Venice

Travel Guide

Grand Canal showing a lake or waterhole, kayaking or canoeing and heritage architecture
Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute which includes religious elements, general coastal views and a church or cathedral
Doge\'s Palace featuring general coastal views, a castle and heritage architecture
Venice which includes heritage architecture and boating
Venice showing a city, a gondola and street scenes

Venice Travel Guide Video

The Floating City is as romantic as it gets, with its gondolas, serenaders, dazzling palazzos and churches, and almost timeless feel.

Walk on the cobblestone streets and arched bridges of this pedestrian-friendly island city in northeastern Italy and let your senses guide you. Hear the water lap against the gondolas in the canals. Breathe in the aroma of fresh Italian food and taste quality wine on the restaurant terraces. Feel the sun warm your skin as you wander through St. Mark's Square (Piazza San Marco) and listen to street musicians perform serenades to lovers.  

Even in the cooler winter months, Venice is bustling. Summer days can get hot and crowded, while autumn and spring are usually the most pleasant times to visit. It is easy to visit all premier attractions in just a few days. St. Mark’s Square is magnificent and a good place to start. Two of Venice’s most spectacular buildings, St. Mark’s Basilica (Basilica di San Marco) and the Doge’s Palace (Palazzo Ducale), rub shoulders at the east end of the square. Find the best example of Venice’s Byzantine influence in the basilica, with its ornate golden mosaics and elaborate domes. The palace impresses with ostentatious displays of wealth and power.

The S-shaped Grand Canal brings you to most attractions. You could spend hours just watching gondolas and vaporettos (water buses), or hop on one yourself for a romantic boat ride. Glide past buildings such as the Gothic-style palace Ca’ d’Oro, the Basilica of St. Mary of Health (Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute) and beneath the iconic Rialto Bridge (Ponte di Rialto). Stop for a plate of risi e bise (rice and peas) at a traditional osterie (a bar serving food).

Don’t miss treasures such as the Chiesa Santa Maria dei Miracoli, a 15th-century marble church. Take a ferry ride to the islands of Murano and Burano. Both are known for their artisans who work with glass and lace respectively. The islands make for a peaceful day trip away from the chaotic but irresistible heart of Venice.

Savor your days in the Floating City and enjoy the Italian passion for food, romance and style.

For more details on interesting local attractions and activities, check out our things to do in Venice page.

Where to stay in Venice

Dorsoduro featuring heritage architecture and a coastal town

Venice City Center

The stunning cathedral and charming cafes are just a few highlights of Venice City Center. Make a stop by St. Mark's Square or Grand Canal while you're exploring the area.

Venice City Center
San Marco featuring kayaking or canoeing and a river or creek

San Marco

4.5/5(1,933 area reviews)

In the heart of Venice, this densely built area boasts iconic attractions like St Mark's Square, Saint Mark's Basilica, and the Doge's Palace. Find numerous hotels, banks, and high-end shops amid the bustling tourist scene.

San Marco
San Polo featuring heritage architecture and a bay or harbor

San Polo

4.5/5(302 area reviews)

Smallest and most central sestiere, San Polo boasts churches in the west, palaces in the east, and iconic attractions like Rialto Bridge and Scuola Grande di San Rocco.

San Polo
Venetian Ghetto showing boating, a coastal town and heritage architecture

Cannaregio

4.5/5(1,000 area reviews)

Explore historic churches like Santa Maria di Nazareth and Santa Maria dei Miracoli, or admire stunning palazzos such as Ca' d'Oro and Ca' Vendramin Calergi. Enjoy morning markets, local shops, and quaint cafés in this residential, peaceful district.

Cannaregio
Dorsoduro showing a river or creek and a bridge

Dorsoduro

4.5/5(423 area reviews)

Boasting the highest land areas in Venice, this sestiere features the stunning Basilica of Santa Maria della Salute and the picturesque Zattere quay. Easily connect to San Marco via Ponte dell'Accademia.

Dorsoduro
Default Image

Santa Croce

4.5/5(658 area reviews)

In the northwestern part of Venice, Santa Croce boasts a mix of medieval charm in the east and 20th-century land reclamation in the west. Explore churches like San Giacomo dell'Orio and visit the Museum of the History of Fabric and Costume, while enjoying the convenience of Piazzale Roma's transportation hub.

Santa Croce
Amadeus Hotel
Amadeus Hotel
4 out of 5
Lista di Spagna, Cannaregio 227, Venice, VE
$129 nightly
The price is $153 total per night from Jun 26 to Jun 27
$153 total
Jun 26 - Jun 27
Total includes taxes and fees
Stay at this 4-star business-friendly hotel in Venice. Enjoy free breakfast, free WiFi, and room service. Our guests praise the helpful staff in our reviews. ...
8/10 Very Good! (997 reviews)
"Nice hotel near the train station. Walkable to almost all tourist sites. Check in was easy. Room was comfortable but had no black out curtains. There were shutters. But do not know if they were just ornamental. We could not pull them closed and they got stuck halfway. Hot breakfasts was included. ..."

