First timer’s guide to Venice – 18 best things to do in Venice, Italy

Last Updated on November 16, 2024

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Venice is arguably one of the most beautiful places to visit in Italy and the ultimate bucket list destination. Some people love it, others will tell you it’s overrated, but there’s no denying, that this is one of the most unique cities in the world. Venice is made up by 118 islands, connected by over 400 bridges and walkways. The car free city has 175 canals and boats are the main means of transportation. For being a relatively small city, the list of things to do in Venice is actually quite long.

It’s no secret, that Venice is also very touristy and gets insanely crowded, especially in high season. Many people might tell you it’s not worth the hype and can easily be skipped, but I couldn’t disagree more. I think Venice is like no other place in the world, it’s insanely picturesque and absolutely worth a visit. But I also think, that to ensure your Venice trip is a good experience, it’s essential to come prepared and with a good plan.

In this guide, I included all the most popular Venice attractions, that you cannot miss, as well as some hidden gems and some essential tips to get the most out of your visit. This is not a budget destination by any means, but there a more free things to do in Venice than you probably realize. You’ll find those on the list below, along with other money saving tips.

How many days to spend in Venice

Venice might seem small, but there really are a lot of things to do and see in the city. I’d say plan at least 2-3 days, or even longer if you’d like to also visit the nearby islands of Murano and Burano.

A lot of people visit Venice just for the day and honestly, that is not enough time to see all the main sights, let alone venture outside of the touristy areas. Plus, if you don’t stay in Venice overnight, you’ll miss out on seeing the city early in the morning and at night, when it’s least crowded and most enjoyable.

Also, starting in Spring 2024, the city will be testing the new Venice Access Tax. Visitors who come just for the day, will be charged a €5 city entry fee on days, that are predicted to be the busiest. This will include holiday weekends and other peak days, which tend to be the most crowded. This will not become effective until 2025, but will be tested for 20 days in 2024. You can go on this website to check the dates and pay the tax. The city entry fee won’t apply to those who will stay in Venice overnight.

Best things to do in Venice on the map

Top things to do in Venice, Italy

San Marco Square

San Marco Square, or Piazza San Marco, is the heart of the city, so it’s only appropriate to start the list of best things to do in Venice there. Not only it’s considered to be one of the most beautiful squares in the world, but it’s also where you will find some of the main Venice attractions: Basilica San Marco, St Mark’s Campanile and Doge’s Palace ( more details below ).

It probably doesn’t come as a surprise, that this is also one of the most crowded spots in Venice. If you want a chance of seeing it without massive crowds, you need to visit really early in the morning ( 6 am ) or late at night. By 9 am, it’s absolutely packed.

Visit Basilica San Marco

Saint Mark’s Basilica is one of the biggest Venice attractions and one of the landmarks you’ll find in San Mark’s Square. The impressive building, dating back to the 9th century, is a great mix of Byzantine, Gothic and Romanesque architecture. It’s one of the most beautiful churches in the world, both on the inside and on the outside.

Visiting Saint Mark’s Basilica used to be one of the free things to do in Venice, but that’s no longer the case. Admission is now €3 at the door, but the lines to get in are legendary, so be prepared to wait a while. To avoid that, you can book your tickets online, which lets you to skip the line. Online tickets cost €6, but are totally worth it!

It’s important to note, that this ticket grants you access to which is just part of the Basilica. If you’d like to see other parts like the shrine of St Mark’s and the museum, there are extra charges for that. So if plan to do it all, expect to spend a total of €20.

As one of the most popular attractions in Venice, the Basilica gets really crowded. It’s an absolute must visit, just accept you’ll be one of many people inside. The best way to avoid the crowds is joining a small group night tour, where you get to visit after the church is closed to general public. It’s obviously more expensive than a regular tour, but worth the extra cost to avoid the massive crowds, that visit the Basilica during the day.

