Venice (Venezia), Italy
A republic that outlived itself, floating on a marsh
Venice is a thousand-year-old city built on wooden piles in a lagoon, with no cars, no roads and 118 islands stitched together by 400 bridges. It is also a city of 50,000 residents receiving thirty million visitors, and it is quietly fighting for its life.
The legend gives a founding date of 421; the history is that mainlanders fled the barbarian invasions into the marshes of the lagoon and stayed. By the 9th century the islands had a doge and a saint, Mark, whose relics they stole from Alexandria; by the 13th they ruled the eastern Mediterranean's trade; and for five centuries the Most Serene Republic was the richest city in Europe, its wealth poured into the palaces along the Grand Canal, the mosaics of San Marco and the paintings of Bellini, Titian and Tintoretto. Napoleon ended the republic in 1797. The city has been living on the memory, and the visitors it draws, ever since.
The geography is the whole point and the whole difficulty. Everything moves by water or on foot: the vaporetto water buses are the transit, the traghetti gondolas ferry you across the Grand Canal for a couple of euros, and deliveries, ambulances, police and rubbish all go by boat. The six sestieri — San Marco, San Polo, Santa Croce, Dorsoduro, Cannaregio, Castello — are the neighbourhoods, and the trick to the city is to leave the Rialto–San Marco axis where the crowds are and walk twenty minutes into any of them, where Venice is still a working town of bakeries, bars and washing lines.
The lagoon is the other Venice: Murano's glass furnaces, Burano's painted houses and lace, Torcello's cathedral where it all began, the Lido's beach, and the market gardens of Sant'Erasmo. The Biennale, alternating art and architecture, fills the Giardini and the Arsenale every summer; the Film Festival takes the Lido in September; Carnival fills February with masks. The food is lagoon food — cicchetti (small bar snacks) with a glass of wine at a bacaro, sardines in saor, risotto with cuttlefish ink, and the Rialto's fish market in the morning.
The city is shrinking and sinking. The resident population has fallen from 175,000 in 1950 to around 50,000 as housing turned to tourist lets; the MOSE flood barriers, finally working since 2020, hold back the high tides that once put San Marco under water; cruise ships have been banned from the basin; and an entry fee for day-trippers has been trialled. Living here means the extraordinary privilege of a car-free city of unmatched beauty, and the daily reality of carrying shopping over bridges, damp, acqua alta boots and a town that half belongs to its visitors. Venetians stay out of love and stubbornness.
Where People Live
San Marco
The piazza, the basilica, the Doge's Palace, the Campanile and the most expensive cafés in Italy. Overwhelmed by day; extraordinary at dawn and after the day-trippers leave.
Dorsoduro
Across the Accademia bridge — the Accademia's Venetian paintings, the Guggenheim, the Salute church, the Zattere's sunny waterfront, and the student bars of Campo Santa Margherita.
Cannaregio
The largest and most residential sestiere — the Ghetto (the world's first), the Fondamenta della Misericordia's bars and restaurants, and quiet canals. Where locals live and eat.
Castello
The east: the Arsenale and the Biennale gardens, the working-class Via Garibaldi, San Pietro's leaning campanile. The least visited and most Venetian.
San Polo & Santa Croce
The Rialto market and bridge, the Frari's Titians, the Scuola di San Rocco's Tintorettos, and the cicchetti bars around the market. The old commercial heart.
Giudecca
The long island across the wide canal from Dorsoduro — Palladio's Redentore, former factories, a residential calm and the best views back at the city.
The lagoon islands
Murano (glass), Burano (colour and lace), Torcello (the cathedral and silence), the Lido (beach and the film festival) — each a vaporetto ride and a change of pace.
Must-see attractions
Grassi Palace
Campo San Samuele, 3231, 30124 Venezia VE, Italy
Where to stay
Aman Venice Hotel
Palazzo Papadopoli, Calle Tiepolo, 1364, 30215 Venezia VE, Italy
Hotel Bucintoro
Riva S. Biasio, 2135/A, 30122 Venezia VE, Italy
Restaurants & places to go
Harry's Bar Venice
fine dining restaurants, luxury catering · . The Famous Harry's Bar Since 1931 · Sestiere San Marco 1323, 30124 Venice, Italy · cipriani.com
Airports
Venice Marco Polo Airport (VCE) 9.9 km to the centre
Venezia (VE), 34, IT — You board from the indoor waiting area — no need to plan for the weather. ✈ 43 airlines (Alitalia, easyJet, VOLOTEA Airways, Air One…) · direct flights to 73 destinations incl. Copenhagen, London, Manchester, Amsterdam, Brussels… (OpenFlights route data).
