Restrooms in Venice

Restrooms

Public restrooms aren't common in Italy, but Venice does have pay toilets scattered throughout the city, including on the Lido and the other islands. They're well posted and strategically located along the main tourist routes: at Piazzale Roma; near Rialto Bridge (both sides); on Strada Nova, near Ponte delle Guglie; near Accademia Bridge vaporetto landing; and next to the tourist information office at the Giardinetti Reali, close to Piazza San Marco. The charge is EUR .50 and nearly all are accessible to wheelchairs. While private businesses rarely permit passersby to use their toilets, most bars will allow you if you ask politely, or alternatively, buy a little something -- a mineral water or espresso -- in exchange for their kindness. Standards of cleanliness and comfort vary greatly. While hotels, department stores like La Rinascente and Coin, and restaurants, including McDonald's, tend to have the cleanest restrooms, those in pubs and bars rank among the worst. It is always best to carry your own tissue. You'll find well-kept pay toilets (for EUR .50-EUR 1) in airports, major train stations, and in most museums. There are also bathrooms at highway rest stops and gas stations where a small tip (EUR .25-EUR .50) to the cleaning person is standard practice. Churches, post offices, public beaches, or subway stations rarely have public facilities.