Beyond the more obvious museums and galleries, however, the alleys and campo's offer an abundance of sights, sounds and fantastic food that won't blow the budget. The 2.2 mile long Grand Canal, with its grand Palazzi (Palaces) built as far back as the 12th century is a nautical thoroughfare where Vaparetti (water buses) transport locals and visitors alike through the city heading for a glass of vino or something stronger and a good plate of pasta.
Bars and RestaurantsGet off at Ca' Rezzonico and head for campo Santa Margherita, where the Orange Bar makes fantastic (and extremely generous) cocktails for €7 and a spritz, popular with students for €2, while two doors down, Ai Sportivi, serves some of the best, largest and most reasonably priced pizza in Venice at around €10. Another top place for pizza is Birraria La Corte, situated in San Polo, with prices of around €7 per pizza.
Lido, Venice
Across the lagoon, Lido (Vaparetto: Lido) is a nice escape from the bustle of Venice. During the late summer, the Venice Film Festival rolls into town, bringing with it a good slice of Hollywood glitterati and their entourage, not to mention plenty of journalists, who check into local hotels such as the Moorish-styled Excelsior and Des Bains, famously used as the location to the film 'Death In Venice', setting the cash registers ringing.
Markets on Lido
On Tuesdays, locals head to the street market, where everything from shoes to salami can be purchased at reasonable prices; it also boasts a fabulous view across the lagoon to Venice. Meanwhile, along the coast at Alberoni, a naturist beach is a draw for sun worshippers.
Clothes Shops in Venice on a Budget
For worshippers of a different kind, namely fashion, Venice is a great place to check out the best there is to offer, even if funds are limited. For some good window shopping, head for the Calle Larga, where designers such as Gucci parade couture to the super rich. Diesel and Replay within walking distance of St. Mark's Square offer more realistic prices and High Street names such as Bata have cheaper (though rarely cheap) alternatives.
While Venice simply isn't a cheap destination (partly due to the costs of transporting goods outside of the mainland), avoiding areas such as The Rialto and St.Mark's Square, where tourists congregate, will guarantee at least some of the value that Venetians enjoy. Events such as Carnivale, held during February, where locals wear masks and party into the night is also a real draw and costs nothing to enjoy, making Venice's living museum well worth the entrance fee.
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