🔺Venice/Italy in November🔺

▫️Preliminary

I really like to travel on my birthday and after a short consideration, I decided on the lagoon city this year. November is a rather unusual time to travel, and so I'm very excited and looking forward to the trip, even though it's not my first time in Venice.

🔺What's in my suitcase 

You could definitely describe my clothing style as minimal darkwear. While I like to mix punk elements with my mostly black fashion basics, we can all agree that I prefer relaxed and practical outfits.

If there's one thing I've learned from my travels this year, it's that winter weather on the sea coast can definitely be harsh. Although I love to wear hats, I won't go without a hood this time (especially since I now have short hair). 

Wrap Coats by REGATTA 

Well, wrap coats have a hood and a super soft fleece lining. They are waterproof, windproof, and oversized coats that are usually worn after swimming and various water sports. And they're "different" in a very cool way.

My wrap coat is, of course, black with a grey, fuzzy lining, but as you can see, the sky's the limit when it comes to the patterns and colours of wrap coats from Manchester-based outdoor brand Regatta.

Another item you should definitely pack if you travel to Venice between October and December are rubber boots.

Apart from the fact that it is often foggy and rainy during these months, it is also flood season and you certainly want to be prepared.

Otherwise, I'll of course pack black basics: long-sleeved shirts, a turtleneck sweater, a cardigan, skinny jeans, a hoodie, my red woolen tartan dress and of course a couple of warm tights, hats and gloves. Depending on the weather forecast for departure, I'll choose either my motorcycle leather jacket or/and a red quilted vest.

🔺Planning 

There are a relatively large number of accommodation options in and around Venice, depending on one's budget.

The starting point for my tours through the city is a Hotel located in a palazzo dating from the early 15th century in a picturesque part of Venice, not far from Piazzale Roma, the University, the Chiesa dei Frari, Campo Santa Margherita and the Galleria dell'Accademia.

As I mentioned before, I've been to Venice a few times. I've already visited the most important sights and this time I can focus more on the "less-known" spots and local cuisine. There are various good tourist apps with tips for visiting the city (like "Hi tide Venice" that keeps you informed about flooded areas in Venice), but I find it exciting to plan a route with an old school map and then set off without the help of my phone. You really do see and experience more when you're not constantly looking at a screen.

🔺On site

My pedometer showed me I'd walked over 20 km on the very first day, which is typical for me. However, what my smartwatch doesn't register are the many steps on the numerous bridges. While there aren't 39 or 40 steps everywhere, like on the bridge near the train station, a city tour by foot easily adds up to 200 steps or more.

That's why it's so nice to be able to travel a longer distance by vaporetto every now and then. There are various types of tickets (from single tickets 9€ to 72-hour tickets 45€), and especially after nightfall, such a journey on the canal is a spectacular experience.

But of course, you also need the vaporettos to get to the lagoon islands. Even in summer, these are less crowded with tourists compared to their larger neighbor, but in November you'll find almost exclusively locals. The weather (dry all week with a mix of sun and clouds) is perfect for enjoying one of Murano's best cappuccinos with pistachio and crème cannoli by the water.

Bakery Marcato 16 Fondamenta Riva Longa, Murano, VE/Italy 

When you're in Venice, you inevitably pass by the Rialto Bridge and Piazza San Marco at least once a day. The signs, which are posted at all major intersections, will always lead you there in an emergency, so it's almost impossible to get lost.

Absolutely worth the effort: the climb up Palazzo Contarini del Bovolo, which rewards you with a magnificent view of the city, and of course the Instagram hotspot "Libreria Acqua Alta," which has an almost normal number of customers in winter.

Aside from the gondola and the direct view of the canal, it's a genuine bookshop where the saleswoman effortlessly finds old second-hand Edgar Allan Poe books in this almost eerie jumble of books. I'm absolutely thrilled, but I can also vividly imagine the crowds during the peak tourist season.

Therefore, I won't name any of the second-hand shops in the Dorsoduro district where I picked up a few small items (unfortunately, I didn't have any more room in my luggage), but everyone is welcome to do their own research, depending on their interests.

In conclusion, I can only say that a visit to Venice in winter is truly worthwhile. I was very lucky with the weather, but I imagined the city and its museums would be wonderful even in the rain. The flooding, by the way, didn't materialize, and I'm quite sure that I'll return to the lagoon city sometime in the future—who knows, perhaps during the pre-Christmas season, when the festive illumination is supposed to be particularly beautiful.

From Venice, with Love..