Venice is one of those cities where you can’t really follow a guide. Truth be told, you’ll get lost in the narrow streets hundreds of times – but that’s what makes the adventure.

Lay of the Land

The island of Venice is split into several large neighborhoods. The ones you need to know are San Polo, San Marco, and Castello.

Most likely you’ll be getting to Venice by train, the main station is Santa Lucia Railway Station located in Cannaregio. On the same side of the Grand Canal, you will find San Marco and Castello. If you’re flying into the Marco Polo airport, you’ll take a bus to Piazzale Roma (another station and bus stop).

The Santa Croce neighborhood, or sestiere, is closest to the bus and taxi arrivals at Piazzale Roma. This area is not only one of the oldest parts of Venice, but is the least visited by tourists – and makes for a great place to spend your time in Venice if you want to avoid the heavy crowds. This is a bit about the lay of the land, as it can get a bit overwhelming figuring out where you are in relation to the main attractions.

Here are some more markers to help you decide on where to stay in Venice. The famous Rialto Bridge across from the Grand Canal connects San Marco/Castello and San Polo. Cannaregio is where the Venetian Ghetto is and the Fondamenta Misericordia zone is where plenty of the restaurants and cafes are located.

What’s the takeaway here? If you want to stay in a low-key area, without the fuss of tourists, book accommodations in Santa Croce. If you’re looking to be in the middle of the city’s chaotic nightlife then Cannaregio district is perfect and is within walking distance of the main train station. Here’s what the busy part of town looks like!

To help you get around, get familiar with Venice’s vaporetto or public transportation system and download the AVM Venezia application. The app is excellent for planning your routes, looking up timetables and also for purchasing transport tickets ahead of time.

Things to see

Scala Contarini del Bovolo – a favorite stop in Venice is this historic palazzo or grand residence known for its unique outdoor spiral staircase. The view from the top of the staircase is perhaps one of the most impressive landscapes of Venice. Must see!

Doge’s Palace – the very grand gothic style palace built, restored and redesigned over centuries spanning from the early 1100s to its final form in the 19^th century.

St. Mark’s Basilica – also known as the Chiesa d’Oro or Church of gold, is the city’s most known church. A glorious structure with an outdoor viewing area of Doge’s Palace, the Grand Canal and neighboring islands.

Bridge of Sighs – passing over the Rio di Palazzo is this enclosed bridge made of white limestone. Its unique build makes it one of Venice’s most notable bridges. A fun fact: the bridge of sighs actually connects the New Prison to the interrogation rooms within Doge’s Palace!

The Venetian Ghetto – as you wander further into Venice, you’ll likely come by the Venetian ghetto. An area that has preserved it’s deeply rooted history for decades. The neighborhood is a stark reminder of the forced segregation of Jews in Venice.

The Rialto Bridge – a no brainer attraction, one that you will pass by tens of times to get from one district to another. Filled with shops and boutiques, and the center of Venetian tourism is the Rialto Bridge.

Campo San Stin – quite frankly, the historical significance of this square is unclear but the buildings are so uniquely colored that it’s nice to add to any itinerary.

Acqua Alta Bookstore – a famous photo op, the Acqua Alta is also a hidden gem of vintage novels, antiques, posters and all Venetian things.

Where to eat

It’s hard to nail down the best of Venice food stops, but you should be prepared to have a lot of pasta, sweets and cicchetti – or traditional finger foods and canapés. Nonetheless, here are a few cafes and restaurants that stand out.

little bites

It’s imperative to delve into some breakfast goodies at Farini Bakery. Literally everything is freshly baked & you get to see the bakers at work kneading dough and adding their final touches on the pastries/pizza/all goods before serving. Cantina do Mori is a unique stop for Cicchetti or Venetian tapas. This tiny establishment has been around since 1462 – make sure to peek at the ceiling for some interesting décor. Lastly, enjoy artisan coffee at Torrefazione Cannaregio. Of course we cannot forget the sweets, Venchi is a charming boutique gelateria that was found in the late 1800s.

Now saving the best little bite for last, if it isn’t the oddest and happiest find of our trip – I’m not sure what is! Frulala and all its fruit bar glory has blessed Venice with two locations. This one is hard to describe, you can grab smoothies, drinks, dance a little, get soup – all at a fruit stand! Must visit for sure.

Pasta on the Go

There are two majors chains across Venice & Italy that provide scrumptious homemade “fast food” pasta! Biogi and Pasta & Sugo are great stops for any carb cravings.

Dinners

Italian food is Italian food, and so without introductions here are some of the best food we had around Venice. Birarria La Corte is a historic brewery that’s been transformed into a gastropub. Rossopomodoro is a massive pizzeria & pasta chain that’s well worth the stop in San Marco. And finally the pet friendly hole in the wall, Osteria Al Mariner for all your seafood needs.

Nightlife

The nooks and crannies of Venice aren’t just applicable to the narrow streets and food scene – there’s quite the dive bar culture throughout the city – with many day cafes and boutiques turning into entertainment pubs in the evening. Two favorites were Osterio de Filo and Bacaro Jazz, both trendy in their own ways and get pretty crowded.

Tips on Gondola tour in Venice 

When in Venice, ride a Gondola. The trick is to take up the offer in the narrow streets/off the beaten path roads in Venice versus paying double or even triple for the same ride elsewhere. Gondola rides near attractions like San Marco square or the Rialto Bridge are far more expensive for a 30-minute ride than they are from Cannaregio. All tours will eventually end up on the Grand Canal – so don’t worry about missing out!

Day trips?

Why yes. There’s plenty of day trips to take from Venice. The popular stops are Burano, Murano and the beaches including Lido Beach. Check out our guide on things do in on Burano Island here! It’s only a 40 minute ride by boat and worth every second.

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