Sophie-May Williams
Published November 26, 2025 11:27am
Updated November 26, 2025 11:28am
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All the thrills of Venice, without the crowds (Picture: Getty Images)
Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you won’t need us to tell you that poor old Venice has had a rough ride in recent years.
The ancient canal city has become an unwilling poster child for overtourism, plagued by everything from rising waters and overcrowding to depopulation.
Around 30 million travellers visit Venice each year, eclipsing its 48,000 permanent residents several times over.
And that’s before we get to its involvement in the monstrous display of wealth that was the Bezos-Sanchez wedding.
Inspired by Fodor’s ‘No’ travel list, which encourages tourists to be mindful about the places they choose to visit, we’re bringing you a Venice alternative so you can do your bit to give this weary prima donna relief.
Sixteen miles south of the icon herself is Chioggia, a charming fishing town on the Venetian Lagoon affectionately known as ‘Little Venice’.
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Locals will tell you different. If anything, they say, it’s Venice that should be described as Chioggia’s larger doppelgänger, and it’s true, Chioggia is older.
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Already popular with tourists from Central and Eastern Europe for its quaint centre and nearby sandy beaches, Chioggia’s surge in fame can be traced to the The New York Times placing it at the top of its ‘52 best places to visit’ in 2022 – a prestigious annual list that focuses on sustainable destinations, away from overtourism.
The city was also in the running to become Italy’s 2024 Cultural Capital, a title that was ultimately thrown Pesaro’s way.
Things to do in Chioggia
Italian travel influencer Maritia Mazzini has visited Chioggia many times and says it’s just like Venice, but more intimate.
‘You’ll find a mix of canals, fishermen, tiny alleys and slow mornings. It’s a town that doesn’t need filters,’ she tells Metro.
Her best advice? Ditch the itinerary and wake early to wander the canals instead. ‘Chioggia is at its best in the morning, you’ll catch the fishermen (or mògnoli) starting their day.’
Chioggia is under an hour from Venice (Picture: Metro)
The local fish market is the one place you shouldn’t leave without seeing, according to Maritia: ‘It’s where you feel the heartbeat of the city.’
Located behind Palazzo Granaio, dozens of stalls sell everything from fresh sea bream to anchovies. The market is one of the oldest institutions in the city.
She says it’s also worth checking out the centuries-old buildings on Corso del Popolo and the Vigo Bridge. Built in 1685, it’s often compared to Venice’s Rialto Bridge.
A food lover’s heaven
After a morning of culture, Maritia recommends resting your feet at a canalside cafe and ordering Venetian cicchetti (appetiser snacks that can be everything from olives to hard-boiled eggs).
Her top choice is Epperté, which serves scallops with polenta (€12/£10.50), crostini with fish pate (€10/£9), and mixed meat with cured cheese (€18/£16).
‘These places aren’t tourist traps. They’re where locals actually go,’ she adds.
@venicetraveltipsChioggia: Venice’s laid-back little sister 🌊✨ If you love the charm of Venice but could do without the crowds, let me introduce you to Chioggia—a beautiful canal town in the Veneto region that’s full of local life, delicious food, and postcard-perfect views. 📌 Save this video & follow @venicetraveltips for more Venice & Veneto guides and travel tips. Here’s why Chioggia is worth a visit: 🚲 It’s bike-friendly, so you can explore its quiet streets and canals on two wheels. 📸 The bridges over Canal Vena offer some of the most picturesque views you’ll find anywhere in the lagoon. 🐟 It’s home to one of the most important fish markets in Italy, second only to Mazara del Vallo in Sicily – so expect incredibly fresh seafood. 🍤 Enjoy classic Venetian cicchetti, seafood pasta, and perfectly made spritzes at local spots where the locals actually eat. 🏖️ Just a short walk away is Sottomarina, known for its wide sandy beach – ideal for family days or relaxed aperitivos that turn into long summer nights. ⛵ I also joined a beautiful city boat tour with @bosettitours – a lovely way to experience and see Chioggia from the water. If you’re interested in this experience, comment “Chioggia by boat” and I’ll send you more details! If you’re looking to explore the Venetian lagoon from a different perspective, Chioggia might just be your new favourite spot. #chioggia #veneto #hiddengemsitaly #visitchioggia #sottomarina #venetianlagoon
♬ original sound – venicetraveltips
Destination detour
A popular day trip from Chioggia is the beach in the suburb of Sottomarina, about a 30-minute walk from the main town, with powdery white sand and spectacular views of the Adriatic Sea.
There are cafes and sun loungers, as well as water sports including kitesurfing and windsurfing.