Like with a lot of places of worship in Europe, there is a dress code to enter the Basilica and it is enforced. If you visit Venice in the summer, be sure that your knees and shoulders are covered. Also, backpacks and large bags are not permitted inside, so if you bring any, you’ll be asked to store them in in one of the lockers at San Basso ticket office.

Basilica San Marco is open every day, except for Sunday from 9.30 am. Do check the official website for additional closures due to religious events.

PHOTO TIP: The exterior of Basilica San Marco looks best during Golden Hour and sunset.

Take a tour of Doge’s Palace

Right next to St Mark’s Basilica is another one of Venice attractions not to be missed, Doge’s Palace. The Gothic style Palace served as a a residence for the Doge, who was the leader of Republic of Venice and once elected, served for life.

Today the Palace is a museum. During your visit you get to walk through the beautiful staterooms, chambers and apartments. If you are into art, you’re really going to enjoy Doge’s Palace. Plenty of amazing works of art and sculptures by some of the biggest Venetian artists to see.

One of the highlights of visiting Doge’s Palace is that you get to walk across the Bridge of Sighs, which is one of the most beautiful and unique bridges in Venice ( more on that below ).

Your Doge’s Palace visit starts and ends in the beautiful courtyard, with the Giants’ Staircase ( Scala dei Giganti ) being one of the most impressive parts of it.

Doge’s Palace can be visited on your own or on a guided tour. Whichever way of visiting you choose, the Palace is one of those things to do in Venice, that you have to pre-book, or you’ll be waiting in long lines for tickets.

Allow about 1-1.5 hour to visit Doge’s Palace.

PRO TIP: If you plan on visiting both the Basilica and Doge’s Palace, this guided tour is a great choice. It combines a visit to both and gives you priority access.

Secret itineraries ( Itinerari Segreti )

When you book your tickets to Doge’s Palace, you can also add a Secret Itineraries tour. While the main area of the Palace can be visited on your own, this part is only accessible with a guide. During the one hour tour, you get to visit parts of the Palace, that are off limits otherwise. You walk through secret rooms, torture chamber and get access to the attic and prison cells.

Secret Itineraries Tour is available several times a day and times differ depending on the language ( Italian, English or French ). When you book the tour, it also includes admission to the Doge’s Palace, which you visit on your own, right after Secret Itineraries Tour concludes.

I have to say, while it was interesting to see all the hidden rooms and I’m glad I did it, I was not blown away by it. Also, the rooms are small and can get very hot and stuffy in the summer. Obviously there’s no air conditioning, so if you are visiting Venice during the summer months, I’d probably skip it and just stick to the main Doge’s Palace area.

Bridge of Sighs

There are about 400 bridges in Venice, so it’s virtually impossible to visit them all. But one that you absolutely cannot miss is Bridge of Sighs. It’s one of the most beautiful and unique bridges in Venice.

You get the best view of Bridge of Sighs ( Ponte dei Sospiri ) from Ponte della Paglia, but go there early in the morning, as it’s one of the most crowded places in Venice later in the day. You could also view it from Ponte della Canonica, which is not nearly as crowded.

As beautiful as the bridge is, it does come with a sad story. Ponte dei Sospiri connects Doge’s Palace with the prison and this was the very last walk the prisoners took on their way to the cells. Knowing there’s no return, they would sigh as hey caught the very last glimpse of Venice through the tiny openings in the window on their way to prison cells. Hence the name Bridge of Sighs.

If you’d like to take that same walk and catch the same view, the only way to do it, is by visiting Doge’s Palace.

Enjoy Venice views from the top of St Mark’s Campanile Tower

Located right in the San Mark’s Square, Campanile tower is another one of the city’s landmarks and one of the best view points of Venice. Standing at 99 meters high, the tower offers spectacular 360 views of the city.

And if you one of those people who love great views, but don’t like to climb hundreds of steps, good news, the only way to get to the top of the tower is by elevator.

I’m about to repeat myself yet again, but do yourself a favor, and book those tickets in advance! Campanile Tower is one of the most popular things to do in Venice, so there is always a line for the tickets, which is the biggest waste of time. You can book your timed tickets right here. Once you’re at the top, there’s no limit on how long you can stay, although 20-30 minutes is usually enough to take in the views.

Opening hours vary by season. In high season ( from April through the end of September ) St Mark’s Campanile Tower is open from 9 am – 9 pm, with last admission at 8:45 pm.

PRO TIP: For the best lighting, book your Campanile Tower tickets around Golden Hour.

Get coffee at Caffè Florian

Caffè Florian is one of a few cafes located in the San Marco Square. They are pretty similar, as they offer beautiful views, great people watching and are ridiculously expensive. What makes Caffè Florian stand out, is that it dates back to 1720, making it the oldest Cafè in Italy and third oldest in all of Europe.

Yes, it’s very touristy and extremely overpriced, but it’s one of those things you do once and it ends up being a memorable experience. How often will you get a chance to sit in one of the oldest cafes in Europe, in one of the most beautiful cities in the world, with the stunning Basilica and Campanile Tower right in front of you.

Caffè Florian has both indoor and outdoor seating, but if the weather is nice, grab a table outside to enjoy the beautiful view and people watching. If you sit outside in the summer months, you can also enjoy live music, which adds to the special experience, but will also add an extra charge to your bill. When you sit at the outdoor table, extra €6 will automatically be added to your bill, so don’t be surprised.

Rialto Bridge

Ponte di Rialto is the biggest and oldest bridge in Venice, and one of four, that spans the Grand Canal. Top of the bridge not only offers amazing views of the Grand Canal, but it’s also a great place to watch all the boat traffic. From gondolas, water taxis and delivery boats, there’s a lot going on.

As one of the city’s most famous landmarks and one of the top things to do in Venice, Rialto Bridge does get really busy later in the day. Especially if you visit in the summer. Unless you visit early in the morning, be prepared for big crowds. Still, it’s one of the attractions, that you simply must include in your Venice itinerary.

Both sides of Ponte di Rialto have many restaurants along the canal, which offer amazing views of the bridge, but those views don’t come cheap.

Watch the sunrise from Ponte dell’Accademia

If you are an early riser and are looking for a perfect spot to watch the sunrise, head to Ponte dell’Accademia.

Can’t say Ponte dell’Accademia is the prettiest bridge in Venice, but the views from it are amazing! If you don’t make it there for sunrise, go anytime in the day to get a nice view of Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute and watch the boat traffic on the Grand Canal.

Take a Gondola ride

When you think of Venice, gondolas are the first thing that comes to mind for most people. The wooden rowing boats gliding through the canals are the biggest symbol of the city and taking a ride is one of the top things to do in Venice. Yes, it’s touristy and expensive, but an experience you can’t have anywhere else in the world. So if it’s your first time in Venice and you can afford it, it’s a must do!

Prices of gondola rides are fixed and regulated by the city. 30-minute ride down the dreamy Venetian canals will cost you €90 during the day (until 7 pm) or €110 at night (starting at 7 pm). Some gondoliers will be happy to extend the ride by 10 minutes for extra €40. The price is per boat for up to 5 people, so you can share it with others to split the cost. It’s cash only, paid at the end of your ride.

Finding a gondolier is very easy and there’s absolutely no need to schedule a ride in advance. Just walk along the canals and pick one. My recommendation is to avoid getting one near San Marco Square and Rialto Bridge. The canals there are very busy, with lots of boat traffic, meaning your gondola ride will be far from peaceful and relaxing. Instead choose a quieter side canal and always ask the gondolier which route they take.

We picked one on a quiet side street and it ended up being perfect. We went for a short ride into the Grand Canal and under Bridge of Sighs, then down the narrow, quieter canals for the rest of it.

Despite being very touristy and pricey, taking a gondola in Venice is a must and absolutely worth it. It’s an amazing experience and such an iconic thing to do, one you’ll always remember. If I return to Venice, I probably won’t do it again, but as a first timer, definitely put it on your Venice itinerary.

