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St. Mark's Square Venice

In this post, we list the 12 must-see thing in St. Mark's Square in Venice.

We also include directions on how to get here, a map to help you explore on your own, as well as recommendations for guided tours.

St. Mark's Square Map

Click the map to enlarge or download it to your phone.

1. St. Mark’s Square

This public square is lined with several historic buildings, cafes, shops, and other notable sites.

At around 2 ½ acres, St. Mark’s Square is quite large and there are a lot of interesting things to see in the area.

St. Mark’s Basilica is located at the far end of the square, and you’ll find its 92 meter (300 ft.) tall bell tower to the right of the structure.

Between the basilica and the bell tower, you will see the Doge’s Palace in the distance.

The buildings surrounding the square are mostly former government offices that were in charge of Venetian trading outposts.

Napoleon once called St. Mark’s Square “the most beautiful drawing room in Europe,” and it’s not hard to see why.

This is a great place for people-watching during the day, but after dark, the lamplight really reveals how little has changed about this location throughout the centuries.

2. Caffe Florian

There are a few different cafes in the area of St. Mark’s Square, and each offers the same types of food at the same general price, often with local musicians performing classical music.

Caffe Florian, located on the Southern end of the square, has been around since 1720, and famous people such as Casanova and Charles Dickens have all dined here.

3. Caffe Quadri

Caffe Quadri is on the opposite side of the square, and they have also hosted several notable guests including Stendahl and Richard Wagner.

These are the two most notable cafes on the square, but there are others you can visit if you’re just looking for a quick bite or something to drink.

4. St. Mark’s Basilica

This is one of the oldest churches in all of Europe, dating back to 1063.

It is named after St. Mark, who wrote the story of Jesus in the bible.

Mark’s remains are said to be buried under the main altar in the basilica.

Despite its age, this is actually the most recent church founded in Venice.

The architecture on display here reflects the history of trade in Venice, with influences from Roman, Greek, Byzantine, French-Gothic, and even Muslim architectural styles.

Many consider this one of the most interesting churches in Europe.

And with all the different artistic approaches that were taken in its development over the years, it’s clear that this is one basilica that can’t be compared to any other.

You can enter this church and see the interior for yourself, and there’s even a free audio tour of St. Mark’s Basilica as well.

5. Torre dell'Orologio

You’ll find this structure to the left of St. Mark’s Basilica, and it dates back to about 1500.

If you look at the top of the tower, you’ll see two bronze Moors.

These were initially intended to be giants, but after the metal darkened over the centuries, they were given a different cultural background.

At the top of each hour, the moors swing their clappers. The dial of the clock shows all 24 hours, the zodiac, and even the phases of the moon at its center.

Look above the traditional dial to see the first digital clock in the world.

The clock tower also has a winged lion, the symbol of St. Mark, which holds an opened book reading “peace be with you, Mark.”

You can find this winged lion symbol all over the square if you look closely enough.

Shops & Crafts

With Venice’s history of trade, it should be no wonder there are several shops in the area where you can find a variety of items for purchase.

Some of the most popular items for sale in this city include glass products, masks, lace, and more.

You’ll find shops either up and down Mercerie street or under the arcade on the Northern side of the square.

6. Campanile/Bell Tower

Located near the center of the square and opposite the clock tower, the campanile was once actually the lighthouse which guarded the entrance to the Grand Canal.

The bell tower you see today is not the original structure, as the first campanile fell in 1902.

That said, it was faithfully rebuilt 10 years later, and it’s a much stronger building today.

There is a lift which will take you to the top for excellent views of the city.

Floods at St. Mark’s Square

This square floods quite frequently, and when it does, you will hear warning sirens to let you know that the area is no longer safe.

Keep an eye out for puddles forming from the round white stones in the pavement.

During strong tides, the water flows like a river to the lowest areas of the square.

Although many doorways are designed to avoid flooding, it doesn’t always help.

This problem is expected to get worse as a result of rising sea levels.

7. Doge’s Palace

Located to the right of St. Mark’s Basilica, this pink Venetian Gothic building housed the government of the Venetian empire and has also served as the home of the Duke (or Doge).

It is said that from 1150 - 1550, this was the most powerful location in Europe, despite its lacy and unprotected surroundings.

The palace was intentionally built this way to show that the Doge was an elected official and he had nothing to fear from his citizens.

Tickets are available to enter the palace, and its walls are lined with beautiful works of art from famous artists, so it’s definitely worth a visit.

8-9 Piazzetta

This is the small square between St. Mark’s Basilica and the San Marco Basin.

You’ll find the Doge’s Palace on one side of the Piazzetta and the Campanile on the other.

There are many small things to see in this area, including the Tetrarchs at the gate of the Doge’s Palace, the 7th Column of the palace, the San Marco Column, and the San Theodore Column.

Those last two columns were once taken from Constantinople and in the past they were used as execution sites for criminals.

