About Venice

There is nowhere else on earth like Venice. A city built on water, where the "streets" are canals and the "cars" are boats. The art is staggering, the architecture is breathtaking, and the atmosphere is pure magic. But it's also a city that can feel like a theme park. The real Venice is hiding in plain sight, just one tiny bridge away from the crowds. Let a local show you the quiet sestieri (neighbourhoods) of Cannaregio or Dorsoduro, and the bacari (wine bars) where gondoliers actually eat.

Best Time to Visit

April-May or late September-October. The light is beautiful, and the temperatures are mild. "Acqua Alta" (high water) season typically starts in November.

Local Tips

1. Swap the gondola for a traghetto. A private gondola ride is an expensive cliché. For the same experience in 30 seconds, a local knows the traghetto stands—public gondolas that cross the Grand Canal for €2.
2. Do the bacaro crawl. St. Mark's Square is for pigeons. A local will send you on a giro d'ombra (a "shadow tour," or wine bar crawl) in the Rialto Market neighbourhood for tiny, perfect cichetti (Venetian tapas).
3. Look beyond Murano. Instead of just seeing the (often touristy) glass-blowing, a local can arrange a visit to a traditional forcola workshop, where artisans carve the intricate, sculptural oar-rests for gondolas.