Venice Travel Guide
It might be nicknamed La Serenissima (the most serene) but there’s little that could be described as calm about Venice. Home to some of the most iconic architecture on the planet, its ancient colonnades and meandering canals are very much part of a truly modern city.
Built across 116 islands set in a formerly blue lagoon (now verging on brown), Venice benefits from a fascinatingly colourful past with scores of spectacular buildings and a sprinkling of stardust. The birthplace of Tintoretto and Titian has no shortage of artistic and cultural treats either, although the inspiration for many of their works – the city itself – is just as compelling.
Despite its reputation for canals, Venice is a never-ending maze of tiny cobbled courtyards and winding back streets, linked by arched bridges and dotted with osterie (simple bars serving food and drink), traditional trattorias and frequently tacky souvenir shops. But its real beauty lies in its unique waterways and striking bridges, such as the iconic Rialto.
Away from the canals, the city is dominated by the Saint Mark’s Basilica and for good reason: it’s truly one of the most impressive pieces of Renaissance architecture on the planet and its byzantine golden horses are nothing short of spectacular. Castello, the surrounding area, is just as magnificent with some eye-wateringly expensive palazzo hotels.
San Polo, with its beautiful Santa Maria dei Frari church, is also worth making time for, not least because it is also home to the Scuola di San Rocco, noted for its collection of Tintoretto paintings.
Quiet Santa Croce and arty Dorsoduro are not to be missed either, while Campo Santa Margherita is the place to go for late nights and interesting locals.
You might be amid ancient buildings, but in bustling modern Venice, serenity is the last thing you’ll find.
Venice began life as a refuge encampment as Roman refugees fled invaders during the decline and fall of the Empire in the 5th century. More marshland than lagoon, it was hardly the most obvious of locations, but the settlers created small colonies dotted around the coastline, which soon thrived.
Over time, the colonies grew and began to intertwine, until they eventually formed one larger city that was historically connected to Byzantium via Ravenna. The city rebelled and elected the first doge in 726, whose successors would lead Venice for the next 1,000 years. It grew immensely as a trading centre and seafaring power, and was commissioned to build a fleet for the ill-fated Fourth Crusade, which ended in the looting and occupation of Christian Constantinople in 1204.
By the 15th century, Venice had become the most prosperous city in Europe, with more than 3,000 ships using its ports. At this time, the grandest palaces were built and great artists were nurtured. The cosmopolitan city boasted German, Jewish, Armenia, Turkish and Greek inhabitants living on the Grand Canal, some of whom had been persecuted elsewhere.
But the city that depended so much on the sea would soon fall victim to it. First, the rise of the Ottomans threatened the Adriatic trading routes, while the discovery of the New World in 1492, and Vasco de Gama’s trip around Africa’s Cape of Good Hope in 1498, undermined Venice’s hegemony over the seas.
Venice stayed on top with its art, style and legendary Carnevale. It was the place to be for Europe’s rich and famous in the 16th and 17th centuries. This changed by the time of the Napoleonic Wars and when Veneto passed into the hands of the Austrians through the Treaty of Vienna in 1815, many Venetians were poor. Revolt came in 1848, and unification with Italy in 1866.
A century later, after surviving both World Wars, including a notable resistance movement to Fascism in WWII, a disastrous flood wrecked many of Venice’s priceless buildings. Restoration has been ongoing ever since, while millions of tourists now visit the sinking city each year.
Venice’s name is thought to come from the ancient Veneti people, who lived in the region in the 10th century BC.
The city’s houses are built on long wooden stilts, or piles, driven into the lagoon bed, which have rotted very little.
A new system of hollow, floatable barriers has been built as part of the MOSE project (Modulo -Sperimentale Elettromeccanico) to help Venice resist rising tides.
Venice has a Mediterranean climate, characterised by hot and muggy summers and cool and wet winters. The most popular tourist season is April to October, but crowds are common at any time of year as festivals and cultural events are always happening.
Spring (March to May) is warm and pleasant, with temperatures gradually increasing to reach highs in May around 22°C (71°F).
Summer (June to August) is beautiful but hot and humid, with temperatures in July and August hovering around 27°C (80°F).
Autumn (September to November) starts off warm and temperatures steadily decrease to around 12°C (54°F) in November.
Winter (December to February) is the driest season but low temperatures average around 5°C (41°F) for the season.
