Money

Currency

Being part of the European Union (in fact, one of the founding members), Italy has adopted the sole currency of the union, namely, the euro. It follows naturally that all tourists who travel to Venice must expect to be required to pay in euro for each transaction. If not familiar with this currency, they must keep in mind the subunits of the euro refer to coins of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 cents. Coins also come in 1 and 2 euro. The paper money goes from 5 euro to 500 euro banknotes.

Money exchange

Exchanging money should not become an issue while in Venice. The ATMS (bancomat, in Italian) can be spotted throughout Venice, in all sorts of venues and bank buildings. Tourists are advised to avoid, if possible, the exchange desks at the airport, train stations, bus stations and shopping centers or the specific services offered by the hotels, since the rates they offer are hardly satisfactory (in fact, quite detrimental).

In respect to credit cards, in order to make sure no issues will occur, foreign tourists are recommended to use cards endorsed by major companies, like Visa, MasterCard and Diners Club. They are largely accepted at the high rated restaurants, shops and hotels (yet, the small commercial venues still only accept cash).

Communications

Post offices

In the province of Venice there are tens of post offices, but in the lagoon proper there are 11 offices of this kind (including in areas like San Marco and Castello). In order to learn about the opening hours of each of them, specific services, and, of course, location, please visit Poste Italiane.

Telephones

In order to make a phone call to Venice from abroad, one has to first dial the country code of Italy (0039) and then to enter the province code (for the province of Venice, this code is 041). The rest of the landline phone number consists of 6 or 7 digits.

Connection to the Internet

Venice is one of the highest developed cities in Italy in respect to its wireless Internet connection infrastructure. Virtually the entire lagoon (Lido included) and the mainland surroundings are covered by wireless networks, which is why tourists who do need to stay online, even for the duration of their holiday, should find comfort in this kind of endowment. Venice is crisscrossed by some 200 WiFi hotspots, the Grand Canal being, in fact, a major backbone of the city in this respect.

Thus, one only has to have a computer or another type of device adequate for a connection of this kind in order to enjoy the mobility and autonomy advantages offered by the wireless network of Venice.

Useful numbers and addresses

As thoroughly as one might plan their stay in Venice, certain difficult situations may occur. In order to deal with such circumstances which might overwhelm tourists’ ability or even authority, the following numbers and addresses should be held at hand:

Ospedale SS. Giovanni e Paolo

Name:
Ospedale SS. Giovanni e Paolo (Saints John and Paul Hospital)
Address:
6777, Castello, 30135, Venice, Italy
Telephone:
0039 041 5294111
Website:
www.ulss12.ve.it

Medical emergencies

The medical emergency point in Venice is located in the historical center of the city. Other first aid centers in the lagoon or on the mainland Venice can be spotted in Burano, Mestre and Murano.

Name:
Medical emergencies
Telephone:
118 / 0039 041 2385648 / 0039 041 5230000
Green line:
800501060

Pharmacies

In Venice there are some 40 pharmacies. They are called “farmacia” in Italian. Useful information can be learned by visiting Farmacisti Venezia.

Others

Spoken language

Knowing a bit of Italian can definitely help foreign visitors blend in the Venetian landscape. However, Italian is not the only language spoken in the Venetian lagoon. The Venetian dialect, which is notably distinct from the official Italian language, is largely spoken, to the extent that most of the menus, for instance, of the Venetian restaurants, are written in both Italian and Venetian.

Generally speaking, English is also satisfactorily spoken and understood in venues which chiefly cater for tourists.

Time zone

One hour ahead of GMT (wintertime)

Tourist information offices

In Venice (the lagoon and the mainland surroundings) there are 7 tourist information offices run by APT Venezia. They are a highly useful resource for people who come to spend their holidays in Venice, helping visitors to orient better and to have a rewarding and efficient stay in La Serenissima. Thus, offices can be spotted at the airport, at the Santa Lucia Train Station, as well as in San Marco.

Papers

A valid identification card must presented by all citizens of the European Union in order to be able to enter Italy. Visas and passports are required for citizens of countries outside the European Union. Generally speaking, visas are compulsory in case the nationals of such countries plan to stay for more than 90 days in Italy (Venice included). However, depending on nationality, visas are required irrespective of the duration on one’s stay in Italy.

Customs regulations

The limits of products brought in or out of Italy are, for instance, 200 cigarettes, 1 liter of alcohol and 60 milliliters of perfume. In case these limits are exceeded, tourists must present documents which ascertain the products will not be used for commercial purposes. In respect to VAT, the price of all products one can purchase in Venice includes the VAT. As a rule, European Union citizens should not expect to have the VAT returned after leaving Italy, though in certain cases, non-European nationals can request it.

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