Venice, Italy: A Short Travel Guide

Venice is located in northeastern Italy. Nicknamed the "City of Canals", Venice was built on over 100 islands and is connected by a network of bridges and walkways. In fact, the main tourist area is totally car-free, which makes it perfect for strolling around and soaking in the atmosphere. Beyond its romantic reputation, Venice boasts stunning architecture, a rich history, and cultural treasures. In this travel guide, we share our top things to do in Venice as well as great places to stay, eat, and drink.

View from Campanile Tower

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Check out our video about Venice to see the best things to do through our camera!

Best Things To Do In Venice

• Cruise the canals on a gondola (90€ for 30 mins per gondola if you book at the canal in person)

• Visit Teatro La Fenice (Get your entry tickets!)

• Take photos at the iconic bridges (Rialto Bridge, Bridge of Sighs, Accademia Bridge & Constitution Bridge are most popular ones)

• Take a guided walking tour

• Visit Murano, Burano & Torcello Island by hop-on hop-off boat

• See Piazza San Marco & Basilica de San Marco

• Get inside Doge’s Palace (Get entry tickets in advance to skip the line)

• Take a food and wine tasting tour to try the local Venetian cuisine

• Explore the quieter Districts of Venice (Dorsoduro, Cannaregio & Castello)

• Get an elevated view of the city (the Campanile Tower offers the best view, alternative options include Palazzo Contarini del Bovolo, Fondaco dei Tedeschi department store, or La Cupola)

Download our Google Map with all the places to go, eat, drink, and stay here.

View from Accademia Bridge

Places To Stay In Venice

• Hotel AutoEspresso ($): This is where we stayed in Venice-Mestre, which is part of the Venice mainland and connects easily to the historic center by train or bus. It's the cheapest area in Venice and still convenient. Rooms were basic but comfy and clean. Breakfast was also included.

• Leone Hotel ($$): Mid-range accommodation in the Cannaregio district in the center of Venice. It's close to the train station which is ideal if you're carrying luggage from the train station. All rooms come with a private bathroom with a shower or a bath, a hairdryer and free toiletries.

• Hotel Aquarius Venice-Ascend Hotel Collection ($$$): This 4-star hotel is also located in the historic center with easy access via the train station. Some rooms at the property have a balcony with a city view.
  

Gondola boats

Places To Eat And Drink In Venice

• Al Covo: refined, updated Venetian classics in a charming, upscale restaurant (lots of seafood options)

• A La Vecia Papussa: great bar with outdoor seating next to the water in Cannaregio

• Alla Fonda: bar with excellent cicchetti and Venetian Spritz

• All'Arco: famous bar for delicious and fresh cicchetti

• Antico Gatoleto: restaurant and pizzeria close to Rialto with great risotto & classic Venetian dishes

• Bacaro Ae Bricoe: great local bacaro with cicchetti and drinks

• Bar Alle Guglie Cicchetteria: small bar with take away drinks & local wines

• BAR El Borrachero: very local small bar with cheap aperol spritz to go

• Bar Spritz: small bar & cicchetteria

• Basègo: bar with great wine selection with cicchetti and arancini options

• Birraria La Corte: pizzeria and restaurant with classic Italian dishes

• Campo Santa Margherita: local area with a lot of bars where you can sit outside and enjoy the sun

• Cantina Do Mori: the oldest bacaro of Venice

• El Rofolo: bacaro with great wine and selection of sandwiches

• Enoteca Al Volto: Venetian wine bar

• Enoteca Già Schiavi: bacaro with wines by the glass and snacks

• Experimental Cocktail Club Venice: cocktail bar

• Farini: great pizza place for a quick bite or lunch

• Gelato di Natura - Campo Santi Apostoli: great gelato

• Il Pizzaiolo Magico: local pizza in Mestre

• In Riva bistrò: great place or a quick lunch or drink in Burano Island

• La Bottiglia: cold cuts, cheese, and natural wines

• Muro Frari: mid-range restaurant with a variety of food options, such as pizza, steaks & Venetian dishes

• Muro San Stae: restaurant with canal views plating pizza, pasta & grilled seafood

• Osteria Al Sacro E Profano: local homey restaurant with true Venetian food

• Osteria Anice Stellato: restaurant with modern takes on classic regional recipes

• Ostaria Da Rioba: restaurant with homemade pasta and a creative take on classic local recipes

• Pietra Rossa: family-run restaurant with simple, elegant, modern takes on classic Italian and Venetian classics. Also plenty of vegan and vegetarian options.

• Ponte delle Paste: pastry shop with traditional sweets and coffee

• Ristorante Santa Maria Formosa: variety of delicious pastas

• Salizada S. Fosca: wide streets with lots of bars and restaurants (great for happy hour drinks in the sun)

• SEPA: bacaro with amazing risotto

• Stappo: nice restaurant and wine bar with outdoor setting and good food

• Suso: the best gelateria

• Tonolo: pastry shop with lovely cakes, baked treats, and pastries

• Trattoria Al Gatto Nero: great restaurant on Burano Island

• Trattoria Bar Pontini: cozy restaurant next to a canal with tasty Italian food at decent prices

• Trattoria Belvedere: local Italian restaurant in Mestre

• Trattoria Pizzeria Casa Mia: great pizzeria

• Via Giuseppe Garibaldi: local street with bars and restaurants

• Vino Vero: local wine bar

• Vittoria 1938: outstanding restaurant close to the train station (small portions)

• WEnice - La Gastronomia Veneziana: lovely local place with small seafood dishes (try the cod mousse here and black squid ink polenta)

tiramisu - classic Italian dessert

Map Venice Italy

Find all the places to go, eat, drink, and stay in Venice on Google Maps. To follow and save the list, do the following:

1. Tap on the link to open it (click button below)

2. Tap Follow. This list will now be added to the group of lists you follow.

3. Optional: To unfollow a list someone shared with you, tap the list Saved.
   

If you follow the list we made, all our saved places of Venice will show up in Your Places. The places will also appear as suggested locations in Google Maps.

Save Google Maps Places

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Use These Websites To Save Money On Your Trip To Venice

• Booking.com for places to stay

• Skyscanner for cheap flights

• GetYourGuide for local tours

• Rentalcars.com for affordable car rentals

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Are you having a hard time planning your trip to Venice? Get our Interactive Travel Planner to keep it all organized.

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Need more travel inspiration? Check out our other destinations and articles about Italy:

• Milan

• Cinque Terre

• Lake Como