How to Experience Venice for Under $100 a Day

ByCassandra Tresl

Smart tips, cheap eats, and free sights to help you enjoy Venice without overspending.

Venice is dreamy, but it has a pricey reputation. Unfortunately in this case, the reputation holds up. Between the gondolas, the canalside restaurants, and hotels that seem to charge more per night than your mortgage, it’s easy to assume Venice is out of reach for budget travelers.

But here’s the good news: you can experience Venice for under $100 a day. Is it an exact science? Nope. Some days you might spend less, some a little more, depending on what you splurge on (gelato three times in one day? Been there).

Think of this as your budgeting framework—a guide to help you plan smarter, so you can soak up Venetian magic without draining your bank account.

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Key Takeaways

  • Accommodation: Hostels can be as low as €29 a night, while Mestre (10 min away by train) offers cheaper stays than central Venice.
  • Transportation: Walking is free. Vaporettos (water buses) are pricey, so only buy day passes if you’ll use them enough to justify the cost.
  • Food: Eat pizza, cicchetti, tramezzini sandwiches, or grab groceries for hot bar meals. Save your splurge for one nice dinner.
  • Activities: Venice is basically an outdoor museum. You can enjoy bridges, canals, and churches for free.
  • Splurge Smart: Pick one “big” experience, like Doge’s Palace or a food tour, and plan your budget around it.
  • Bonus: If you’re just popping in for a day trip, it’s possible to spend as little as the price of lunch (I’ve done it myself twice). But if you’re curious about actually staying in Venice, $100 a day is still a realistic budget to aim for.

How to Enjoy Venice for Under $100 a Day

1. Where to Stay Without Breaking the Bank

Accommodation is usually the biggest expense in Venice. Here’s how to keep it reasonable:

  • Hostels – Not just for gap-year backpackers! A bed in a well-rated hostel dorm can be as little as €29 per night. That said, hostels aren’t for everyone—families, older travelers, or light sleepers may want to look elsewhere. But if your goal is simply a place to crash after long days out exploring, hostels are budget lifesavers. (And some are surprisingly stylish and clean—don’t write them off completely.)
  • Stay in Mestre – Another smart option is staying in Mestre, on the mainland, and commuting into Venice. It’s just a 10-minute train ride, and tickets are around €2 each way. You’ll save significantly on accommodation, and since trains run often, it’s barely an inconvenience.

👉 Budget about $40–50 a night if you’re strategic.

Top Rated Hostel in Venice 👉🏽 Anda Venice Hostel

2. Getting Around Venice on a Budget

One of the trickiest things about Venice is getting around. You can’t call an Uber, and the price of private boats will you cry. Your two main options are walking (yay, free!) or using the vaporetto (Venice’s water bus system).

  • Walking: Venice is made for wandering. Honestly, the best part of Venice is getting lost down alleys and stumbling upon hidden squares. Walk as much as possible.
  • Vaporetto (Water Bus): This is where things get tricky. Tickets are not cheap, and it’s easy to overspend if you don’t plan. Here are the official rates:
    • 2-Day Ticket: €35
    • 3-Day Ticket: €45 (or €27 for youth 6–29 with a Rolling Venice Card)
    • 7-Day Ticket: €65
    • Single Ride: €10 (valid for 75 minutes)

💡 Very Important Tip: Only buy passes if you’ll actually use them multiple times per day. If you’re only hopping on once, a pass isn’t worth it. Plan your days, group activities by neighborhood, and save your rides for when you truly need them (like crossing to the outer islands).

  • Gondolas: Sorry, but if you’re sticking to a $100/day budget, gondolas are out. Unless you’re cool with blowing your entire day’s budget on one ride. If it’s a bucket-list item, go for it—but know it’s a splurge. (For a taste, try a traghetto—a gondola ferry that costs about €2 to cross the Grand Canal standing up with locals.)

👉 Budget about $10 a day for transport if you’re smart.

🚶🏻‍♂️Free Walking Tours in Venice

3. Eating in Venice for Less Than $20 a Day

Venice isn’t known for being cheap when it comes to food, but with some local tricks, you’ll eat well without going broke.