Getting around Venice
The best way to get around Venice is on foot and by vaporetto (water bus), operated by
Azienda del Consorzio Trasporti Veneziano
Telephone:
+39 041 2424
Website:
www.actv.avmspa.it
Vaporetto services are frequent and run 24 hours a day, with stops dotted across the city. Four bridges cross the Grand Canal but visitors can cross by traghetto (public gondola). Journeys are cheap and short.
For direct service to a specific destination, the only option is to take an expensive water taxi. If travelling with a group of friends who can share the cost, a water taxi is fast and comfortable way to get to your destination. Water taxis run by the
Consorzio Motoscafi Venezia
Telephone:
+39 041 240 6711
Website:
www.motoscafivenezia.it
Water Taxi
Telephone: +39 342 906 1230
Venice Dream
Telephone: +39 347 377 5411
Can be ordered in advance. Taxi points are available at main locations including the Piazzale Roma, Rialto, San Marco and the Lido.
No cars are allowed in the centre of Venice. Drivers can get as close as Piazzale Roma, where there are a number of parking options and vaporetti stops.
No bicycles or scooters are allowed in Venice but renting bicycles on the Lido is possible. Related Articles Lido on Bike
Telephone:
+39 041 526 8019
Website:
www.lidoonbike.it
BIKE ON
Address: Via Thaon di Revel Paolo, Cavallino-Treporti VE.
Telephone: +39 328 822 2596
Website: www.bikeonservice.it
Open March to September, is by the main vaporetto station at Gran Viale Santa Maria Elisabetta 21. Open year-round on the same street is
Gardin Anna Valli
Telephone: +39 041 276 0005
Benefit from Travoley’s great deals available all year round for a seamless car hire experience in Venice. Travel your way by choosing from our collection of brand new cars. Whether you are looking for car rental in Venice as part of a vacation, or renting a car for a special event, you will be sure to find a car to suit your needs from our wide range of economy and luxury models.
In order to hire a car, drivers must be at least 21 years old, depending on company policy. All drivers without an EU licence must carry an International Driving Permit.
Our simple booking system makes it easy to reserve online before you go, offering flexible short- and long-term rental, all at great prices with no hidden charges, so when you arrive all that’s left is to discover the best of this exciting city.
Things to see in Venice
Attractions
- St Mark’s Basilica (Basilica di San Marco)
The golden Byzantine St Mark’s Basilica was founded in the 9th century as a shrine for the relics of St Mark. Built on a plan of a Greek cross, its Eastern appearance is enhanced by golden mosaics, originally created by craftsmen from the Byzantine court at Ravenna. The interior houses many of Venice’s greatest treasures, including the famed Pala d’Oro altarpiece.
Address:
Piazza San Marco, 328, Venice.
Telephone:
+39 41 270 8311
Opening times: Mon-Sat 09:30-17:00, Sun 14:00-16:30.
Website:
www.basilicasanmarco.it
Admission Fees: Yes
Disabled Access: Yes
UNESCO: Yes
- Doge’s Palace (Palazzo Ducale)
Once home to the elected leader of Venice, the Doge’s Palace is a Venetian landmark of Islamic and Gothic styles that broods over the city. The facade dates from 1365, but its interior is more Renaissance in its flair, originating from the 16th century. The Ducal apartments have exemplary paintings by Titian and Bellini, ancient prison cells and an armoury.
Address:
Piazza San Marco, 1, Venice.
Telephone:
+39 41 271 5911
Opening times: Daily 08:30-19:00.
Website:
www.palazzoducale.visitmuve.it
Admission Fees: Yes
Disabled Access: Yes
UNESCO: No
- Rialto Bridge (Ponte di Rialto)
When a market developed on an adjacent island to Venice in the 10th century, a wooden bridge was built to join the two. It collapsed under the weight of a crowd in 1444 and was replaced in 1591 by a single-stone arched bridge designed by Antonio da Ponte. The bridge has been lined with two rows of shops since the 15th century, which today cater to tourists.
Address:
Sestiere San Polo, Venice.
Opening times: Daily 24 hours.
Admission Fees: No
Disabled Access: Yes
UNESCO: Yes
One of the most important art galleries in Venice, the Academia has some powerful canvases by Titian, Tintoretto and Veronese. Other highlights include Giorgione’s La Tempesta, depicting a naked mother and child sheltering under a stormy sky, and Veronese’s bawdy Feast in the House of Levi. Titian’s final painting, Pietà, is here too and is said to include a self-portrait of him facing death.
