What To Do in Venice When It Rains

I arrived in Venice by Italo train on a rainy day. The weather forecast was not in my favor as rain was expected for the next couple of days. Determined to make the most of my short stay in this Floating City, I bought a disposable plastic poncho, braved the pouring rain, and walked towards the Ponte degli Scalzi pedestrian bridge lugging my carry-on bag. Fortunately, my Airbnb flat was near Stazione di Venezia Santa Lucia station. Here are some fun things I did on my trip.

1. Walking in the Rain

The heavy rain finally turned into a light drizzle which gave me the opportunity to wander around the city by foot. Walking down its narrow alleys, I discovered one beautiful thing after another: rustic buildings, vibrant paint colors, balconies with flourishing potted plants, hidden piazzas, and gondolas that were as handsome as their gondoliers. In short, I was mesmerized. Strolling in this Floating City is visually rewarding and most importantly, it is free.

Venice, Italy

2. Piazza San Marco 

Also known as St Mark’s Square, this public square is a great spot for people watching, and it is not to be missed. In this lively piazza, you will find the Basilica de San Marco and the Doge’s Palace as well as cafes, restaurants, and shops. As with many tourist hot spots, food and drinks are pricier in this popular square. 

Piazza San Marco

3. Vaporetto

In Venice, water buses—also known as vaporetto—are another primary means of transportation. I hopped on Vaporetto line 1 which took me down the Grand Canal. Stopping at every station, this line makes it convenient for exploring the capital city of Veneto region. I enjoyed the wind brushing my face and seeing all sorts of old buildings along the Grand Canal. It started to rain again. So, I hopped off at St. Angelo station, headed back to my Airbnb, and opted to stay in and prepare for the next day.

Vaporetto on the Grand Canal in Venice, Italy

4. Coffee & Cornetto

I woke up the next day to another cold rainy day. Fortunately, the Airbnb where I was staying had many community umbrellas on the first floor. I didn’t bring rain boots with me so I put on my sports shoes and wrapped them in plastic. Then, I grabbed a black compact umbrella on my way out and headed to a cafe near Gallerie Accademia Venezia where I ordered a cappuccino and one chocolate cornetto, both of which were over priced in my opinion, but then, I was in one of the most expensive cities in Italy.

Cappuccino & Cornetto

5. Gallerie Accademia Venezia

This museum gallery features a collection of Venetian paintings that gives you a glimpse of the city’s history. Some of the paintings are huge covering almost the entire width of the wall on which they are mounted. It is spacious and quiet, making a prefect place to spend an hour or two on a rainy day.

Architectural Fantasy by Antonio Visentini at Gallerie Accademia Venezia

6. Bacaro

It was still sprinkling when I left the museum. From there, I headed to a bacaro called Osteria Al Squero. A bacaro is a Venetian tavern which serves tasty spritzes and delicious cicchettis (small plates/tapas). As a social drinker, I don’t typically drink much alcohol, but surprisingly I ended up finishing two glasses of aperol spritz. The small plates and drinks were very reasonably priced for Venice. This bacaro has limited seating, but it overlooks a canal– allowing you to watch locals working on their gondolas–and it has a concrete canal wall where you can place your plate and drink. It was one of the best and unforgettable moments I had in Italy.

Aperol Spritz and cicchettis

7. Libreria Acqua Alta

Libreria Acqua Alta–which literally translates to high water bookstore–is tiny and cramped with books, postcards, prints, notebooks and many other unique items. This antique bookstore is inconspicuously located on one of Venice’s side streets. It is special in that they store their books in bathtubs and gondolas. Make sure to check out a staircase made of piled books and fire escape that leads to the canal. Another special thing about it is their resident cat named Dominique. 

Libreria Acqua Alta

The next day was travel day. To get from my Airbnb to Marco Polo airport, I walked to Venezia Piazzale Roma and then took an express bus to catch a direct flight to Naples via Ryan Airlines. Despite having read so many bad reviews about Ryan Airlines, I had a great experience flying with this British low-cost airline. Ticket was affordable, check-in was a breeze, and the seats were clean. 

I had a memorable time in Venice. The city is as beautiful as seen on TV and as described in books and magazines. I would love to go inside the Doge’s Palace someday. If you have any other fun activities or stories you would like to share, feel free to comment below. For videos and more pictures of Venice, check out my Instagram story. Thank you so much for stopping by. Ciao for now!