Budget/Backpacker Travel Guide: Venice

Accommodation

$25-60 per night

Dorm beds in hostels, basic guesthouses, or budget hotels in less central areas like Mestre or mainland Venice

Food & Dining

$20-45 per day

Local bacari for cicchetti, supermarket shopping, pizza al taglio, and avoiding tourist-heavy areas around St. Mark's Square

Transportation

$15-35 per day

Vaporetto day passes, walking extensively, occasional water taxi sharing with groups

Activities

$10-40 per day

Free church visits, walking tours, some museum entries with city passes, enjoying public squares and bridges

Stay in Mestre on the mainland and take the train to Venice - typically 50-70% cheaper accommodation with 10-minute access

Eat cicchetti at local bacari instead of full restaurant meals - usually 60-80% less expensive than tourist restaurants

Buy vaporetto multi-day passes instead of single rides - saves approximately 40-60% on water transport costs

Visit churches and public areas which are free, rather than paying for every attraction - many architectural marvels cost nothing

Shop at Rialto Market or local supermarkets for snacks and drinks - tourist area markups typically 150-300%

Book accommodations 2-4 months in advance for 20-40% better rates, especially during peak seasons

Avoid restaurants with tourist menus near major attractions - typically 100-200% markup compared to neighborhood spots

Taking water taxis for every journey instead of vaporettos - costs 5-10 times more than public water transport

Eating and drinking only in St. Mark's Square area - prices typically 200-400% higher than neighborhoods like Castello or Cannaregio

Booking last-minute accommodation during peak season - can cost 100-300% more than advance bookings

Not checking if attractions are included in city passes - individual entries can cost 50-100% more than bundled options