Address:
Campo della Carita 1050, Venice.
Telephone:
+39 055 098 7100
Opening times: Tue-Sun 08:15-19:15, Mon 08:15-14:00.
Website:
www.gallerieaccademia.it
Admission Fees: Yes
Disabled Access: Yes
UNESCO: No
- Church of Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari (Basilica dei Frari)
This glorious gothic church, constructed around 1330, is primarily associated with the painter Titian. He is buried here alongside the celebrated sculptor, Antonio Canova. It was here that Titian made his reputation as he crowned his early years by painting the huge altarpiece, The Assumption of the Virgin, for the Franciscan brothers of the Frari in 1518.
Address:
San Polo, 3072, Venice.
Telephone:
+39 41 272 8611
Opening times: Mon-Sat 0900-1800, Sun 1300-1800.
Website:
www.basilicadeifrari.it
Admission Fees: Yes
Disabled Access: Yes
UNESCO: Yes
- Bridge of Sighs (Ponte dei Sospiri)
This 17th-century architectural masterpiece, restored in 2012, once linked Doge’s Palace with the Prigioni Nuove (New Prison), which once held Casanova. The bridge takes its name from the sighs let out by convicts as they caught a final glimpse of the outside world. There’s a romantic notion here that lovers will find eternal happiness by kissing under the bridge at sunset.
Address: Piazza San Marco, 1, Metropolitan City of Venice.
Telephone: +39 848 082 000
Opening times: Daily 24 hours.
Website: www.palazzoducale.visitmuve.it
Admission Fees: No
Disabled Access: Yes
UNESCO: No
- Campanile di San Marco (Bell Tower)
The bell tower of Basilica San Marco, which is located to one side of St Mark’s Square, is the tallest structure in Venice and offers a unique view of this fabulous city. At 318ft-high (97m), visitors prepared to make the lengthy climb might glimpse the distant Dolomites over the rooftops.
Address:
Piazza San Marco, Venice.
Telephone:
+39 41 270 83 11
Opening times: Daily 09:30-20:45.
Website:
www.basilicasanmarco.it
Admission Fees: Yes
Disabled Access: No
UNESCO: Yes
Built in the late 1700s, this fabulous Gran Teatro La Fenice was devastated by fire in 1996. A full restoration has returned this inspiring piece of Venetian architecture to its former glory and it now the theatre plays host to operas, classical concerts and ballet performances throughout the year.
Address:
San Marco Campo S. Fantin, Venice.
Telephone:
+39 041 786 654
Opening times: Daily 09:30-18:00.
Website:
www.teatrolafenice.it
Admission Fees: Yes
Disabled Access: Yes
UNESCO: Yes
- Peggy Guggenheim Collection
Peggy Guggenheim’s collection of modern art is probably the most distinguished in Italy. This assembly of artwork spans Cubism, Surrealism, and European and American abstract expressionism. It includes work by a wide variety of artists, including Pollock, Picasso, Kandinsky and Dalí. The sculpture garden is particularly fine and enjoys lovely views over the Grand Canal.
Address:
704 Dorsoduro, Venice.
Telephone:
+39 41 240 5411
Opening times: wed-Mon 10:00-18:00.
Website:
www.guggenheim-venice.it
Admission Fees: Yes
Disabled Access: Yes
UNESCO: No
This impressive museum displays numerous works, including the vast collection belonging to French businessman Francois Pinault. Controversial artist Jeff Koons’ colourful giant Balloon Dog is on display in the main hall while upstairs, visitors will find work by video artist Bill Viola and installations by artist duo Peter Fischili and David Weiss.
Address:
San Samuele 3231, Venice.
Telephone:
+3 9041 240 1308
Opening times: Wed-Mon 10:00-18:15.
Website:
www.palazzograssi.it
Admission Fees: Yes
Disabled Access: Yes
UNESCO: No
Tourist Offices
Address:
Giardini Ex Reali, San Marco (Venice Pavilion), Venice.
Telephone:
+39 41 529 8711
Opening times: Daily 12:00-18:00.
