Eight Magical Things to Know About Studying in Venice

Life and study in Venice, Italy, is entirely different from anywhere else in Europe. Last year, I got the chance to continue my studies at Ca' Foscari University of Venice. From the moment I arrived in the city, I knew my lifestyle and daily routine would be completely different from what I was used to back in Tbilisi, Georgia. Venice can feel like another world, even another era, and I genuinely loved every moment of it. Here are eight reasons that explain why Venice is so magical.

You won't find cars, zebra crossings or traffic lights on Venice's roads

Except at the entrance to the city, Venice is inaccessible by car, bicycle or motorbike, because the entire city is a series of islands connected by bridges. This means you have to explore the city on foot or by water transport. If you take the vaporetto (water bus), remember it doesn't work like a regular bus stopping on either side of a road. A single water-bus stop serves boats heading in both directions, so make sure you're going the right way!

Traffic jams are caused by tourists, not cars — people stop on bridges to take photos

Venice has around 260,000 residents, and up to 70,000 tourists pour in every day. As a result, the city becomes extremely crowded, especially during Carnival and in summer. Tourists mostly stop on bridges to take picturesque selfies, though this does often mean they end up "jamming" the walkway.

You'll learn how to monitor the tides in the city

At the welcome session at Ca' Foscari University, we were warned about the tides and encouraged to download Hi! Tide Venice, an app that tells you whether different parts of the city are flooded and where you can walk without getting wet. When the tide rises, you can see locals walking around the city in rubber boots. If you're only visiting, plastic rain boots will do. Maybe…

Walk on the raised wooden walkways to keep your feet dry

During high tide, city maintenance workers set up raised wooden walkways (passarelle) throughout Venice so tourists and locals can still get around. These walkways are usually placed in areas most prone to acqua alta (high water).

Beautiful Gothic architecture makes it hard to tell buildings apart

Venice's famous old buildings have stayed the same for centuries, but their purposes have changed. Some of these old buildings are now university buildings or museums, while other grand, ornate structures may turn out to be something as ordinary as a bank.

You can only drink milky coffee in the morning

Italians believe that drinking any coffee containing milk (such as cappuccino) after a meal disrupts normal digestion.

You'll pay less by standing at the bar or café in Venice

If you sit at an outdoor table at a café or bar in Venice, the price of a coffee or glass of wine will be higher than if you stand at the bar or drink outside. Why doesn't every country do this?

You can visit the state-run Venice museums for free on the first Sunday of every month

Since 2014, you can visit all state-run museums and archaeological sites in Italy for free on the first Sunday of the month. Make the most of this while you're here — there are many amazing things to see.