Venice Travelers Recommend

A gondola cruise along the canals of Venice is a essential romantic experience for visitors to the city. Relax on plush velvet cushions as a costumed gondolier steers you along the Grand Canal and serenades you with beautiful Italian ballads. 

Highlights

• Admire landmarks such as Doge’s Palace, Santa Maria del Giglio, Palazzo Barberino, and the Peggy Guggenheim Collection on a Venice gondola ride.

• Turn up the romance with an unforgettable, private gondola tour.

• Gondola rides typically last 30 to 60 minutes.

• Combine a Venetian gondola ride with a walking tour of Venice or a dinner date.

Although losing yourself in the charm and mystery of the canals of Venice is the main reason to visit, you won’t want to miss landmarks such as Saint Mark's Basilica and Doge's Palace, or experiences such as being serenaded in a gondola boat while cruising the Grand Canal. 

For travelers with more time, other must-dos include venturing to the Venetian Lagoon and visiting the islands of Murano, Burano, and Torcello; catching an opera performance; and eating you way through the city on a food tour. Plan ahead by booking tours and skip-the-line admission tickets to top attractions, which save you hours of waiting in line. See below for the tours and activities you won’t want to miss in the Floating City.

Venice is defined by the water that surrounds it, and taking in the sights from a boat offers a uniquely Venetian perspective on the city. Whether you choose a classic gondola ride or a canal cruise, here are your options for Venice boat tours.

Highlights

• See some of Venice’s main sights, including the Grand Canal and the Doge’s Palace, from a new vantage point

• Gondola rides typically last 30 to 60 minutes; tours by motorboat are usually closer to 2 hours

• Combine a boat tour of Venice with a walking tour, lunch, or dinner

Gondola Rides

Riding in one of Venice’s iconic gondolas is a popular way to experience the city. You can book a private gondola ride for just you and your sweetheart, some of which include a serenade along the way, or ride in a gondola with a few other people to save a little bit of money. Sunset rides are most popular, so they can sometimes cost more than daytime rides.

Canal Cruises

There are many more kinds of boats in Venice than just gondolas, of course, from modern motorboats to small, traditional Venetian boats. Canal cruises usually run through both larger and smaller canals, giving you a chance to see both sides of the city. You’ll glide by the once-opulent palaces along the Grand Canal and catch snippets of everyday life on the back streets of Venice.

Combo Tours

Combining a short gondola ride with a meal or a walking tour is a great way to round out your day in Venice. Add a walking tour to see the city from both the water and land, or choose a 4-course lunch or dinner to upgrade your experience.

While far from stroller friendly, Venice is a wonderful city to visit as a family, particularly with older children who don’t mind crowds. But it takes more than gelato to get the balance right between churches, art galleries, and activities even young kids will enjoy. So in between the pizza, make time for some Venetian fun. Here’s how.

• Take a cooking class. Pasta making is quick, rewarding, and easy enough for even young ones to join in.
• Cruise the canals or the lagoon in your choice of kayak, sailboat, motorboat, water taxi, vaporetto, or classic gondola.
• Create art you can take home. Glassblowing makes epic memories for teenagers; younger kids will love decorating a mask.
• Play dress-up at a costume photo-shoot.
• Go on a treasure hunt or join a secret tour: The Doge’s Palace boasts dungeons and an armory.
• Embrace learning. A Romeo and Juliet tour of nearby Verona is ideal for Shakespeare students, while the Peggy Guggenheim Museum provides an education in modern art.

Venice is filled with countless bridges, canals large and small, and boats of every shape and size. With three days in the Floating City, you can fully experience the city’s waterways and sti have time for museum visits and food tours. Here’s how to spend three days in Venice.

Day 1: Boats and Behind-the-Scenes Experiences

A hop-on hop-off boat tour is a great way to orient yourself, allowing you explore the city’s landmarks at your own pace. Spend your first day sightseeing from the water, hopping off at points of interest such as the Peggy Guggenheim Collection, the Cannaregio district, the Doge’s Palace, or St. Mark’s Basilica. (Book skip-the-line tickets for each museum to maximize your time.) Then, take a Carnival mask-making class or head to gondola school for gondolier lessons. Complete your day with more time on the water—climb aboard a typical Venetian boat for a sunset cruise and watch the city lights flicker to life.