You’ll find this stop just south of the Piazzetta.

It’s the site of a special celebration in which the Doge would board a boat and head out to the lagoon to perform a ritual in which he would toss a ring into the water.

The ring was a symbol of the marriage between Venice and its waters, an offering to reaffirm that connection.

The lagoon is 212 sq miles, and it’s home to many other islands.

Although it is big, it is also quite shallow, and you could technically walk across most of it.

12. Gondolas

As you stand and look out at the lagoon, chances are you’ll see a few of these boats in the area.

These gondolas are one of the most popular ways to get around the city.

These boats use just one oar, which is used both to thrust the boat forward and turn it one way or another.

They typically travel at about 3 miles per hour and take about as much energy as walking.

Today, there are only around 500 gondolas in Venice, and they are only available for tourists.

It can cost €100 or more to ride a gondola, so it’s probably a good thing you’re saving money on this tour!

We have a post explaining how to take a gondola ride .

13. Bridge of Sighs

Head to the bridge just beyond the Doge’s Palace to get a good look at this historic site by looking inland to the next bridge on the canal.

The Bridge of Sighs connects the palace with the prison.

It is said that after criminals were sentenced, they would be walked across the bridge, where they could take one last look at Venice before heading to jail.

The reality was likely far different than this romanticized version of events.

But, leave it to a poet like Lord Byron to give this bridge a wistful name despite its dark history.

And be sure to check out our other free walking tours of Venice .

This free self-guided walking tour will serve as a companion piece to a free audio tour of St. Mark’s Square (Piazza San Marco).

Whether you don’t have headphones to enjoy the audio version or you just prefer reading about the location, this is an excellent alternative.

How to Get to St. Mark’s Square

This public square is located on the southern end of Venice at the bottom of the Grand Canal. There are two main methods for getting here: on foot or by boat.

If you’re on the other end of the Grand Canal, the easiest way to get here is by hopping on a gondola or boat and enjoying a trip down the winding waterway.

Public Vaporetto

One of the most affordable options is the Vaporetto, a public waterbus that will take you down the entire length of the canal.

This option typically takes around 35 minutes to complete the journey.

It’s also worth noting that there is actually a free audio tour you can take which covers some of the more notable sites you’ll see on a boat ride down the Grand Canal.

The stop for St. Mark’s Square is at the end of Calle Vallaresso.

Walk up this road and turn right when you reach Piazza San Marco road, which will lead you directly to the square.

TIP: If you’re interested in this option, it’s worth noting that transportation on the Vaporetto is included at no extra cost with the Venice City Pass , which also includes admission to Doge’s Palace!

Alternatively, you could also take a Gondola ride down the canal , because there's actually a very active gondola stop right at St. Mark's Square!

If you’re planning to walk and you’re coming from the west, use the Ponte dell’Accademia to reach the eastern side of Venice.

For visitors coming from the city center, the Rialto Bridge will be the easiest way to cross the Grand Canal to the east.

Anyone coming from the north likely won’t need to cross any major bridges to reach St. Mark’s Square.

TOUR OF ST. MARK'S SQUARE

We will cover important details about the most notable sites in St. Mark’s Square below.

The tour takes approximately 60 min (unless you go inside St. Mark's)

We based this route on the free audio tour from Rick Steves . Our content is unique, but we recommend listening to his well-produced tour.

You can also download his free tour wherever you get podcasts or simply download his Audio Europe app.

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About The Author

Stephen Pickhardt

North america, united kingdom & ireland, middle east & india, asia & oceania.

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Rick Steves Venice

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By Rick Steves

By Gene Openshaw

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• Trade Paperback $21.99 $27.99 CAD
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This item is a preorder. Your payment method will be charged immediately, and the product is expected to ship on or around December 6, 2022. This date is subject to change due to shipping delays beyond our control.

