Europe · Italy
Venice
Canals, mosaics and lagoon light
Drift along the Grand Canal, step inside golden Byzantine mosaics, lose yourself in quiet backstreet canals and hop by water bus to the colourful islands of the lagoon.
Apr – Jun · Sep – Oct
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Italian
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Explore the City
Find attractions, hotels, and transport hubs across the city.
Tours & experiences
Tours & Experiences
Curated cruises, day trips, walking tours and iconic experiences worth building a day around in Venice.
Venice
Gondola Ride
Glide through quiet side canals and under small bridges on Venice's most iconic ride, with a licensed gondolier.
About 30 minutes
First-time visitors and travellers exploring Venice at their own pace
Official gondola stations across the city
Highlights
- Hidden canals
- Grand Canal glimpses
- Traditional gondola
Venice
Grand Canal Boat Tour
See the palaces, markets and bridges of the Grand Canal from the water with commentary on the city's history.
About 1 hour
First-time visitors and travellers exploring Venice at their own pace
Near San Marco or Santa Lucia
Highlights
- Rialto Bridge
- Ca' d'Oro
- Santa Maria della Salute
Venice
St. Mark's Basilica & Doge's Palace Guided Tour
Understand the Venetian Republic's power and faith with a guided visit to its two most important buildings.
2.5–3 hours
First-time visitors and travellers exploring Venice at their own pace
Piazza San Marco
Highlights
- Golden mosaics
- Great Council hall
- Bridge of Sighs
Venice
Doge's Palace Secret Itineraries
Go behind the scenes to hidden offices, the torture chamber and the Leads prison where Casanova was held.
About 1.5 hours
First-time visitors and travellers exploring Venice at their own pace
Doge's Palace
Highlights
- Secret passages
- Casanova's cell
- Attic timberwork
Venice
Murano Glass-Making & Lagoon Boat Tour
Watch master glassblowers at work on Murano and enjoy the lagoon from the water.
Half day
First-time visitors and travellers exploring Venice at their own pace
Near San Marco or Fondamente Nove
Highlights
- Glass furnace demonstration
- Murano Glass Museum area
- Lagoon views
Venice
Rialto Market & Food Tour
Browse the historic Rialto market with a local guide and taste Venetian specialities along the way.
About 3 hours
First-time visitors and travellers exploring Venice at their own pace
Rialto Market
Highlights
- Pescheria fish market
- Local produce
- Venetian tastings
Venice
Evening Cicchetti & Wine Bar Crawl
Hop between traditional bacari for Venetian small bites and a glass of local wine, the way Venetians do.
2–3 hours
First-time visitors and travellers exploring Venice at their own pace
San Polo or Cannaregio
Highlights
- Cicchetti
- Ombra of wine
- Local bacari
Venice
Venetian Mask-Making Workshop
Decorate your own papier-mâché mask in an artisan workshop and learn about Carnival traditions.
About 2 hours
First-time visitors and travellers exploring Venice at their own pace
Artisan workshop in the historic centre
Highlights
- Carnival history
- Hands-on painting
- Take-home mask
Venice
Evening Baroque or Opera Concert
Hear Vivaldi or opera arias in a historic church or palazzo — or see a performance at La Fenice.
1–2 hours
First-time visitors and travellers exploring Venice at their own pace
Churches, palazzi or Teatro La Fenice
Highlights
- Vivaldi's Four Seasons
- Historic venues
- Evening atmosphere
Venice
Hidden Venice: Cannaregio & the Ghetto Walk
Leave the crowds behind to explore residential canals, local squares and the history of the Jewish Ghetto.
2–3 hours
First-time visitors and travellers exploring Venice at their own pace
Cannaregio
Highlights
- Jewish Ghetto
- Fondamenta della Misericordia
- Madonna dell'Orto
Venice Itineraries
Plan Your Perfect Venice Trip
Professionally curated day-by-day itineraries that combine Venice's iconic landmarks, local favourites, practical travel tips, realistic budgets, and efficient routes—helping you experience more while spending less time planning.