Day 2: Taste of Venice

In the morning, discover more of the Venetian lagoon with a half-day tour to the nearby islands of Murano, Burano, and Torcello, each known for local glassworks, handmade lace, and historic churches, respectively. For an immersive experience, book a Murano glass factory tour and workshop. Once you’re back in Venice, discover a favorite Venetian pastime on a food tour that takes you hopping between local cicchetti bars for traditional pre-dinner snacks. For a final dose of culture, get tickets to an evening opera performance.

Day 3: Venetian Lagoon and Beyond

Venice’s northern Italy location means travelers can easily fit in a day trip to a nearby destination. Learn about the story of star-crossed lovers Romeo and Juliet on a full-day tour to Verona or venture to Italy’s Dolomite Mountains for a 1-day outdoor adventure complete with peaceful lakes, mountain trails, and relaxing mountain villages such as Cortina.

The Floating City offers more than canals and Carnival—it’s also made up of bustling markets, delicate glass factories, and off-the-beaten-path neighborhoods beloved by locals. With a bit of planning, you can see the major landmarks and engage with contemporary Venetian culture, too. Here are a few ways to spend two days in Venice.

Day 1: Cruise, Snack, and Explore

Morning: See the Floating City from the water with a scenic boat or gondola tour. Choose an authentic gondola ride complete with serenade; a canal cruise that explores smaller, peaceful waterways; or a hop-on hop-off boat tour, offering easy access to Venice’s many landmarks.

Afternoon: Spend the afternoon hours on a guided Doge’s Palace tour to learn about Venice’s royal history and gothic architecture. With prebooked skip-the-line access, you’ll beat the crowds and see more in less time.

Night: After your Doge’s Palace tour, stick around the area for an exclusive after-hours visit to St. Marks’ Basilica. You’ll see the cathedral after dark with a small group for a one-of-a-kind Venice experience.

Day 2: Glass, Home Cooking, and Ghosts

Morning: Discover the artistic side of Venice with a photography walking tour, a trip to the island of Murano for a Murano glass factory tour and workshop, or a class devoted to learning how to paint intricate Venetian Carnival masks.

Afternoon: When hunger strikes, choose a lunchtime tour of the Rialto food market complete with traditional snacks (cicchetti) and local wine, or a cooking class in the private home of a Venetian chef. Either way, you’ll get an insider’s taste of Venetian food culture.

Night: For an evening out, explore Venice’s Jewish Ghetto or Dorsoduro district on a guided neighborhood tour. Then finish your trip with a nighttime ghost-themed walking tour to hear spooky stories about restless spirits.

Venice is at its most romantic when wrapped in a cloak of mist. When the picturesque fog turns to rain, however, you’ll want a dry retreat to wait out the shower. Here are a few ideas for spending a rainy day in Venice.

• Linger in St. Mark’s Basilica and the neighboring Doge’s Palace, where you’ll find golden Byzantine mosaics and masterpieces by Titian and Tintoretto.
• Take a deep dive into Venice’s unique culinary traditions during a cooking class, which are often paired with a stroll through the city’s historic Rialto Market. Sample dishes you’ve prepared for lunch or dinner at the end of your lesson.
• Take a break from Venice’s baroque finery during a visit to the Peggy Guggenheim Collection, home to masterpieces by Picasso, Kandinsky, Dalí, and Pollock.
• Watch master craftsmen at work during a glassblowing demonstration on Murano island, the historic center of Venice’s artisan glass production. Afterwards, browse the island’s shops for Venetian glass souvenirs.
• Try your hand at creating a traditional Venetian mask, the symbol of the city’s exuberant Carnival celebrations. Create your own papier-mâché base and decorate it with paint, beads, feathers, and other baubles.
• Head outside of the city to browse a designer outlet, where you can find timeless pieces by Italian labels such as Armani, Gucci, and Prada for a fraction of the retail price.

Beat the bustle of summer and explore Venice on a spring trip. Visit historic landmarks, stroll through the Rialto Market, and learn about traditional Venetian food on a trip in March, April, or May. Here are a few ways to enjoy Venice in spring.