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Description

• Fully updated, comprehensive coverage for spending a week or more exploring Venice
• Rick's strategic advice on how to get the most out of your time and money, with rankings of his must-see favorites
• Top sights and hidden gems, from St. Mark's Basilica and the Rialto Bridge to the charming city of Padua
• How to connect with local culture: Say " buongiorno " to the fish mongers at the morning market, snack on chicchetti at a local wine bar, and people-watch on a sunny piazza
• Beat the crowds, skip the lines, and avoid tourist traps with Rick's candid, humorous insight
• The best places to eat, sleep, and relax with a scoop of gelato
• Self-guided walking tours of lively neighborhoods and museums, plus a Grand Canal Cruise tour
• Detailed neighborhood map s and a fold-out city map for exploring on the go
• Over 400 bible-thin pages include everything worth seeing without weighing you down
• Complete, up-to-date information on the San Marco District, Santa Croce, Cannaregio, and more, with side trips to Padua, Vicenza, Verona, and Ravenna
• Covid-related travel info and resources for a smooth trip
• "The country's foremost expert in European travel for Americans." Forbes
• "Steves is an absolute master at unlocking the hidden gems of the world's greatest cities, towns, and monuments." USA Today
• “Every country-specific travel guidebook from the Rick Steves publishing empire can be counted upon for clear organization, specificity and timeliness." Society of American Travel Writers
• "Pick the best accommodations and restaurants from Rick Steves…and a traveler searching for good values will seldom go wrong or be blindsided." NBC News
• "His guidebooks are approachable, silly, and even subtly provocative in their insistence that Americans show respect for the people and places they are visiting and not the other way around." The New Yorker
• "Travel, to Steves, is not some frivolous luxury—it is an engine for improving humankind, for connecting people and removing their prejudices, for knocking distant cultures together to make unlikely sparks of joy and insight. Given that millions of people have encountered the work of Steves over the last 40 years, on TV or online or in his guidebooks, and that they have carried those lessons to untold other millions of people, it is fair to say that his life’s work has had a real effect on the collective life of our planet." The New York Times Magazine
• "[Rick Steves] laces his guides with short and vivid histories and a scholar's appreciation for Renaissance art yet knows the best place to start an early tapas crawl in Madrid if you have kids. His clear, hand-drawn maps are Pentagon-worthy; his hints about how to go directly to the best stuff at the Uffizi, avoid the crowds at Versailles and save money everywhere are guilt-free." TIME Magazine
• "Steves is a walking, talking European encyclopedia who yearns to inspire Americans to venture 'beyond Orlando.'" Forbes
• “…he’s become the unofficial guide for entire generations of North American travelers, beloved for his earnest attitude and dad jeans." Outside Magazine
• "His books offer the equivalent of a bus tour without the bus, with boiled-down itineraries and step-by-step instructions on where to go and how to get there, but adding a dash of humor and an element of choice that his travelers find empowering." The New York Times
• "His penchant for creating meaningful experiences for travelers to Europe is as passionate as his inclination for making ethical choices his guiding light." Forbes
• "[Rick Steves'] neighborhood walks are always fun and informative. His museum guides, complete with commentary about historic sculpture and storied artworks are wonderful and add another dimension to sometimes stodgy, hard-to-comprehend museums." NBC News

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Rick Steves

About the author.

Since 1973, Rick Steves has spent about four months a year exploring Europe. His mission: to empower Americans to have European trips that are fun, affordable, and culturally broadening. Rick produces a best-selling guidebook series, a public television series, and a public radio show, and organizes small-group tours that take over 30,000 travelers to Europe annually.  He does all of this with the help of more than 100 well-traveled staff members at Rick Steves’ Europe in Edmonds, WA (near Seattle). When not on the road, Rick is active in his church and with advocacy groups focused on economic and social justice, drug policy reform, and ending hunger. To recharge, Rick plays piano, relaxes at his family cabin in the Cascade Mountains, and spends time with his son Andy and daughter Jackie. Find out more about Rick at http://www.ricksteves.com and on Facebook.

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Gene Openshaw

2023 travel guide.

Rick Steves Travel Guide

Travel Guide

Best of Venice Florence & Rome

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• More than 20 group sightseeing events
• St. Mark's Square and Basilica tour
• Venice lagoon excursion
• Accademia Art Museum tour
• Rome's Ancient Forum, Colosseum, Pantheon, Vatican Museum and Sistine Chapel

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Essential Italy

Italy in 9 days - Ancient Rome, Cathedrals & Canals - Superior

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Venice, Florence and Rome

Travel themes.

• Hiking & Walking

Destinations

Attractions.

• Sistine Chapel
• St. Peter's Basilica
• Historic sightseeing
• Ruins & Archaeology
• Short Cruise
• Wine Tasting

Trip includes

• A small, friendly group of 24–28 people — half the size of most tour groups
• Full-time services of a professional Rick Steves guide and local experts who will make the fascinating history, art, and culture of Venice, Florence, and Rome come alive for you
• All tours and admissions — at no extra cost — covering at least 19 group sightseeing events, Venice backstreets walking tour, St. Mark's Square and Basilica, Venice lagoon excursion, Accademia art museum tour, Renaissance Florence walking tour, Accademia Gallery (Michelangelo's David), Uffizi Gallery tour, Florence backstreets walking tour, Cooking class and lunch, Palazzo Davanzati tour, Umbrian wine-tasting lunch, Rome orientation tour, Roman Forum tour, Colosseum tour, Church of San Clemente tour, Pantheon, Visit to Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel, St. Peter's Basilica, Evening walk through Rome including Trevi Fountain…and more
• All group transportation between Venice, Florence, and Rome
• 9 nights' accommodations (3 nights at each hotel) in memorable, centrally located hotels
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• $100 store credit for your household to use toward guidebooks and other gear for your trip
• Guaranteed tour price, locked in the moment you make your deposit
• Optional single supplements — this tour has a limited number of private rooms for solo travelers for an additional fee
• Tour alum discount of $50 for each tour you've taken prior to 2017
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• Flexibility should you need to transfer, or cancel/interrupt your tour
• Fine print: You are responsible for the cost of your drinks and free-time sightseeing. See our Tour Conditions Agreement for important details regarding everything listed above

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We'll meet at 4 p.m. at our Venice hotel, deeply nestled amidst the canals, bridges, and alleyways of this magical, preserved-in-amber city. After introductions, we'll set off on an orientation walk, and then enjoy getting acquainted over a traditional Venetian dinner together. Sleep in Venice (3 nights). No bus. Walking: light.