Venice · Suggested itinerary
3-Day Venice
San Marco, the Rialto and the colourful lagoon islands.
Your trip at a glance
3 days
Moderate
Budget traveller
Flexible
Mid-range traveller
Check current costs
Luxury traveller
Book ahead
- Day1
Theme
San Marco & the historic heart
Begin with Venice's most famous square and its great monuments, then catch sunset across the water.
Day 1 · San Marco & the historic heart- MorningMorning
St. Mark's Basilica & Campanile
- Enter the basilica early with a timed ticket
- Ride up the Campanile for views over the lagoon
- LunchMidday
Lunch away from the square
- Walk a few lanes back from the piazza for better value
TryCantina Do Mori - AfternoonAfternoon
Doge's Palace & Bridge of Sighs
- Tour the council halls and cross the Bridge of Sighs
- Stroll the Riva degli Schiavoni waterfront
- EveningEvening
Sunset at La Salute
- Take the traghetto or water bus toward Salute
- Watch the light fade over the basin of San Marco
HighlightsSt. Mark's BasilicaCampanileDoge's PalaceBridge of Sighs- Walking
- Around 4–6 km · Allow extra time for bridges, narrow lanes and getting pleasantly lost
Comfortable walking shoes; you'll climb many bridge steps.
- Sightseeing
- A full but unhurried day
- Family
- Couples
Transport tipsSan Zaccaria / San Marco
ACTV water bus
The main stops for the square and waterfront.
Estimated daily budgetBudget traveller
Depends on your choices
Mid-range
Check current admission prices
Luxury
Plan for bookings
Travel tipGroup sights by district — crossing Venice on foot takes longer than maps suggest.
Money saverCheck current official prices; a water-bus pass can pay off if you'll ride several times.
Best photo spotEarly morning gives empty squares and soft light on the canals.
Best time to visitStart early at the big sights, then slow down in quieter districts.
Book aheadReserve timed entries for the basilica, Doge's Palace and popular museums.
Transport tipValidate water-bus tickets before boarding each time.
Food recommendationStand at a bacaro for cicchetti rather than eating on the busiest squares.
Rainy day alternativeMuseums, churches and La Fenice make good wet-weather choices; watch for high-tide alerts.
Today's highlights- 4 major attractions visited
- A full but unhurried day
- Around 4–6 km on foot
- Mid-range budget ≈ Check current admission prices
- Evening around Historic Venice
End the day around Historic VeniceView on Google Maps - Day2
Theme
Rialto, San Polo & Dorsoduro
Market morning, art-filled afternoon and a slow Grand Canal ride at dusk.
Day 2 · Rialto, San Polo & Dorsoduro- MorningMorning
Rialto Market & Bridge
- Browse the Pescheria and produce stalls
- Cross the Rialto Bridge for Grand Canal views
- LunchMidday
Cicchetti in San Polo
- Hop between bacari for small bites
TryAll'ArcoCantina Do Mori - AfternoonAfternoon
Accademia & Peggy Guggenheim
- See Venetian masters at the Accademia
- Or choose modern art at the Peggy Guggenheim — pick one if short on time
- EveningEvening
Grand Canal by water bus
- Ride Line 1 along the Grand Canal at dusk
- Dinner in San Polo or Dorsoduro
TryTrattoria Antiche Carampane
HighlightsRialto MarketRialto BridgeGallerie dell'AccademiaGrand Canal- Walking
- Around 5–7 km · Allow extra time for bridges, narrow lanes and getting pleasantly lost
Comfortable walking shoes; you'll climb many bridge steps.
- Sightseeing
- A full but unhurried day
- Family
- Couples
Transport tipsRialto / Accademia
ACTV Line 1
The slow Grand Canal line stops at both.
Estimated daily budgetBudget traveller
Depends on your choices
Mid-range
Check current admission prices
Luxury
Plan for bookings
Travel tipGroup sights by district — crossing Venice on foot takes longer than maps suggest.
