Older single woman --safety in Venice, Italy

I am a 64 year old woman who has traveled to Venice maybe six times in the last ten years, several of them by myself. I find Venice very safe. There are people out and about, throughout the city, very late into the evening. Even the small, narrower streets have streetlights, and I never felt threatened or uneasy. I generally stay in the San Polo district, although a couple of times I was in Canareggio. I would be more concerned, if I were you, with making sure that your Airbnb folks are willing to meet you late in the evening, and that you have very clear directions for how to get there, and a phone number to call if you get lost. If you are taking the vaporetto, be aware that they have more limited hours in the late night. (I found the schedule on-line for the #1 N vaporetto, the night schedule for the one that makes every stop on the Grand Canal).

Hi.
I'm 64, female, and travel solo a lot.
I've been in Venice solo twice in the past three years.
If I were arriving that late in the evening, I would definitely book a one night hotel stay near Piazzale Roma (so you can walk there easily from the airport bus); and get a good night's sleep first, before trying to figure out where your rental apartment is in the dark.
Venice is twisty lanes and calles even in the daytime, and the house numbers are confusing at times; never mind near midnight.
Then in the morning, you get a good breakfast, you feel more "alive", and can meet your hosts and learn about your apartment in daylight and feel safer.
I always do this, even when I arrive during the day to a new place.
Venice is not unsafe late at night, but you're coming in from somewhere else, alone and late.
Is it your first time in Venice?
Are you arriving on a flight from overseas?
If so, you may want to do what I've just suggested.
If you know your way around from previous visits, you'll be more informed about how Venice works.
Either way, Venice is wonderful!

Venice is probably the safest large city in Italy.

However, ladies, let’s not push the envelope too much with those short miniskirts, ok?

Venice is full of retired men in their 60s and 70s and still in their prime (all that walking up and down bridge stairs keeps them in shape).

Also let’s not forget that Casanova was from Venice :-).

If it were a hotel near a vaporetto stop I'd say go for it. My wife is older than you and I'm your age, and I know she would be fine.

Since you are trying to find an AirBnB at midnight I wouldn't try. Are you positive that there will be somebody to meet you at that hour?

The last thing I would want to do at midnight is try to find somebody. Of course they don't have hotel signs out either.

Sorry that doesn't really answer the safety question - I wouldn't be too worried about that and neither would my wife. It would be the finding where you are and especially getting in at that hour I'd worry about.

Good luck with it all, Jan.

Also, Jan, are you arriving at the airport, or at the train station, at 11:00 pm? If the train station, then there are multiple hotels within a 5-10 minute flat walk (no bridges) from the train station where you could take the advice of getting a hotel for one night. The idea of also booking a hotel near a vaporetto stop is also great advice, if arriving by train. The vaporetto stops for several lines are right outside the train station. Hotel Guerrato near the Mercato stop, and Hotel Al Ponte Mocenigo very near the San Stae stop are both wonderful smaller, full-service hotels staffed through the night, and are 4 and 3 stops away by Vaporetto line #1. If you are arriving at the airport, then there will be very different advice from posters here about how to navigate and where to navigate to. That's where the advice of getting a hotel near Piazzale Roma is appropriate.

Who is the “older woman?” Don’t you know, 66 is the new 46!
I agree that there are not real “safety” issues, in terms of people bothering you.
Beyond that, however, your situation depends on so many other factors: where are you arriving (train station?), how much baggage (just one carryon bag?), does your baggage roll and can you carry it when necessary, such as on stairways, where in Venice is your apartment, how far from your arrival point, can you just walk or is a vaporetto involved, can you easily find it, who will let you in, what to do if you get lost or there is no one to let you in, will you carry a phone for local calls and a flashlight, do you speak any Italian, etc.
If your answers are all good, then you should not have problems. But if your answers indicate some negatives, this might not be a great idea.

I traveled to Venice solo a couple of years ago. I'm a pretty "tough bird," but I had some trouble navigating the streets and keeping my orientation. I also had some difficulty with the locks on my Air BNB door. I wouldn't want to tackle all that at 11:00 pm at night. Others' advice of staying near the train station the first night is good. Everything is easier in the daylight.

The biggest danger in Venice would probably be accidentally walking off the sidewalk and falling into a canal... or maybe tripping on steps, or slipping on a puddle. Seriously, it's one of the safest-feeling cities I've ever been in. I don't personally know anyone who's ever experienced a safety issue in Venice.

I totally agree with everyone else that a) 66 is not 'older', and b) Venice is very safe, but c) no way would I want to try and find a B&B at midnight.

One of the main joys of Venice is 'getting lost' but with luggage at midnight that would have a whole new meaning. Even if your host tells you they are giving you good directions don't try it. What seems like very clear directions to someone who has done it can be utterly confusing for someone who hasn't. Is there any way you can change your arrival time? Where will you be coming from?

Jan, you've gotten a lot of really useful advice. Are you still here? Does any of this help you?

Thank you all for all your advice. Unfortunately, I cannot do anything about the arrival time at this point. I am flying from San Francisco to Amsterdam to Rome, arriving at 4:35 p.m. I am not sure about where I will have to go through customs, (Amsterdam, Rome or both) so I am planning on taking the last train to Venice that night (after taking the half hour express from the airport to the train station).

I am planning on taking a rolling carry-on bag and a backpack as luggage so it shouldn't be too bad as far as that is concerned. Also, there is no water taxi needed, it's a fairly straight forward shot to the apartment from the train station and it looks like I can use "major streets" to get there. Based upon my last trip I was feeling fairly safe, but it is good to hear from so many that agree with that. Venice is so small that I think the nearest hotel would not be much closer than the apartment.

I had not really thought about getting into the apartment though, so I really appreciate the advice to contact the host about it now, which I plan on doing.

Again, thanks for all the help --- I'll take all I can get, so if you know anything about the customs (Amsterdam, Rome or both) situation I would love to hear about that.

Jan