In Venice a lot of prices are posted, from the boats to the menu. It is still worth a short look before you board, order or stop. The five traps below show you what to check.
Find 25+ warnings for Venice in the app
The 5 most common Venice scams
The three box game
How it worksSomeone sets out three small boxes and asks you to bet money on which one hides an object. Police treat this as fraud. You do not control the result.
WhereVenezia Santa Lucia station and the Rialto Bridge. Notices there are in English, for travellers who have just arrived.
How to protect yourself
- Do not play and do not hand over money.
- Walk on instead of staying in the group.
- If you have already paid, stay among other people and call 112.
The gondola fare
How it worksYou are quoted a price for the gondola. The city fare is for the boat and a set length of time, with no more than five people. A price for each person is not that fare.
WhereAt the stations the city lists for the gondola service, including San Marco, Rialto and the railway.
How to protect yourself
- Compare the quoted total with the fare before you board. From 9:00 to 19:00 a 30 minute ride is 90 euros. From 19:00 to 4:00 a 35 minute ride is 110 euros.
- The price is for the boat. Any other length is charged in proportion to the time. Traffic, tide and weather can shift the ride by a few minutes. Agree the length and the total before the gondola leaves.
- For a short crossing of the Grand Canal, take the traghetto.
The water taxi
How it worksAt the station, or on the way from the airport, someone quotes a price for the boat. The city sets the fares and has them posted at the municipal stations. A meter applies in set areas. Drivers are reluctant to use it and switch to a negotiated price instead.
WhereAt the municipal stations, including the railway, Piazzale Roma and San Marco, and on the route from the airport.
How to protect yourself
- Board at a municipal station.
- Ask for the total before the boat leaves and compare it with the posted board. As a guide for a daytime ride outside public holidays, 110 euros covers the airport to the historic centre and 60 euros covers the railway or Piazzale Roma to a stop there.
- If the price stays unclear, ask for the meter or take the next boat at the same station.
Fish by weight
How it worksThe bill has an item you did not expect in that form. A coperto is payable only when the amount is clearly on the menu. For fish by weight, or a dish that is not on the menu, the total belongs in the conversation before you order. In Venice a fish dish off the menu was charged by weight without the price and the weight being stated first.
WhereRestaurants in the city.
How to protect yourself
- Read the menu with the prices before you sit down. If the coperto is missing there, you can refuse it.
- For fish by weight, or a suggestion that is not on the menu, ask for the total before you order. For anything sold by weight, that includes the unit price and the weight.
- Check the bill calmly. Before you confirm the payment, check the amount on the screen.
Pickpocketing at the vaporetto
How it worksIn a crowd someone reaches into your bag or takes a wallet from a pocket. A bump or a stain on your clothes can pull your eyes off the bag at exactly that moment.
WhereVaporetto stops and ticket windows, Santa Lucia station, Piazzale Roma and the Rialto Bridge. The same care applies in Rome on the trains from the airport and in Naples on the buses between the centre and the station.
How to protect yourself
- Carry the bag closed in front of you.
- Take only the cash you need that day, and keep your ID and cards out of the same bag.
- Deal with a bump only once the bag is closed and in front of you.
Travel Venice with fewer surprises
The five traps above are not the only ones. Which ones really matter depends on how you travel: solo, with family, on a budget, or in peak season. That is why TravelCheck on iPhone builds your personalized Venice scam report, usable offline, with Italian phrases you can play aloud.
FAQ
Is Venice safe?
Crime in Italy is generally low. Pickpocketing still happens in city centres, at tourist sites and on public transport. In Venice, take particular care at vaporetto stops and ticket windows. Carry your bag closed in front of you, take only the cash you need that day, and do not let a bump pull your eyes off the bag.
How much is a gondola?
The fare is for the boat, not for each person, and no more than five people board. From 9:00 to 19:00 a 30 minute ride is 90 euros. From 19:00 to 4:00 a 35 minute ride is 110 euros. Any other length is charged in proportion to the time. Compare the offer with this fare before you board. For a short crossing of the Grand Canal, take the traghetto. Other passengers pay 2 euros.
How much is a water taxi?
The fares are posted at the municipal stations. As a guide for a daytime ride outside public holidays, 110 euros covers the airport to the historic centre and 60 euros covers the railway or Piazzale Roma to a stop there. Night, a public holiday and luggage can change the price. Ask for the total before the boat leaves and compare it with the board. A meter applies in set areas. If the price stays unclear, take another boat at the station.
What should I do if someone offers the three box game?
Someone sets out three small boxes and asks you to bet money on which one hides an object. This is fraud. Do not play, do not hand over money, and walk on. Police point this out at Santa Lucia station and at the Rialto Bridge. If you have already paid, stay among other people and call 112.
How do I avoid a surprise restaurant bill?
A coperto is payable when the amount is clearly on the menu. If it is not there, you can refuse it. For fish sold by weight, or a dish that is not on the menu, ask for the total before you order. For anything sold by weight, that includes the unit price and the weight. Check the bill calmly. A report goes to the municipal police or the Guardia di Finanza.