• See two major landmarks with skip-the-line access to St. Mark’s Basilica and Doge’s Palace.

• Experience the Venetian style of snacking with a food tour focused on cicchetti (snacks) and wine.

• Get to know Venice with a combination walking tour and scenic gondola ride.

• Explore other islands in the lagoon with a sightseeing tour to Murano, Burano, and Torcello.

• Follow a local guide through the vibrant Rialto Market on a lunchtime food and wine tour.

• Visit St. Mark’s Basilica after hours on a nighttime tour, complete with an optional stop at Doge’s Palace.

• Maximize time in Venice with a full-day combination tour that includes a walking tour, top landmarks, and a gondola ride.

• Learn the true story of Romeo and Juliet with a themed day trip to Verona.

• Discover two medieval villages, Bassano del Grappa and Asolo, on a day tour from Venice, complete with local wine.

Venice is known for the Gothic facades lining its canals, but don't miss heading inside for equally sumptuous interiors. Many of these historic palaces now house museums, so it's easy to take in the beauty of the buildings while also visiting their collections. Here are six of Venice’s most remarkable palace museums.

The Doge’s Palace (Palazzo Ducale)

The massive Gothic masterpiece adjacent St. Mark’s Basilica is one of the city's most popular attractions. After being built in the 14th century, it was the residence of the ruling Doge and seat of Venetian government for centuries. A visit to the symbol of Venice offers up richly decorated halls, a dour prison, and Bridge of Sighs. Be sure to book a tour with skip-the-line tickets, or spend hours waiting to get in.

Correr Civic Museum (Museo Civico Correr)

Just across the square from Doge’s Palace, this opulent museum is home to an extensive collection dedicated to Venetian art and history. Take in its sculptures, paintings, documents, and other artifacts displayed in neoclassical and Imperial halls with a single ticket that also includes entrance to Doge’s Palace, National Archaeological Museum, and Marciana National Library.

Accademia Gallery (Galleria dell’Accademia)

Savor masterpieces by Venetian artists such as Titian, Canaletto, Giambattista Tiepolo, and Paolo Veronese in the ornate former Scuola della Carità set directly on the Grand Canal. The gallery houses Venetian paintings from the 14th century to the 18th century, as well as Leonardo da Vinci’s Vitruvian Man.

Ca’ Rezzonico

Arguably the most magnificent of all the palaces lining the Grand Canal, this example of Venetian baroque and rococo architecture is decorated with frescoes and trompe l’oeil by Venetian masters and houses the Museum of 18th-Century Venice with paintings by Canaletto, Tintoretto, and others.

Ca’ Pesaro

Also set along the Grand Canal, this 18th-century palace houses two museums under its painted ceilings. The International Gallery of Modern Art (Galleria Internazionale d’Arte Moderna) has works by some of Italy’s most influential modern artists such as De Chirico, De Pisis, and Sironi, as well as international heavy-hitters such as Kandinsky and Magritte. Upstairs, the Museum of Oriental Art (Museo d’Arte Orientale) is home to Prince Enrico di Borbone’s vast collection of works primarily from the Edo era.

The Peggy Guggenheim Collection

One of Venice’s most prestigious museums is dedicated to the masters of 20th-century art. Amassed by the influential American art collector and heiress for which it is named, this collection displays works by Picasso, Pollock, Kandinsky, Magritte, Dalí, and Calder in Palazzo Venier dei Leoni, which was Guggenheim’s Venetian pied à terre in the final decades of her life.

With its golden interior, stunning mosaics, and soaring Byzantine architecture, St. Mark’s Basilica is one of the most popular Venice sights with millions visiting annually. Here are a few ways to avoid the long queues with a skip-the-line tour.

Combo Walking and Gondola Skip-the-Line Tours

If you want to experience the best of Venice in a single day, consider a tour that combines St. Mark’s with a gondola ride and walking tour. The basilica is usually the final stop, and you’ll maximize your time in the city by skipping the line to the church.

