Venice

Without the lagoon between its great palazzos, churches, and museums, Venice wouldn’t be Venice. Even those averse to this isolated Italian city have a modicum of respect for its modest beginnings, its nautical empire, and its spectacular ingenuity for finding ways—day in and day out—to live by the whims of the sea. The city’s distinctive neighborhoods and barrier islands are resplendent with marble-clad buildings and statuary that tell the story of the extravagant rise of this maritime power. In all seasons, the city manages to find excuses and make time for celebrating its deep traditions and the influx of creativity that flows into its borders each year.

A canal in Venice with five boats; two of which are gondolas being rowed by one man each and no passengers.

Nick Karvounis

Overview

When’s the best time to go to Venice?

Each season has its intolerable moments of high-impact tourism, making it a pick-your-battles sort of destination. Some say to visit Venice in the winter, but prepare to find many shuttered shops and hotels, and the human-traffic nightmare that is Carnival. Summer visits to the lagoon can be a delight, but the prices and the wet heat soar to their highest rates of the year. While tourism remains fairly high during spring (April-June) and autumn (September through early November), the weather is much more pleasant, and the light changes from tawny yellow to bright white, lending an enchanting color to the ancient architecture and the watery thoroughfares of the city.

How to get around Venice

Venice’s Marco Polo airport is about 20-30 minutes, depending on traffic, from downtown via the ACTV express bus, which costs about $9. Private water taxis will collect you from the airport and deposit you in front of your hotel for a fee that fluctuates annually but seems to hover around $170.

The public transportation system in Venice, ACTV, operates along the Grand Canal. It connects passengers to the major points of interest including the Piazzale Roma bus station, S.M. Novella train station, and landmarks like the Academia Bridge, Rialto Bridge, and St. Mark’s Square. ACTV also services other lagoon destinations like the Guidecca, Burano, and Murano. Water taxis and gondolas that ferry travelers across the Grand Canal are also available.

Can’t miss things to do in Venice

- A meal at L’Arco, a Venetian bacaro, or snack bar, almost exclusively a locals’ breakfast and lunch spot. Prosecco and spritzer are the protocols, and the typical Venetian snacks like truffle-infused cheese crostini are—without fail—fresh, local and seasonal
- A visit to the 14th-century Doge’s Palace lets you see how the ruling class lived and gives a look at some of the finest art the city has to offer
- An evening stroll across the Piazza San Marco to see it at its most magical
- An Ecology of Venice tour organized by our travel partner, Context, and led by scientists who can shed light on how this floating island came to be and what its future may hold
- A nighttime ride on the Grand Canal, whether by private boat or one of the public water buses

Food and drink to try in Venice

International cuisine hasn’t yet taken hold in Venice. The options here range from local Venetian fare to regional Italian pasta and seafood dishes. You’ll find a smattering of bad Chinese restaurants, and one good but expensive Thai restaurant that recently opened in the new Aman Resort. Local specialties are the Venetian snacks, cicchetti, which are usually small pieces of toasted bread topped with baccalà cream, whipped truffle cheese, and a million other variations of toothsome nibbles. During holidays like Carnival and Christmas, special desserts like fritelli (basically a fried cream donut) and panatone, a light cake with candied fruits, appear for a short time to celebrate the holiday.

Culture in Venice

All corners of Venice have cultural significance and intrigue, from the ad hoc bridges linking the city’s 118 separate islands to iconic public spaces like Piazza San Marco and Rialto. If pressed for time, it’s a good idea to see at least one or two treasures from each neighborhood. In Castello, check out the Arsenale district and the Museo Storico Navale di Venezia to learn about the city’s maritime empire. In San Marco, the Museo Correr holds a bevy of fascinating Venetian art and rotating international exhibitions. Santa Croce would be a shame to miss, and visiting the Scuola Grande di San Rocco is a must. The same applies to the new Prada Foundation in San Polo. The Accademia Museum in Dorsoduro, though usually very busy, is an absolute gem, and since its restoration by the nonprofit Save Venice Inc., it’s now one of Venice’s hottest tickets.

