is pretty affordable in my opinion. Everything was reasonably priced.

Vibe = 7/10
Venice had a nice historical vibe, it felt like a city I knew because of books and films. The narrow canals, bridges and streets make for a very throw back in time feel.

Overall = 7/10
I truly enjoyed my visits to Amsterdam and I would definitely be going back to visit. The say that a people make the place and the Dutch people certainly made both my trips to Amsterdam very memorable and special.

If you’ve enjoyed my review or not leave a comment.
Or if you want any advice for your trip leave a comment and I will be sure to do my best to help you.