Visit Libreria Acqua Alta Bookstore

Libreria Acqua Alta is one of the most unique book stores in the world, known for their creative ways of storing books. When you visit, you’ll see, that the books are placed not only on book shelves, but also in bathtubs, a canoe and a gondola. This is not just to make it photogenic, but mostly for practical reasons. Flooding during Aqua Alta is a common occurrence in Venice, and this is the store’s way of protecting the books from getting ruined.

When you visit, be sure to go all the way to the back, where you will find a staircase made out of books, mostly those that got damaged. Makes for a great photo op and there’s a nice view of the canal from the very top.

In the last few years, Libreria Acqua Alta became one of the Instagram hot spots in Venice, so go right when it opens or right before the closing time, otherwise it will be really crowded. A lot of people leave disappointed when they visit, as it’s packed with people, most of whom are not there to purchase books, but get the perfect photo.

Having said that, don’t just go there to take your picture and leave, but be sure to support the bookstore by picking something up. Besides new and old books, you can also find plenty of prints, posters and postcards for just a few Euros, that will make for a great souvenir to remember your trip to Venice.

Libreria Aqua Alta is located in Castello neighborhood, about a 10-minute walk from Saint Mark’s Square and it’s open daily from 9 am-7.30 pm.

Climb Scala Contarini del Bovolo

Tucked away in a small, narrow alley, not far from Campo Manin, you can find Palazzo Contarini del Bovolo, mostly famous for its beautiful, spiral stair case. For a small fee, you can climb the 80 steps to the top and enjoy the views of Venice, which include the Campanile Tower.

To be completely honest, the views are nice, but definitely not as good as from other view points in the city. However, the beautiful snail like tower makes up for the lack of spectacular views, and why I think visiting Scala Contarini del Bovolo is one of the must do things to do in Venice.

Despite being located in the very popular San Marco neighborhood, Scala Contarini del Bovolo remains kind of a hidden gem in Venice. Because it’s located down a small, dead end alley, you really need to be committed to finding it.

You can book your tickets in advance or get them in person when you get there. I was in Venice in high season and was the only person there, so I’d say there’s no need to pre-book it unlike other Venice attractions.

Open from 10 am – 6 pm

Take in the Venice views from the Tedeschi roof top terrace

At first sight, T Fondaco dei Tedeschi is just a luxurious department store with crazy expensive stores of some of the most famous Italian designers. But on the 4th floor of the building, there is a rooftop terrace with one of the best views of Venice. Best part, you can visit it for free!

While access to the terrace is free, you do have to reserve your spot online ahead of time. They only allow 20 people for each 15 minute slot, and you can reserve your spot up to 3 weeks in advance. The rooftop terrace is open from 10:15 am to 7 pm. I recommend going there in the afternoon during Golden Hour or to watch the sunset.

Eat Gelato

Your Venice trip will not be complete without a gelato break or two. There are gelato shops literally everywhere, so finding one is not a problem. If you visit the Tedeschi roof top terrace, one of the best and most popular gelato places in Venice, Gelateria SUSO, is right down the street. You can’t miss it, as it usually has a long line of people waiting.

Explore Cannaregio

Cannaregio is one of the six districts of Venice, so called sestiere. If you arrive in Venice by train, it will be your first introduction to the city, as this is where the Santa Lucia train station is located. However, this area is often missed by visitors, who usually head straight to the San Marco area, where all the most popular Venice attractions are located. While, of course, as a first time visitor you cannot miss those, I do recommend setting aside some time to explore Cannaregio.

This part of Venice has a very local vibe, is more quiet and does not have the crowds seen in more touristy parts of the city. Which makes for a prefect break from the often overwhelming number of tourists in San Marco.