Breakfast is provided, but there are no group activities today. This morning we'll say our final goodbyes and head for home…or you may want to stick around for a few more days of la dolce vita (the sweet life). Arrivederci!

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Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.

Rick Steves Reviews & Ratings

Other rick steves reviews, this is about the store not the tours.

We purchased two backpacks from Rick Steves Europe. One of them arrived damaged and unusable. Their website says that you must contact them if you receive damaged me...

A Perfect 10

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A perfect "10" for the Rick Steves' Best of Sicily 11-Day Tour. My 1st tour with any company. This was a perfect combination of scheduled time and free time .. with ...

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Terrible Covid Experience

We are in Ireland now, traveling with Rick Steves Tours and a group of 27. Two days ago a member of the group tested positive for Covid, and we had all been exposed....

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Our mission is to inspire, inform and equip Americans to have European trips that are fun, affordable and culturally broadening. We value travel as a powerful way to better understand and contribute to the world in which we live. We strive to keep our own travel style, our world outlook and our business practices consistent with these values.

About Rick Steves

Guidebook author and travel TV host Rick Steves is America's most respected authority on European travel. Rick took his first trip to Europe in 1969, visiting piano factories with his father, a piano importer. As an 18-year-old, Rick began traveling on his own, funding his trips by teaching piano lessons. In 1976, he started his business, Rick Steves' Europe, which has grown from a one-man operation to a company with a staff of 80 full-time, well-travelled employees at his headquarters in Washington state. There he produces more than 50 guidebooks on European travel, America's most popular travel series on public television, a weekly hour-long national public radio show, a weekly syndicated column, and free travel information available through his travel center and website. Rick Steves' Europe also runs a successful European tour program. Rick Steves lives and works in his hometown of Edmonds, Washington. His office window overlooks his old junior high school.

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Rick Steves Venice (Travel Guide)

Description.

Now more than ever, you can count on Rick Steves to tell you what you really need to know when traveling through Venice. Glide along the canals and meander down the cobblestone alleys as you soak up the art, history, and culture of Venice with Rick by your side. Inside Rick Steves Venice you'll find:

• Fully updated, comprehensive coverage for spending a week or more exploring Venice
• Rick's strategic advice on how to get the most out of your time and money, with rankings of his must-see favorites
• Top sights and hidden gems, from St. Mark's Basilica and the Rialto Bridge to the charming city of Padua
• How to connect with local culture: Say "buongiorno" to the fish mongers at the morning market, snack on chicchetti at a local wine bar, and people-watch on a sunny piazza
• Beat the crowds, skip the lines, and avoid tourist traps with Rick's candid, humorous insight
• The best places to eat, sleep, and relax with a scoop of gelato
• Self-guided walking tours of lively neighborhoods and museums, plus a Grand Canal Cruise tour
• Detailed neighborhood maps and a fold-out city map for exploring on the go
• Over 400 bible-thin pages include everything worth seeing without weighing you down
• Complete, up-to-date information on the San Marco District, Santa Croce, Cannaregio, and more, with side trips to Padua, Vicenza, Verona, and Ravenna
• Covid-related travel info and resources for a smooth trip

Make the most of every day and every dollar with Rick Steves Venice.

Spending less than a week in the city? Check out Rick Steves Pocket Venice!

About the Author

Since 1973, Rick Steves has spent about four months a year exploring Europe. His mission: to empower Americans to have European trips that are fun, affordable, and culturally broadening. Rick produces a best-selling guidebook series, a public television series, and a public radio show, and organizes small-group tours that take over 30,000 travelers to Europe annually.  He does all of this with the help of more than 100 well-traveled staff members at Rick Steves' Europe in Edmonds, WA (near Seattle). When not on the road, Rick is active in his church and with advocacy groups focused on economic and social justice, drug policy reform, and ending hunger. To recharge, Rick plays piano, relaxes at his family cabin in the Cascade Mountains, and spends time with his son Andy, daughter Jackie, and his new grandson...baby Atlas. Find out more about Rick at www.ricksteves.com and on Facebook.

