What to do in Venice? Venice is one of the most romantic cities in the world and in Italy in particular. Beautiful architecture, canals, bridges and gondolas that transport the lovers between the narrow alleys of the city. The city consists of about 118 islands and is located on a lagoon of the Adriatic Sea. The islands are separated by the many canals and getting from island to island is by boats – which are the main transportation in the city.
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How to get to Venice
Flight to Venice – there are direct flights to Venice from many airports in the world. The main airport is called Marco Polo and it is about 8 km from the city center. From the airport you can take bus line 5 to Piazzale Roma. From there you can walk into the city or take the Venice water bus called Vaporetto.
If you combine Venice with a vacation in Rome, you can reach the city by train. It is very comfortable. The Venice train comes from Milan, Rome, Florence, Verona and other cities in Italy. Venice’s train station is called Santa Lucia. When you leave the station you can take the water bus to any point in the city.
Buses – if you are staying outside the city center, you can easily and quickly reach Piazzale Roma with bus line 5 at a cost of only 1.5 euros.
Major events in Venice
Venice is a tourist city all year round, and in every season it is stunning and special, but there are two events in the city that make it a real celebration. If you visit them, you will have an unforgettable experience (but also crowded with tourists) Venice Carnival – the city of Venice becomes one big carnival of masks, songs and dances. The festival lasts two weeks every year during the month of February. If you plan to visit the city during this period, it is highly recommended to book accommodations in advance.
The Venice Biennale – one of the most famous exhibitions in the world, held once every two years. It is considered one of the most prestigious art exhibitions. At the same time, the Venice Film Festival is also held, and the city is full of interesting activities and attractions
Hotels in Venice - where to stay in Venice?
Venice has amazing hotels, but the biggest challenge in the city is getting to the hotel. As mentioned, there is no access to vehicles / taxis. That’s why getting from place to place is a combination of a water bus and a lot of walking. This means that if you choose to stay in Venice inside the city, you must find a hotel that is easy to get to and does not require a lot of walking. It is not pleasant to walk with your luggage among the crowds of people, bridges and canals.
We stayed at the Ruzzini Palace Hotel, which is a 5-minute walk from the Rialto Bridge station. To get to the hotel you will have to cross one tiny bridge with your luggage and apart from that the arrival is quite easy. The Ruzzini Palace Hotel is located in an amazing location in Santa Maria Square.
This is a historic 4-star hotel that is particularly pampering and pleasant, with very spacious rooms. Some face the beautiful square and some have a balcony right on the canal. We stayed in the room overlooking the canal, and the experience was amazing. It’s nice to wake up in the morning, go to the balcony with a cup of coffee and watch the silly gondolas right below you. This is without a doubt one of our special moments from the trip to Venice.
Hotels near Venice - recommended hotels 10 minutes from the city center
If you come for a trip to Venice for one or several nights, there will be those who prefer to sleep outside the city. There are many reasons and advantages for this.
First of all, there is free parking for those who come by car. Another thing, you can leave your luggage and all your equipment in the hotel room, and arrive in the city empty-handed with only a backpack, so you can travel comfortably without having to carry luggage from place to place.
Traveling from the hotels outside the city into the city takes about 10 minutes by bus line 5, the cost is 1.60 euros per person and there are shuttles throughout the day with high frequency.
venice for tourists - get to know the 6 districts of the city
The city of Venice is divided into 6 districts (neighborhoods): San Marco, San Polo Castello, Cannaregio, Dorsoduro and Santa Croce. Each district and its uniqueness. We suggest you visit the 6 districts, but if you come to the city for a few days, you will probably focus on the central and most touristic areas. These are in the districts of San Marco and San Polo.
San Marco district - the most central area of the city
The San Marco district in Venice is the heart of the city. The area is full of tourists in all seasons. It is where San Marco square is located – the most famous area in the city.
What to see in the San Marco district?
- Basilica di San Marco – located in San Marco Square
- Piazza San Marco – is the central city square of Venice
- Rialto Bridge (Ponte di Rialto) – a bridge connecting the two districts, San Marco and San Polo, these are the two most touristic districts in the city.
