Venice has always been a popular tourist destination: the 999Network offers a few tips about the city for the visitor contemplating a trip.

When to go

Venice is a popular tourist destination all year round, but it is in the summer months when it becomes particularly busy. June and July can be uncomfortably hot, with longer queues for attractions and more people to manoeuvre through when walking the streets. Crowded vaporetti mean you may find yourself squashed up against several sweating bodies, staring straight into someone else's armpit.

To avoid this hazard, try visiting in the cooler-but-still-comfortable months of April, May and September. Winter visitors benefit from a less crowded Venice, with some prices dropping out of season, but be prepared for some restaurants, hotels and exhibitions to be closed. December and January can get very cold, and Venice has been known to get snow – idly wandering the canals and streets in near freezing conditions is not everyone's idea of a good holiday.

How to get there

With the increase of flight routes throughout Europe offered by budget airlines, and a daily flight direct from New York, Marco Polo Airport is an easily accessible gateway to Venice. Approximately 6 miles from Venice itself, Marco Polo is well connected by bus and water.

Top tip: Although taxis are available, it's much cheaper (a couple of Euros) and only slightly more hassle to jump on the No. 5 bus, which leaves outside the front of the airport terminal and runs to Piazzale Roma every half an hour or so.

Buses also operate to Mestre train station, which not only links to Venice via a 5 minute train journey, but to many cities all over Italy and to neighbouring countries.

Water taxis, "Taxi acquei", are the fastest way of reaching central Venice, but they are also the most expensive method – they can cost around 80 Euros. Negotiate a price before boarding if you are adamant on this method of transport. A much cheaper method, if slightly longer, is to catch the hourly boats run by Alilaguna which call at Murano, the Lido, the Arsenale, San Marco and the Zattere. Journey times may take nearly an hour and a half, but at around 10 Euros they're a fraction of the price.

Some flights enter the region via Treviso Angeli Airport, which is slightly further away but still connects with Venice's Piazzale Roma via buses operated by ATVO.

If you seem intent on travelling to the centre of Venice by water, remember that there will be plenty of chances to travel the canals by boat once you are in the centre. The information staff at the desk in the arrivals lounge are usually very helpful with any queries you may have.

Accommodation

When it comes to accommodation, Venice is extremely expensive. It is well worth considering staying in Mestre, just across the bridge. The area is rather less exotic than Venice itself, but it has very easy transport links and you may be able to find decent hotels at half the price.

If visiting in the summer, rooms with air conditioning are highly advisable. Also be aware that often the first room you are shown to might be an attempt by hotel staff to fill their 'less popular' rooms. Ask to see another room if you are not happy with the first, although the outcome will not always go in your favour.

It's worth remembering that Venice is a city which is waiting to be explored, and you will be out and about most of the day. It is usually much more fun to soak up the evening atmosphere in Venice too and go to a restaurant rather than eat in your hotel. Your accommodation should be somewhere that you can comfortably rest, but other than that you will probably spend very little time there.

Top tip: Wherever you decide to stay, book early as places can become full well in advance.

Getting Around

You've got 2 options here: by water, or foot. While causally perusing through the twists and turns of the alleyways that make up Venice's streets is all well and good, it is hard to avoid the 'vaporetti' water buses that churn their way through the canals. You can purchase tickets for these at ticket booths dotted about various major ports of call, including the train station at Santa Lucia and Piazzale Roma.

Like most methods of public transport in Europe, ticket inspections are rare and based on honesty. You may well get away with several trips without having to purchase a ticket, but be prepared for hefty fines if you choose to take this risk.

Top Tip: Visits to Venice are accompanied by a lot of walking. Unless you want sore blisters all over your feet, wear comfortable shoes. Flip-flops or high heels are not always the best idea.

In the height of summer the vaporetti get very crowded, and there will be times when everyone waiting at the station will not get on. Get yourself a decent route map and look for the most direct way to your desired station – this may involve a mixture of different ferries and walking.

The Gondola is seen by many as a traditional Venetian image, but they are a rip off. Locals would never travel this way: the whole Gondola industry has grown because of the tourist industry. However, if you are prepared to fork out then they can be a more comfortable and romantic way to travel through Venice.

If you are looking to get somewhere in a hurry, a water taxi is probably your best bet, although again they will be expensive.

Part of the charm of experiencing Venice is trying to master the intricate design of the canals and walkways. Be prepared to get lost – if you feel adventurous, leave the map folded up and see what you stumble upon.

