Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Guardia Medica
( 041 238 5648) This service of night-time call-out doctors in Venice operates from 8pm to 8am
on weekdays and from 10am the day before a holiday (including Sunday) until 8am the day after.
Ospedale Civile
( 041 529 41 11; Campo SS Giovanni e Paolo 6777) Venice's main hospital; for emergency care
and dental treatment, ask for
pronto soccorso
(casualty).
Ospedale dell'Angelo
(
041 965 71 11; Via Paccagnella 11, Mestre) Vast modern hospital on the mainland.
Pharmacies
Most pharmacies in Venice are open from 9am to 12.30pm and 3.30pm to 7.30pm, and are closed on Saturday afternoon
and Sunday. Information on rotating late-night pharmacies is posted in pharmacy windows and listed in the free
magazine
Un Ospite di Venezia
as well as on its website (
www.unospitedivenezia.it
) under 'Night Chemists'.
Money
As in 12 other EU nations (Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Luxembourg, the Netherlands,
Portugal, Slovenia and Spain), the currency in Italy is the euro. Each participating state decorates the reverse side of the
coins with its own designs, but all euro coins can be used anywhere that accepts euros.
Euro notes come in denominations of €500, €200, €100, €50, €20, €10 and €5, in different colours and sizes. Euro
coins are in denominations of €2, €1, 50c, 20c, 10c, 5c, 2c and 1c.
ATMs
There are ATMs that accept international ATM cards throughout the city, with many near San Marco, Ponte di Rialto
and the train station. ATMs are the most convenient and cost-effective way to access cash in Venice.
Changing Money
You can exchange money in banks, at post offices or in bureaus de change. See
www.xe.com
for the most current ex-
change rates. The post office and banks are reliable, but always ask about commissions. Also, keep a sharp eye on com-
missions at bureaus de change, which sometimes exceed 10% on travellers cheques.
Travelex
Marco Polo Airport ( 041 541 68 33; 7.30am-9.30pm) ; Piazza San Marco ( 041 528 73 58; Piazza
San Marco 142; 9am-7pm Mon-Fri, 9am-6pm Sat, 9.20am-6pm Sun); Riva del Ferro ( 041 528 73 58; Riva del
Ferro 5126; 9.30am-6.45pm Mon-Sat, to 5pm Sun) To reclaim VAT from purchases over €200, bring completed
forms and local receipts to the Piazza San Marco branch.
Credit Cards
Major cards such as Visa and MasterCard are accepted throughout Italy. Some banks may allow you to obtain cash ad-
vances over the counter with MasterCard or Visa, but be aware that this is a lengthy process. Check charges with your
bank beforehand to avoid any nasty surprises later. American Express and Diners Club are also accepted, though not as
widely.
Note also that most banks now build a fee of around 2.75% into every foreign transaction. In addition, ATM with-
drawals attract a fee, which can range from a flat fee to 1.5% of the withdrawal, or both.
