The best time to visit Venice and enjoy sightseeing is mid-spring, particularly the first half of May when the cold winter gives way to sunny days and comfortably warm temperatures. With less boat traffic on the canals and calm waters, this season is best for relaxing on a Gondola ride. If you want to avoid the stress of the high tourist season, December through February may do the trick with quiet and peaceful local areas. Low season also provides for discounted accommodation rates. Moreover, the famous Venetian Carnival takes place annually in February, which gives visitors the chance to join in on the festivities and try on a traditional ornate mask.

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Best Time to Visit

Does Venice smell?Unlike what you might have read or heard, Venice does not smell. If anything, what you will smell in the city is the saltwater from the canals, just like you would at any seaside destination. However, what can happen on the hottest days of summer is that the low water levels in smaller canals allow for the contact of algae from the lagoon with the atmosphere and its consequent deterioration. But other than that, Venice is not smelly at all.Is Venice safe for tourists?Despite being one of the most visited cities in the world, Venice is a fairly safe city for travellers. However, as with most major tourist destinations, pickpocketing is the biggest concern here. So be careful with your belongings around the city's main attractions, such as Piazza San Marco and the Rialto bridge.Is Venice sinking?Yes, Venice is progressively sinking. A combination of factors is causing the city to continuously drop in elevation. From the city's inadequate foundations–the ground beneath Venice has slowly compacted over time–to the subduction of the Adriatic tectonic plate beneath the Apennine mountains to the rising sea level caused by global warming. Studies suggest that Venice could be underwater by the year 2100. In addition, studies have also shown that Venice is gradually tilting slightly to the east.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Venice (FAQs)

Venice Marco Polo International Airport is situated 7 km north of the city. There is a wide selection of transports from the airport to the city. Choose between buses, taxicabs, and boats. If you choose a boat, be prepared for a short walk first. The water bus is operated by Alilaguna and the journey takes about 1 hour and 20 minutes. There are also motorboats and the price varies from company to company.A land route to Venice is offered too. The two transport companies ACTV and ATVO have direct buses between the city and the airport. The journey takes approx. 20-25 minutes. Taxis are waiting outside the terminal, and the prices start at €40.

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Venice Marco Polo International Airport

Treviso Airport, sometimes referred to as Venice’s package tour airport, is located 30 km north of Venice. ATVO and Barzi buses depart from/to Venice and the journey takes about 40 minutes. There is a ticket office located at the arrivals hall.A taxi from the airport to Piazzale Roma in Venice starts at €65.

Treviso Airport

Italy can be visited visa-free for up to 90 days by citizens from Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Malaysia, Israel, UAE and most countries in America. If you are not sure whether or not you need to apply for a visa, we recommend you to contact the embassy or consulate in your country. In order to enter the Schengen zone, international (non-Schengen) travelers need a passport that is valid for at least 3 months after the end of their intended trip. Citizens from Schengen countries can travel without a passport, but they must bring with them a valid ID during their stay.

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Passport / Visa

The ACTV operates the ordinary buses together with the bus boats, the so-called vaporettos. Tickets can be purchased at the stations, from newsstands or on board the boats. There are also several travel cards to choose from, but remember that you need to swipe them before boarding.If you need to cross the Grand Canal you can catch a traghetto, a large gondola leaving from different places between the bridges.

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Public Transport

The taxis in Venice are mainly boats of different sorts. Travelling by gondola is rather expensive and it is better used for sightseeing or special excursions. The boat taxis are slightly cheaper. One of the premier boat taxi operators in Venice is Consorzio Motoscafi Venezia.

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Taxi

Stamps can be purchased from tobacconists that carry either the blue and white "Tabacchi" sign or that are simply marked with a "T". There are a couple of post offices across the city and you find one of them at:

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Post

Pharmacies have alternating opening hours during weekends and nights. Addresses of pharmacies on duty at night are posted at every pharmacy. You find one of the local pharmacies called Farmacia Santa Margherita at:

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Pharmacy

Country code: +39Area code: 041 (also dialled in Venice) If you call to Italy from abroad, you must always dial zero in the area code (do not omit it as is the general practice when making international telephone calls), e.g. +39 041 + the number.

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Telephone

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Electricity

From its unmatched romantic vibes to its historical heritage to its indisputable beauty, there is no other city like Venice. The "Queen of the Adriatic" is composed of a maze of islands, canals, and bridges, which hide magnificent buildings, historical landmarks of great artistic and cultural importance, as well as charming restaurants and squares. There are no cars in Venice, but you won't need them anyway since "The City of Bridges" is best explored on foot.

Located in St. Mark's Square (Piazza di San Marco), next to the Doge's Palace, The Patriarchal Cathedral Basilica of Saint Mark – commonly known as St. Mark's Basilica – is the most important religious temple in the city, as well as one of the finest examples of Italo-Byzantine architecture – a must-visit on any traveller's Venice itinerary.