Eating and Drinking

Many of the restaurants in Venice are there to specifically cater for tourists, and because of this the actual quality of food in some restaurants is not always of the highest standard. Many eateries in the more popular tourist areas such as St Marks Square and the Rialto charge inflated prices for rather basic food, which is fine if you are prepared to sacrifice taste for a good view, and perhaps a busier atmosphere. A glass of coca-cola in St Marks Square can cost 10 Euros.

However, it is possible to find food and drink that has more of a traditional Venetian feel if you are prepared to stray from the well-trodden path walked by the majority of visitors. There are some restaurants locals would never be seen dead in, so if you stumble across a place which appears to be full of Venetians, or Italians at least, there's a good chance that it must be of a relatively decent standard.

A meal in Italy usually consists of several courses, but many restaurant menus will cater differently because of the onset of tourism. Be aware that some places will also charge a higher rate for foreign tourists than they do for locals. A group of 14 of the most serious restaurants in Venice set up an association of Warm Welcome Restaurants (Ristoranti della Buona Accoglienze) to try and combat this problem, offering well cooked fresh food with a more honest price-quality ration.

As well as the traditional Italian cuisine of pasta and pizza, the Venice lagoon provides the area with a host of delicious seafood. Particular favourites to look out for include “seppie” (cuttlefish – often served in pasta in a dark sauce), “gamberi” (large prawns – they taste fantastic when used fresh in lasagne), and if you can find it, swordfish carpaccio.

Bacari are traditional wine bars which offer a bite to eat and a glass of wine without the hassle and expense of a full restaurant meal, and they are bastions of true Venetian cuisine. Trattorie serve popular local fare, and are quintessential, often family-run, Italian restaurants.

Top tip: For the best ice cream, look for 'artigianale' – these parlours must make their ice-cream on the premises and tend to be more flavoursome and less industrial than some other sellers.

The windows of the pasticcerie are a delight o be marvelled at – pastries, tarts and cakes in a plethora of colours. It would be rude not to try something, if only to stop your mouth watering. The pistachio-flavoured green biscuits are excellent.

The best local wines are those from the Veneto and Friuli-Venezia Giulia regions: look out for Bardolino, Soave, Pinot Grigio and Prosecco di Conegliano-Valdobbiadene in particular. “Un'ombra” is a glass of wine closer to the cheap plonk you can find just about anywhere, but you might be lucky and stumble across a nice glass.

Shopping

By browsing into the shop windows in Venice you are likely to pick up on at least one thing: everywhere sells the same things. Venetian masks, Murano glass, and pasta in all colours, shapes, and sizes are among the main products on display. If something does catch your eye, enquire about the price. Then shop around and see if you can find a similar product for cheaper.

Top Tip: Do your best to learn a few Italian words and phrases before you visit Venice. Shopkeepers and restaurant workers are used to tourists and can often speak a few languages at a basic level, but if you make an effort you will receive a warmer reception. Thousands of tourists are just another passing face to some Venetian locals – if you stand out from the crowd a little you could receive a better service and more favourable prices.

There are several market stalls in Venice, with the most famous being the Rialto market. Some of the best fresh fruit and vegetables can be purchased here, along with souvenirs, jewellery and clothes. There are also several market stalls dotting the coastline just around the corner from St Marks Square, including several artists who offer very impressive sketches and caricatures for a reasonable price.

For those looking for quality brand name garments, most of the high end fashion shops are clustered together in the streets around Piazza San Marco.

Sightseeing

There are countless attractions and places to see in Venice, ahope covend you will find plenty of photo opportunities. Be prepared to wait in queues for the more popular attractions such as the Basilica, or try and plan your visits very early in the morning or later in the day to try and avoid the crowds.

Top Tip: It is illegal to bear your chest in Venice – unlike the Costa Del Sol you will not see hoards of males roaming the streets with their bellies hanging out. If visiting in the summer months wear light clothing and consider taking a fan around with you. Water stations sporadically appear in some streets, gushing clean, cold water for passers-by to dip their feet in and offer some refreshment from the heat.

Making some form of itinerary before you embark on your days of sightseeing is a good idea. It might be difficult to keep to a time specific plan because of queueing, but jotting down what you want to see and in what order can save a lot of decision making time later in the day.

Top Tip: Bare shoulders should be covered up if entering a church.

Catching a vaporetti is a great way to have a general look around the whole island of Venice from an outside perspective – numbers 1 and 82 are your best bets here. If you have time, the outer islands are also well worth a visit. Murano and Burano tend not to be quite so crowded, and will give you a more relaxed feeling than the centre of Venice. The Lido too provides the visitor with a different experience – if you need some time to unwind you could even make your way to some of the beaches there.

The article The Venetian Experience originally appeared on 999 Today