Skip-the-Line Combo Tours with Doge’s Palace

Many tours of St. Mark’s Basilica are combined with entrance to Doge’s Palace, as the two are set side by side. Skip the line at both attractions when you opt for a combo tour, where you’ll bypass the crowds and spend between two and three hours exploring the famous sights.

St. Mark’s Basilica After Hours

Another way to avoid the crowds is to visit after hours, when St. Mark’s Basilica is closed to the general public. Choose a guided tour with after-hours access to experience the gilded Byzantine beauty in near silence and without the usual crowds.

The landmark Doge's Palace once housed the rulers of Venice, and today it's one of the city's top attractions. The best way to visit is on a skip-the-line tour, ensuring you dodge the crowds and enjoy priority access. See below for your options.

Guided Skip-the-Line Doge's Palace Tours

Joining a guide for a tour through the Doge's Palace allows visitors to use an exclusive tour group entrance rather than the general one used by individual visitors. The separate entrance cuts down on wait times, and tour guides offer greater context for what you're seeing. Discover the artistic masterpieces in the palace and learn how the doges meted out justice from the ornately decorated rooms.

Combo Tours

Most visitors to the Doge's Palace want to see more than just this vestige of the Venetian Republic. Choose a tour that combines skip-the-line entry at the Doge's Palace with a city walking tour, a gondola ride, or a visit to St. Mark's Basilica (once the private church of the doges).

Additional Guided Experiences at the Doge's Palace

A number of areas of the palace are mainly accessible only with a guide. Book a guided skip-the-line ‘secret itineraries’ tour to gain access to areas most visitors never see, including the cells where Casanova was once imprisoned in the attic and the New Prisons on the other side of the Bridge of Sighs (the only way to walk across the famous bridge is with entry to the palace).

While strolling around Venice is a worthwhile pastime, the city is teeming with excellent museums any culture lover will appreciate. From architectural masterpieces to modern art and a historic theater, here are the top cultural sites in Venice.

Accademia Gallery — Venice's best art museum

The large collection of art found here includes works by Titian, Tintoretto, Mantegna, Bosch, Bellini, and Veronese. Leonardo da Vinci's famous sketch Vitruvian Man is also sometimes on display. Skip-the-line tickets and tours are available.

St. Mark's Basilica — a church full of onion domes and golden mosaics

The centerpiece of Venice is its gorgeous basilica, dating from the ninth century and dedicated to the city's patron saint. The main area is free to enter, but a guided tour can provide much-needed context for what you're seeing.

Peggy Guggenheim Collection — an impressive modern art museum

Peggy Guggenheim lived in this palace on the Grand Canal until her death, and the art on display comes largely from what was her private collection. Featured artists include Pablo Picasso, Wassily Kandinsky, Jackson Pollock, and Max Ernst, Guggenheim's husband. Art lovers can opt for a private after-hours visit to avoid crowds.

Doge's Palace — the historic seat of the Venetian Republic

The rulers of Venice, the doges, lived in and governed from this large palace next to St. Mark's Basilica for many years. A tour of the palace offers a glimpse at what life might have been like inside the ornately decorated rooms, with some tours also including a visit to the city's infamous prisons by way of the Bridge of Sighs.

Teatro La Fenice — a famous opera house

This jewel box of an opera house was originally built in 1792, but burned down twice afterwards. True to the name La Fenice, meaning the Phoenix, the theater was rebuilt each time and still hosts performances of opera, ballet, and the orchestra. Guided tours are offered most days.

Though nightlife in Venice is more understated than epic, the city still enchants after sunset. Gondoliers paddle across the reflection of glowing palazzos in canals; wine flows freely inside candlelit taverns; and classical music drifts from stone churches. Here’s how to enjoy Venice at night.

Cruise the Canals or Lagoon at Sunset

Cruising Venice’s famous canals is even more romantic at sunset, when the city illuminates. Book a gondola ride with a serenade for extra atmosphere; watch the sky change color during a motorboat ride down the Grand Canal; or sail across the Venetian Lagoon for a new perspective of the Floating City.

Dine and Drink like a Venetian

Happy hour is a cherished tradition in Venice, so join a food and wine tour to discover the city’s best wine bars and learn to order cicchetti (Venetian tapas). Dinner is usually served late, so grab an espresso and sit down among locals for a meal of fresh seafood paired with Veneto wines.

