HONEYMOON: Venice, A City of Untold Romance

Are you looking for a honeymoon destination that will deliver romance on a grand scale? We suggest the magical, achingly beautiful, utterly romantic city of Venice! Steeped in history, culture, and beauty this is a place which has only a single road, but hundreds of scenic water canals lined with stunning Renaissance and Gothic palaces. This gem in northern Italy is constructed entirely upon more than 100 small islands in a lagoon in the Adriatic Sea. Every journey around town is a fairy tale moment, every meal is a memory, every view a feast for the eyes.

You’ll want to stay at least three days to truly experience the charms of Venice. Once you arrive, though, you’ll never want to leave. Schedule your visit during the months of September to November and you can experience the wonder without fighting crowds or paying premium prices for your hotel. The temperature can range from the upper 30s to the mid 70s during this time so you’ll need to pack some layers.

Where to Stay:

Our top pick for where to stay in Venice is the Hotel Canal Grande. This former noble residence is an elegant boutique hotel which faces onto the Grand Canal and overlooks a picturesque Venetian square. Situated just a few minutes from the Santa Lucia train station and Piazzale Roma, the Hotel Canal Grande is the ideal starting point for reaching all of the city’s most renowned sites. You can book here for about $200 per night.

Stay here and you will be enveloped in the magical atmosphere of ancient Venice just as if you traveled back in time. The hotel is loaded with items from a more luxurious era: rich fabrics, gilded mirrors, Murano glass, furniture decorated with gold leaf and gorgeous Rezzonico wood floors. You will be completely immersed in the atmosphere of 18th century Venice, but with every modern convenience (like Wi-Fi, Room Service, and Satellite TV) at your fingertips.

Oh, and the Hotel Canal Grande features its own private dock so you can quickly arrive and depart by private water taxi or gondola.

What to See:

When you are in a city such as Venice, where everywhere you look is breathtaking, you can simply just be there and be supremely satisfied. However, there are a few amazing places you will want to make time to enjoy.

Start at the Piazza San Marco. This square is the central point of the city and is the only”piazza” in Venice; the other squares are called “campi.” This is a pedestrian-only zone and visitors can enjoy the open space, outdoor cafes, and shops beneath the surrounding covered arcades. Be sure to try the famous Caffe Florian. The square is also renowned for its multitude of pigeons, but don’t feed them, it’s illegal. At the end of the square, you’ll find the Grand Canal and the mooring area for Venetian gondolas.  

We recommend Alex Hai Gondola Tours for exploring all of Venice via the picturesque waterways.

Venice’s main street, Merceria, leads onto the square through the arch in Saint Mark’s Clocktower.

You will have to visit the Basilica di San Marco, the cathedral church of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Venice located at the eastern end of the Piazza San Marco. It is the most famous of the city’s churches and one of the best-known examples of Italo-Byzantine architecture. Since the 11th century, the astoundingly beautiful building has been called the “church of gold” for its opulent design, gold ground mosaics, and its status as a symbol of Venetian wealth and power.

Ponte di Rialto or The Rialto Bridge is the heart of Venice, and it is the oldest bridge spanning the Grand Canal. This is a great bridge to share a kiss under!

There are so many other attractions to experience in Venice as well. Go there and it will take you places you’ve never dreamed of. Ancient palaces, historic churches, romantic restaurants, chic shops, fishing islands, museums, charming squares are all at your disposal. Wherever Venice leads you, you will leave with memories to last a lifetime.

From the most cliched experiences to the surreal moments, a honeymoon spent in Venice will provide the most romantic backdrop for everything you do. Be it kissing on a gondola ride or witnessing a romantic sunset, Venice has the capability of turning every ordinary moment into an extraordinary memory. We think Truman Capote perfectly captured the spirit of the place, when he famously said, “Venice is like eating an entire box of chocolate in one go.”