Venice has long been on my bucketlist. If I'm going to be honest, I've avoided it under the presumption of getting swooped up by crowds of tourists.In the summer the city chokes as the masses descend upon its canals. I normally prefer to stay away from such places but a floating city that oozes with charm and ornate, artistic architecture was too alluring to pass up. Deciding to find out what I'd been missing out on, I booked a winter weekend getaway. Boy was this the best decision!

Wandering around Venice

Literally. That's all we did. And it was so easy!

It's hard not to be dazzled and every turning presented itself with yet another beautiful scene. The capital of the Veneto region in northeastern Italy, this captivating destination is made up of 118 small islands, connected through a network of 150 canals and over 400 footbridges. Needless to say, you'll have a difficulty not falling under the spell of its charm and romantic allure.

My first impressions lead me to believe that Venice would be small and easy enough to warrant half a day. Two and a half days later and still stumbling into quaint footbridges, hidden cobblestone alleyways and endless sparkling turquoise channels weaving in and around the city, I became lost and confused in a neverending frenzy of mazes.On our first evening, this dazzling sunset greeted us over the Grand Canal. A fiery red sky, streaked with shades of burning orange and yellow. We watched dreamily, as shadows of Gondolas weaved in and out of boats passing into the night.

Island of Murano

Murano consists of a series of seven islands in the Venetian Lagoon famous for its glass making and linked by footbridges across eight shimmering channels. First-time visitors often overlook this idyllic neighbour of Venice, however it is well worth a day visit! If not to visit the glass makers, then to wander around yet another picturesque island.It's incredibly easy to get to via a water taxi and cruising along the water I absolutely adored it!

Fun Fact

Wrap up really warm! Luckily for us, it didn't rain or flood. If there was one item of clothing that was absolutely essential, it would be a snug pair of boots! There was no better way to warm up than stopping for thick hot chocolate and sipping on Italian coffee.

Should you go to Venice in Winter?

It was wonderful exploring Venice away from the crowds and after a terrible experience in Rome, I fell in love with Italy all over again. As Venetians reclaim their piazzas, smiles greeted us everywhere and it was easier to enjoy the city's authenticity.

There are a lot of options of where to stay when visiting Venice. After all, it's a city that has a 3:1 tourist to resident ratio in the summer. We opted for an Airbnb on the island of Giudecca looking onto St Mark's Basilica (if you sign up here, you'll score a discount towards your first stay). What I loved most about staying here, was being in our little oasis away from the hustle across the canal.

My Impressions of a Deserted Venice

Whilst freezing at times, we managed to warm up and enjoy our breakfast under the winter sun. It was great to experience such a beautiful city and have it all to ourselves. Would I go back? I wouldn't say no, although I still think I'd prefer to avoid the summer crowds. Or maybe I just have a thing for travelling to beautiful canal destinations.

Especially deserted like this!

Have you been to Venice during winter? Would you go back?