Polish tourist follows Google Maps straight into a Venetian canal

A Polish tourist's brief tumble into a Venetian canal has turned into an online talking point about the limits of technology - and the occasional perils of following directions too literally.

The clip, which quickly went viral on Instagram, "captures Wiktoria Guzenda, engrossed in her phone, walking down stairs in the scenic city, only to lose her balance and fall straight into the water." Moments later, she was seen sitting by the canal, nursing a scraped leg and a bruised sense of dignity.

The video included a tongue-in-cheek caption - "When Google Maps says 'go straight' but you're in Venice" - hinting that the incident was more about misplaced digital trust than clumsiness.

Online reactions were divided. Some users found humor in the misstep. One commented, "Soooo, what did she think would happen walking down stone steps into the water?", while another wrote, "Maybe stop blindly following a gps and actually look around and use your brain."

Others were more sympathetic, offering alternative explanations. "She clearly slipped – maybe she was stopping to take a photo!", one viewer suggested. Another speculated that "Y'all, she obviously wanted to stop at the last step and ended up falling in. She was just wanting a cute video and likely cut herself on the sharp shellfish that post up along the Venice waterways. Poor girl lmao."

Beyond the humour, the episode has drawn attention to the broader issue of navigation in Venice - a city where technology often struggles to keep up with geography.

"Venice tour sites have highlighted that Google Maps can be notoriously unreliable in the city due to its distinctive layout," one guide noted. "Unlike traditional cities, Venice uses a complex system of sestieri (districts) with unpredictable numbering, making navigation challenging even for the most tech-savvy travelers."

"The challenges are further compounded by Venice's unique features, including dead ends blocked by water, narrow passages masquerading as streets, and bridges that are impassable despite appearing navigable on maps."

Locals say this confusion is common. "Google Maps frequently directs tourists to routes that simply don't exist or are blocked by canals. Many visitors find themselves standing at the edge of a canal with no bridge, exactly where Google Maps said they should turn."

As a result, travel advisers increasingly recommend a more old-fashioned approach. "Many travel sites suggest ditching Google Maps in favour of a real tour guide, paper maps, or specialised Venice navigation apps."

For Guzenda, the lesson may be literal - look up once in a while, especially when the street ahead is made of water. But for many visitors, her fall is a reminder that in Venice, technology can only go so far before it gets its feet wet.