Venice

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Venice is an intriguing city that casts an enticing spell on travellers. It is dreamy and romantic, with a hint of suspense and intrigue in the background. And, although Carnival occurs only once a year, the feeling it evokes is felt all year. The Grand Canal is the hub of operation, with gondoliers singing to travellers on their vessels. Styled cafes and gelaterias, souvenir shops and small businesses, as well as Renaissance palaces and Gothic churches, can be found along the twisting avenues.

No one forgets the first glimpse of Venice. Whether arriving by plane, boat, train, or car, there is that startling moment when one looks across the waves and finds what should not be there – stone towers, rich churches, and packed buildings rising out of the sea. The extraordinary beauty of Venice only adds to its improbability. How does such a city exist?

Top destinations:

With endless possibilities to fill up your time in the wonderful city, it might be overwhelming choosing what to do. Here are some of our favourite places we recommend to check out during your stay:

Palazzo Ducale (Doge's Palace)

The house and its sculptural decoration date from different eras, making it a masterpiece of Gothic architecture. The interior contains massive council rooms, superbly furnished residential apartments, and austere jail cells, with works by Titian, Veronese, Tintoretto, A.Vittoria, and Tiepolo. Loggias stretch around the Palace’s facades, with views of St. Mark’s Square and the lagoon. The Doge’s Palace, Museo Correr, Museo Archeologico Nazionale, and Monumental Rooms of Biblioteca Marciana are all included in the joint entry ticket (£30 pp) to the St. Mark’s Square Museums.

Piazza San Marco (St. Mark's Square)

Napoleon is said to have referred to San Marco as “Europe’s drawing room.” It is also a breathtakingly stunning place. The square, on the other hand, has long been a magnet for a large number of pigeons, attracted by the large number of visitors who readily feed them. Though visitors enjoy taking pictures of the flock, there are fears that the birds’ presence—and what they leave behind—will damage the centuries old architecture and artwork.

Scuola Grande di San Rocco

The Scuola Grande di San Rocco was established in 1478 as a lay confraternity. The success of St. Roch’s cult, whose relics had been in the hands of the brotherhood since 1485, led to the latter’s gradual growth to the point that it became the city’s wealthiest Scuola. It was then proposed to build a new monumental headquarters and commission Tintoretto to decorate it with his most famous pictorial cycle, depicting episodes from the New and Old Testaments. It is the only one of the historic Scuole Grandi that has survived the republic’s decline. It is a one-of-a-kind location, with over 60 paintings preserved in their original settings in a building that hasn’t changed much since it was built. The confraternity is still alive today, performing its usual humanitarian functions and caring for its exceptional artistic heritage.

Teatro La Fenice

This world-famous opera house, sadly destroyed in a fire in 1996, was restored amid much controversy and drama: its modern elegance and complex past guarantee its position among Italy’s most celebrated landmarks.

Santa Maria Gloriosa Dei Frari

Santa Maria Gloriosa Dei Frari (St. Mary of the Friars) was built in the mid-13th century and now houses several masterpieces of Venetian Renaissance painting, including Giovanni Bellini’s triptych “Madonna and Child with Saints,” Titian’s “Assumption” and “Pesaro Madonna,” and Donatello’s Saint John the Baptist.

Where to stay

After a long day of travelling and site seeing, you’ll want a comfortable and safe place to stay, here are some of our recommended hotels in the lovely city of Venice.

St Regis Venice

The St. Regis Venice, the supreme sophisticate and arbiter, blends ancient legacy with contemporary elegance and trendy architecture in a privileged position alongside the Grand Canal, flanked by views of Venice’s most famous landmarks. The accommodations, all of which have a furnished private terrace or a small balcony, invite you to take in some of the most spectacular scenery of Venice and the Grand Canal. At Gio’s restaurant, the St. Regis Bar, and Arts Bar, a private Italianate garden anchors a variety of dining and beverage offerings.

Locanda Cavanella

Look no further than Locanda Cavanella if you are looking for a family-friendly hotel in Venice. Locanda Cavanella is a perfect spot to stop while visiting Venice because of nearby landmarks like Ponte di Rialto (0.4 mi) and Scala Contarini del Bovolo (0.4 mi). Locanda Cavanella is next to Osteria all’Alba, Corner Bar, and Fujiyama Tea Room Beatrice, which are all pubs.