Connect with Rick: facebook.com/RickSteves twitter: @RickSteves instagram: ricksteveseurope

Gene Openshaw has co-authored a dozen Rick Steves books, specializing in writing walks and tours of Europe's cities, museums, and cultural sites. He also writes for Rick's public television series, produces audio tours on Europe, and is a regular guest on Rick's public radio show. Outside of the travel world, Gene has co-authored The Seattle Joke Book. As a composer, Gene has written a full-length opera called Matter, a violin sonata, and dozens of songs. He lives near Seattle, where he enjoys giving presentations on art and history, and roots for the Mariners in good times and bad.

Praise for Rick Steves Venice (Travel Guide)

"The country's foremost expert in European travel for Americans."— Forbes

"Steves is an absolute master at unlocking the hidden gems of the world's greatest cities, towns, and monuments."— USA Today

“Every country-specific travel guidebook from the Rick Steves publishing empire can be counted upon for clear organization, specificity and timeliness."— Society of American Travel Writers

"Pick the best accommodations and restaurants from Rick Steves…and a traveler searching for good values will seldom go wrong or be blindsided."— NBC News

"His guidebooks are approachable, silly, and even subtly provocative in their insistence that Americans show respect for the people and places they are visiting and not the other way around."— The New Yorker

"Travel, to Steves, is not some frivolous luxury—it is an engine for improving humankind, for connecting people and removing their prejudices, for knocking distant cultures together to make unlikely sparks of joy and insight. Given that millions of people have encountered the work of Steves over the last 40 years, on TV or online or in his guidebooks, and that they have carried those lessons to untold other millions of people, it is fair to say that his life’s work has had a real effect on the collective life of our planet."— The New York Times Magazine

"[Rick Steves] laces his guides with short and vivid histories and a scholar's appreciation for Renaissance art yet knows the best place to start an early tapas crawl in Madrid if you have kids. His clear, hand-drawn maps are Pentagon-worthy; his hints about how to go directly to the best stuff at the Uffizi, avoid the crowds at Versailles and save money everywhere are guilt-free."— TIME Magazine

"Steves is a walking, talking European encyclopedia who yearns to inspire Americans to venture 'beyond Orlando.'"— Forbes

“…he’s become the unofficial guide for entire generations of North American travelers, beloved for his earnest attitude and dad jeans."— Outside Magazine

"His books offer the equivalent of a bus tour without the bus, with boiled-down itineraries and step-by-step instructions on where to go and how to get there, but adding a dash of humor and an element of choice that his travelers find empowering."— The New York Times

"His penchant for creating meaningful experiences for travelers to Europe is as passionate as his inclination for making ethical choices his guiding light."— Forbes

"[Rick Steves'] neighborhood walks are always fun and informative. His museum guides, complete with commentary about historic sculpture and storied artworks are wonderful and add another dimension to sometimes stodgy, hard-to-comprehend museums."— NBC News

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• Walking Tour of V...

Walking Tour of Venice

Looking for a walking tour of Venice. I don't see one in the Venice section of the Italy tour book. We've really enjoyed these for other cities.

There is a RS Venice book that has several walking tours.

This may be more than you are looking for, especially in term of $, but we did one with The Tour Guy (aka The Roman Guy). Ours included a gondola ride after the walking tour (which is why the $). It was very good, though.

https://thetourguy.com/tours/venice/venice-day-tour-st-mark-doge-palace-gondola-ride

I'll get tutted at for recommending Viator; but we did a walking tour with them last trip, and it had a short gondola ride at the end, which was just heaven on a hot day. The guide was really knowledgeable and included everyone in his talk, including some tweens who were there, to engage everyone. I would try there.

guruwalk.com-they have a few but limited ones in English. Pay after per what you think it’s worth.

Are you looking for a guided walking tour, or walking tour ideas you can follow yourself? Depending on what you want, and how much time you have in Venice, there is a small paperback book by Frommer’s called “ 24 Great Walks in Venice”. Pretty sure I got mine for a few dollars through Amazon.com. For each walk, it includes detailed street maps, lovely photos, and recommended places to eat within that area. Venice has loads of interesting neighborhoods worthy of separate walks. PS: looking through this book right now, really getting inspired! Making me cry, almost.

The "Insight Guides" books have excellent walking tours mapped out. We used the Venice version for nice walks through Dorsoduro, San Marco, San Polo, and Santa Croce. Our local libraries have a good selection of Insight Guides books.

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In Europe, It’s the Little Differences

When you’re on the road in Europe, sometimes it’s the little differences that resonate the most: pragmatic, clever solutions to everyday problems that inspire you to do better back home.

I was reminded of this recently while updating our Rick Steves guidebook in Amsterdam. On a sunny day, I was enjoying a stroll through Vondelpark when I spotted an unusual garbage can, which appeared to have a built-in beverage caddy.

Suddenly I realized the purpose: In the Netherlands, to encourage recycling, they charge a €0.15 deposit when you buy any drink in a bottle or can; then, when you return the container, you recoup the deposit.

