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I always tell people visiting my hometown of Dallas that they are going the wrong way when they leave the concrete sprawl of DFW Airport.
Instead of heading east toward Dallas and spending way too much money shopping in one of America’s biggest cities, head in the opposite direction to Fort Worth, a city with a distinct allure.
Yes, Big D just busted a few strays in an article about Italy, but the point is sometimes better option is a stone’s throw away.
While Venice is undeniably iconic, it has seen its fair share of negative press due to new tariffs, environmental concerns and overcrowding.
But we know of a local favorite just 15 miles away, with an almost identical canalside dreamscape that’s more authentic, less touristy and cheaper to visit.
In other words, you can still sip local wine at a cozy waterfront bar, devour freshly baked pizza without the high prices, and wander through a “floating city” on foot or by boat without coming anywhere close to Venice-level crowds.
The colorful hideaway of the Venetian lagoon
There’s just something about European cityscapes with color wheels that makes your trip even more enchanting.
As much as I personally didn’t like Copenhagen, I have to admit that the vibrant Nyhavn district, dotted with bars, cafes and restaurants, splashed with every color known to man, almost made me like the city – at least for a moment.
But let’s be honest: Italy is a far cry from the bike-happy capital of Denmark; it’s a bucket list destination so world-famous that it can be overwhelming where to even start your journey.
Rome? Florence? Venice?
To be clear, we are not discouraging going to Venice; we say: throw in Chioggia at.
You see, many tourists don’t seem to realize how far the Venice Lagoon extends, connecting virtually unknown towns with a striking display of canal-lined streets, pretty bridges and various waterfront gems.
Chioggia (pronounced ‘Kioja’) has become a local favorite to avoid tourists, but if you’re the type of tourist I am, you’ll still prefer to blend in with the locals – and not follow the selfie stick parade down the same crowded corridors.
Trade gondolas for Topas
Gondoliers don’t worry about tourists visiting Chioggia because there isn’t much competition – at least what you see in the movies.
Chioggioa is not the place to be if all you need to do is ride a real gondola. However, there are boat trips through Chioggia via topas And bragozziswhich is more fun to say if you ask me. 🤌🏻
Now you might be wondering, “Sam, what the heck are topas and bragozzis?”.
Glad you asked.
According to Merriam-Webster, a bragozzo is a two-masted trawler common around Venice, while a topa is a traditional Venetian boat used by locals to navigate the canals and lagoon.
In other words, it still feels local, but don’t expect to don a striped shirt and a funny hat as you stroll through the calm waterways that trickle past pastel-colored houses, fishing boats, small walkways and the old bones of a city built around Canal Vena.
Only 25 kilometers away: how do you get here?
There are several US cities with direct flights to Venice, so that’s step A.
Step B is to enjoy some time in Venice before the crowds become overwhelming—and when they do—it’s time to get away from a crowd-free charmer that takes half the time of your favorite Netflix binge.
Step C is boarding a vaporetto to Lido, essentially a Venetian ferry, which only costs about $10, the same price for a cheaply made magnet in a souvenir shop in Venice, and then back to Chioggia for $12 or so.
Or you can opt for a boring old bus. But what’s the point of leaving Venice without being on the water as much as possible?
How safe is Italy to visit?
Besides Naples and a few so-called scammers in Rome, most tourists feel safe exploring Italy from start to finish.
According to our real-time safety index, travelers currently rate Italy an impressive score of 91/100:
As for Venice specifically, it is currently even better with a score of 92/100:
