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• Venice tourist information

Hotel a venezia

This page contains all the Venice tourist information that will allow you to experience a wonderful holiday on the Lagoon, in all its different aspects.

For a peaceful, trouble-free stay in Venice it’s essential to know about the local transport system that will take you to the historic city centre from Marco Polo Airport or Mestre Railway Station and how to get around the city from Santa Lucia Station or from Piazzale Rome /Tronchetto. Once you have settled into your room or apartment it is worth giving some thought to buying a daily or timed ticket that can be used on the vaporetto water-buses of the ACTV line to get to all the more important monuments aboard the waterborne public transport system consisting of vaporetto and motoscafo water buses.

VENICE TRANSPORT

  All the information you need on how to get around Venice: WATERBORNE and AUTOMOBILE ROUTES, ticket prices and how, when and where to buy them....

VENICE – HOW TO REACH THE CITY...

You can reach Venice in many ways: by plane, by car, by train. On this page we suggest you how to reach the city center from Venice or from Treviso...

VENICE HISTORY AND CURIOSITIES

On this page you will find detailed information about the ancient history of Venice and the typical elements that characterize it as masks or gondola....

CASINò DI VENEZIA

PALAZZO CA’ VENDRAMIN CALERGI Palazzo Ca’ Vendramin Calergi, considered to be one of the most elegant examples of the Venetian Renaissance...

VENICE – VIRTUAL VISIT

The City of Venice is visited virtually thanks to the portal veniceconnected. You can leave for a fascinating virtual tour on land or water along the...

VENICE PHOTOS

Photos of Venice: a taste of what you can see during a fantastic holiday in the most original of the city, which is spread among thousands of islands...

PARK IN VENICE

Knowing the parking options in Venice is essential to better plan your trip and ensure a stress-free experience in the city of gondolas. To park you...

• Venice Transport

GETTING AROUND IN VENICE –...

VAPORETTO TICKETS

VENICE AIRPORT – HIRING A CAR WITH...

PEOPLE MOVER

ROLLING VENICE – 3 DAYS TICKET

All the information you need on how to get around Venice : WATERBORNE and AUTOMOBILE ROUTES , ticket prices and how, when and where to buy them. All about Transports in Venice.

When you decide to take a holiday in Venice you’ll also need to give some thought as to whether you are going to tour the city on foot or using one of the convenient forms of transport that will allow you to get to every part of the city. If you want to visit the islands then you will have no choice but to take a public motoscafo or vaporetto water-bus unless, of course, you have your own boat.

Ticket prices for the vaporetto water-buses are not exactly cheap but there are many time-based alternatives that are more cost-effective. The Transport in Venice section has all the information you need about this.

It is also possible to buy an IMOB card for €10/40 (lasts for five years) that entitles you to purchase tickets at €1.50. If you’re a frequent visitor to the Lagoon this has to be the most convenient and cost-effective option.

Concessionary fares are available for young people and those with disabilities wanting to use the public transport system in Venice. For example: a wheelchair passenger pays €1.50 and the ticket is valid for 75 minutes. We’d also like to remind you that if you are a wheelchair user there are special routes (short but in the very centre of town) that provide ramps for accessing bridges with ease. Click here for all the information concerning this.

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Imagine the audacity of building a city of marble palaces on a lagoon – and that was only the start.

Best Time to Visit

Best things to do, leave the planning to a local expert.

Experience the real Venice. Let a local expert handle the planning for you.

Attractions

Must-see attractions.