There’s also a great diving spot: Le tegnùe, where you can explore the largest coral reef on the Adriatic.
If you want to make more of a full day out of it, you could start at the Lido near Venice and rent a bike at one of the many rentals close to the Santa Maria Elisabetta hub (average daily rates are €10 per bike).
Venice alternatives to visit in 2026
The ‘Venice of the Algarve’ is 23C in October with £28 flights
Italy’s ‘best-kept secret’ is just 30 minutes from Venice
Why the ‘Venice of France’ is the best city you’ve never heard of
This ‘underrated’ town is an hour from Venice and flights are £28
The ‘Venice of Portugal’ is a lesser-known gem that costs £23 to see
The ‘Venice of the Netherlands’ has no cars and 5 miles of canals
Canary Islands’ ‘Little Venice’ with few crowds and £45 flights
How to get there
Chioggia doesn’t have an airport, so you’ll be flying into Venice Marco Polo Airport (VCE).
On Monday, December 22, we found a one-way Ryanair flight from London Stansted for £49.
If you’re booking a summer trip, Wizz Air is flying direct from London Luton on Monday, June 1, for £24.
Chioggia is a grand architectural darling (Picture: Getty Images)
Once you land, there are several routes to Chioggia.
Arriva Veneto operates a bus from the airport to Chioggia Naccari every three hours. Tickets cost €6 to €8 (£5.27 to £7), and the journey takes just over an hour.
The fastest route is by car, which takes under the hour, but it’s a hell of a lot pricier. Connecto Transfers estimates a one-way taxi price of £154.95.
Where to stay in Chioggia
Unlike famously expensive Venice, there are bargains to be had in Chioggia.
We chatted to Maddy, the co-founder of Venice Travel Tips, to get her advice on the best places to stay.
‘I love Chioggia because it shows you a completely different side of the Lagoon and of this part of Italy,’ she says.
‘It’s a place you can explore easily in less than a day, but for a slow travel experience, it’s definitely worth spending a bit longer.
Summer evenings at the terraces of restaurants along the canal of Chioggia (Picture: Coust/SOPA Images/Shutterstock)
‘If you want to step off the classic Venice route and experience a place that feels real, Chioggia is the perfect choice.’
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Maddy’s top hotel picks:
- Duomo Boutique Hotel is 1.8km from Sottomarina Beach, and rooms start from £75 per night.
- Barbara’s Rooms is tucked inside a historic building and rooms start from £99.
- La Bella Vita is a stylish apartment in the centre of town with rooms starting from £211.
What’s the weather like in Chioggia?
It all depends on when you travel.
May, June, July, August and September range between 22°C and 29°C.
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October sees highs of 19°C, while November to March range from 8°C to 12°C. April averages around 17°C.
Explained: Overtourism in Venice and Europe
Venice is overrun with ‘fast tourists,’ the term coined for people who approach travelling with a ‘hit and run’ style — ticking off as many landmarks as possible in a limited amount of time.
Though this may sound harmless, fast tourism is inextricably linked with overtourism. The rise of budget air travel and cruise ships attracts large numbers of visitors at an unprecedented pace.
Earlier this year, Venice controversially doubled its tourist tax to combat this, while Veneto launched a slow tourism campaign, encouraging travellers to explore the outer regions of Venice.
Camilla Feiffer, a Venice local and Intrepid Urban Adventure guide, has seen many changes over the years, the most significant being the city’s depopulation.
She tells Metro: ‘Many property owners prefer renting to tourists rather than to locals, which has pushed housing prices up. Venice is very small, there are no real outskirts, and it’s impossible to build more housing because space is limited.’
‘Venice is also such a compact city where people mainly move around on foot. The presence of large numbers of tourists feels even more overwhelming.’
Camilla says that one of the biggest cultural losses has been the disappearance of traditional neighbourhood shops, like bakeries and children’s stores, which have gradually been replaced by cheaper souvenir shops.
‘Another aspect is children playing in the squares (campi), something that used to be an image of Venetian life,’ she adds. Today, many Venetian families tend to leave the city during weekends because they know it becomes even more crowded with tourists.
Camilla believes that Venice’s overall goal should be to shift to responsible tourism that ‘respects the city, supports residents, and helps Venice be a living, thriving destination rather than just a postcard place.’
Elsewhere in Europe, the Canary Islands have been named on Fodor’s ‘No List’ for 2026 — a unique travel guide that encourages wanderlust and restraint in the same breath.
Earlier this year, Barcelona and Madrid saw mass protests against overtourism, while Mallorca’s Palma put caps on walking tours.
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