Venice is a hive of cultural activity and offers a seemingly unending lineup of festivals, fairs, and street parties. The Venice Film Festival, Carnival, and the art and architecture Biennales are the most famous, and tend to last between two weeks and four months. But other less-frequented though equally entertaining events include the feast day Festival of San Marco in April, and the September Regatta Storica, a procession of ornate boats throughout Venice’s main waterways.

Local travel tips for Venice

What don’t they know? Venice is a small, insulated city made more intimate by its completely pedestrian layout. The locals know where to eat. They know the alley shortcuts that save you 15 minutes on your commute. They will tell you to abide by the high water alarms or risk getting caught by rising waters. If you’re looking for the best gin and tonic in town, they will direct you to the lobby bar at Hotel Londra Palace or suggest, only for the view, to consider lunch on the roof terrace of Hotel Danieli.

Local Resources

Guide Editor

Read Before You Go
Imagine riding the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, India’s Maharajas’ Express, the Belmond Royal Scotsman, Canada’s Rocky Mountaineer, and Singapore’s Eastern & Oriental Express—all in one trip.
Resources to help plan your trip
The comforting taste of familiar Italian food is transformed into a different cuisine in Venice, where the cooking is influenced by spices like saffron brought by traders and by its proximity to both the Alps and the sea. Fresh fish dominates menus, turning up in seafood risotto and pasta as well as in spreads for cicchetti, tapas-like snacks. Sample typically Venetian dishes at family-run trattorie or dine at a fancy restaurant with a view with these top restaurants in Venice.
Venice dazzles from the moment you enter the Grand Canal, where you’ll navigate gondola traffic past sherbet-colored palazzi and churches. Continue exploring in a loop, from St. Mark’s Square to the Rialto Bridge and Canareggio around to the Gallerie dell’Accademia before toasting your fairytale day with rooftop drinks.
Wandering around Europe via small cruise ship is an opportunity to explore big cities like Athens, Venice, or Barcelona. In addition, smaller ships are able to dock or anchor in remote places seldom visited by large ships. Places with castles, palaces, cultural treasures, and UNESCO World Heritage Sites are waiting.
Venice has inspired artists—and countless visitors—with its canals, palaces, and the lavish lifestyle from its heyday as La Serenissima, an influential maritime republic at a crossroads of cultures. Learn more about the Venetian good life by exploring these museums celebrating its history, craftsmanship, and even modern art.
Murano glass and Venetian masks are two of La Serenissima’s classic souvenirs, though the quality of craftsmanship can really vary. Let us point you to reliably great sources for these products as well as artisanal jewelry, rare books, modern perfumes, and handmade clothing.
Although it would be easy to spend a week in Venice without running out of things to do, if you only have three days in this majestic Italian city, then our trip plan helps you get the most out of your time. With three solid days in Venice you can not only take a gondola ride, but also wander the city’s cobbled streets, stopping in at its iconic bars and restaurants and reveling in the romantic vibe that envelops Venice.
Few entrances are more quintessentially Venetian than the one made gliding up in a boat to the private jetty of the Aman Canal Grande. And few addresses surpass that of the Gritti Palace hotel, located front and center on the Grand Canal in San Marco. For a classic Venice experience, saddle up to Harry’s Bar at Belmond Hotel Cipriani. To escape the crowds of bustling Piazza San Marco book a stay at the Hilton Molino Stucky, just a five-minute boat ride away on Giudecca Island.
Featured in countless films, novels, and TV shows, Venice can evoke a sense of deja vu in travelers who have never previously experienced the Grand Canal, Bridge of Sighs, and gondola rides. Those are worthy experiences, yet Venice also rewards those who seek out its small islands and give in to getting lost down quaint neighborhood side streets. Museums and a local’s cooking class round out the mix of must-do activities.
Independent for 1100 years, Venice still looks and feels very distinct from much of Italy. It’s been overrun by tourists, especially cruise lines, but still has so much to offer that it’s well worth spending a few days here. The city is one massive atmospheric experience so stroll far and wide. One note about dining: Venice is overrun by tourist traps. You’ll know them by their plastic coated menus and hawkers. Look for the Slow Food snail icon in the window as a guide to quality.
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