Duodo Palace Hotel

Duodo Palace Hotel is a modern four-star hotel in Venice, conveniently situated in the city centre. It is housed inside a heritage structure that has been redesigned beautifully and rebuilt to produce a new four-star hotel in Venice. The top-floor rooms have panoramic views of the city’s rooftops and main landmarks. If you look down, you can see a gondola slowly gliding by your seat. Your water taxi will drop you off at the Duodo Palace Hotel’s front entrance, where you will be welcomed warmly by the team. The hotel’s 38 suites, decorated with exquisite Venetian fabrics, have many luxurious facilities that today’s travellers expect, such as absolutely marble baths and fluffy towels.

Where to eat

Wisteria

The stunning wisteria that offers shade on the outside terrace during the summer months inspired the name of this new restaurant. A youthful, ambitious chef with extensive experience in Italian and international restaurants is in charge here, ably helped by a young and inspired squad. His dishes have a distinct flavour due to the impressive cooking methods employed and the regional ingredients he chooses.

Alle Corone

Modern Mediterranean and Venetian cuisine served in three luxurious dining rooms or, upon order, in the wine bar, which is surrounded by wine bottles. Enjoy the sight of gondolas driving by around the narrow canal outside through the glass.

Al Squero

Al Squero is Venice’s only restaurant located directly in front of San Trovaso’s Ancient Squero. It’s a warm and inviting spot where you can enjoy a bottle of Italian wine with friends while sampling a delectable “Cicchetti” for a low price. The wines available for tasting or purchase at Al Squero are sourced from small regional wineries, ensuring a high level of consistency and uniqueness.

La Bottiglia

Authentic Venetian wine and panini bar. They prepare exclusive local and farmers products fresh every day to compose fresh Panino or one of cheese and ham boards. All accompanied by the best wines of the area, in an easy-going atmosphere.

Top Tips

If you're a couple

Why not take a classic, romantic gondola ride along the Grand Canal and watch for sights such as the Rialto Bridge, Campo Manin, and other popular Venice sights from its most iconic boat. Pass smaller canals and passageways not visible from the city’s narrow streets, a great introduction to Venice for travellers short on time.

If You’re A Group Of Friends

Why not spend a day in the beautiful Veneto wine country north of Venice, a rewarding area that can be difficult to reach for tourists. A driver and guide will take care of the navigation and winery range so you can relax and enjoy the rolling hills while sipping sparkling Italian prosecco straight from the source. An included winery lunch will whet your appetite.

If you're a family

We recommend ‘Venice Ghost and Legends Walking Tour’. Venice’s picturesque streets and canals have a spooky past, with stories of goblins and haunted homes. Dare to visit Venice after dark, strolling the moonlit Calle dei Assassini and seeing landmarks like the Bovolo staircase and Rialto Bridge as your guide tells you about the city’s myths and legends.

Need to know

Currency
The Euro (EUR) the current exchange rate is 1 GBP to 1.17 EUR.

Language
– Italian

Best Time To Travel
– Spring is a lovely time to visit, particularly as temperatures range from 63 to 72 degrees Fahrenheit (17 to 22 degrees Celsius) and isn’t too busy until June.

Time Difference
–GMT+01:00

Flights
– Directs from Birmingham and Manchester – around 1h 55 minutes

Public Transport

Taking the vaporetto (water buses) up and down the Grand Canal is the most popular mode of public transportation in Venice. If you take the vaporetto for one-stop or the whole Grand Canal journey, a single vaporetto ride costs €7.50 (valid for 75 minutes).

Etiquette

Take the right lane. You won’t clog the calli (alleys), and rushing Venetians will be able to move.

Photographing with care. Stopping on bridges to take photos can create traffic jams, particularly during lunch and the 3 p.m. school run. When using selfie sticks, be cautious.

Picnics can be avoided. Do not feed on church stairs, doorsteps, avenues, or squares. Follow in the footsteps of the locals and take a break at one of the nearby cafes.