Explore Venice
Plan Your Trip to Venice: Best of Venice Tourism
Essential Venice
A tour of Venice’s most fabulous hotel bars
- Violino d'Oro3Stepping inside Violino d’Oro feels like entering the living room of a sophisticated art collector. Original cocktails by award-winning bartender Francesco Adragna are served on silver platters and come with light bites from the hotel’s excellent restaurant. Settle into one of the comfy sofas or armchairs to enjoy the drinks and the people-watching.
- Nolinski Venezia - Evok Collection21The Library Bar at Nolinski Venezia is the kind of warm, cozy bar you want to hide out in on a cold or rainy day. Grab a seat on one of the burgundy velvet banquettes under the aquatic-themed ceiling mural by French artist Simon Buret and sip on one of the creative cocktails by lauded bartender Jérémy Bacquet.
- Ca' Di Dio - Vretreats197On a nice day, you can enjoy an aperitivo outside on the terrace of this luxury boutique hotel near the artsy Arsenale district. Still, I love the atmosphere inside the wood-paneled Alchemia bar, which feels a bit like being on a fancy yacht. In keeping with the hotel’s sleek design by famed architect Patricia Urquiola, the bar menu offers modern takes on classic cocktails and a plentiful selection of cicchetti (the Venetian version of tapas).
- Hotel Cipriani, A Belmond Hotel, Venice1,267The Bellini was invented by Harry’s Bar owner Giuseppe Cipriani, who opened this glamorous hotel in 1958, and it tastes incredibly refreshing here on a hot summer day. When you want to escape the maddening crowds around Piazza San Marco, I recommend taking a boat to Giudecca Island and relaxing at the Gabbiano Bar, a verdant poolside oasis. You never know who you might spot there.
- The Gritti Palace, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Venice1,897The legendary Gritti Palace may be one of the city’s most historic gems, but it still feels intimate and special. The décor is best described as Renaissance-chic, with ornate chandeliers, gilded mirrors, and heavy drapery, all of which are on full display in the Bar Longhi. On a warm day, it’s hard to beat the Riva Lounge, which is decked out in sleek furniture inspired by Riva speedboats and has unbeatable views of the Grand Canal.
Explore Venice by interest
A treat for the ears
Architectural gems
Do a bit of island hopping
Go for the view
Worth the splurge
Travelers' pro tips for experiencing Venice
In the words of those who've been there before ...
What is the best way to get there?
Flying:
The main airport in Venice is Marco Polo International Airport (VCE), which offers service to/from many destinations across the globe on most major airlines. Treviso Airport (TSF) in nearby Treviso is another option for smaller carriers.
Train:
Venezia St. Lucia is Venice’s main station, offering domestic and international train service. Venezia Mestre station offers local and regional service.
Bus:
Omio and Flixbus offer service to Venice from several European cities.
For more info on getting to Venice, visit here.
Do I need a visa?
Since Italy is one of the 26 Shengen Area countries, tourists from those countries do not need a visa for visits less than 90 days, but passports must be valid for at least six months after departure dates. The same goes for Americans.
When is the best time to visit?
Winter: Winter in Venice sees crowds thin, the mercury drop, and “acqua alta” (high water) potentially flood the canals — but it’s also a prime time to snag a deal. Average daily temperatures this time of year are highs of 43 Fahrenheit (6 Celsius) and lows of 32 Fahrenheit (0 Celsius). To experience the city at its most atmospheric, coincide your trip with November's Arte Biennale or March's Carnevale.
Public Transport
While walking is a wonderful way to get around Venice and its 118 islands, ACTV operates the city’s public transportation, Download its daAab app to buy tickets for vaporettos (waterbuses), buses and the airport shuttle here. For more info on ACTV, including schedules, routes, and fares, see here.
Vaporettos
There are more than 150 vaporettos and larger vessels (battelli foranei) that travel to dozens of locations along the Grand Canal and islands.
People Mover
This monorail offers connections to PIazzale Roma transit hub, Marittima cruise ship terminal and Tronchetto parking island.
Trams
Two tram lines make 36 stops between mainland Venice and the city center
Buses
Buses can be found on mainland Venice as well as some of the smaller city islands.
Taxis/Water taxis
With many parts of Venice closed to traffic, taxi service is limited to Mestre and Lido. However, water taxis can be hired at several points in the city and can be expensive.
Rideshares
Uber and Lyft do not operate in Venice
Gondolas
Venice’s iconic gondolas are another way to get around, but they can be expensive, even before you tip your gondolier. Additionally, Gondolas 4 All offers service and wheelchair-accessible access for passengers with mobility issues.
For info on Gondolas 4 All, visit here.
Bikes
While BicinCitta is the city’s bike-share, and there are several bike rentals companies, biking is prohibited in central Venice, but you can bike around its larger islands.
For more info on BicinCitta, visit here.
Are there local customs I should know?
- We recommend staying at one of the most popular hotels in Venice, which include:
- Some of the most popular restaurants in Venice include:
- Venice is known for some of its popular attractions, which include:
- We recommend checking out these popular tours when looking for something to do in Venice:
- If you're a more budget-conscious traveler, then you may want to consider traveling to Venice between December and February, when hotel prices are generally the lowest. Peak hotel prices generally start between March and May.