Reviewed on Jun 5, 2025

Amadeus Hotel
Hotel Principe
Hotel Principe
4 out of 5
Rio Tera Lista de Spagna, 146, Venice, VE
$165 nightly
The price is $192 total per night from Jul 1 to Jul 2
$192 total
Jul 1 - Jul 2
Total includes taxes and fees
Stay at this 4-star hotel in Venice. Enjoy free breakfast, free WiFi, and 2 restaurants. Our guests praise the breakfast and the helpful staff in our reviews. ...
8.6/10 Excellent! (1,003 reviews)
"Wonderful hotel and staff. Great location. We chose a room with a balcony. The balcony was exceptional with the best view of the canal."

Reviewed on Jun 12, 2025

Hotel Principe
Hotel Cavalletto e Doge Orseolo
Hotel Cavalletto e Doge Orseolo
4 out of 5
Piazza San Marco 1107, Calle del Cavalletto, Venice, VE
$124 nightly
The price is $146 total per night from Jun 15 to Jun 16
$146 total
Jun 15 - Jun 16
Total includes taxes and fees
Stay at this 4-star hotel in Venice. Enjoy free breakfast, free WiFi, and room service. Our guests praise the breakfast and the bar in our reviews. Popular attractions ...
8.6/10 Excellent! (1,516 reviews)
"Very Beautiful Place, highly recommended"

Reviewed on Jun 13, 2025

Hotel Cavalletto e Doge Orseolo
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.
Hu Venezia Camping in Town
Hu Venezia Camping in Town
3 out of 5
Via Giuseppe De Marchi 7, Marghera, Mestre, VE
Stay at this 3-star family-friendly campground in Mestre. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and an outdoor pool. Our guests praise the helpful staff in our reviews. ...
7.8/10 Good! (2,526 reviews)
"Very nice and has ac"

Reviewed on Jun 13, 2025

Hu Venezia Camping in Town
Staycity Aparthotels, Venice, Mestre
Staycity Aparthotels, Venice, Mestre
Via Ca' Marcello 8L, Mestre, VE
Stay at this aparthotel in Mestre. Enjoy free WiFi, breakfast (surcharge), and a 24-hour fitness center. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the property ...
9.2/10 Wonderful! (697 reviews)

Reviewed on Jun 13, 2025

Staycity Aparthotels, Venice, Mestre
San Marco Palace
San Marco Palace
4 out of 5
Piazza San Marco, Ponte dei Dai 875, Venice, VE
Stay at this 4-star residence in Venice. Enjoy breakfast (surcharge), room service, and a 24-hour front desk. Our guests praise the breakfast and the helpful ...
8.2/10 Very Good! (757 reviews)
"Stayed here for 3 days for wedding anniversary as we got married around the corner 18 years ago. Read the reviews but didn’t take much notice which was a good job as I’m sure they must have stayed somewhere else ! Venice is obviously not a new place so any establishments are going to have character, ..."

Reviewed on Jun 8, 2025

San Marco Palace
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

Getting around Venice

The streets of Venice’s central areas are all pedestrianized, and you will mostly be getting around on foot. Everything is walkable, although to get to some parts of the city you will need to take a vaporetto (waterbus). Alternatively, treat yourself to a ride in a water taxi. Gondola rides are very popular, but they are more of a novelty than a practical means of getting from place to place. Visit the Azienda del Consorzio Trasporti VenezianoOpens in a new window website.Browse Venice rental cars.

Best time to visit

Venice is one of the world’s best-known tourist destinations, so it's no surprise that its narrow streets get absolutely packed with tourists in the peak season, which runs throughout summer. To see the city with fewer crowds, visit between September and November. Note that the weather will often be chilly, with November temperatures sometimes in the high 30s F (5-10 C). Make sure you bring a coat.

Popular places to visit

Things to do

Reviews of Venice

4.6
Top Destination
5 - Excellent
2536
5 - Excellent 70%
4 - Good
901
4 - Good 25%
3 - Okay
137
3 - Okay 4%
2 - Disappointing
26
2 - Disappointing 1%
1 - Terrible
12
1 - Terrible 0%

3/5 - Okay

UStraveler

Venice is a very old town.You have to walk a lot! Water taxis are expensive and water buses can be a bit pricy too, but doable. Great location for pictures! I loved the gondola rides!! Great shopping! Lots of highend stores like Chanel, Louis V, etc

5/5 - Excellent

MarkW

Lovely place to stay and visit. It's one of our favorite places in Italy.

5/5 - Excellent

nancyj

i love venice and would love the opportunity to travel there a third time!

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveler

Venice has to be one of the most beautiful places in the world.

5/5 - Excellent

Mr_Noyb

Beautiful... architecture is gorgeous!

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveler

it was a quiet stay, few tourists were but i enjoyed it. felt like i had venice to myself 

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