Money saverCheck current official prices; a water-bus pass can pay off if you'll ride several times.
Best photo spotEarly morning gives empty squares and soft light on the canals.
Best time to visitStart early at the big sights, then slow down in quieter districts.
Book aheadReserve timed entries for the basilica, Doge's Palace and popular museums.
Transport tipValidate water-bus tickets before boarding each time.
Food recommendationStand at a bacaro for cicchetti rather than eating on the busiest squares.
Rainy day alternativeMuseums, churches and La Fenice make good wet-weather choices; watch for high-tide alerts.
Today's highlights- 4 major attractions visited
- A full but unhurried day
- Around 5–7 km on foot
- Mid-range budget ≈ Check current admission prices
- Evening around Historic Venice
End the day around Historic VeniceView on Google Maps - Day3
Theme
Lagoon islands
A day on the water: Murano's glass furnaces, Burano's colour and Torcello's calm.
Day 3 · Lagoon islands- MorningMorning
Murano
- Take the water bus from Fondamente Nove
- Watch a glass-blowing demonstration
- LunchMidday
Lunch on Burano
- Seafood by the canals among the painted houses
- AfternoonAfternoon
Burano & Torcello
- Wander Burano's coloured lanes
- Hop across to Torcello for its ancient cathedral mosaics
- EveningEvening
Back to Venice
- Check the last boats before leaving the islands
- Evening cicchetti in Cannaregio
HighlightsMurano glassBuranoTorcello CathedralLagoon views- Walking
- Around 3–5 km plus boat rides · Allow extra time for bridges, narrow lanes and getting pleasantly lost
Comfortable walking shoes; you'll climb many bridge steps.
- Sightseeing
- A full but unhurried day
- Family
- Couples
Transport tipsFondamente Nove
ACTV lagoon lines
Main departure point for Murano, Burano and Torcello.
Estimated daily budgetBudget traveller
Depends on your choices
Mid-range
Check current admission prices
Luxury
Plan for bookings
Travel tipGroup sights by district — crossing Venice on foot takes longer than maps suggest.
Money saverCheck current official prices; a water-bus pass can pay off if you'll ride several times.
Best photo spotEarly morning gives empty squares and soft light on the canals.
Best time to visitStart early at the big sights, then slow down in quieter districts.
Book aheadReserve timed entries for the basilica, Doge's Palace and popular museums.
Transport tipValidate water-bus tickets before boarding each time.
Food recommendationStand at a bacaro for cicchetti rather than eating on the busiest squares.
Rainy day alternativeMuseums, churches and La Fenice make good wet-weather choices; watch for high-tide alerts.
Today's highlights- 4 major attractions visited
- A full but unhurried day
- Around 3–5 km plus boat rides on foot
- Mid-range budget ≈ Check current admission prices
- Evening around Historic Venice
End the day around Historic VeniceView on Google Maps
Beyond Venice
More to See, Just a Journey Away
Burano & Torcello
Painted houses & the lagoon's first cathedral
Around 45 minutes by water bus to Burano
Explore Burano's brightly painted fishermen's houses and lace-making heritage, then hop across to quiet Torcello, where Venice's story began.
Highlights
- Burano's coloured canals
- Torcello Cathedral mosaics
- Lagoon views
Lido di Venezia
Beaches, bikes & Art Nouveau villas
Around 15 minutes by water bus
Swap canals for a long sandy Adriatic beach, leafy avenues and Liberty-style villas on the barrier island that hosts the Venice Film Festival.
Highlights
- Adriatic beach
- Gran Viale
- Cycling along the island
Padua
Giotto frescoes & a historic university
Around 30 minutes by train
Visit Giotto's breathtaking Scrovegni Chapel, the Basilica of St Anthony and the vast Prato della Valle square in this lively university city.