✈ Airlines & flight paths — 43 airlines, 73 direct destinations
- Alitalia AZ (A320, A319, 318, A321, 735, 737…) · 19 routes: Amsterdam*, Athens*, Catania*, Copenhagen*, Lamezia*, Lisbon*, Marseille*, Moscow*, New York*, Nice*, Palermo*, Paris*, Prague*, Riga, Rome, St. Petersburg*, Tirana*, Tokyo, Toulouse*
- easyJet U2 (A319, A320) · 13 routes: Berlin, Geneva, Hamburg, London, London, Lyon, Manchester, Mulhouse, Naples, Nice, Paris, Paris, Southend
- VOLOTEA Airways V7 (717) · 11 routes: Bari, Bilbao, Bordeaux, Catania, Lampedusa, Nantes, Olbia, Palermo, Pantelleria, Reggio Calabria, Thira
- Air One AP (A320) · 8 routes: Athens, Catania, Copenhagen, Lamezia, Palermo, Prague, St. Petersburg, Tirana
- Air France AF (A320, A319, 318, ERJ-145, CRK, A320) · 5 routes: Lyon, Marseille, Nice, Paris, Toulouse
- Transavia France TO (737-800) · 5 routes: Lille, London, Manchester, Nantes, Paris
- Germanwings 4U (A319, A320, CRJ) · 4 routes: Cologne, Duesseldorf, Hamburg, Hannover
- Jet2.com LS (737-300, 737-800, 73C) · 4 routes: Edinburgh, Leeds, Manchester, Newcastle
- Meridiana IG (A320, 737, MD-80) · 4 routes: Berlin*, Duesseldorf*, Naples, Stuttgart*
- Air Berlin AB (A320, 737-800, 737-700, A321) · 3 routes: Berlin, Duesseldorf, Stuttgart
- British Airways BA (A319, A320, 734, Embraer 190, Embraer 170) · 3 routes: London*, London, London
- Iberia Airlines IB (A320, A319, A321) · 3 routes: Barcelona*, Brussels, Madrid
- Monarch Airlines ZB (A321, A320) · 3 routes: Birmingham, London, Manchester
- Norwegian Air Shuttle DY (737-800, 737-300) · 3 routes: Copenhagen, Oslo, Stockholm
- Air Transat TS (310) · 2 routes: Montreal, Toronto
- American Airlines AA (A319, A320, A330-200) · 2 routes: London*, Philadelphia
- Lufthansa Cargo LH (A319, A321, A320, Embraer 195) · 2 routes: Frankfurt, Munich*
- Transavia Holland HV (737-700, 737-800) · 2 routes: Amsterdam, Eindhoven
- Vueling Airlines VY (A320) · 2 routes: Barcelona, Brussels
- Aer Lingus EI (A320) · 1 route: Dublin
- Aeroflot Russian Airlines SU (A320, A321) · 1 route: Moscow
- Air Baltic BT (735, 73C) · 1 route: Riga
- Air Dolomiti EN (Embraer 195) · 1 route: Munich
- Air Moldova 9U (Embraer 190) · 1 route: Chisinau
- Airlinair A5 (ERJ-145, CRK) · 1 route: Lyon
- Austrian Airlines OS (Dash 8-400) · 1 route: Vienna*
- Blue Panorama Airlines BV (737) · 1 route: Tirana
- Brussels Airlines SN (A319, AR1) · 1 route: Brussels
- Carpatair V3 (737-300) · 1 route: Chisinau
- Cathay Pacific CX (A320) · 1 route: Doha
- Croatia Airlines OU (Dash 8-400) · 1 route: Dubrovnik
- Delta Air Lines DL (767-400) · 1 route: New York
- El Al Israel Airlines LY (737-800, 737-700) · 1 route: Tel-aviv
- Emirates EK (777-300ER) · 1 route: Dubai
- KLM Royal Dutch Airlines KL (737, EMJ) · 1 route: Amsterdam
- Qatar Airways QR (A320) · 1 route: Doha
- Scandinavian Airlines System SK (A319, A320) · 1 route: Copenhagen
- Swiss International Air Lines LX (A320, AR1) · 1 route: Zurich
- TAP Portugal TP (A319) · 1 route: Lisbon
- Transaero Airlines UN (737-800) · 1 route: Moscow
- Tunisair TU (A319, A320) · 1 route: Tunis
- Turkish Airlines TK (A319, A320, A321, 737-800, 737-900) · 1 route: Istanbul
- US Airways US (A330-200) · 1 route: Philadelphia
Routes and aircraft from OpenFlights (open data; a point-in-time snapshot). * = codeshare. Linked destinations open their own guidebook. Flight numbers are not in the open data — they come from the airline or a paid schedule feed.
Treviso Airport (TSF) 29 km to the centre
Treviso (TV), 34, IT — You board from the indoor waiting area — no need to plan for the weather. ✈ 4 airlines (Ryanair, Wizz Air, Wizz Air Ukraine, Air Arabia Maroc) · direct flights to 38 destinations incl. Alghero, Barcelona, Bari, Beauvais, Billund… (OpenFlights route data).
✈ Airlines & flight paths — 4 airlines, 38 direct destinations
- Ryanair FR (737-800) · 29 routes: Alghero, Barcelona, Bari, Beauvais, Billund, Bremen, Brindisi, Bristol, Brussels, Budapest, Cagliari, Catania, Chania, Charleroi, Dublin, East Midlands, Eindhoven, Hahn, Lamezia, Leeds, London, Malaga, Malta, Palermo, Rygge, Stockholm, Trapani, Valencia, Weeze
- Wizz Air W6 (A320) · 6 routes: Bucharest, Chisinau, Cluj-napoca, Prague, Skopje, Timisoara
- Wizz Air Ukraine WU (A320) · 2 routes: Kiev, Lvov
- Air Arabia Maroc 3O (A320) · 1 route: Casablanca
Routes and aircraft from OpenFlights (open data; a point-in-time snapshot). * = codeshare. Linked destinations open their own guidebook. Flight numbers are not in the open data — they come from the airline or a paid schedule feed.
Venice-Lido Giovanni Nicelli Airfield 3.4 km to the centre
Venezia (VE), 34, IT
Caposile Airfield 24 km to the centre
San Donà di Piave, 34, IT
Litorale di Caorle Airfield 42 km to the centre
Caorle (VE), 34, IT
Regional airports
Further out, but often the cheapest way in — the airports the low-cost carriers use. Each links to its own town's guide for getting from there into the city.
Trieste Airport (TRS) 98 km to the centre
Ronchi dei Legionari/Trieste, 36, IT — You board from the indoor waiting area — no need to plan for the weather. ✈ 3 airlines (Ryanair, Alitalia, Lufthansa Cargo) · direct flights to 11 destinations incl. Alghero, Bari, Beauvais, Charleroi, London… (OpenFlights route data).
✈ Feeder airport · 98 km from Venice (Venezia) · Ryanair, Alitalia, Lufthansa Cargo · Getting around Monfalcone, Italy →
✈ Airlines & flight paths — 3 airlines, 11 direct destinations
- Ryanair FR (737-800) · 7 routes: Alghero, Bari, Beauvais, Charleroi, London, Trapani, Valencia
- Alitalia AZ (Embraer 175, A319, A320, 32S) · 3 routes: Milan*, Naples, Rome
- Lufthansa Cargo LH (CRJ-700, CRJ-900) · 1 route: Munich*
Routes and aircraft from OpenFlights (open data; a point-in-time snapshot). * = codeshare. Linked destinations open their own guidebook. Flight numbers are not in the open data — they come from the airline or a paid schedule feed.