Of course, many places have a similar deposit system, and have for a long time. (Who could forget the classic Seinfeld where Kramer hatched a scheme to take a mail truck full of pop cans to Michigan to claim the 10¢-per-can deposit?) What struck me was the simple wisdom of making it easy to leave unwanted containers so that they’re easier to collect by someone else — presumably, someone who could use the money.

This little eureka thrilled me. As someone who tries to be a conscientious traveler, I often feel conflicted when finishing a bottle of fizzy water or Coke Zero. The recycler in me hates to stick in the garbage; the efficient traveler in me hates to carry it around (since I typically don’t carry a day bag, it has to jab awkwardly out of my pocket); and the humanitarian in me wishes I could hand it off to someone who’d appreciate the deposit. These “donation rings” (doneerringen)   — really just a few pieces of well-designed metal — are a simple, pragmatic, effective solution.

It solves other problems, too: Elsewhere in Amsterdam, I saw garbage cans (not yet equipped with donation rings) that had been rifled through, with trash strewn across the sidewalk. Clearly someone had gone looking for deposit containers in a way that was degrading to them, while also created a mess. So even if all you care about is a tidy city, donation rings are a no-brainer.

I snapped a photo of the donation rings, spent a few minutes tapping out a post about this little observation, and put it up on Facebook and Instagram , where I like to share these little epiphanies and insights as I travel. The initial response was enthusiastic — similar to my, “Wow, cool idea!”

Then a surprising thing happened. A few days later, in the middle of the night, the post went viral . It’s now been seen by more than 10 million people and “liked” by more than 150,000 — which are ludicrous numbers for someone with my modest following. That photo of a garbage can, and a few short, hurriedly composed paragraphs of text, may be the most-read thing I’ll ever write. (One colleague teased me, “This trash can will clearly be your legacy.”)

The responses were fun to sift through. Several people (in Portland, Canada, Germany, Denmark, Australia, and elsewhere) wanted credit for having a similar system on their garbage cans. (Noted!) Others pointed out that it would be even better for society to provide a proper safety net, so that people didn’t have to resort to collecting deposit containers. (Agreed! This is a band-aid, albeit a clever one.)

But the consensus was simply this: Great idea! Wish we had that here. Several commenters even CCed their local authorities. If this little post winds up inspiring a few communities to look into donation rings…I consider that a very good day’s work.

This whole episode — along with threatening to brand me “the donation rings trash can guy” for the rest of my career — reinforced my sense that when we travel thoughtfully, attentively, and with our mind and our eyes open, we notice little differences in the way societies operate. Some of these ways, we may find impractical or annoying. But many times, they can be an inspiration…even an epiphany.

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In my recent travels, I’ve been making a point to tune into these different ways…and, where possible, to share them with others. Here are just a few examples.

Just a few days before flying to Amsterdam, I was waiting for my boat in Venice when I cracked open a much-needed bottle of ice-cold sparkling water. No matter how hard I turned the bottle cap, one little plastic filament stubbornly kept the cap attached to the plastic ring around the neck of the bottle. In that moment, I realized I’d been running into this same hiccup throughout my time in Italy, and that I’d even noticed it the previous fall in other parts of Europe. At first, I chalked it up to faulty design…a defect. But it was so consistent, it must be intentional.

A little Googling turned up the answer: As of 2024, the European Union requires these “tethered caps” on all single-use plastic bottles. It’s intended to keep the entire bottle intact, as one unit, for easier disposal and recycling. Yes, it takes some getting used to. But when you imagine all of those little plastic bottle caps rolling around the cobbles, piazzas, and gutters of Europe — not to mention, getting lodged in the esophagi of untold numbers of woodland critters and sea life — tethered caps seem a very smart solution.

Also in Italy, I was reminded of the tiered pricing system at cafés: You’ll pay more (in some cases, much more) to sit out on the piazza, rather than if you stand at the counter inside. In fact, even at the grandest of grand cafés in Italy, you can always get a simple espresso (un caffè) at the counter inside for just over €1.

Testing this rule of thumb, I waltzed past the dueling orchestras on St. Mark’s Square — some of the most expensive real estate in all of Italy — and into a venerable café. Inside at the counter, I ordered a caffè macchiato , then stood in the opulent interior as I sipped it. My bill came to €1.50.

As I left, I checked the price for the very same drink at the outdoor tables: €12, plus a €6 cover charge. If you’re lingering over the amazing views and the music, this is a worthwhile investment. If you just want a quick coffee, those prices are absurd. This “progressive taxation” approach to pricing drinks has a certain pragmatic beauty; you pay based on your experience. (And it’s also a great tip for budget travelers.)

Some of these smart solutions are Europe-wide. The EU has a draconian “Air Passenger Rights” policy that protects travelers from having their valuable time wasted by airlines. Strict guidelines mandate what an airline is required to provide to a passenger whose flight has been delayed or cancelled. If I ran an airline in Europe, this would make me pull my hair out. As a frequent air passenger in Europe…I absolutely adore it.