Basilica di San Marco

With a profusion of domes and more than 8000 sq metres of luminous mosaics, Venice's cathedral is unforgettable. It was founded in the 9th century to…

Palazzo Ducale

Holding pride of place on the waterfront, this pretty Gothic confection may be an unlikely setting for the political and administrative seat of a great…

Gallerie dell'Accademia

Venice's historic gallery traces the development of Venetian art from the 14th to 19th centuries, with works by all of the city's artistic superstars. The…

In medieval times this part of Cannaregio housed a getto (foundry), but it was as the designated Jewish quarter from the 16th to 19th centuries that the…

Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute

Baldassare Longhena's magnificent basilica is prominently positioned near the entrance to the Grand Canal, its white stones, exuberant statuary and high…

Ca' Rezzonico

Baroque dreams come true at this Baldassare Longhena–designed Grand Canal palazzo (mansion), where a marble staircase leads to a vast gilded ballroom and…

Peggy Guggenheim Collection

After losing her father on the Titanic, heiress Peggy Guggenheim became one of the great collectors of the 20th century. Her palatial canalside home,…

Museo Correr

Napoleon pulled down an ancient church to build his royal digs over Piazza San Marco, and then filled them with the riches of the doges while taking some…

Top picks from our travel experts

15 of the best things to do in venice in 2024.

Chiesa di San Sebastiano

Antonio Scarpignano’s relatively austere 1508–48 facade creates a sense of false modesty at this neighbourhood church. The interior is adorned with floor…

Basilica dei SS Maria e Donato

Murano, Burano & the Northern Islands

Fire-breathing is the unifying theme of Murano’s medieval church, with its astounding 12th-century gilded-glass apse mosaic of the Madonna made in Murano…

Museo del Vetro

Since 1861, Murano’s glass-making prowess has been celebrated in Palazzo Giustinian, the home of bishops of Torcello from 1689 until the diocese's…

Rialto Market

San Polo & Santa Croce

Venice’s main market has been whetting appetites for seven centuries, with fruit and vegetable stands abutting the rather more pungent Pescaria. To see it…

Museo del Merletto

Burano's Lace Museum tells the story of a craft that cut across social boundaries, endured for centuries and evoked the epitome of sophistication reached…

Ponte di Rialto

A superb feat of engineering, Antonio da Ponte’s 1592 Istrian stone span took three years and 250,000 gold ducats to construct. Adorned with stone reliefs…

Galleria Giorgio Franchetti alla Ca’ d’Oro

One of the most beautiful buildings on the Grand Canal, with a lacy Gothic facade, 15th-century Ca’ d’Oro is resplendent even without the original gold…

Basilica di San Marco's 99m-tall bell tower has been rebuilt twice since its initial construction in AD 888. Galileo Galilei tested his telescope here in…

Schola Levantina

Sometimes called the Turkish Synagogue, the Schola Levantina was founded in 1541 as the first to serve the Ghetto's Sephardic community. Its renovated…

Trattoria al Gatto Nero

Don't expect fancy tricks from this 'Black Cat' – just excellent, traditional fare. Once you’ve tried the homemade tagliolini (ribbon pasta) with spider…

Museo Ebraico

This museum explores the history of Venice’s Jewish community and showcases its pivotal contributions to Venetian, Italian and world history. Opened in…

Piazza San Marco

This grand showpiece square beautifully encapsulates the splendour of Venice's past and its tourist-fuelled present. Flanked by the arcaded Procuratie…

Murano has been the home of Venetian glass-making since the 13th century. Today, artisans continue to ply their trade at workshops dotted around the…

Burano, with its cheery pastel-coloured houses, is renowned for its handmade lace, which once graced the decolletage and ruffs of European aristocracy…

Chiesa di Santa Maria Formosa

Originally built as a thatch-roofed wooden church in the 7th century, Santa Maria Formosa was refashioned by Mauro Codussi in 1492 with new baroque curves…

Chiesa di Sant'Alvise

Don't be fooled by the bare brick exterior of this 1388 church, attached to an Augustinian convent. Inside it's a riot of colour, with extraordinary…

Torcello, the republic's original island settlement, was largely abandoned due to malaria and now counts only around 14 permanent residents. Its mosaic…

Chiesa di Santa Maria dei Miracoli

This magnificent church was built between 1481 and 1489 to house Nicolò di Pietro's Madonna icon after the painting began to miraculously weep in its…

Museo di Storia Naturale di Venezia

Never mind the doge: insatiable curiosity rules Venice, and inside the former Fondaco dei Turchi (Turkish Trading House) it runs wild. The adventure…