- Palazzo Ducale – located in San Marco square
- Bridge of Sighs (Ponte dei Sospiri)
- Palazzo Barbaro – two palaces located side by side
- t fondaco rooftop terrace – an observation point on the city from a special and photogenic building.
Restaurants and cafes in the San Marco district –
rosticceria gislon – a cafe / deli with self-service homemade food. There is fresh and delicious food here and really good prices.
Farini -dough lovers? This is the place for you! There are amazing pizzas here and also great coffee at great prices.
Suso – the best ice cream parlor in town. Try to arrive before noon or towards evening, so there is less chance that you will have to stand in line. Their pistachio and chocolate are great! Tell us if you liked it 🙂
Dolce vita – a sweet cafe with pleasant seating areas with comfortable cushions.
Recommended hotels in San Marco
In the San Marco area there is a large selection of recommended hotels, here are some of them –
Splendid Venice – Starhotels Collezione
San Polo district
What to see in the San Polo district?
Mercato di Rialto – local fruit and vegetable market. A nice experience for market lovers
The Church of San Polo – chiesa di san polo
The basilica – Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari
Recommended places to eat in San Polo –
Cantina Do Mori – a recommended place for wine and Cicchetti (“small plates” in Italian, like tapas).
Cicchetteria da Elio – a recommended place for Cicchetti.
Hostaria Osottoosopra – recommended osteria at relatively high prices.
La Bottiglia -a perfect place for a panini (Italian sandwich).
Pasticceria Rizzardini – Pasticceria (local pastry shop) with great desserts and of course coffee.
Caffetteria Goppion – a cute cafe with delicious desserts and excellent coffee.
Recommended hotels in San Polo
Dorsoduro district - the area of young revelers
Dorsoduro is considered the area of young people in Venice. Bustling nightlife, lots of restaurants and cafes, and mostly young guys. Compared to the rest of the city, accommodation in this area is cheaper.
What to see in Dorsoduro district?
- gallerie dell’accademia – a museum that is a gallery with works of art
- Ponte dell’Accademia bridge
- Ponte dell’Accademia Museum of Modern Art
- Palazzo Dario – an impressive palace
- Basilica Santa Maria della Salute – one of the most famous and beautiful churches in Venice. It is a hallmark of the city and you can see it from many corners.
Recommended hotels in Dorsoduro
Santa Croce district - the entrance to the city and the Castello district
What to see in Santa Croce?
Piazzale Roma – the first point you will meet in the city. This is the station where the bus will drop you off when you arrive in Venice from outside.
Fondaco dei Turchi – palace and museum on the bank of the canal.
San Simeone Piccolo – the church of Santa Croce
Castello district – the big and quiet district of Venice. This is the least visited area of Venice. Here you will meet mostly the locals and excellent dining options.
Recommended places to eat in the Castello district area –
A Le Tole Spaghetteria Pizzeria – a place of good pastas that are prepared on the spot.
Dal Moro’s – do you want a pasta takeaway? They have great pastas here.
Locanda La Corte – a restaurant with good food. not cheap
L’Osteria di Santa Marina – recommended osteria, high prices.
I Tre Mercanti – a sweet place that makes homemade Tiramisu. Don’t miss it, their tiramisu is amazing!!
VizioVirtù – chocolate lovers? this is the place for you! Both a chocolate school, and a shop full of particularly tantalizing chocolates.
Recommended hotels in Santa Croce
Cannaregio district
The northernmost and most populated district in Venice. There is also the Jewish ghetto, where there are kosher restaurants.
What do you do in Cannaregio?
Ca’ d’Oro – a palace located on the canal in Venice
San Marcuola – church on the canal
The Jewish ghetto (the Venetian ghetto) – the first ghetto in the world.
Ba Ghetto Ristorante Kosher – Kosher restaurant in the area
Algiubagio Restaurant – a luxury restaurant with an amazing view
Cocaeta – a place of excellent and special savory and sweet crepes
Recommended hotels in Cannaregio
Carnival Palace – Venice Collection
Rimon Place-Kosher – a kosher hotel in Venice, suitable for kosher keepers.
It is highly recommended to combine a trip to Venice with a visit in the picturesque towns of Burano and Murano. If you are looking for another city to combine, I highly recommend Florence. Enter our full article about a trip to Tuscany.