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Saint Mark's Basilica

St. Mark's Square is the biggest and the most well-known square in Venice. If you truly want to comprehend the power of the former Venetian empire, this is the right place to visit. The square is full of striking and inspiring sights, like the bell tower, from which you can grasp a splendid view of Venice.

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St. Mark's Square

Built in Venetian Gothic style and one of the most iconic landmarks of Venice, the Doge's Palace or Palazzo Ducale (in Italian) used to be the residence of the Doge of Venice, as well as the seat of power for the Venetian Republic, which lasted more than 1,000 years. Both the court and the prison were located within the palace walls, but since 1923 the building is better known as a museum.

Doge's Palace (Palazzo Ducale), Venice, Italy

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Doge’s Palace

There are several tour operators offering different types of Gondola tours. You can choose between a more romantic style with serenades sung to you and your beloved partner or a more classical sightseeing tour with a guide telling you the history of all the beautiful buildings around. There are even tours where you can learn how to row the Gondola yourself. Whichever tour you end up choosing, you are sure to have a memorable experience.

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Gondola Ride

Burano Island is famous for its brightly coloured houses, picturesque canals, and peaceful atmosphere. Other attractions include the Church of San Martino with its leaning bell tower and the Lace Museum. Lacemaking is a fruitful industry in Burano, and you will find many artisan lace shops on the island.

Colorful houses on the island of Burano in Venice

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Burano Island

Murano Island is a popular tourist destination renowned for its glassmaking industry, which is the fruit of a centuries-old tradition. You can learn more about it by visiting the Murano Glass Museum or any of the numerous glasswork studios on the island.

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Murano Island

The island of Murano in Venice is famous worldwide for its long tradition of glassmaking. And if you are looking for a fun and unique way to spend an hour and a half on Murano and then leave with a glass treasure you made yourself, consider taking a personalized glassmaking lesson.In this 90-minute glassmaking workshop with a local artisan, you will learn how to craft your own glass artwork while discovering the secrets of Murano glassmaking techniques. The best part is that you get to take your glass creation home.

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Glassmaking Workshop

A fun activity for both kids and adults while visiting Venice is to craft your own Carnival mask. Enjoy a course on mask making from a master artisan in Venice while learning all about the history of this ancient tradition. Choose between a production class, decoration class, or both. Whichever option you choose, you get to bring home your creation as a souvenir from this unique experience.

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Venice Carnival Mask-Making Class

A great way to eat your way around Venice and discover the local cuisine is by booking a guided food tour. And in this 3-hour food tasting walking tour, you will get a chance to sample an array of local specialities, including fresh seafood, homemade gelato, traditional Venetian cookies, and regional wines, plus get tips on the best places to drink and dine in the city.

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Food Tasting Walking Tour

The Bridge of Sighs (Ponte dei Sospiri) has inherited its sad name from the condemned prisoners crossing it on their way to the execution. The covered bridge connects the prison to the interrogation room in the Doge's Palace and crosses the Rio di Palazzo. If you happen to pass under it at sunset, at the time the bells of St Mark's Campanile ring, remember to kiss your loved one: as the legend goes, your love will be eternal.

Tourists in gondolas sailing on the Rio de Palazzo o de Canonica Canal under the Bridge of Sighs (Ponte dei Sospiri) in Venice

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Bridge of Sighs

The Rialto Bridge is one of the several bridges crossing Canal Grande. Be prepared to meet many other tourists here since this is one of the most well-known landmarks of Venice. The architecture is impressive, especially considering it was built on approximately 12,000 wooden pilings over 400 years ago.

Beautiful view of traditional Gondola on famous Canal Grande with Rialto Bridge at sunset in Venice

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Rialto Bridge

This fish and vegetable market has been around since the year 1097, and there is frantic activity here, especially early in the mornings. The fishmongers, the bustling scenes, the old facades and the fascinating canal combine to create a great experience for all senses. The city’s best butcher shops are located nearby as well.

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Rialto Market

Torcello is a small island that does not lie on the typical tourist path in Venice. On this sparsely populated island, you will find the oldest Byzantine church of Venice, which is truly amazing during the sunset, after which it even gets a little spooky.

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Torcello Island

Canal Grande is the largest canal in town, almost 4 km long and 90-metre-wide in some parts, with an average depth of 5 metres. Public transport is available in the form of Vaporetti – water buses –, gondolas, and water taxis. There is plenty of famous buildings located along the river, which is crossed by three stunning bridges.