And I have directly benefitted from it. Last year, my wife and I were flying from Seattle to Norway by way of Amsterdam, with a tight connection. The good news: Our first flight was a few minutes early. The bad news: Our connecting flight had already been cancelled due to a technical problem, with no further flights scheduled until the next day. We got nervous, imagining being stranded for hours — maybe overnight — at Schiphol Airport, missing out on reservations we had waiting for us in Norway.

But the Europeans in the waiting area with us seemed unconcerned. One of them pulled out her phone and called up a page with the details of the EU policy. “No worries,” she said reassuringly to her husband, and to all of us antsy eavesdroppers. “If they delay us for more than three hours, they have to pay each of us €250. They won’t let that happen.”

Sure enough, within minutes, they allocated a different plane to take us to our destination, and boarding commenced almost immediately. Soon we were loaded on a bus and zipping across the Schiphol tarmac to our plane. And we wound up arriving in Norway just 45 minutes after our scheduled arrival time — even with the equipment change. Without the financial accountability mandated by that policy, I’m certain we’d have been cooling our jets for much longer.

Let’s head back to the Netherlands, which seems to be one of Europe’s top incubators for these everyday innovations. The Dutch are pragmatic, solution-focused, and early adopters, to the degree that they sometimes leap before they look. When I’m updating our Rick Steves Amsterdam guidebook — as I was on this trip — frankly, it can get exhausting. There’s always some cutting-edge new technology that’s been rolled out. And, often, by the time we come back a couple of years later to do our next round of updates, that Hot New Thing has already been abandoned and replaced with the next trend.

For example: Contactless or “tap-to-pay” credit card and smartphone payments on public transit are widely used throughout Europe and around the world. But the Netherlands, as far as I know, is the first and only European country where you can pay for every single ride on public transit (whether in-city trams, buses, and Metro, or intercity trains and buses) simply by tapping your existing credit card. Using this system (called OVpay ), you never have to buy a ticket.

Of course, I needed to try this out. And it worked well. Starting at the airport, where I wanted to take the bus into town, I was able to skip the tiresome chore of looking for a ticket machine. Instead, when the bus pulled up, I just hopped on and tapped my credit card against the scanner to “check in.” And then, when I got to my destination, I tapped my card again to “check out.” The cost of the ride was automatically charged to my card.

I tried this everywhere I went: on trams, the Metro, even the intercity train to the airport. And it worked brilliantly…another example of Dutch problem-solving making life easier. I can imagine a time, a few years from now, when the very idea of “tickets” for transportation are a thing of the past. You just tap in, tap out, and you’re done.

However…

When working on our guidebooks, it’s also my job to think through potential pitfalls. And even this ingeniously simple system has some serious caveats: A couple traveling together needs two separate payment cards. Fair enough. But what if you’re a family of four or five? Yes, that means that each family member needs their own credit card, smartphone payment app, etc.

On a particularly busy afternoon, a French family of five was waiting for the tram next to me. I knew this was going to be a big headache for them. Sure enough, the father wound up having to download a payment app, load up his credit card, use the app to buy five tickets, then scan each one individually. By the time he was done with this agonizing procedure, the family had almost missed their stop.

Another pitfall: Because the Dutch are all-in on this system, they are largely doing away with other ways of paying. Out in front of Centraal Station, where arriving travelers hop onto a tram to their hotel, there used to be abundant ticket machines. Now t hese have mostly gone away, with just a few hiding out in the Metro station downstairs. And you can no longer buy tickets once you’re on board, unless you download and set up that app that the French father was fumbling with. If you’re in the very slim majority of people who, for whatever reason, don’t want to or can’t pay by tapping your card …your life just got harder.

Here’s my point: It’s fun to notice these clever solutions when you travel. But it’s also important to avoid a “grass is always greener” naivete. Every system is flawed, and a few flaws don’t make it worthless. That’s just another problem to solve.

Smart people, around the world, come up with smart solutions. And if we all put our heads together, notice what works and what doesn’t, and commit ourselves to improving our societies, there are already a lot of great ideas out there, ripe for the picking. We just need to find them, do our due diligence to think through the pros and the cons, adapt them to be even better, and make them our own.

One final thought occurs to me, in this very heated election year: Effectively all of the solutions I’ve described are spearheaded by some level of government, from federal all the way down to municipal. Observing Europe’s willingness to attempt creative solutions, I’m reminded that it’s largely possible because Europeans, by and large, both trust and expect their government to be proactive and effective  in crafting a better society. (And if they aren’t, they face consequences at the ballot box.)

I wonder if Europe is more innovative partly because ambitious solutions like the donation rings, or the tethered caps, or nationwide tap-to-pay must be coordinated by the state? They’re always some naysayer who goes on a crusade against even the best idea — especially in America, where rugged individualism is prized, contrarianism is practically a religion, and many are terrified of the mythical boogeyman of “Big Government.”