Website:
www.venice-pavilion.it
This tourist office next to San Marco–Giardinetti vaporetto stop offers the usual array of maps and pamphlets with information on current exhibitions and events.
Tourist passes
Telephone:
+39 41 4273 0892
Website:
www.venice-museum.com allows entry to 11 civic museums, including the Doge’s Palace. The ticket is valid for six months and allows a single admission to each museum.
Things to do in Venice
- Eat like a local in the city’s bàcaris
For those hungry after a day of punting, the re-warmed pizzas of San Marco Square will only disappoint. Try the city’s bàcaris (wine bars) instead. Join local foodie:
Monica Cesarato’s
Website:
www.ristoranteagliarchi.it
Three-hour tour of a warren of side streets and canals to uncover the city’s very best cichèttis (tapas) and aperol spritz (traditional aperitif cocktail).
- Gondola like a local around Giudecca
Take to the waters like a local by rowing in mascarete (small gondolas), canoes and sailboats at the
Canottieri Giudecca boating club
Telephone:
+39 41 528 7409
Website:
www.canottierigiudecca.it
On Giudecca. Visitors can pay the monthly rather than annual subscription fee. The straw boaters and striped t-shirts are not compulsory.
- Hide your face for the city’s most exclusive party
A festival of decadence and disguise:
Venice Carnevale
Website :
www.carnevale.venezia.it
Is celebrated across the city with revellers donning bright 18th century costume. Dress up and join in; the Grand Masquerade Ball is the festival’s most extravagant party but don’t forget. Without a mask you’re not getting in.
- Sip wine with a certified sommelier
Venice and Veneto Gourmet
Website :
www.venicevenetogourmet.com
Run wine tasting courses at Venice palazzo or in a villa at the Lido; the charming, well-informed Sara Cossiga, an art historian and certified sommelier, teaches at both and can help you differentiate between a full-bodied red and a velvety one.
- Watch an opera by local boy Vivaldi
It may have a modest facade but the
Teatro La Fenice
Website:
www.teatrolafenice.it
One of the world’s most renowned opera venues, has an achingly ornate interior, as the tours demonstrate. The venue hosts ballets and concerts but the operas should not be missed, especially those by Venice’s hometown composer, Vivaldi.
Venice tours and excursions
Venice tours
The Vaporetto dell’arte tours the Grand Canal. It offers a hop on, hop off water bus, stopping at over 20 museums, monuments, theatres and exhibitions. The Vaporetto leaves from the Santa Lucia railway station stop E every 30 minutes and ends at San Giorgio Maggiore Island or Giardini, depending on the time of year. Multimedia commentary is available on board and many of the museums offer discounted admission charges and priority access to Vaporetto dell’arte card holders.
Telephone:
+39 041 24 24
Website:
www.vaporettoarte.com
Take a trip through the lesser-known canals with a guided gondola tour. Enjoy the most romantic experience that Venice has to offer, while visiting parts of this historic city that many don’t get to view. A traditional gondola ride can take around 40 minutes and the routes vary. Singing and serenading is optional, and should be discussed with your gondolier in advance. You’ll find gondolas and gondoliers throughout the main tourist areas, from Tronchetto and the Piazzale Roma, to the Rialto Bridge area and St Mark’s Square. For a more reasonably priced guided tour, book through the tourist office.
Telephone:
+39 41 529 8711
Website:
www.turismGondola.it
Venice excursions
Just 35km (21m) west of Venice lies Padua, a town distinguished by Italy’s second oldest university and the remarkable Cappella degli Scrovegni, home of Giotto’s ground-breaking frescoes. This delightful town inspired Shakespeare who used it as the setting for The Taming of the Shrew. It is also the site of the world’s first botanical garden, created in 1545. Tours run regularly from Piazza San Marco and offer a varied choice of cultural trips to one of the island’s many museums or spas. Or for the independent traveller, a train from Venice’s Santa Lucia station will take 30-40 minutes.
Telephone:
+39 49 82 01 660
Website:
www.turismopadova.it
Famed as the setting of two of Shakespeare’s plays (Romeo and Juliet and The Two Gentleman of Verona), the historic and charming UNESCO city of Verona was founded in the 1st century B.C. and has a remarkable number of monuments from antiquity, the medieval and Renaissance periods. In the historic centre, noteworthy landmarks are Piazza Bra and the Arena, the Teatro Romano, Ponte Pietra, Castelvecchio, the Ponte Scaligero and the ancient churches of San Fermo and Sant’Anastasia. Verona is approximately 100km (60 miles) from Venice and direct trains taking around 1.5 hours.