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Canal Grande

La Fenice is a world-renowned opera house and a symbol of the Italian theatre tradition. Its name means "the phoenix", which suits the theatre very well, as it happened more than once that it burned down and had to be reconstructed.It was originally built in 1755 and witnessed several world-class performances, like the premiere of Verdi's La Traviata. Nowadays, you can either visit the theatre, admiring its magnificent interiors and learning about its rich history, or enjoy a show there during the opera season.

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Teatro La Fenice

Peggy Guggenheim was the artist Max Ernst's wife; the museum is housed in Palazzo Venier dei Leoni, which is her former home. Her art collection was opened to the public in 1951, and nowadays people can enjoy art from Europe and America dating back to the first half of the 20th century.

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Peggy Guggenheim Collection

Let yourself be swept away by the beautiful renaissance paintings of this gallery. The Venetian painter Tintoretto was paid to provide art for the halls of the Scuola and his masterpieces are still there to be admired. Take the audio tour to get a deeper knowledge of the artist and his works.

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Scuola Grande di San Rocco

Whether or not you are a fan of classical music, the Interpreti Veneziani is a welcome break from the city's pulsating core. After its inauguration in 1987, its concerts have been performed all over the world, in countries such as the US, Japan, Canada, and across Latin America. Take one evening to enjoy the harmony brought to you by the orchestra.

String quartet at the Interpreti Veneziani in Venice, Italy

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Interpreti Veneziani

Standing on the right bank of the Grand Canal, Ca' Rezzonico is one of the most magnificent buildings in the whole city, as well as a remarkable example of 18th-century Venetian baroque and rococo architecture.It was completed in 1756 and today serves as a public museum with an interesting display of 18th-century Venetian artefacts, including furniture, paintings, and sculptures.

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Ca’ Rezzonico

Built in the 13th century and dedicated to the Assumption of Mary, the Basilica di Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari, usually called the Friari, is the largest church in Venice and an important example of Venetian Gothic ecclesiastical architecture. It holds many masterpieces of Venetian art from the Renaissance period, which is simply a delight for the eye. Titian, the most renowned member of the Venetian school of painting of the 16th century, not only has paintings here, Assumption of the Virgin (1516–18) and Pesaro Madonna (1519–26), as this is also his final resting place.

Basilica di Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari, Venice, Italy

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Basilica di Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari

Ca’ Pesaro is the city’s modern art museum, located in an old baroque palace facing the Grand Canal. The first floor houses 19th and 20th-century paintings and sculptures, while the upper floor is dedicated to the Oriental Art Museum, exhibiting 30,000 objects from Japan, China, and Indonesia.

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Ca’ Pesaro

Located in Palazzo Barbarigo Minotto, Musica a Palazzo is a cultural association started in 2005, created to transform the palace into an intimate environment where to meet and learn more about the Opera culture. Have a look at its website to know what is in the program while you are there–it will surely be a unique and memorable experience.

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Musica a Palazzo (Palace Music)

Occupied in the Roman period, San Giorgio Maggiore is one of the several islands around Venice. At the beginning of the 19th century, after the Republic fall, the island became a free port housing Venice's artillery. This is another perfect opportunity to capture a gorgeous panoramic view of Venice, especially from the top of the Basilica of San Giorgio Maggiore's bell tower.

Aerial view at San Giorgio Maggiore island, Venice, Italy

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San Giorgio Maggiore

The Lido is a big island featuring the city's only public beaches as well as some private ones. It can be reached by ferry, and the journey can last from ten minutes to half an hour depending on the starting point. The famous Venice Film Festival takes place here every year in September.

Lido di Venezia, island in the Venetian Lagoon, northern Italy

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Venice Lido

The National Library of St Mark's (Biblioteca Nazionale Marciana) is located in a beautiful Renaissance building and takes its name after St. Mark, Venice's patron. Being one of the most ancient manuscript depositories of the city, it is an exquisite place to become more familiar with the history of Venice.

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National Library of St Mark's

Santa Maria dei Miracoli is the most requested church for weddings in Venice, and if you step inside, you will easily see why. It is said to be built from the leftovers of St. Mark's Basilica, even if the latter is evidently bigger. Being one of the best examples of early Venetian Renaissance architecture, its nickname is "the jewel box" due to its striking beauty.

Church Santa Maria dei Miracoli, Venice, Italy

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Church of Santa Maria dei Miracoli

If your children are tired of walking around, then this is a nice place to visit. Here you will find a great collection of animals and botanical exhibits. The museum (Museo di Storia Naturale) houses an interesting display of fossils and preserved animals.

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Burano Island

Peggy Guggenheim Collection

Peggy Guggenheim was the artist Max Ernst's wife; the museum is housed in Palazzo Venier dei Leoni, which is her former home. Her art collection was opened to the public in 1951, and nowadays people can enjoy art from Europe and America dating back to the first half of the 20th century.

Teatro La Fenice

Ca’ Rezzonico

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