Anytime I share observations about Europe’s clever solutions and high-functioning societies (as I did last summer, when I marveled at the slick, well-coordinated infrastructure in Norway ), some critics respond that such idealism has no place in America. “Yes, it would be great. But come on! We’d never be able to do that here.”

My response: Why not? We are our government — federal, state, local. If your leaders won’t take action to seek creative and effective solutions, if they’d rather shout and scold and scapegoat and obfuscate about complicated problems rather than trying to solve them…well, then, vote for someone else.

In this election year, support candidates and parties who are inspired by fresh ideas that help everyday people, and who are willing to implement them. (If you liked the sound of that EU “Air Passenger Rights” policy — and, frankly, any travelers should — it’s worth noting that our Secretary of Transportation, Pete Buttigieg, has been in the news for rolling out a similar policy Stateside .)

Europeans solve problems because they have the will to work together toward those solutions. From all of these specific examples, that may be the biggest takeaway: We can do better. We just have to want it.

What are some of your favorite “slice-of-life” little ways that Europe does things differently? Which ones might you like to try out back home?

If you enjoy observations like these, be sure to Follow me on Facebook and/or Instagram . I’m heading to Europe again soon, and will be sharing lots more.

12 Replies to “In Europe, It’s the Little Differences”

Allowing public drinking seems to work in Europe. Being able to drink a beer without wrapping it in a paper bag is much more enjoyable and civilized. I’m sure it gets abused at times, but as a citizen, I believe I should be able to moderately enjoy an alcoholic beverage in a public place—sitting by a river, walking down a street, and even on a bus at the end of a tough workday. As an American I always relish this aspect of my European trips.

Sounds like you need to visit New Orleans. :)

Cameron—I’m reading your book for the second time and enjoying it just as much as the first time. Your descriptive writing is fabulous and allows us readers to enjoy some wonderful “vicarious” travel adventures. Happy travels—and keep up the good work!

Informative article. As a 6 time Rick Steve’s traveler, I hung on every word. In London last fall we never even exchanged money for pounds. It was tap plastic even for small purchases. The pandemic changed everything – a touchless world. Loved reading this article and getting prepared for changes we’ll likely encounter in Italy next October. Sad that in this country we resist learning from others. Our health-care system for example.

Agreed. I will also put our adversarial legal system to the test. Most U.S. prosecutors and defense lawyers only care about the outcome; justice, fairness, compassion, and truth are meaningless; winning is paramount. Winning leads to promotion, higher fees and reputation. Compare that to the French legal system: Only very serious crimes are tried by jury, lesser infractions are adjucated by a much simpler process. Check it out on the wiki site! (And, no, I am NOT European. Nor a lawyer!) Jaye

Thanks for your great articles! An idea that makes traveling by black cabs in London so worthwhile, is that they can use the bus lanes. Only the licensed black cabs can do this. It makes getting across the city with luggage to catch a train etc much faster. We should do this in American cities!

Cameron. My wife and I spent a week last October in London. The Tube payment system is so sophisticated that I can tap my smartwatch to pay and never have to take my credit card out of my money belt. No that’s innovation.

One not a small thing is free studies in every level . You don’t have to pay to get a proper education. If the U.S. had the same system, the world would be a better place to live. Just think all the talent that is wasted because there is no change to go to university or gollege.

Great information Cameron! And, I appreciate your perspective. I always learn something from you. Thank you.

Vancouver BC has similar tap-to-pay on public transit. While it’s more cost-effective, if you live here, to buy a $6 Compass Card, a visitor who only wants to use transit a few times can tap to pay on buses, and Skytrain with a contactless credit card (or debit card, but I suspect that’s only the debit card of a Canadian bank or credit union). The tap is at full adult fare, so I don’t think you’d get any applicable discounts related to transfers within the system. You can also use your mobile wallet on your smartphone, so Apple watch etc. might work, too. (I don’t have one, myself…)

Have you ever heard of a “verjaardag” calendar? It translates from Dutch to birthday. So, it’s a perpetual calendar- you can use the same one for decades if you like it that much. Ok, so lots of people have these – on the wall, in a book (probably tucked way far in the back of a drawer where you never see it, at least not in time to remember to send Tante Wilhelmina a card. The difference is: in the Netherlands, this calendar hangs open on the wall – in the bathroom! EVERYONE goes in the bathroom every day so there’s no excuse for not remembering Beppa or cousin Cora on their special day!

Pete B. wants the airlines to reimburse passengers for delays related to weather. Imagine that. As if anyone can control the weather. That will work for sure and at the same time skyrocket ticket prices for the customer. But if you like Pete, knock yourself out. If you are going to write an article about travel, you could at least try to be bipartisan. Travel is wonderful and if nothing is, it’s bipartisan in and of itself.

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