Telephone:
+39 45 806 8680
Website:
www.tourism.verona.itShopping in Venice
Shopping in Venice is an eclectic experience. As with most Italian cities, there are plenty of designer stores to choose from but Venice’s side streets are lined with an abundance of tourist shops selling porcelain carnival masks and other local gifts.
Extending from the Piazza San Marco to the Rialto area, the Mercerie and Calle dei Fabbri are the main shopping streets while expensive clothing boutiques line the wide Calle Larga XXII Marzo. A good area for souvenir and gift shopping is the streets north of Campo Santo Stefano.
For fashion, twist and turn through San Marco and San Moisé, exploring Calle Vallaresso, Calle Larga XXII marzo and Campo San Luca. There are several lovely glass shops and wonderful handmade paper shops in the narrow streets near the Accademia gallery. Legatoria Piazzesi is a beautiful paper shop at Campiello della Feltrina, 30124. Vittorio Costantini is a glass-making shop at Calle del Fumo, 30121, in Cannaregio, specializing on works of art that were inspired by all kinds of animals.
The most popular market in Venice is the fish market, which is located alongside the Rialto Bridge. It is open Tuesday to Saturday 0800–1200.
Santa Lucia train station has a range of shops, including as Muji, Nike and Tiger. There is also a department store called Coin, Cannaregio 5787, which sells women’s, men’s and children’s clothes, and has beauty and homeware sections.
Shopping hours in Venice vary greatly, but larger shops generally open 09:00–19:00. Smaller shops often close in the afternoons and reopen in the evenings. Many food shops will close on Wednesday afternoons. Tourist shops tend to remain open most hours, with the occasional exception being Monday mornings.
Classic Venetian souvenirs include papier mâché Carnival masks, Murano glass trinkets (look for a sticker saying Vetro Artistico Murano if you want the real thing), handmade paper and notebooks, and lace from Burano Island.
Souvenir shops are spread all over Venice. Gianno Basso, a one of its kind stationery shop, can be found at Calle del Fumo in Cannaregio. Gilberto Penzo will sell you your favourite model gondola at Calle Seconda dei Saoneri, 30125, in San Polo. If you have a craving for sweets, head to VizioVirtù, which is an exquisite chocolaterie at Calle Campaniel, 30125. Wear your souvenir from Venice around the neck and buy a necklace made from glass seed beads at Venetian Dreams at 3805a, calle della Mandola. Immerse yourself into the world of lace at Emilia, Piazza Galuppi 205.
There is no tax-free shopping in Venice. Sales tax (VAT) is 22% and is included in the price of products.
Restaurants in Venice
Venice has a reputation for awful restaurants with ‘tourist’ menus, but take this with a pinch of salt. It’s far from impossible to find a decent meal here and you don’t have to venture much further than Piazza San Marco to do so. There are a number of very good restaurants in the Castello area with great food and if budget is not an issue, many of the best restaurants have canal views or private gardens.
The Venice restaurants below have been hand-picked by our guide author and are grouped into three pricing categories:
Expensive (over €100)
Moderate (€60 to €100)
Cheap (up to €60)
Prices include a three-course meal for one, half a bottle of wine, plus tax and service – usually 15% added to your bill. Beware of a ‘cover charge’ for bread and napkins.
Expensive
Cuisine: Fish & Seafood
Lagoon-fresh seafood & homemade pasta served in a long-standing, homey trattoria with a blue facade. The family is fanatical about local food, and supporting the ever-dwindling number of fishermen on Burano. Pretty much everything on the menu is netted or caught by hand in the lagoon. Feast on hyper-local specialities like homemade tagliolini with spider crab or traditional Burano risotto with goby fish. This is one of the only upmarket restaurants in Venice where there’s a real mix of clientele, thanks to the Bovo family’s focus on locals. Your neighbour on one side might be Tom Cruise; on the other it might be Andrea Rossi, the fourth-generation fisherman who caught the fish on your plate. This is Venice at its absolute best. This restaurant is strictly reservation only
Address:
Via Giudecca, 88, Venezia.
