Getting Around

Holidays by Destination Europe Italy Venice Getting Around 

With its 400 bridges with steps, this is not a buggy friendly location - not least because of the steps up and down from almost all bridges. Although local infants are bumped up and down them and do not appear to object - for those not born to the experience it's probably best to use a sling or backpack, or wait until everyone is capable of walking. (Should they fall in most canals are not deep - just somewhat unpleasant.)

Walking is a good way of exploring and discovering hidden corners, but expect to get lost - not least because the names on maps - generally in Italian, don't match the olde worlde dialect versions on many streets. Even so investment in a proper map is worthwhile as you do start to decode them.

The main thing to watch out for is dog poo. The Venetians seem fond of dogs (often of types seen in their paintings) but not the issue of clearing up after them.

If you have children who are interested, there is a walking tour company - under 6s free, the tours lasting two hours. They report that all their guides are used to children.

When tired you can hop on to water buses - vaporetti. These are large, wide boats on the busier routes such as Line 1. Smaller vessels are used on less busy routes such as line 52 and are known as motoscafi. Two tiered ferries go to the Lido and outlying islands and are known as motonove. However, given the costs - full fare for over 4s and €5 a head for just half the length of the Grand Canal, it's worth planning your routes so you cover the ground on foot most of the time - or invest in one of the all inclusive tickets. There are a variety of these, also covering the other islands for anything from 24hours to seven days.

If you are given to feeling unsafe in boats, note that contrary to expectations the lagoon is not always calm and while taxis keep life jackets under their seats, there seem to be proportionately fewer in the larger boats.

Gondolas are eye-wateringly expensive at around £70 for 45 minutes. There is an alternative - an old gondola used as a ferry across the Grand Canal.

High water flooding used to be something that happened in autumn and early winter but now it's occurring in spring as well. It's caused by high tides plus high wind and duck boards help getting about for the two or three hours that it lasts. Sirens warn in advance and plastic pull on bags are sold to cover shoes.

As you go about, the city has installed well signposted public lavatories at 11 spots around the main parts. They should offer a space for nappy changing but particularly in the busier spots will not be as clean as you might wish. Museum loos will usually but not always be a better bet.