Basilica di Santa Maria Assunta

Life choices are presented in no uncertain terms in the dazzling mosaics of the Assumption Basilica. Look ahead to a golden afterlife amid saints and a…

Fondazione Querini Stampalia

In 1869 Conte Giovanni Querini Stampalia made a gift of his ancestral 16th-century palazzo (mansion) to the city on the forward-thinking condition that…

Chiesa della Madonna dell’Orto

This elegantly spare 1365 brick Gothic church remains one of Venice's best-kept secrets. It was the parish church of Venetian Renaissance painter…

Scuola Grande di San Rocco

Everyone wanted the commission to paint this building dedicated to St Roch, patron saint of the plague-stricken, so Tintoretto cheated: instead of…

Chiesa di San Pietro Martire

Take a pause from glass shopping to check out The Baptism of Christ, attributed to Tintoretto, in 16th-century St Peter the Martyr's Church. The parish…

6 of the best free things to do in Venice

Parco delle Rimembranze

At the eastern limit of the Giardini Pubblici, on the island of Sant'Elena, this memorial park is planted with umbrella pines, each originally…

Squero di San Trovaso

This wooden cabin on the Rio di San Trovaso looks like a stray ski chalet, but it’s one of Venice's few working squeri (shipyards), with refinished…

Fondaco dei Tedeschi

Occupying one of the Grand Canal's most imposing buildings, a 16th-century German trading house, this branch of the DFS chain is worth visiting whether…

Chiesa di San Zaccaria

When 15th-century Venetian girls showed more interest in sailors than saints, they were sent to the convent adjoining San Zaccaria. The wealth showered on…

Libreria Acqua Alta

Precarious stacks of books appear in constant danger of collapse at this wonderfully ragtag secondhand bookshop. Some books are displayed in a gondola –…

3749 Ponte Chiodo

This charming little B&B offers six sweet rooms with period furnishings, views over the canal and a private front garden. It takes its name from the…

Planning Tools

Expert guidance to help you plan your trip.

Things to Know

From how to dress to which boat to take, everything you need to know for your trip to Venice.

Best Neighborhoods

The best neighborhoods to stay, play and explore in Venice.

From Lake Garda to Verona, and further afield to Ferrara and Trieste, here are 12 of the best day trips to take by train from Venice.

Money and Costs

Despite a reputation as a playground for the world’s rich, Venice can be surprisingly affordable. Here's how.

Transportation

Navigating a city that is slowly sinking can be daunting but we've got all the info you need on how to get around Venice.

Free Things to Do

Save some money on your Venice vacation with these top free experiences.

Traveling with Kids

Car-free, packed with sights (and gelato shops), children of every age will love Venice. Just be mindful of your toddler by those canals.

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Latest stories from Venice

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In an effort to regulate the number of tourists within the city, Venice is introducing a new booking system for visitors.

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Your Trip to Venice: The Complete Guide

Venice, Italy Guide: Planning Your Trip

Venice, or Venezia , is one of the world's most unique and beautiful cities. During its more than 1700-year history, it has been at the nexus of major European art, music, and political developments. It was a maritime power for centuries and is thought to have been the world's first financial center.

Today, it is one of Italy's most important cities and a supremely romantic travel destination , where you can stroll alongside miles of crisscrossing canals. There are, in fact, 150 canals with more than 400 bridges that connect Venice's 118 small islands in the Venetian Lagoon  . Almost every inch of these islands are covered with amazing architecture, magnificent churches and palaces, squares and museums, excellent restaurants , historic hotels, and beautiful shops.

Planning Your Trip

Here is some basic knowledge for planning your trip to Venice.

• Best Time to Visit:  Since it's near the sea, Venice has mostly mild weather , although there can be rain nearly all year round. Summers are humid, and winters can be foggy and wet. To avoid large crowds, spring and fall are the best seasons to visit. Venice experiences high-water flooding or aqua alta about 60 days a year, from October through early January. In Venice, keep an eye on the weather forecast every day, and always bring an umbrella!
• Language:  Italian is the national language of Italy, though you'll find that most hoteliers, restaurant workers, and shopkeepers speak at least some English, as well as possible French, Spanish, and German.
• Currency:  Venice, like the rest of Italy, uses the Euro (€). US dollars or other currencies are not accepted, though credit cards are widely accepted. Some stores may not accept credit cards for small purchases (under 10 or 20 euros).
• Getting Around:  The Grand Canal, which cuts through the center of the city, is like Venice's main street, and the  vaporetti boats are its public buses  . They are the main public transport in this canal-filled city and ply the principal waterways. The #1 vaporetto runs along the Grand Canal from the train station and makes many stops, so it's a good way to cruise the main canal and get a good overview of the city. If you want something more up close and personal, take a taxi and a gondola, though they tend to be more expensive. Read more about the vaporetti system . Gondolas , a symbol of life in Venice, are a romantic way to get from point A to point B, but today these costly diversions are used mainly by tourists.
• Travel Tip:  To avoid Venice's famously crowded main squares and tourist attractions, here are two tips: The first is to book must-see sites like the Doge's Palace and Basilica San Marco with a private tour, so you skip the line and possibly get exclusive access to some areas. Our second tip is that when out walking, head away from Piazza San Marco and Rialto . You'll soon discover a far less crowded Venice, and one that is still inhabited by locals.
• Read our full article on the Best Time to Visit Venice .

Things to Do

Venice has several world-famous museums and attractions, but you'd be surprised how much you might love just wandering along the canals off the main tourist tracks or taking advantage of other free diversions this ancient city offers. Some of Venice's most famous attractions include:

• Saint Mark's Square : Piazza San Marco is Venice's main square and is surrounded by chic sidewalk cafés and fancy shops. While it's a great place to take in the scenery and people, you will definitely pay top euro to sit at an outdoor table. In the evening, you can listen to live music, too. Walking in the piazza and taking photos is, of course, free.
• Saint Mark's Basilica : Basilica di San Marco, consecrated in 832 AD, is a beautiful church blending the architecture of East and West. 
• Doge's Palace : Palazzo Ducale, also on St. Mark's Square, is the most impressive building in Venice and well worth a tour. It was the Venetian government's political and judicial hub until the fall of the Venetian Republic in 1797. The palace was connected to its prisons by the famous Bridge of Sighs .
• Grand Canal ( Canal Grande): This is the main thoroughfare of Venice. It is full of many types of boats and lined with beautiful buildings.
• Rialto Bridge ( Ponte di Rialto) : This is the main bridge crossing the Grand Canal in the heart of Venice, and it's more than 400 years old. Nearby is the Rialto Market, an interesting and lively food market with lots of little shops.
• Tourist Information Offices : The train station tourist office is almost always very crowded, but agents there have lots of information and can help with hotel reservations. The main tourist office is near Saint Mark's Square. Most staff speak at least some English.

Read more of our guides for things to do in Venice: the best things to do in Venice , a guide to Venice neighborhoods , and a month-by-month guide to Venice.

What to Eat and Drink

Seafood is a big part of the delicious Venetian cuisine, as are polenta and rice. Seppia , or cuttlefish, is popular, and risotto nero  (black rice) is colored with its ink. Try the zuppa di pesce  (fish soup) here, too. Radicchio trevisano , red chicory, comes from nearby Treviso. Cicchetti , or little appetizers, are served in Venice's bars and are often eaten before lunch or dinner, but, like Spanish tapas or Greek meze,  you can also order a few for a light meal. Finish with an exquisite Venetian pastry and an espresso.

Typical wines of Venice are made from grapes grown in the Veneto, the surrounding region. These include citrusy Soave, sparkling prosecco, and deep red Valpolicella. Cocktails are popular here, from the peachy Bellini, invented in Venice, to the Aperol Spritz, Negroni, and other classic Italian mixed drinks. There's a burgeoning craft beer scene in Venice and a handful of Irish pubs catering to the younger crowd.

Read more about the best restaurants in Venice and the best nightlife in Venice .