  • Cicchetti Bars: Think Venetian tapas. Some are pricey, but others are perfect for budget travelers. Pair a few cicchetti with a glass of wine for €5–10.
  • Pizza & Tramezzini: Pizza is your universal budget saver in Italy. Add in tramezzini sandwiches (soft, triangular sandwiches filled with tuna, prosciutto, or egg)—cheap, filling, and delicious. My favorite spots are: Bar Alla Toletta, Bar Ai Nomboli, and Bar Rialto da Lollo.
  • Aperitivo: Many bars serve snacks with your drink, but it’s not guaranteed. Do a quick Google Maps search, check reviews, and look for mentions of “snacks” to maximize value.
  • Grocery Stores: Italy does grocery store hot bars really well—think roast chicken, meatballs, breaded cutlets, fresh bread, cheese, and prosciutto. But here’s a trick most travelers don’t know: a lot of the deli counters (where you see fresh cheeses and salumi behind the glass) will actually make you sandwiches on the spot if you ask. It’s cheap, fresh, and way more satisfying than grabbing a sad prepackaged sandwich. Stock up, find a quiet bridge or a sunny stoop by the canal, and voilà—budget dining with a million-dollar view.

👉 Budget about $20–25 a day for food.

4. Free & Affordable Things to Do in Venice

Good news: Venice’s greatest attractions don’t cost a cent.

  • Outdoor Icons: Rialto Bridge, Piazza San Marco, Grand Canal views—all free, all stunning. Venice really is an open-air museum.
  • Architecture Strolls: Wander neighborhoods like Cannaregio and Dorsoduro. Every building has character.
  • Churches: Most are free to enter, and many are filled with Renaissance art. Just dress respectfully.
  • Free Museum Days: On the first Sunday of each month, state museums (including some in Venice) are free. Time your trip if you’re a culture buff.
  • Skip the Pricey Interiors: Doge’s Palace and St. Mark’s Basilica interiors are beautiful but pricey. Don’t feel bad about enjoying them from the outside.

👉 Budget about $0–10 a day for activities.

👉🏽 Find Venice Activities for All Budgets

5. Splurge Smartly

Pick one experience and make it your big “splurge.” That might be Doge’s Palace, a cicchetti food tour, or yes—even that gondola ride. The secret is choosing just one highlight and planning for it so it feels intentional, not like an impulse that blows your budget.

Splurges feel better when you’ve accounted for them, and they’ll stand out as the memory that made the trip special.

Sample Budget Breakdown

  • Accommodation: $40–50
  • Food & drinks: $20–25
  • Transportation: $10
  • Activities: $10–20
    Total: $90–100 per day

FAQs: Venice on a Budget

Is Venice really doable for under $100 a day?
Yes! With cheap accommodation in Mestre, walking most places, and eating smart (pizza, tramezzini, cicchetti, groceries), you can absolutely keep it under $100/day.

Is it worth staying in Mestre instead of Venice proper?
If you’re on a strict budget, yes. The 10-minute, €2 train ride is painless, and accommodation is much cheaper. But if convenience is a priority and you don’t mind spending more, staying in central Venice is magical.

What’s the cheapest way to ride a gondola?
Skip the tourist gondolas (€80+ for 30 minutes) and try a traghetto—a gondola ferry across the Grand Canal for about €2.

What food should I eat in Venice on a budget?
Pizza, cicchetti, tramezzini sandwiches, and grocery store hot bar meals. Save your money for one nice dinner and enjoy budget eats the rest of the time.

When are museums free in Venice?
On the first Sunday of each month, state museums across Italy (including Venice) offer free entry.

Final Thoughts

Venice doesn’t have to be an “expensive once-in-a-lifetime trip.” With a little planning, you can enjoy its canals, culture, and cuisine for under $100 a day—without feeling deprived. Walk more, eat smart, splurge wisely, and remember: the magic of Venice is in the details, not the price tag.

Related Travel Posts

Visiting Venice With Toddlers
Pocket Guide to Italy’s Best Cheap Eats
5 Best Budget Areas to Stay in Rome
Planning a Family Trip to Italy on a Budget
Travel Tips for Exploring Switzerland on a Budget
The 5 Best Countries for Budget Travelers

Venice Travel Resources

☔️ TRAVEL INSURANCE: SafetyWing
🛌 ACCOMMODATION: Booking.com or Agoda
🚊 TRAINS & BUSES: Trainline or Omio
📸 TOURS & ACTIVITIES: GetYourGuide
☎️ ESIM / CELL PHONE DATA: Saily
✈️ FLIGHTS: Skyscanner or Kiwi.com
🚙 CAR RENTALS: Discover Cars
🛳 FERRIES: Direct Ferries

Cassandra Tresl is the author and owner of Adventures of Ace, a travel blog that helps fellow adventurers uncover underrated destinations, budget travel hacks and family travel tips. She serves as the head co-pilot on road trips and is known to get captivated for hours by a search in Google Maps. When she isn't writing, Cassandra enjoys navigating life abroad in Italy and cooking for her daughter and husband.