Getting there by ferry
San Servolo
Ferry terminal · 0.7 km from the centre
San Lazzaro
Ferry terminal · 1 km from the centre
Isola San Clemente
Ferry terminal · 1.1 km from the centre
S.Elena-Stadio Penzo "C"
Ferry terminal · 1.4 km from the centre
S.Elena-Stadio Penzo "B"
Ferry terminal · 1.4 km from the centre
Lido Santa Maria Elisabetta "D"
Ferry terminal · 1.5 km from the centre
Lido - Arsenale
Ferry route · Actv
Zitelle - San Giorgio
Ferry route
Giardini Bienale - Lido
Ferry route
Giardini - Sant'Elena
Ferry route
San Servolo - Lido Casino
Ferry route
Sant'Elena - Lido
Ferry route
San Lazzaro - San Servolo
Ferry route
San Servolo - San Zaccaria
Ferry route · Actv
Local transit
ACTV
Vaporetto, bus · The vaporetto water buses and mainland buses. · Fares: Venezia Unica card · Airport: Alilaguna boat or ATVO bus from Marco Polo
Alilaguna
Public transit · Schedules & GTFS data
Automobilistico
Public transit · Schedules & GTFS data
Trains & rail
Venice Simplon-Orient-Express ← London, England (UK)
Belmond's restored 1920s sleeper between London, Paris and Venice. · London, England (UK) guide →
Italo
National rail
Trenitalia
National rail
Coaches & shuttles
FlixBus ← Milan, Italy
About four hours to Venice Tronchetto. · Milan, Italy guide →
Private aviation
On-demand charter, jet cards and the semi-private scheduled carriers that serve this city.
Air Charter Service
Broker · Any aircraft via operators worldwide · Global charter broker with 30+ offices; private jets, group charters and cargo.
ExecuJet
FBO, charter, management · Managed fleet · FBO network and management across Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Asia-Pacific.
Flexjet
Fractional, jet card · Embraer Praetor, Bombardier Challenger & Global, Gulfstream · Fractional ownership and jet cards in North America and Europe.
Global Jet
Charter, management · Large-cabin & VIP airliners · Geneva-based operator known for large-cabin and VIP airliner charters.
Jet Aviation
Charter, management, FBO, MRO · Managed fleet worldwide · General Dynamics company: charter, completions and FBOs in Europe, the Middle East, Asia and the US.
Tours & experiences
Around Venice Tours
Sightseeing
Venice Walking Tour - Another Venice
Walking Tour
Free Walking tours of Venice
Walking Tour
Turvive Canal Tour
Sightseeing
Venice Tours - San Marco Basilica
Sightseeing
Living Here
Getting about
- Walk. Venice is small — an hour end to end — and every route is on foot over bridges. The vaporetto (ACTV) is the water bus: line 1 crawls the Grand Canal, line 2 is the express, and lines circle the islands; a single fare is expensive, so buy a 24/48/72-hour pass or a Venezia Unica card.
- Traghetti — standing gondola ferries — cross the Grand Canal at several points for a couple of euros. Gondola rides are a fixed tariff and a tourist rite; water taxis are fast and very expensive.
- Marco Polo airport is 30 minutes by Alilaguna boat direct to the city, or by bus to Piazzale Roma, the last point cars reach. Santa Lucia station is on the Grand Canal, with trains to Milan (2h30), Florence (2h), Rome (4h) and the Dolomites.
- There are no cars, bikes, or scooters in the historic centre. Wheels of any kind, other than wheelchairs and luggage, are not allowed.
Health
- The Ospedale Civile SS. Giovanni e Paolo is the city's hospital, in a Renaissance scuola in Castello, with the ambulance boats moored outside; Mestre's Ospedale dell'Angelo on the mainland is the larger modern centre.
- Dial 112 (or 118 for medical). Pharmacies carry a green cross; the rota for night service is posted on the door. Water ambulances reach anywhere in the city.
- EU visitors use the EHIC; others should carry insurance. The main hazards are the bridges for anyone with mobility issues, and the acqua alta flooding in autumn and winter — the city's app and sirens give warning.
Work & study
- Ca' Foscari is the city's university, strong in economics, languages and humanities; IUAV is one of Italy's leading architecture schools. Students keep Dorsoduro and Cannaregio lively and, relatively, cheap.
- Tourism is the economy, with glass, lace and crafts, the port and shipyards on the mainland at Marghera, and the Biennale's cultural industry. Most Venetians who work in the city live in Mestre and commute in.
- Housing in the historic centre is scarce and dear; the city subsidises residents and restricts new tourist lets, with mixed results.
Money & manners
- Euro. Cards are widely taken; carry cash for the bacari and the traghetti. A coperto is normal; tip lightly. Sitting at a café on the Piazza costs several times what standing does, and the orchestra adds more.
- Do not sit on the steps of monuments, swim in the canals, feed the pigeons or picnic in San Marco — all are fined. Keep right on narrow calli and give way on bridges.
- Day-trippers pay an access fee on peak days; overnight guests do not. Stay at least one night — the city after seven in the evening is another place entirely.