Catch a Concert in a Historic Venue

Live music in Venice means intimate shows and traditional instruments. Book tickets to the acclaimed Interpreti Veneziani or Musica a Palazzo for an evening of Baroque chamber music or Italian opera ballads. Concerts are usually held in historic palaces or churches for time-tested acoustics.

Step Inside St. Mark’s After Hours

St. Mark’s Basilica—the Byzantine centerpiece of St. Mark’s Square—buzzes with activity and crowds during the day. Enjoy more room to admire golden mosaics and jeweled altarpieces on an after-hours tour that grants you access after doors close to the general public. Be sure to step back and admire the illuminated basilica and neighboring Doge’s Palace from the outside, too.

Venice is for lovers, but with a wealth of classic seafood-centric dishes, Venice is also for lovers of good food. From the Rialto market fishmongers hawking the catch of the day to the canal-side tables of the city’s finest restaurants, the lagoon is at the heart of Venetian cuisine. Here’s a few ways to sample Venice’s best food.

Must-Try Dishes

To eat like a Venetian, you need to stop in a local bàcaro, or small neighborhood cafe, to choose from a selection of chicchetti, tiny appetizer-like dishes washed down with a small glass of wine, known locally as an ombra. Classic cicchetti include simple fritti (fried vegetable or seafood tempura) and crostini (slices of bread topped with meat or fish paté, cheese, or a compilation like anchovies and artichokes); meat-based polpette (pork meatballs), rumegal (veal stomach), and fegato alla veneziana (calf liver dressed with onion and parsley); and seafood favorites such as sarde in saor (sardines and onions marinated in vinegar and tossed with raisins and pine nuts), baccalà mantecato (creamed cod served over a slice of polenta), baccalà Vicentina (a creamy spread of cod, anchovies, and onions), moleche (small fried crabs), and moscardini (tiny octopus) and polenta.

Venice’s bàcari are small cafes with very little seating, so diners usually stand among the lively happy-hour crowd spilling out into the street or squeeze in at the outdoor tables. For more formal—and filling—fare, opt for a traditional restaurant serving Venice’s classic primi (first courses), including risotto al nero di seppia (tinged black with briny squid ink), risi e bisi (Venetian-style rice and peas), or bigoli in salsa (long pasta tossed with sardines and onions).

Must-Do Experiences

• Browse the fishmongers’ stalls on a morning tour of the historic Rialto fish market and discover the wealth of seafood in the Venetian lagoon.
• Try the Venetian take on Spanish tapas with a cicchetti tour. This beloved street food is a staple in Venice, and neighborhoods including the Jewish Ghetto and Cannaregio are thick with traditional bàcari.
• Sit down for a more elegant repast at one of Venice’s landmark fine-dining restaurants to sample the city’s most storied rice and pasta dishes, paired with prestigious wines from the surrounding Veneto region. For an unforgettable evening, pair a gondola ride through the city’s iconic canals with a gala dinner. 
• Locals don’t spend every evening at a bàcaro or gourmet restaurant, of course. Experience how Venetian families dine by booking a traditional home dinner prepared by a local chef.
• Head out of town for the day to explore the surrounding wine country with a day trip to Valpolicella, Bassano di Grappa, and Asolo. Taste some of the most prized labels from Veneto, paired with local cheeses and other delicacies.

A single day in Venice could easily be eaten up by strolling along canals, snapping photographs, and climbing over countless bridges. But, for those looking to maximize time in the floating city, here’s how to pack in classic sights, a dose of culture, and some romance, too—all in one day.

Morning: See the Classics

It’s possible to hit the classic landmarks of Venice, Piazza San Marco, Doge’s Palace, and St. Mark’s Basilica, in just one morning. Make the most of your time with skip-the-line tickets with premium access, as some of these tours also include secret itineraries, opening doors that aren’t normally accessible to the public. Alternatively, cover ground quickly with a hop-on hop off boat tour that allows you to get out on the water and see all the major attractions on your own schedule.

