A Quaint Italian Town Is The Perfect Base To Explore Venice Without The Crowds And High Prices

For many, a trip to Italy without a visit to Venice is a trip wasted. Venice has become a bucket-list destination for art-lovers, foodies, history nerds, and anyone interested in exploring the Italian way of life. Venice is such a hub that over 5 million travelers flock to this small city every year, eager to taste authentic Italian food and hop aboard one of its world-famous gondolas. With a wide array of sights and culinary delights on offer, the allure of this Italian destination is impossible for history buffs to resist. However, this means that the crowds can become a little overwhelming at times, as Venice has been suffering from overtourism in recent years. During the busy season, finding an affordable place to stay in Venice can become a nightmare, with swarms of people competing for budget-friendly accommodation in the iconic "floating city." But that doesn't mean a trip here can't be a success! 

If you want to explore Venice without the headache of staying there, set up a base in Mestre, a small town just 6 miles away. Mestre will give you a taste of small-town Italian living with access to Venice just a short train ride away. With a number of museums, cathedrals, and even a military fort to discover, Mestre is sure to deliver on the Italian dream.

The under-the-radar town, just across the lagoon, is still technically a part of Venice, comprising one of its six boroughs. Once the home of an important fortress, today Mestre is a key industrial and commercial site. Closer to the center of town, you'll see several landmarks, such as Mestre's 12th-century clock tower, the Torre Civica di Mestre. The tower was once part of a larger castle, alongside other towers, but is the sole survivor of this period. If you are hungry for more history, the M9 Museum is an institution dedicated to telling the eventful story of the 20th century in this region, so make sure to spend a few hours exploring the museum's multi-media exhibits.

A trip to Mestre is incomplete without a visit to Forte Marghera, a huge 120-acre wide fort constructed by the Austrians at the beginning of the 19th Century. This stupendous structure is the most extensive of the eleven forts that make up Mestre, and walking its historic grounds is a perfect way to spend the afternoon, to get to know the historic charm of Venice's neighbor.

From Mestre you have easy access to all the best sites Venice has to offer. You can explore Doge's Palace, St Mark's Basilica, and stroll across the iconic Bridge of Sighs, three emblematic landmarks not to miss. From St Mark's Basilica, the walk back to Mestre is around 2.5 hours, if you're brave enough. Though this may seem long, there is no better way to view the city than on foot, like a local. 

If you don't want to do the walk alone, there's also the opportunity to book a walking tour with a local Venetian guide. Just take the bus from Mestre to Campo San Geremia to meet the guide and begin the tour. Having the opportunity to walk or get the bus home, away from the crowds in Venice, is a real luxury at the end of a long day.

Staying in Mestre is largely more affordable than its busy neighbor, with rooms often available at half the price. There are trains and buses that run from Mestre to Venice every 10-15 minutes that cost under $5 each way. You may not be waking up in Venice, but the journey is quite quick. It's a car-free city, so catching public transport and being prepared for a big day of walking is essential. Even when visiting from Mestre, prepare to pay Venice's daily entry fee, a tourist tax the city recently introduced to combat overtourism.