Cannaregio is really picturesque, full of colorful buildings, beautiful architecture and plenty of places to eat and drink along the Cannaregio Canal. Be sure to check out the two bridges that span the canal: Ponte delle Guglie and Ponte Tre Archi, the only three arched bridge left in Venice.

One of the places worth visiting in Cannaregio is the Old Jewish ghetto, known as the very first one in the world. You can explore it on your own or if you’d like to learn more about the Jewish history in Venice, this 2 hour Jewish Ghetto Walking Tour comes highly recommended.

Cannaregio is also home to the narrowest street in Venice. Calle Varisco is just 53 m wide and makes for an interesting quick stop and a fun photo op while exploring the neighborhood.

Cannaregio is about a 20-30 minute walk from San Marco or can also be reached by Vaporetto.

Take a Vaporetto ride on the Grand Canal

Vaporetto is a public water bus and how you can get around the city, if you’re tired of walking. There are about 20 lines, that serve Venice and the surrounding islands.

However, Vaporetto is not only a convenient means of transportation, but could also be used for sightseeing. Venice is best seen from the water, and this is a great and affordable way to do it.

Out of all the lines, the two that are best for sightseeing are Linea 1 and 2, as they cover the most scenic part of Venice and go by a lot of the main Venice attractions. The difference between the two is the length of the ride and number of stops they make. Line 1 makes 15 stops and it covers the entire route in about 45 minutes. Line 2 stops only 7 times and the travel time is about 30 minutes long. Try to get one of the outside seats at the very end of the boat.

A single vaporetto ride costs €9.50 and the ticket is valid for 75 minutes from the moment you validate it. That’s enough to cover the entire Line 1 and 2 route. But if you’d like to hop on and off along the way or plan on using other lines, then a daily pass is what you want to buy. It costs €25 and is valid for 24 hours. There is also a 48 hour pass for €35, which is a great buy, if you have 2 days in Venice and plan on using Vaporetto to get around the city, as well as visit the nearby islands of Murano, Burano and Torcello.

Take the Vaporetto to Lido at sunset

If you bought the 24 hour Vaporetto pass and would like a little “sunset cruise”, head to San Marco stop and hop on either Line 1 or 2 going to Lido.

Try Cicchetti

Cicchetti are small, Venetian snacks, that are usually small pieces of bread with variety of toppings, from fish, meat, vegetables to cheeses. The idea is similar to Spanish tapas. Cicchetti are served in bars called Bacari and usually enjoyed with a drink. You can find them on pretty much every corner.

The great thing about cichetti is, they are very inexpensive, so you can sample a bunch of different ones.

Get lost

Last but not least, possibly one of the best things to do in Venice, is to wander aimlessly with no particular destination or plan. To put your map away and allow yourself to get lost in the labyrinth of narrow streets and alleys. This is the best way to discover some of the most beautiful corners of Venice, where you’re often going to be the only one.

So even if your Venice itinerary is packed with things to do and see, be sure to allow some time to just walk and get lost.

How to get from the Marco Polo airport to Venice

Getting to Venice center by bus

There are two bus companies that operate between Marco Polo Airport and historic center of Venice. ATVO, which is a private company and ACTV, which is a public bus. Both go from the airport to Piazzale Roma and tickets cost €8 one way. The difference is, ATVO is a non stop express service with buses leaving the airport every 30 minutes. ACTV ( Line #5 ) departs every 15 minutes and makes several stops along the way. It’s about a 25 minute ride, depending on traffic.

Tickets for either bus can be purchased at the automated machine at the airport or pre-booked online. Don’t forget to validate your ticket right after boarding the bus!

Getting to Venice center by Alilaguna

Alilaguna is a public boat service, that connects Marco Polo Airport with historic Venice. If you’d like to get right on the water after you arrive, but don’t want to spend the big bucks on a private water taxi, this is the way to do it.

The only down side is, that Alilaguna does make a lot of stops along the way, which makes the journey rather long. It goes to Murano and Lido first, so if you are staying in San Marco area, plan on being on the boat for about 1 hour and 20 minutes. After a while the ride kind of drags on, especially if you are jetlagged.