Where to Stay

The old city center of Venice is divided into six districts or sestieri . The Cannaregio district, the most populated, is near the station. The Castello district, the largest, and the famous San Marco district, home to its namesake square and basilica, are on the Grand Canal side. The Santa Croce district, the only one with a bridge to the mainland and some car traffic, is across the Grand Canal from the train station. The San Polo district, with its famous eponymous church and the Dorsoduro district, situated on Venice's hardest and most stable island, are across the canal from St. Mark's. Read more about Venice's neighborhoods .

Start your hotel search by looking through our list of top-rated Venice hotels, many of which are in the San Marco neighborhood, near Piazza San Marco ,  the most popular tourist popular area. One of our favorite hotels, right near San Marco but remarkably quiet, is the family-run Hotel Flora . If you decide to go with an Airbnb-type rental, make sure you go with a licensed facility, like these recommended by Venice Tourism .

Check our list of top-rated Venice hotels.

Getting There

Venice is in the Veneto region, on the northeast coast of Italy, and is protected from the Adriatic Sea by a strip of land called the Lido.

The best way to arrive in Venice is by train, to the Santa Lucia Train Station on the northwestern edge of the city. There's also a bus terminal and parking garages nearby, at Piazzale Roma. Venice also has the small Marco Polo Venice Airport , and from there, you can take a bus or boat into Venice.

Check our articles on how to reach Venice from Rome or from Milan .

Culture and Customs

There aren't many "need to know" factoids about Venetian customs and culture, but here are a few to keep in mind:

• When entering Venice's many churches, you need to dress modestly. That means no short-shorts or skirts and no bare shoulders. Those rules apply to everyone, regardless of gender. If you're underdressed, bring a large, lightweight scarf to drape over you.
• Though drinking is a big part of Venetian and Italian culture, public drunkenness is not, and Venice shuts down surprisingly early. Don't overdo it, and always be respectful of residents. Your voices on the street carry right up to their apartment windows.
• To help the city deal with its overtourism issues   , try bringing refillable water bottles instead of buying plastic, and always dispose of your garbage in the marked recycling bins.

Money-Saving Tips

Venice is an expensive city, but here are our recommendations for saving a few euros during your visit.

• Eat cicchetti . Skip a big evening meal and snack instead on the Venetian equivalent of tapas, small bites that can be purchased for just a euro or two apiece. Pair a few of these with an inexpensive glass of wine, and you've got a great, cheap (for Venice) meal.
• Head to Cannaregio  . This working-class district is lined with affordable bars and restaurants filled with locals, not tourists.
• Buy a VeneziaUnica City Pass , which includes public transportation and free or discounted admission to most major attractions and museums.
• Read our list of the Best Free Things to Do in Venice .

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Discounts, museums and public transport in Venice

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Best hotels in Venezia

Holiday Parks in Venice

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Book your stay at discounted prices in Venice

• Tips for visiting Venezia

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Accedi gratis alle principali attrazioni di Venezia ed ottieni sconti nelle migliori attività

• Ingresso gratuito alle principali attrazioni di Venezia
• Trasporti pubblici gratis per tutta Venezia
• Sconti nei migliori Hotel, Ristoranti e Attività commerciali

Things to do

There is so much to say about things to do Venice that is considered one of the most beautiful cities in the world and is listed by UNESCO, along with its lagoon, among the Italian heritage sites. 

In addition to visiting the countless artistic and cultural beauties present in rii, canals, calli and campielli and in over 40 museums, you can experience the city of Venice also through traditional activities and fun attractions . During your stay in the city you will want to choose the best things to do based on the type of holiday you have in mind: If you are traveling with your family you will look for fun things to do with children , if you are a lover of architecture you can choose between countless buildings and churches and many different styles, if you are a lover of photography you can indulge by taking advantage of the countless sights of Venice and every corner of this magical city.

To help you make unique your vacation in Venice we have made a collection of the most incredible, exciting, adventurous, fun, romantic, exciting and interesting things to do in Venice .