Afternoon: Cultural Immersion

Get to know the character of Venice by focusing on its culture. This could mean a guided food tour through the Rialto Market with stops for traditional Venetian snacks (cicchetti) or a private tour of the Peggy Guggenheim Collection, home to works from artists including Jackson Pollock. Local culture is also found in off-the-beaten-path neighborhoods such as Dorsoduro, away from the major landmarks. Explore these spots on a walking tour or a Venice Canal cruise that sails down quiet, secret canals.

Night: Ghosts, Music, and Gondolas

It is tempting to find a restaurant along a small canal and remain there for a full evening, but there are many after-dark activities to try in Venice. Those interested in history may want to set out on a walking tour focused on Venetian ghosts and legends, while music fans might wish to get tickets for a local classical music concert. For romance, climb aboard an evening gondola for a ride along the lagoon, complete with serenade from your gondolier.

Venice’s achingly romantic canals and High Renaissance aesthetics often come with a hefty price tag to match. But there are ways to visit one of Italy's most beautiful cities that won’t break your budget. Read on for our wallet-friendly tips.

View Artistic Treasures—for Free

Many of Venice’s most cherished works of art are on display to the public for little or no charge at the city’s churches. There's no entry fee at all for the most dazzling of them all—St. Mark’s Basilica. Admire glittering gold mosaics, frescoes by Titian and Tintoretto, and jeweled altarpieces at this and other standout basilicas such as Santa Maria della Salute and Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari.

Cruise the Canals in a Water Taxi

In a city built on the water, the vaporetto is the Venetian answer to public transit. These public “water buses” dock at regular intervals along the Grand Canal and smaller waterways, so you can travel to major landmarks while enjoying a low-cost sightseeing cruise along the way.

Book a Combo Tour

Package tours may cost a bit more at the outset, but they often add up to significant savings versus booking attractions individually. Especially if you’re short on time, these “grand tours” can be a great way to experience Venice’s canals, churches, and mazelike backstreets in a single day and at a discount.

Share a Gondola

For many visitors, a ride in a traditional wooden gondola is a quintessential Venice experience. You can cross this off your bucket list without paying the hefty price tag of a private voyage by booking a shared ride. If you don't mind sitting next to a handful of other travelers, you can glide through the city’s legendary canals for less than half the price.

Fill Up on Cicchetti

As with other tourist hot spots, restaurants in Venice tend to be crowded and expensive. When dining out, save by eating like locals do at the backstreet enotecas that serve up cheap glasses of wine and simple but delicious Venetian tapas known as cicchetti. Get help finding your new favorite spot and ordering with confidence on a wine-and- cicchetti food tour.

The jagged limestone cliffs, wildflower valleys, and snow-capped peaks of the Dolomite Mountains are among Italy’s most spectacular natural landscapes, and it’s an idyllic backdrop for a day tour. Here are your options for day trips from Venice.

Group Tours

Group tours are the best option for those on a budget or looking to cherry-pick the region’s highlights, ensuring you see as much as possible in one full-day trip. Perhaps visit the picturesque village of Pieve di Cadore; admire beauty spots such as Lake Santa Caterina, Tre Cime di Lavaredo, and Lake Misurina; or take a guided hike through the mountains. For a more personalized experience, opt for a small-group tour, with no more than 15 participants. 

Private Tours

Private tours mean you can travel in the comfort of a private vehicle and enjoy the undivided attention of a private tour guide. Most importantly, the itinerary can be customized to your preferences, so it’s up to you whether you enjoy free time in the ski resort towns of Cortina d'Ampezzo and Marmolada; marvel at natural wonders such as Mount Civetta, Dolomiti di Sesto, and Mount Pelmo; or take in the views at Tofane and Val Pusteri.

Things to Know

• The Dolomite Mountain range is located in northeastern Italy, between the provinces of Belluno, South Tytol, and Trentino.

• The Dolomites are about two hours north of Venice by road.

• Day tours from Venice typically last between 8.5 and 10 hours.

• Weather conditions can change quickly in the mountains, so it’s worth bringing a light jacket even in the summer months, and comfortable walking shoes are a must.

Crisp winter days are ideal for exploring Italy's Floating City. Get to know Venice with a gondola ride, mask-making class, or classical music concert. Here are a few ways to explore Venice on a winter trip.