Highlights
- Scrovegni Chapel
- Basilica of St Anthony
- Prato della Valle
Vicenza
Palladio's city of villas
Around 45 minutes by train
Discover the UNESCO-listed city of architect Andrea Palladio, from the Basilica Palladiana to the illusionistic stage of the Teatro Olimpico.
Highlights
- Teatro Olimpico
- Basilica Palladiana
- Villa La Rotonda
Verona
Roman arena & romantic streets
Around 1 hour 10 minutes by high-speed train
Walk among Roman ruins, medieval squares and Romeo-and-Juliet legend in one of northern Italy's most beautiful cities.
Highlights
- Verona Arena
- Piazza delle Erbe
- Castelvecchio
Treviso
Canals, frescoes & tiramisù's hometown
Around 30 minutes by train
A relaxed, genuinely local walled city with water-mill canals, arcaded streets and a strong claim to having invented tiramisù.
Highlights
- Canals & the Pescheria
- Piazza dei Signori
- City walls
Prosecco Hills
UNESCO vineyards of Conegliano & Valdobbiadene
Around 1 hour by car or organised tour
Wind through steep, UNESCO-listed vineyard hills between Conegliano and Valdobbiadene, with tastings at family wineries.
Highlights
- Vineyard hills
- Winery tasting
- Conegliano old town
Lake Garda & Sirmione
Lakeside castle & Roman ruins
Around 1 hour 45 minutes by train and bus
Visit Sirmione's moated Scaliger Castle and Roman villa ruins on a narrow peninsula reaching into Italy's largest lake.
Highlights
- Scaliger Castle
- Grottoes of Catullus
- Lakeside promenade
Where to sleep
Hotels & stays
From palace hotels to design hostels — picks across four budgets.
Luxury
The Gritti Palace
San Marco
typical nightly
€900–€1,500 / night
Typical range · Rates vary by date
Historic palazzo hotel with a terrace on the Grand Canal facing La Salute.
Boutique
Ca' Sagredo
Cannaregio
typical nightly
€250–€600 / night
Typical range · Rates vary by date
Frescoed Grand Canal palace near Ca' d'Oro, a short walk from Rialto.
Mid-range
Hotel Flora
San Marco
typical nightly
€300–€550 / night
Typical range · Rates vary by date
Family-run hotel with a garden courtyard, minutes from Piazza San Marco.
Budget
Generator Venice
Giudecca
typical nightly
Dorm beds €25–€45 / night
Private rooms from ~€90
Rates vary by date
Hostel in a converted granary with dorms and private rooms, a short water-bus hop from San Marco.
Where to eat
Best places to eat
Local classics, budget wins, cafés and vegetarian gems — plus the iconic dishes you shouldn't leave without trying.
Cantina Do Mori
Bacaro / Cicchetti
San Polo
price
€
One of Venice's oldest wine bars, tucked in the lanes by the Rialto market.
A classic stand-up stop for cicchetti and a small glass of wine.
All'Arco
Cicchetti
San Polo
price
€
Tiny, much-loved bar near the Rialto serving freshly made cicchetti.
Some of the city's most creative small bites at easy prices.
Trattoria Antiche Carampane
Venetian seafood
San Polo
price
€€€
Hidden trattoria known for traditional lagoon fish and seafood dishes.
A serious sit-down meal of classic Venetian cooking.
Osteria alle Testiere
Seafood
Castello
price
€€€
Small, intimate osteria with a daily-changing seafood menu.
A special-occasion dinner in a tiny room — reserve well ahead.
Caffè Florian
Historic café
San Marco
price
€€€€
Opened in 1720 under the arcades of Piazza San Marco, with ornate salons and live music.
A once-in-a-lifetime coffee in one of Europe's oldest cafés.
La Tecia Vegana
Vegan
Dorsoduro
price
€€
Relaxed plant-based trattoria reimagining Italian and Venetian dishes.
A welcome meat- and fish-free option in a seafood-centred city.
What to try
Iconic dishes of Venice
Cicchetti
Venice's small bar snacks — crostini, fried bites and seafood — eaten standing with an ombra of wine.
