San Marco
Ideal for: first visit
Closest to St Mark's Square and the main monuments. Very busy during the day, and often the most expensive.
Venice
A city on the water, car-free, explored on foot and by vaporetto.
Plan your stay in Venice
Best areas to stay in Venice
Cannaregio
Ideal for: local life, families
Both calmer and lively, close to the station: handy when arriving with luggage.
Dorsoduro
Ideal for: couples, art lovers
The museum and student district, with lovely waterfronts at sunset.
Mestre (mainland)
Ideal for: budget
Off the island, with often more affordable accommodation, linked to Venice by train or bus.
Practical info about Venice
In Venice you get around on foot and by vaporetto (water bus): pack luggage that is easy to carry, as there are many bridges and steps. Staying on the island lets you enjoy the city early in the morning and in the evening, when it is quieter.
On some busy days (60 days between April and July in 2026), day visitors must pay an access fee of €5 (€10 if paid less than 4 days ahead); overnight guests and children under 14 are exempt. Check the calendar on the city’s official website.
What to see in Venice
- St Mark’s Square, the basilica and the Doge’s Palace;
- the Grand Canal by vaporetto, and the Rialto Bridge;
- quieter districts: Cannaregio, Castello, Dorsoduro;
- the islands: Murano (glass) and Burano (colourful houses), by vaporetto.
Arriving in Venice
From Marco Polo airport, the Alilaguna boat goes straight into Venice; the faster ATVO bus reaches Piazzale Roma, at the city’s entrance. By train, Santa Lucia station is right on the Grand Canal. In winter, “acqua alta” (high tide) can flood some areas.
All our tips for the country in Travel in Italy.