• Learn about the traditions behind Venice’s elaborate Carnival masks with a mask-making class.

• Listen to a classical music concert complete with performers in 18th century costumes.

• Maximize time in Venice by taking an unlimited ride hop-on, hop-off tour (for 24 or 48 hours).

• Get cozy in a gondola for a classic journey on Venice’s scenic canals.

• Experience an opera performance set in a 15th century palace.

• Skip-the-line for quick access into Doge’s Palace and explore areas not normally open to the public on a secret itineraries tour.

• Witness the tradition of glassmaking on a factory and workshop tour on the island of Murano.

• Warm up indoors with a tour of Teatro La Fenice, a baroque opera house.

• See Venice from the water on a b oat tour of the Grand Canal.

• Celebrate New Year’s Eve with a classical music concert.

One of Venice's most delightful culinary traditions is "cicchetti," bite–sized morsels eaten at small bars with a glass of local wine. Learn to find the best cicchetti bars in the city, and find out what and how to order, below.

Things to Know

• The word "cicchetti" is pronounced "chi–KEH–tee," and a bar that serves these appetizer-sized snacks is called a "bacaro," which is pronounced "BA–ka–ro."

• Cicchetti is essentially the Venetian version of tapas (although don’t say that to the Venetians). 

• Venetians often stop at bacari (the plural form of bacaro) for a quick bite with friends before going home to dinner, but you can visit a few bacari in a row to make a fun and interesting meal.

• Because cicchetti are so small, patrons usually order a small glass of wine and a few cicchetti and eat them standing at the bar with friends. You're welcome to sit at a table, however, if the bacaro has tables. There’s no rush, so take your time, order seconds of whatever tastes best, and then amble on to find the next cicchetti bar. Continue doing this until you've had a full meal.

• Look for cicchetti featuring seafood from the lagoon, as well as cheese, meat, and vegetables from the Veneto region.

How to Go

Finding the best bacari in Venice and knowing what to order can be confusing without a tour guide, so there are a number of Venice food tours that focus on the city's best cicchetti. With a guided tour you'll get Venetian foodie tips from a local expert, a pleasant stroll around a walkable city, suggestions on the best things to order at each bar, and insights into the unique city of Venice. Some combine visits to cicchetti bars with a tour of the Rialto Market, which gives you a chance to see what's fresh and in season—and therefore what will be turned into cicchetti in good bacari. Starting your Venice trip with one of these tours enables you to venture out to bacari on your own later on.

In a city built on the water and famed for its canals, green spaces can be hard to come by. But when you’re looking for a respite from the crowds of Venice’s main attractions (or the heat of an Italian summer), try these tree-filled spots tucked along the water’s edge.

Public Gardens (Giardini Pubblici)

Reachable by a brisk 15-minute walk from St. Mark's Square, this is one of the largest green spaces in Venice and a great place to catch a break from the tourist throngs. You're more likely to encounter local morning joggers here—except during the Venice Biennale, when the art-world glitterati floods into the park’s temporary expo pavilions.

Memorial Park (Parco delle Rimembranze)

Situated on the southern edge of Venice’s Castello district, this pretty neighborhood park and World War II memorial is best reached by vaporetto (water taxi). It's one of the few spots in the city with a children's playground, so kids can burn off some energy on multiple climbing structures while grown-ups enjoy a welcome break under a tree.

Papadopoli Gardens (Giardini Papadopoli)

When you need a shady place to rest on your way in or out of Venice, pop into this pint-size park near Piazzale Roma and the Santa Lucia Railway Station. In a city not known for its playgrounds or mature trees, this miniature oasis has both.

St. Julian’s Park (Parco San Giuliano)

If you're truly craving room to roam in Venice, catch a ferry across the lagoon to this wild open space on the edge of the mainland’s Mestre district. Lengthy paths are popular with local runners, cyclists, families, and dog owners, while trails near the shoreline offer a great perspective on historic Venice in the distance.

Forever etched in the minds of romantics as the setting for Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, Verona’s picturesque riverside, medieval old town, and ancient Roman amphitheatre makes it a popular choice for a day tour from Venice. Here are your options.

