Does Venice live up to the hype? The Reality of Dream Destinations

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Half the fun of travel is in the anticipation. Especially when you’re visiting one of the most famous well-visited places on the planet! Very soon I will be in Venice for the first time. Romantic, beautiful, unique, crowded with tourists; gondolas, bridges, tiny streets – it’s hard not to have pre-conceived ideas about such an iconic destination. Does Venice live up to the hype? This is what I imagine when I think of Venice but will the reality match my expectations?

Find out how Venice matched my expectations in part two!

Photo Ops Abound

The main thing I expect of Venice is beauty. Straight up gorgeous views at every touch and turn. But I know that when you’ve only ever seen tourist photos the reality will always surprise you. It is a real, living and breathing city not a fantasy realm.

I also expect to see tourists constantly taking photographs and being one of those people myself, no matter how much I intend to just ‘enjoy the moment’. I know I will turn every corner and my hand will reach for my phone and I’ll think do I really need to take another photo? And of course the answer will be yes! It’s Venice!

Venice Will Steal My Heart

Like most places in Italy I have always obsessed over Venice. I am convinced I will be drawn irresistibly to it, helpless in the face of its whimsical charms. Could Venice possibly disappoint me? I refuse to believe it!

Parli Italiano?

I adore the Italian language and can’t wait to dust down my cd’s and practice my piacere’s! However, Venice being the tourist hive it is I have a feeling they will have a ready patter of English too! Will I get chance to re-use my slavishly learnt phrases?

Authentic Venice

I know that many areas of Venice will feel super touristy and not as authentic as I would like. But I get it – I’ll be adding to those numbers myself. Less and less locals remain in the beautiful city which is such a shame. I hope that I can find both the glittering spectacle of Venice and the real city behind it.

Crowd-Rage

On this note I’m not sure what to expect. We all know Venice is now ridiculously overcrowded in summer, but this is February. Potentially less hectic you might think but then again I’m visiting when Carnival is on so it could still be busy. I am a girl who lives in a cottage surrounded by sheep and fields so even the quietest of cities can be overwhelming. Fingers crossed it will be bearable!

The City of Romance

Like Paris or Rome, Venice is synonymous with romance. Will I spend two days glaring at loved up couples and feeling like a third wheel in the Grand Love Affair of Venice? I had no qualms about sitting on a romantic rooftop bar in Barcelona so I am sure I will still love Venice, even alone. After all who needs a man when you can fall in love with a beautiful city?

I Will Get Totally Lost

Knowing me and knowing (what I imagine) of Venice I am prepared to get thoroughly lost at least a couple of times. Those tiny streets and my poor sense of direction are a recipe for the best kind of disaster! I can’t wait to wander and find myself completely the other end of where I meant to be! But will I find this enchanting in reality or will it frustrate my well laid plans?

Italian Food – It’s All Good

You hear a lot about Venice having overpriced, tourist-geared restaurants but I have no fears! I am very easily pleased when it comes to food. I love love love Italian food so I’ll be smiling whatever food comes my way. Food for me is all about experience – so I don’t mind sometimes paying more for a view or spectacular location and I have a feeling that Venice will offer up a few of those! I’ve read lots about the cicchetti bars and I can’t wait to grab some Venetian style tapas and sit by the canal.

Highlights

I anticipate that my favourite things about Venice will be:

• Incredible architecture
• Wandering whimsical streets and saying to myself hmm I’ll go… left! Knowing I’ll see enchanting sights at every turn.
• People watching
• Floating on the water (I was a mermaid in another life and I love all things watery).
• Cicchetti and spritz by the canal
• Everything Italian
• Incredible Carnival costumes and the masks!

Not excited for…

• Crowds
• If the city feels like a touristy museum rather than a real place.

So What Will it be Venice?

The days before you travel offer a perculiar and unique mixture of emotions. On one hand I feel certain that I have selected one of the most beloved destinations on the planet and I’m almost unable to believe I’m actually going. Venice to me is one of those mystical, revered places that simply must be amazing.

On the other hand I feel that inescapable twinge of uncertainty – can Venice possibly live up to all the hype? All that’s been written and said by friends, family, celebrities on television and strangers on the internet? Will it merely seem like a caricature of itself? What will it really be like?

See what I discovered in part two… How Venice Lived up to my Expectations

Do you think Venice can match my expectations? Did it meet yours? Or was there anything that didn’t quite compare to the dream? Share your experiences in the comments below!

Get Inspired…

Here are some of the fantastic posts that got me inspired for my Venice adventure.

20 Photos that will inspire you to visit Venice in Winter – stunning photos to fuel your wanderlust from www.petitesuitcase.com

Save vs Splurge Guide to Venice– a handy comparison of Venice two ways from www.kraskafox.com

Venice Travel Guide – A guide jam packed with great ideas for what to do in Venice and gorgeous photos too from www.pipandthecity.com