Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Venice is worth at least a day on even the speediest tour. Hyper-efficient train travelers take
thenighttraininand/orout.SleepintheoldcentertoexperienceVeniceatitsbest:earlyand
late. For a one-day visit, cruise the Grand Canal, do the major sights on St. Mark's Square
(the square itself, Doge's Palace, Correr Museum, and St. Mark's Basilica), see the Frari
Church for art, and wander the back streets on a pub crawl. Enjoy an evening gondola ride.
Venice's greatest sight is the city itself. While doable in a day, Venice is worth two. It's a
medieval cookie jar, and nobody's looking. Make time to simply wander.
TheislandcityofVeniceisshapedlikeafish.Itsmajorthoroughfaresarecanals.TheGrand
Canal winds through the middle of the fish, starting at the mouth where all the people and
food enter, passing under the Rialto Bridge, and ending at St. Mark's Square (Piazza San
Marco). Park your 21st-century perspective at the mouth and let Venice swallow you whole.
Venice is a car-less kaleidoscope of people, bridges, and odorless canals. There are six
San Marco (from St. Mark's Square to the Accademia Bridge), Castello (the area east of
St. Mark's Square), Dorsoduro (the belly of the fish, on the far side the Accademia Bridge),
Cannaregio (between the train station and the Rialto Bridge), San Polo (west of the Rialto
Bridge), and Santa Croce (the “eye” of the fish, across the canal from the train station).
To find your way, navigate by landmarks, not streets. Many street corners have a sign
pointing you to
(per)
the nearest major landmark, such as San Marco, Accademia, Rialto,
and Ferrovia (train station). Obedient visitors stick to the main thoroughfares as directed by
these signs...and miss the charm of back-street Venice.
Beyond the city's core lie several other islands, including San Giorgio (with great views
ofVenice),Giudecca(moreviews),SanMichele(oldcemetery),Murano(famousforglass),
Burano (lacemaking), Torcello (old church), and the skinny Lido beach.
With this topic,afree city map fromyourhotel, andthe events schedule onthe TI'swebsite,
there's little need to make an in-person visit to a TI in Venice. That's fortunate, because the
city's TIs are crowded and clunky. If you need to check or confirm something, try phoning
the TI at 041-529-8711 or visit
www.turismovenezia.it
(click on “Venezia,” then the English
icon, and you'll have a world of help). This website is far more helpful than the actual TI
office.