Full-Day Tours

Full-day tours offer plenty of time to take in the highlights of Verona, including the famous balcony at Juliet’s House, Piazza delle Erbe, Castelvecchio Bridge, and Lamberti Tower (Torre dei Lamberti). Day tours typically include round-trip transport by bus or train from Venice and can be combined with wine tasting in the Amarone wine region or visits to nearby sights such as Lake Garda, Valpolicella, or the UNESCO World Heritage city of Vicenza.

Multi-Day Tours

With time to spare, opt for a 2- or 3-night tour, and take in the many attractions of the Verona region. Enjoy a walking tour of Verona, discover romantic Venice, and admire historic monuments like the Sirmione Grotto (Grotte di Sirmione), then venture further afield to explore Lake Como and Lake Garda, or take a sightseeing tour of Milan. Multi-day tours typically include accommodation, round-trip transport, and some meals.

Things to Know

• Verona is the provincial capital of the Verona province and is located 75 miles (120 kilometers) west of Venice, a journey of about 90 minutes by road.

• The quickest way to get to Verona is by high-speed train, a ride of about one hour from Venice.

• Day tours from Venice typically last 7.5 to 10 hours and sometimes include extras such as hotel pickup or skip-the-line admission to the Verona Arena.

• It’s best to wear comfortable shoes for walking around Verona’s medieval alleys and cobblestone streets.

After cruising the streets of Venice and the Grand Canal, the Veneto region offers a change of scenery. From exploring medieval hill towns to sipping prosecco amid vineyards, there's plenty to do. Here are some options for day trips from Venice.

Asolo — 50 miles (81 km) northwest of Venice

With its lively piazzas, medieval castle, and Roman ruins, Asolo is undeniably picturesque, and the town sprawls over the hillside, offering ample lookout points. Combine a visit with a tour of Veneto's UNESCO-listed Palladian villas such as Villa Barbaro, the riverside town of Bassano del Grappa, or the Scrovegni Chapel in Padova.

Marostica — 60 miles (96 km) northwest of Venice

Marostica is famous for its medieval city walls, hilltop castle, and biennial living chess match—a medieval-themed extravaganza, with costumed participants and an all-round festive atmosphere.

Bassano del Grappa — 60 miles (96 km) northwest of Venice

Perched on the riverside at the foot of Monte Grappa, Bassano del Grappa is photogenic from all angles. Stroll across the Palladio-designed Ponte Vecchio bridge, admire the views along the Viale dei Martiri, or enjoy wine tasting at the surrounding vineyards.

Soave — 60 miles (97 km) west of Venice

Famed for its eponymous white wine, Soave is the top destination for Veneto wine tasting tours. Overlooked by the magnificent Scaligero Castle and dotted with historic churches and palazzi, this town is surrounded by lush vineyards.

Home to iconic Italian sports car brands like Ferrari, Lamborghini, and Pagani, the aptly nicknamed Motor Valley is a must for any motor enthusiast. Here are your options for Motor Valley tours from Venice. 

Group Tours

Group tours offer the best value for money, oftentimes including skip-the-line entrance tickets and round-trip transport from Venice. Explore Italy’s Motor Valley on a full-day tour, checking off top attractions such as the Ferrari Museum in Maranello, the Museum of Enzo Ferrari in Modena, and the Lamborghini Factory Tour in Sant'Agata Bolognese, where you can marvel at priceless motors, ride in state-of-the-art simulators, and stock up on official merchandise.

Private Tours

Feel like a VIP on a private Motor Valley tour and enjoy a custom-made itinerary, visiting the sights that interest you most. Travel from Venice in the comfort of a private vehicle, visit the Pagani Automobili and Lamborghini factories, or tack on extras such as a tortellini cooking class, a special visit to the Lamborghini family private collection, or a thrilling test drive. 

Things to Know

• Motor Valley is the name given to the area around Modena, Maranello, and Bologna in Italy’s Emilia-Romagna region.

• The Motor Valley is located about 120 miles (195 kilometers) southwest of Venice, a journey of about two hours by road.

• Full-day tours from Venice typically last eight to 10 hours.

• Most day tours include entrance fees and round-trip transport, while some also include hotel pickup and lunch.