The cost is €15 for one way ticket and €27 for round trip. You can buy Alilaguna tickets in one of the automated machines. There’s one right in the baggage claim and more near the dock. You can always book it in advance online, but those vouchers will need to be exchanged for real ticket anyway.

Once you collect your luggage, follow the signs to Alilaguna water taxi to catch the boat. It’s about a 10 minute walk. The boats leave every hour or so. If you travel to Venice in high season, be prepared to wait in a long line for the next Alilaguna boat.

Getting from the airport to Venice center by shared water taxi

If private water taxi is not in your budget and the long Alilaguna ride doesn’t sound too appealing, you might consider taking a shared water taxi. Which is sort of a mix of two. You’ll be sharing the boat with other people and making stops at their respective hotels, but it’s a much shorter ride.

You can book your shared water taxi here. Be sure to reserve 48 hours before your arrival.

Getting to Venice center by private water taxi

The most convenient and hassle free way of getting from the airport to your hotel is by a private water taxi. Can’t beat being whisked away at the airport and taken straight to your hotel. If the place you are staying at is not right on the canal, it will take you to the closest canal possible. Of course, this is the most expensive option. The price for the 20 minute ride varies, but plan for around €100-120. The price goes up late at night or very early in the morning.

Arriving to your hotel via private water taxi is definitely a splurge. Although if you are traveling with a group of friends or family and can divide the cost, it’s actually not that bad. Especially if you add the cost of individual Alilaguna tickets.

Water taxis leave from the same spot as Alilaguna, so just follow the signs to the dock.

Keep in mind, that if you have a really early flight out of Venice, private water taxi might be your only option of getting to the airport on time. And if you need to take one at 3.30 – 4 am, the rate is also higher as it’s basically in the middle of the night ( it cost €160 at 3.30 am for 2 people ). Amazing experience though, zooming through the canals looking at a completely empty, lit up Venice.

Things to know before you Venice for the first time

It gets very crowded – Venice is one of the most visited cities in Europe and it does get incredibly crowded. Of course, the high season which lasts from June to September, is the busiest ( and most expensive ). But don’t let that stop you from visiting, because Venice is insanely beautiful, just be prepared for crowds. There are ways to navigate around it, like visiting the biggest Venice attractions early in the morning, utilizing the skip-the-line tickets, avoiding the San Marco area during peak hours and venturing out to less popular neighborhoods instead.

Coperto – when you go to a restaurant in Italy, you will find an extra charge on your bill called Coperto. This is basically a fixed cover charge per person added to your bill in addition to your meal cost. The amount varies depending on a restaurant, but it’s usually from €2- 6, could be more if you go to a very fancy restaurant. I have seen some restaurants in Venice, that didn’t charge coperto (they usually make a point to put a sign up front that says No coperto), but most do, so don’t be surprised.

Acqua Alta – if you visit Venice in the fall and winter, you might experience something called Acqua Alta ( High Water ). It’s when the water level rises and floods the city. Some parts of Venice are more susceptible than others, San Marco Square being one of the ones where it usually occurs. Serious flooding lasting days is very rare and Acqua Alta is usually just a few hours event and doesn’t really affect anything. It’s business as usual in most places. As soon as high tides are predicted, the city places raised walkways, to help people get around. If you are planning your Venice trip between October and January and want to check if you’re at risk of Acqua Alta, you can check it right here.

Free museum Sundays – between October and March, museums in Italy are free on the first Sunday of the month. If you happen to visit Venice then, you can take advantage of it, but be prepared for long lines.

Venice entry fee – starting in 2025 there will be a city entry fee from €5 for those visiting Venice just for the day on peak days. It’s the city’s way of controlling the crowds on days, that are predicted to be the busiest. Before the Venice Access Tax goes into effect, it will be tested for twenty days in 2024. You can check the dates and pay the tax on this website. The fee will not apply to visitors staying overnight, who already pay the tourist tax added to their accommodations.