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15 Best Things to Do in Venice

By Andrea Whittle

You'll find part of the appeal of Venice in its layers and contrasts: There are plenty of beautifully preserved palaces, churches and glorious renaissance masterpieces to be sure, but there are also abandoned Byzantine shipyards used to display the world's most cutting edge contemporary art, and house museums that now host avant garde poetry readings and dance shows. It's all about the mix of crumbling old world glamour and mysterious chic. Yes, it's a major tourist town, but with this list of the best things to do, we've tried to guide you towards the stuff that's really worth seeing, be it on everyone's hit list or more of a low-key secret.

St. Mark’s Basilica Arrow

The cathedral anchoring St. Mark's square is so over-the-top beautiful it almost looks imaginary, like a church in a storybook. Outside, it's all Byzantine domes and columns and lions and angels; inside, it's aglow with glittering, gilded mosaics. For those just interested in the architecture, you can visit when there's not a mass in session (it's still very much a functioning church, with regular services), but check the website for the latest on the sometimes-nonsensical opening hours. Also know that, because it's in the Times Square of Venice, the church has had to start limiting crowds in recent years and there's often a long line. Make plans to go early.

Palazzo Fortuny Arrow

Palazzo Fortuny, a Gothic palazzo, was once the home of Mariano Fortuny, the artist, stage designer, and textile designer behind Fortuny Fabrics, which still turns out luxurious damask silks, cut velvets and printed cottons today. As a museum, it's a tribute to his opulent and eclectic taste: Rooms, draped in a patchwork of luxurious textiles or painted in floor-to-ceiling frescoes, are filled with art, antiques, and decor from his collection.

Venetian Arsenal Arrow

Arsenale di Venezia, a massive Byzantine armory and shipyard, was originally built in the 12th century, and it served as the Venetian military HQ for centuries afterwards. Now, its cavernous halls and landscaped gardens are used as one of the main venues for the Biennale, as well as the city's Naval Museum. During the Biennale, the Arsenale is filled with curators, collectors, tourists, and artists checking out the exhibition or relaxing on one of the lawns overlooking the harbor.

Giardini della Biennale Arrow

Every two years, during the Art Biennale, Giardini della Biennale, the leafy garden at the edge of the city, transforms into the Epcot of the art world. Maritime pines and gravel pathways conjoin a series of small pavilions, each pertaining to a different country, and each with its own architectural style. At all other times, the park is simply a beautiful, secluded, walkable, mostly tourist-free green space, with views of the canal and plenty of benches. Getting here is a bit of a trek though though; the park is about a 30-minute walk from San Marco, so if you're there in the heat of summer, consider taking the vaporetto (water bus).

Shannon McMahon

CNT Editors

Hannah Towey

Gallerie dell'Accademia Arrow

Gallerie dell'Accademia is Venetian Renaissance 101. Name an important painter from the era—Titian, Canaletto, Bellini, Bosch, Tiepolo—and you can bet you'll find it here, spread among rooms as decadent as the paintings themselves. The collection spans the 13th to 17th centuries and consists mostly of works created in and around Venice. There are a lot of oil paintings, many of them religious masterpieces that have been beautifully restored and displayed. Particularly fun are the historical scenes of Venice, which offer a sense of the city's chaos during its heyday as a merchant capital.

Caffè Florian Arrow

Caffè Florian, in Piazza San Marco, has been open since 1720. In the early days, it was a watering hole for the likes of Proust, Dickens, and Casanova. Now, it's a tourist spot, sure—but it's a charming, beautiful, and an inarguably romantic one. Musicians (which you're paying for by the way—a fee will show up on your bill) play in the square out front, and patrons cluster around low marble tables, sipping hot chocolate and picking delicate pastries off silver trays. For first-timers to Venice, Florian is a glamorous place to stop and refuel.

Church of San Giorgio Maggiore Arrow

The main attraction on San Giorgio Maggiore, a small island next to Giudecca, is the church designed by Andrea Palladio, which has a bell tower with some of the best views in the city. But there are also multiple art foundations, including Fondazione Cini and Le Stanze del Vetro, worth checking out as well. Since the island is only reachable by boat, there's built-in crowd control, making it a perfect choice if you're looking to escape the San Marco fray.

