RS Venice book

Ricks maps are handy, perhaps, for planning purposes. But if you want any kind of detail and scale, just go to Google maps. You can download any map in advance to use offline on your phone or tablet.

Venice maps are always going to be difficult and no guarantee you won't get lost. Not everything is consistent to the street signs (if there are signs). I can't remember what map I used in 2002 (my last visit), but it was the RS Italy book, most likely the TI issued paper map because google maps wasn't an option. Now some sort of off line app would be beneficial because at least you can see by the little dot whether you are heading in the right direction - or not.

For city maps, I think the Streetwise Maps that RSE also sells here in this site are better for greater detail. I dont know how far east they go, but they are pretty detailed and sturdy. A handy card-size map of the vaporetto stops is also pretty useful for Venice.

I have the RS Venice guidebook (published December 2016). It comes with a larger Venice map. On the back, there is a more detailed section for "Central Venice" covering St. Mark's square to Rialto Bridge and fish market.

The Venice paper map I found most helpful was the multi-page one in the back of the Eyewitness Venice & Veneto guidebook.

The best Venice maps that I have used were the ones shared by the Venice hotels-free. I always save them. I have found this to be true in many cities-in both Europe and USA. [ I have never been able to download a map that was very readable.]

Safe travels!

I like the app, maps.me, because it allows you to get as detailed as you need and you can follow the route it gives to a specific location on your android or iphone. The other advantage is you don't need a connection to the internet to use it since it works via satellite. It's especially useful for Venice where it's easy to get lost. I use it in conjunction with RS guide books, especially the small ones with colored images.

If you can find it, the Rough Guide map for Venice is pretty good. May be a bit dated as, while street names have not changed for hundreds of years, vaporetto and Alilaguna routes have changed since it was printed.

If you are feeling a bit committed, the Moleskine Venezia notebook has a map of Venice which includes a decent street finder. If you arrive in Venice by rail, there is a Moleskine store at the left end of the concourse as you exit the station (and are confronted by the best view in the world, the Grand Canal).

Every news kiosk sells maps, and they cost about three or four euro, so good value. Free maps from hotels may not be so good, as they likely won’t cover all of Venice.

No matter how good your phone navigation system is, you do need a paper map to get some sort of everview. Navigating street by street (and some streets are maybe 1.5 metres wide) will drive you nuts, you need to be able to navigate campo to campo.

Make sure you have the actual street address of your hotel, trying to find Castello 3846 is not easy.

Thank you all for your responses. I think I will stick with the map I have. I did have a large paper map
and it was great but due to excessive use it was thrown out after our last trip.

We have found Borch maps to be the best, including for Venice, and we used it extensively just 3 years ago. very detailed. Next best is popout (but Borch better). Sorry, I like RS books, but not enamored of his maps (which I ordered, but didn't even bring). We also had a streetwise, but it was not as good as Borch & popout.

We too utilize google maps heavily, but for a few dollars, it's always a good secure feeling to have a good printed map available, and one can't always depend on finding one at the destination (whether not in stock, whether not convenient to go find, whether one is not staying at a hotel, etc).

Rick's maps are good for orientation but lack the detail for real sightseeing. I'm a fan of Streetwise maps, which are durable and compact as well as detailed and accurate. Their Venice map covers almost the whole island, plus Giudecca and Murano, plus vaporetto routes, plus an index of streets, sites, and some hotels. Very small print but readable. You can buy on this website or elsewhere.