Essential Venice tips

Get up early – if you want to see the main sights without massive crowds, there’s no way around it, you have to get out and see them early in the morning. And by early, I mean around 6-6.30 am. And you will already see some people out and about. By 9 am, places like San Marco Square and Rialto Bridge are packed with people. See the most popular spots early in the morning, and venture out later in the day.

Pre-book the main attractions – unless you want to spend a big chunk of your day in Venice standing in long lines, be sure to book tickets to the main sights ahead of time. A lot of Venice attractions offer skip-the-line tickets and I’m always surprised, that more people don’t take advantage of it and would rather stand in line, sometimes for hours.

Validate your tickets! – whether you’re taking a bus or vaporetto, do not forget to validate your ticket either right before boarding or immediately after you get on.

Choose the right airport to fly into – There are two airports in Venice, Marco Polo ( VCE ) and Treviso ( TSF ). Marco Polo is the main, international airport, located 12 km outside of Venice. Treviso is much smaller and is used by budget airlines. It’s also further away, 40 km outside of the city. So pay close attention to the airport while booking your flight to Venice.

Stay in historic center Venice – yes, hotels in Venice are expensive and yes, you could save money by booking accommodations on the mainland, also known as Venezia Mestre. I don’t recommend it, as you’ll have to commute back and forth, which is a waste of time if you only have 2 or 3 days in Venice and that costs money too. Put it towards a hotel in the historic center, where you’ll be steps away from all the main Venice attractions and able to completely immerse yourself in the authentic atmosphere of this magical city. And one of my favorite perks of staying in the center, you can pop in and out of your hotel, whether to leave something, take a break or simply use the bathroom.

Do not feed pigeons in San Marco Square – while it might be tempting to throw some bread to the birds, do not do it! Unless you have a spare €500 to pay the fine!

Where to stay in Venice

Hotels in San Marco

Despite being the most touristy and expensive neighborhoods in Venice, San Marco is the best area to stay for first timers. You’ll be in the middle of the action and all the main attractions on your Venice itinerary will be just steps away. This will also allow you to visit the most crowded spots early in the morning, before the actual crowds arrive. Definitely worth the extra money, especially if you only have 2-3 days in Venice.

Hotel Firenze – located in a building, that dates back to the 16th century, this beautiful hotel is a great choice if you want to be in the middle of all the action. is If you want to be in the middle of the action, Hotel Firenze’s location can’t be beat.

Hotel Monaco & Grand Canal – one of the most beautiful hotels in Venice, steps away from San Mark’s Square and overlooking Grand Canal. Many of the rooms, as well as the restaurant where breakfast is served, have spectacular views of the canal, gondolas and Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute.

Hotel Danieli – one of the best and most famous hotels in Venice, Hotel Danieli is definitely a splurge, but if you are looking for a bit of luxury, it’s an excellent choice. The rooms and lobby are absolutely gorgeous and the restaurant on top floor Terrazza Danieli offers amazing views of the Grand Canal and the lagoon. Hotel Danieli sits right on the Riva degli Schiavoni, the waterfront promenade, so you are steps away from San Marco Square and all the main attractions located there.

Hotels in Cannaregio

Cannaregio is a great area to stay if you are looking to spend less on accommodations and have a more local feel. It’s definitely less crowded than San Marco, but you’ll need to use Vaporetto to get to the most popular attractions.

Hotel Ca’ D’Oro – hotel is located right on the canal, on a quiet street. Far away from all the hustle and bustle to have a peaceful stay, but just a short walk away to all the main attractions and action. It also has a nice roof top terrace. Great choice if you are traveling to Venice on a budget.

Arcadia Boutique Hotel – elegant, boutique hotel in a great location, just a short walk from Ponte delle Guglie, Vaporetto stop and the train station. Delicious breakfast is included and the hotel receives high praises for its excellent service.

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