The Top Headlines From Luxury Travel News / The Best Of Venice: The City Surrounded By Water And Historic Beauty / By Charlotte Ashley

Unique and like no other, Venice is the most famous city built around waterways.

Where canals act as roads, boats like taxis and the only way around is by  water or foot, the Italian hot spot welcomes up to 30 million  tourists every year.

With the warmer months in full swing, we’ve put together the ultimate travel guide to experience the romantic city in just three days – the perfect amount of time to take a ride on a gondola along the canal in the sunshine and enjoy the atmospheric evenings after indulging in pizza and Aperols all day.

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Arriving in Venice

Visitors can arrive in the city with Alilaguna, the public water bus service. Image credit: Pixabay/Neil Morrell

Unlike other cities where you can just jump into an Uber to take you directly to your hotel, Venice does things slightly different. There are a few transport options to choose from when you arrive at the airport to get to your destination in central Venice – by water taxi, bus and Vaporetto or an Alilaguna.

Water taxi’s are how they sound – a taxi on water. The only direct route from Venice Marco Polo Airport to the centre. Usually costing around €150-€190, this is the most private way to experience the surroundings of the centre and see what Venice has to offer on water.

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Bus and Vaporetto – a more cultured approach to enter the city.

The bus costs €12 one way and typically takes around 20 minutes to the bus station in Venice. From there, you can board the Vaporetto to your destination for €9.50 and depending on the route you take it can take up to an hour, but is a fantastic way to experience the different locations across Venice all whilst enjoying the atmosphere with fellow visitors.

Lastly, an Alilaguna – this is the public water bus service which takes you from the airport to central Venice or nearby islands such as Murano or Lido di Venezia. Costing €15 for one way, this route can take a little longer but is a great and affordable way to enter the city.

Experience the history of Venice

The Doge’s Palace is one of the most historic buildings in Venice

You’ve arrived, its busy, the hustle and bustle of the beautiful city surrounded by tranquil water awaits you. What’s the plan?

Firstly, head to Doge’s Palace, one of the most historic buildings in Venice. Tickets can be pre bought via its website directly, through tour websites such as Get Your Guide or on the day at the palace doors, however queues can be long and it’s not always guaranteed you’d get your preferred time.

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The stunning gothic architecture leads you into rooms filled with paintings from artists Titian and Veronese. Connecting the palace to the old prisons is the Bridge of Sighs, usually being photographed by visitors capturing the perfect picture. As part of your ticket you can get access to walk across the inside of the bridge, built in the 1600s, to truly experience the history.

After the first landmark visit of the day, explore Piazza San Marco (St Mark’s Square), the main public square in the city which boasts the Palace and several other landmarks (more on those in day two). Enjoy the elegant cafés with live music, and the atmosphere of visitors coming and going on the water.

The first day is always for exploring, right? So, once you’ve seen the main square and experienced your first bit of Venetian history – go and explore the canals. With an endless array of restaurants, from seafood, pizza or pasta – the choice is yours.

More landmarks, book shops and gardens

The Rialto Bridge is the oldest bridge crossing the Grand Canal. Image credit: Bigstock/sborisov

Now you’ve got your bearings, well as much as you can between the winding canals and narrow streets, there is more to explore. Such as the Giardini Reali – the peaceful botanical garden right next to the square. The greenery in the centre of Venice allows you to take in the calmness and look out at the nature nestled amongst the landmarks and waterways.

Further historical landmarks include the Campanile di San Marco and St Mark’s Basilica in St Mark’s Square. Tickets are available either online or on site, the centrally located buildings are a great way to experience the history of Venice.

St Mark’s Basilica is the main cathedral in the city, covered in gold mosaics inside and out – and is one of the most religious buildings in Italy. Campanile di San Marco is the tall tower opposite the cathedral and was originally built as a lighthouse and watchtower. The building offers the best view over Venice and its waters.

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Moving slightly away from the main square, the Rialto Bridge is a must see in Venice being the oldest bridge crossing the Grand Canal. As the main pedestrian crossing of the canal, it boasts the most recognisable views of the city. With constant movement of vaporettos, boats and gondolas – it’s a place full of atmosphere and people.

A bookshop on the  water? Venice has it. Libreria Acqua Alta is a small book shop on the canal where visitors can choose from a huge selection of novels whilst looking over the water. With the craze of social media, this place gets busy, and more often than not there are queues inside the shop – but it’s worth it for the unique experience.

Taking a trip across the water and round canals

Explore the island of San Giorgio Maggiore across the water from Venice. Image credit: Pixabay/Rico Imbiky

You can’t visit Venice and not ride a gondola. A peaceful and romantic trip around the narrow canals with the traditional boats is not to be missed. Gondolas were once the main everyday transport in Venice, now an iconic symbol of the city’s history and romance.

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With vaporettos at every corner of the water, its super simple to get around the city. Having seen what the main square and surrounding lanes have to offer, it’s time to experience San Giorgio Maggiore across the water from Venice.

The small island is home to the beautiful Renaissance church and part of the wider Venetian lagoon landscape. Standing out from across the water, its white marble church is often featured in paintings of the city skyline.

Jumping on the water bus at just €9.50 a tap, it’s worth venturing out to see the quieter islands of Venice, where most locals live.

Factbox

Direct flights from London Heathrow to Venice Marco Polo Airport take approximately two hours 15 minutes.

For more information on Venice attractions go to visitvenezia.eu