Teatro La Fenice Arrow

The name of Teatro La Fenice, a landmark opera house, means "The Phoenix"—a nod to the fact that it's literally risen from the ashes not once, but three times, most recently after two arsonists burned down everything but the exterior walls in 1996. But it's been rebuilt and restored to its former glory (complete with its world-famous acoustics) by a team of architects and artists who sought to recreate every inch of the way it looked and felt in the 19th century.

Peggy Guggenheim Collection Arrow

This squat palazzo on the Grand Canal was once the home of the eccentric gallerist and collector Peggy Guggenheim, who played a big part in the careers of artists like Jackson Pollock, Max Ernst, and Alberto Giacometti. Today the eponymous museum still maintains the feeling of a private house. Most of the work on display was collected by Guggenheim during her lifetime—and it's some of the best art of the 20th century. In the entryway, two Picassos hang next to a Calder mobile. There are rooms filled with Kandinskys and Brancusis and Pollocks and Dalis. One mantlepiece is lined with Joseph Cornell boxes.

Fondazione Prada Arrow

This gloriously crumbling Baroque palazzo is the Venetian headquarters of Fondazione Prada. Much like the Italian fashion brand's designs, the artistic programming is bold, contemporary, and innovative. There is no permanent collection; instead, the three main floors of the palazzo are used as a project space for immersive exhibitions that often run concurrently with the Biennale. Sometimes, the foundation invites multiple artists to build installations that interact with the architecture; otherwise, curators will utilize every inch of the space to display a survey by one artist.

Pinault Collection Arrow

The contemporary art collection of French billionaire Francois Pinault is split between two Venetian venues: Palazzo Grassi, near the Accademia bridge, and Punta Della Dogana, the former customs house at the tip of Dorsoduro. Both are pretty spectacular, and they present a rotating program of blockbuster exhibitions. The shows at Palazzo Grassi tend to focus on a single living artist, giving them full reign of multiple floors as well as the massive central atrium. Across the canal, Punta Della Dogana usually goes wider, with thematic shows featuring work by multiple artists.

Doge’s Palace Arrow

Palazzo Ducale, an opulent gothic palace overlooking Saint Mark's Square, was the city's government seat (and the Doge's home) from the 14th to 18th centuries. It's been rebuilt and expanded over the years, so it's really a conglomeration of multiple buildings and styles—pretty much all of them over-the-top and glamorous. Visitors have access to various ballrooms, the Doge's former apartments, the grand inner courtyard, and the former prisons. It's run as a museum, so tickets are required.

Fondazione Querini Stampalia Arrow

Part 19th-century house museum, part contemporary exhibition space, part architecture nerd's dream garden, Fondazione Querini Stampalia is a microcosm of everything that's fascinating about Venice. The collection spans centuries and defies categorization: Renaissance paintings by the likes of Bellini and Tiepolo are displayed next to antique instruments, gilded French porcelain is laid out carefully on lace-trimmed tablecloths, and perfectly fluffed pillows sit on gleaming Louis XVI chairs. The garden, designed by the architect Carlo Scarpa in the 1960s, is a maze of geometric fountains and a serene lawn.

Mercato di Rialto Arrow

The fruit, vegetable, and fish market near the Rialto Bridge has been running for hundreds of years, and it's still where local chefs and home cooks come to stock their kitchens. Depending on the season, you'll find local cherries and peaches, artichokes and Treviso radicchio grown on nearby islands, and soft shell crabs and eels pulled straight from the lagoon. The produce market runs from 7:30 am to 1 pm every day except Sunday; the fish market is open those same hours, but Tuesday through Saturday.

Scuola Grande di San Rocco Arrow

Scuola Grande di San Rocco, an ornate Venetian "scuola" (the headquarters of a religious guild), is home to some of the Renaissance painter Tintoretto's best works, which cover the ceilings and walls of the building's two floors. Every inch of this place is decorated: In addition to the more than 60 paintings depicting scenes from the bible, floors are a geometric array of polished stones, every molding is intricately carved and/or gilded, and every wrought-iron lamp is as big as a person.

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