Telephone:
+39 041 730 120
Website:
www.gattonero.com
- L’Osteria di Santa Marina
Cuisine: Italian
The menu at this charming osteria, offers a wide range of appetizers, including soused, boiled or “saor” (classic Venetian specialty) raw fish.Handmade pasta is served with seasonal fruits of the gardens from the Veneto region, while main courses range from fried foods to grilled fish.
Address:
Castello, Campo Santa Marina, 5911, Venice.
Telephone:
+39 41 528 5239
Website:
www.osteriadisantamarina.com
Cuisine: Italian
Chef Enrico Bartolini’s ability to transform classic Venetian dishes into mind-blowing bites of food has earned Ristorante Glam two Michelin stars. Find it inside the Palazzo Venart hotel, with outdoor seating right beneath the shade of ancient magnolia trees. Order the tasting menu, a culinary tour of eight tastes endemic to the lagoon, and settle in to spend a few hours eating spaghetti with local mussels and shallots, or rice with borage and razor clams. Pro tip: make a reservation far in advance as these are some of the most coveted tables across all of Venice.
Address:
Calle Tron, 1961, Venezia.
Telephone:
+39 041 523 5676
Website:
www.palazzovenart.com
Moderate
Cuisine: Fish and seafood
Away from the main tourist streets, this is the place to go to experience some innovative Venetian cuisine. With modern photography adorning its smart grey walls, the decor is unusually contemporary for Venice. Try the platter of fish carpaccio, mixed fried fish or the squid ink seafood pasta.
Address:
Campo Widmann, Cannaregio, 5405/A, Venice.
Telephone:
+39 41 521 1021
Website:
www.boccadorovenezia.it
Cuisine: Italian
Run by the friendly husband and wife team of Isabella and Dino, this fine restaurant offers local fish and seafood and classic Venetian dishes like stuffed fried zucchini flowers. The owners go out of their way to make every guest feel welcome and the restaurant’s own olive oil makes an excellent memento.
Address:
Castello, 3417/3447, Venice.
Telephone:
+39 41 522 2170
Website:
www.olivanera.com
Cuisine: Mediterranean
Venice’s oldest trattoria is located a few minutes from Piazzale Roma station, but is definitely off the beaten tourist track. A favourite among the locals, the Mediterranean food here is simple but is often styled like a piece of art.
Address:
Salizada de Cà Zusto, Santa Croce 1395, Venice.
Telephone:
+39 41 721 687
Website:
www.anticabesseta.it
Cheap
- Al Giardinetto da Severino
Cuisine: Italian
This intimate restaurant is popular with local gondoliers and has been run by the same family for over half a century. Housed in a 15th-century chapel, Al Giardinetto boasts vaulted ceilings, a frescoed fireplace and a menu of Venetian staples. Grab a table in the vine-covered courtyard during summer.
Address:
Castello, Salizada Zorzi (Ruga Giuffa), Venice.
Telephone:
+39 41 528 5332
Website:
www.algiardinetto.it
Cuisine: Italian
Seasonal Venetian dishes with vegetarian leanings, in a cozy setting with tables by the canal. The small, canal-side dining room of La Zucca (meaning ‘the pumpkin’) offers a romantic setting and one of Venice’s most unique menus. Vegetables play the starring role – the signature pumpkin and ricotta flan are not to be missed – yet the rotating menu, which changes every day, also includes succulent specialities like roasted rabbit with chestnuts. Reservations are essential for one of two nightly seatings, and service can be rushed – but one taste of the house-made pear cake with ginger and those quirks will hardly linger.
Address:
Sestiere Santa Croce 1762, Venice.
Telephone:
+39 041 524 1570
Website:
www.lazucca.it
Cuisine: Italian
This bustling trattoria is good value. At lunch it’s a great informal place to tuck into a bowl of pasta with fagioli beans. In the evening, the more serious dining gets under way, with seafood specialities such as black squid with polenta and octopus on the menu.
Address:
San Polo, Calle della Madonna, 594, Venice.
Telephone:
+39 41 522 3824
Website:
www.ristoranteallamadonna.comVenice Nightlife
Venice is not renowned for its nightlife, but it is possible to enjoy some late night entertainment in the Lido area where nightclubs and bars are more commonplace. If you prefer to stay within Venice, do as the locals do – enjoy a late meal followed by a glass or two of local wine.