Sarde in saor
Fried sardines marinated with sweet-sour onions, often with pine nuts and raisins.
Baccalà mantecato
Salt cod whipped with olive oil into a silky spread, served on bread or grilled polenta.
Bigoli in salsa
Thick wholewheat pasta tossed in a slow-cooked onion and anchovy sauce.
Risotto al nero di seppia
Glossy black risotto made with cuttlefish and its ink — a lagoon classic.
Fegato alla Veneziana
Thinly sliced calf's liver cooked with slow-softened onions, traditionally served with polenta.
Getting around
Transit & arrivals
Historic Venice is car-free: you get around on foot and by ACTV water bus (vaporetto), with water taxis and traghetto crossings as extras.
Airport → City
VCE → Piazzale Roma by bus, or into the historic centre by Alilaguna boat
Day pass
ACTV/Venezia Unica passes cover set time periods; check current options before travel
Network size
4 primary modes
ACTV vaporetto
Line 1 runs slowly along the Grand Canal; other lines circle the city and reach Lido, Murano and Burano.
Alilaguna
Airport boats link Marco Polo Airport with stops in the historic centre.
Airport & mainland buses
Buses connect the airports and Mestre with Piazzale Roma, the last point reachable by road.
Venezia Santa Lucia
The island railway station on the Grand Canal; regional and high-speed trains serve Padua, Verona and beyond.
Service hours vary by line and season; some night services run on key routes. Check ACTV before setting out.
AVM Venezia app or Venezia Unica tickets; validate before boarding each water bus.
Water taxis are fast but expensive — agree the fare first. Road taxis only reach Piazzale Roma.
Many bridges have steps; water buses are the most practical step-free way to move around.
- Pack light: you'll carry luggage over bridges from the station or Piazzale Roma.
- A traghetto is a short gondola ferry across the Grand Canal — a cheap alternative to a gondola ride.
- Staying in Mestre is often cheaper, but historic Venice is quieter in the early morning and evening.
- During high tides (acqua alta), raised walkways appear and some areas flood briefly — check tide alerts.
- Day-visitor access fee: in recent years Venice has charged day visitors to the historic centre on selected dates, with exemptions including overnight guests (who pay the tourist tax instead). Dates and rules are set each year — check the official site cda.ve.it before you visit.
Getting here
Airport information
Which airport to fly into for Venice and how to reach the city centre.
Which airport should I choose?
Quick guide for Venice
Marco Polo (VCE)
Most flights & boat links into Venice
Treviso (TSF)
Low-cost airlines
International airport
Venice Marco Polo Airport
Venice's main international airport on the mainland edge of the lagoon, with bus and boat links to the city.
Distance to centre
About 13 km north of historic Venice
Travel time
Allow around 20–30 minutes by bus to Piazzale Roma, or longer by boat
Best for
Most international and European flights
Getting to the city
Bus
ATVO / ACTV buses
Buses run to Piazzale Roma, the last road point for historic Venice; continue on foot or by water bus.
Other
Alilaguna airport boats
Scheduled boats cross the lagoon to stops in the historic centre; check the line for your hotel.
Taxi
Water taxi / road taxi
Private water taxis go direct to many hotels; road taxis reach Piazzale Roma. Agree water-taxi fares first.
Airport services
Check which water-bus or Alilaguna stop is nearest your hotel before you land.
International airport
Treviso Airport
Smaller airport used mainly by low-cost airlines, north of Venice.
Distance to centre
About 40 km north of historic Venice
Travel time
Allow around 1 hour by bus to Piazzale Roma
Best for
Low-cost European flights
Getting to the city
Bus
Airport buses
Coaches link the airport with Mestre and Piazzale Roma, often timed to flights; check current operators.
Taxi
Taxi
Taxis can take you to Piazzale Roma or Mestre.
Airport services
Bus timetables are often matched to flight arrivals; confirm before travel.
Travel times and prices are approximate. Please check the official airport and transport websites for the latest schedules and fares before travelling.
