Visit Venice Italy - No.1 City Guide

Venice travel guide - Tips for sightseeing in Venice (Venezia)

Visit Venice in Italy (Venezia)? The online VeniceLover.com travel guide provides the best tips for activities and sights during your Venice city trip.

Things to do in Venice Italy

The Italian city of Venice (Venezia) is located on the Adriatic Sea in the northeast of the country. The city in Italy is divided into six districts and some of the most famous islands are Lido di Venezia, Murano and Burano. The special thing about your visit of Venice city is that there are no normal roads in the city. There is one long bridge between the mainland and Venice, with only one road and a railway. Every other transportation runs via the famous canals - of which there are about 177 - to and from the more then a hundred islands that makes up Venice. The Canal Grande is one of the widest canals and apart from a touristic gondola you can also opt for a water bus (Vaporetto) to get around in the city.

Due to the typical location of the various parts of the city - all surrounded by so much water - Venice city is famous for its bridges (including the Rialto Bridge), but also for the many squares (such as the Piazza San Marco with the Saint Mark's Basilica). But Venice Italy is so much more than just gondolas and special infrastructure, because during a visit to the city you can also admire the many palaces (Ca' d'Oro, Palazzo Ducale (Doge's Palace)), many museums (like Galleria dell'Accademia, Museo Correr and the Peggy Guggenheim Collection) and churches (Basilica di Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari and San Zanipolo). The sheer number of amazing sights will probably make you realize that you'll need a couple of days to visit Venice city.

Top 25 Things to do in Venice

^{Gondolas on the Grand Canal of Venice Italy}

^{A Venetian mask, the most famous souvenir in Venezia}

The origin of Venice city

Venice city used to be a bridge between the Middle East and the rest of Europe. This was mainly due to the sizeable merchant fleet. As a result, trade took place and products unknown to Europe - such as spices and sugar cane - were brought back from places faraway. Shipbuilding also helped maintain the wealth of Venice. However, Venice has not always been an Italian city. It was originally a republic and the presence of the Venetian fleet in the Mediterranean was a pain in the ass of the then Republic of Genoa. Several wars and battles, including the Battle of Sapienza in which Venezia ended up taking a large part of her fleet but also quarrels with the Pope, caused the power and wealth of Venice to diminish. In the end, the city as you know it today was created: a unique, water-rich place with a lot of history and great tourist attractions.

^{Venice's Rialto Bridge}

^{The islands of Venice Italy from the sky}

Famous Venetian events

Venice has many enjoyable ways to spend your holiday and soak up culture during your Venice city trip. How about all the special events and festivals in the city of Venezia?

• The most famous is of course the Carnival of Venice. This twelve-day festival is known all over the world for its extravagant clothing and masks. Did you know that these masks used to be worn almost all year round? Behind the mask, people could move around the city without being recognized.
• Another event that attracts many visitors is Biennale di Venezia. This art exhibition is held every other year. Other components, such as architecture, dance, theater and music, take place every year. The Venice Film Festival is also part of the Biennale festival.
• If you are traveling to Venice in July, you can attend La Festa dei Redentore on the third Sunday of July. This festival ends with large fireworks, which attract many visitors. It is also known for its decorated gondolas and festively decorated canals. The event is celebrated in memory of the plague epidemic that occurred from 1575 to 1577. Now the evening is mainly spend with friends, who go out on the canals by boat and enjoy delicious Venetian dishes together to celebrate the good life. The fireworks are a spectacular end, especially when viewed from the water.
• Are you in Venice Italy on the first Sunday of September? Then you can witness a unique sporting event that has been taking place since the 13th century: the Regata Storica. This is the pinnacle of the city's annual rowing calendar. Richly decorated gondolas transport high-ranking local figures across the canal in a parade before the race, wearing traditional clothing from the 16th century. It is a colorful festival, where various prizes can be won, divided into categories such as age and the type of the boat. The competition between the gondoliers is spectacular and is accompanied by enthusiastic voices from both the participants and all the public along the canals. And should you be there the Thursday before the match? Then - after a parade of the participating boats - you can watch them being blessed for the race on Sunday (website Regata Storica).

Popular in the Venice travel guide

Saint Mark's Basilica

This Venice Cathedral on St. Mark's Square has so many details, from golden domes with paintings on the inside to beautiful decorations and statues of animals on the outside. You will be impressed.

• St. Mark's Basilica

Top 25 Venice Sightseeing

Venice is a beautiful city, made up of more than 100 smaller islands and many beautiful sights. These are the 25 most interesting activities and places to visit in Venice Italy.

• Top 25 Venice

Doge's Palace'

The Doge's Palace – also known as Palazzo Ducale – was the home of the Doge, the leader of the republic that Venezia used to be. Now the Doge's Palace is a museum, where you can visit the impressive rooms of the Doge.

• Doge's Palace

La Fenice Opera House

You don't have to be into theater to appreciate this beautiful monument. The velvet armchairs, the richly decorated balconies, the lighting and the amazing ceiling make a visit to this opera theater even without a performance special.

• La Fenice Opera House

Transport during your city trip

Fortunately, many tourist attractions are within walking distance, but in this article you can read all about the water transport options from the water taxi to the Vaporetto.

• Transport in Venice

Activities & Tours

An overview of the best tours and activities in Venice. Guided tours, excursions or discover one of the beautiful islands. We are happy to provide you some extra inspiration.

• Activities in Venice

Best time to visit Venice

The Mediterranean climate makes a city trip to Venice enjoyable all year round. From April to October, daytime temperatures average above sixteen degrees Celsius, with the highest temperatures in July and August, when it can reach thirty degrees Celsius. The breeze that comes from the sea will help you survive the hot summer days. However, this same air from the sea can be on the fresh side. On a summer day it can cool down in the evening and in the spring and autumn the temperature can even drop below 10 degrees Celsius at night. This makes a warm cardigan or good jacket indispensable.

Only the months of November to February are sometimes less suitable for a visit to city full of islands, because during that period there are often floods. Venice has decided to prevent these floodings to build a storm surge barrier that can shield the lagoon from the Adriatic Sea. The project started in 2003 and the expected delivery date was unfortunately not met due to all kinds of delays, extra costs and scandals. This storm surge barrier was successfully tested for the first time in October 2021. So in the future you may well be able to visit Venezia and Veneto.

Video: Places to visit in Venice

Where is Venezia in Italy?

Venice (Venezia) is located in the northeast of Italy. The distance to Milan is 279 kilometers, Bologna is 153 kilometers and the city of the Renaissance, Florence, is located 258 kilometers away. The capital Rome is already 483 kilometers away and Naples is no less than 649 kilometers south.

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