Traveling can be frustrating especially in foreign cities where you may have trouble with the language. We found several apps that our local friends have to make our lives easier in Venice, like knowing when the next vaporetto arrives and how long it will take you to get to your destination. But before you go, there are some other apps to help you. Remember to download the apps (or update) before you go, so you won’t be wasting your minutes on these simple tasks. The ones listed below are all free.

Venice is a bit like a maze in the daytime, at night, well it is like a maze but you are blindfolded! We recommend taking some time to get an overview of the area, being sure to have written the phone number of your hotel, the address and the closest vaporetto stop. Here are some apps that will make you look like a local.

Choose your airline seat wisely. You can find so much information on line and SeatGuru will give you the layout of the plane and help you choose a seat so you can sleep – avoiding unpleasant seats like near the galley or bathrooms.

Tethered to the Internet?

Today it’s impossible (or so it seems) for us to be unattached to an internet for any period of time. Make the best of the free WiFi in any city with this handy app. The beauty of this app is that it doesn’t require you to be online to use it. Remember to download the latest data to your phone or other device before you leave home. However remember to be careful logging onto a free WiFi as they are NOT secure.

Getting around Venice.

You wouldn’t be the first tourist to find the boats going back and forth to be a bit confusing. We all know the boats we take daily, but to go to a spot we don’t go often, this is the app that we use. It will give you the next departure time and intermediate stops.
Use this App to help you travel by vaporetto in Venice Italy

What Shoes Do I Need?

Finally, the app that lets you know what shoes to wear! If you see black walking shoes, then you are in the clear and there will be no high water (acqua alta). This app was developed with the collaboration of the Instituzione Centro Previsione e Segnalazione Maree of Venice (ICPSM) and gives you the forecast for the following 2 days.

See if you need to wear boots the streets of Venice are at different heights above (or below) sea level, you have the choice of looking at a number of locations. San Marco Square is among the lowest and will begin flooding very quickly. Venice has 2 tides each day, so if you are going to be out several hours, you will need to look at the forecast for the entire day. This is why you’ll see locals with their boots in their hands when you don’t see even a drop of water. There is also a forecast which will give you a clue of what’s coming in the next few days.

We recommend these apps, they are available in the apps store for your device.

SeatGuru, WiFi Finder, iVenice, hi!tide Venice