For bars and cichetterie (snack bars), try the areas around Rialto and Erbaria, Campo Santa Margherita and the Fontamenta della Misericorida. For large-scale cultural events with a national interest.
Offers an information and ticket booking service online. An excellent website for finding and booking concerts.
Website:
www.it.iqos.com
Which includes links for buying tickets online at the same price as at the venue.
Website: www.musicinvenice.com
Bars in Venice
This lively, upbeat cocktail bar, conveniently attached to a restaurant, is located just a couple of minutes walk from the Rialto Bridge. This bar is the haunt of the young and trendy thanks to its exciting cocktail list. It also has a strange custom of women leaving their bras hanging on display.
Address: San Marco 5546, Venice.
Telephone: +39 41 528 52 49
Website: www.bacarojazz.it
Sprucing up the traditional idea of an osterie, this lively wine bar in the Castello area has an extensive list of bottles and is handy if you’re attending the Biennale. It fills quickly in the evening with people coming for a tipple and cicchetti – small snacks that accompany the drinks such as salami and cheese.
Address:
Via Garibaldi 1580, Venice.
Telephone:
+39 41 000 0000
A short walk from St Mark’s Square, this bar is located in the Hotel Ala and is named after Countess Maria Tarnowska, who plotted and instigated the murder of one of her lovers in the hotel in 1907.
Fascinating history aside, this tranquil and relaxing bar is a great place for a cocktail accompanied by bar snacks, such as olives, crisps and plates of local cheese. The decor is reminiscent of the early 1900s, too, with leather chairs and antique bric-à-brac. There are occasional live jazz performances.
Address:
Campo Santa Maria Del Giglio, San Marco, Venice.
Telephone:
+39 41 520 83 33
Clubs in Venice
For most Venetians, clubbing means catching the train to the mainland and heading out in Mestre. Molocinque, a restaurant/nightclub with an impressive art deco columned facade and an equally impressive collection of sounds, is where you’ll find everything from hip hop to merengue.
Address:
Via Elettricità, 8, Venice.
Telephone:
+39 348 437 5588
Website:
www.molocinque.it
Venice’s best bar dedicated to showcasing local jazz musicians is a low-lit, romantic spot attracting jazz aficionados and music-lovers from around the world. Sets at Venice Jazz Club start around 9pm, five nights a week and feature the VJC-house quartet, usually joined by special guests. But be wary: Generally, the jazz club tends to be closed in January and August.
Address: Sestiere Dorsoduro, Venezia.
Telephone: +39 340 150 4985
Website: www.venicejazzclub.com
Expect anything from big-name jazz bands to solo pianists at Al Vapore, a popular live music joint located a short train journey away in Mestre. It’s not just stonking musicians here, you can herald in a hangover with some refreshing cocktails too.
Address:
Marghera, Via Fratelli Bandiera, 8, Venice.
Telephone:
+39 41 93 07 96
Website:
www.alvapore.it
Live music in Venice
Classic operas by Verdi & Rossini are staged in baroque-style rooms at a Renaissance-era palace. Musica a Palazzo offers a new way of experiencing the grand Opera. The Opera is a travelling show and each act is set in a different hall of one of the most fascinating Venetian palaces: Palazzo Barbarigo Minotto.
Address:
Palazzo Barbarigo Minotto, Venezia.
Telephone:
+39 340 971 7272
Website:
www.musicapalazzo.comVenice Food And Drink
10 Best Local Dishes from Venice
The best local dishes in Venice often consist of various seafood delicacies caught from the city’s famous waterways and lagoon. Venetian cuisine also puts its own twist on Italian favourites such as risotto, lasagne and spaghetti.
From seasonal seafood delicacies to festive treats and year-round staples, there’s always something new and delicious to try in Venice. Broaden your culinary horizons and make the most of your trip to the City of Canals by discovering the best local dishes from Venice.
- Sarde in saor A centuries-old Venetian staple starter
Sarde in saor consists of deep-fried sardines marinated in vinegar, pine nuts, onions, raisins and red wine. You’ll find this sweet yet tangy dish at just about any Italian or Venetian restaurant in the city. If you want to try sarde in saor at a budget-friendly traditional tavern, we recommend grabbing a table at Paradiso Perduto. It’s also a great place to enjoy live music and readings in the evening. For a fine-dining experience, Vini da Gigio or Al Covo is a popular choice in Venice.