Venice's Grand Canal and the Rialto Bridge

A Tour through Venice

Many travelers think of Venice as a city, which it is of course, but it is a city composed of 118 islands. Yet while the city is famous for its canals and waterways it is also the only pedestrian city in the world - there are no cars crowding the streets and congesting the air. There are however water taxis, and these are the most economical methods of getting around the city quickly. These are also a good way to take a sightseeing tour of the city before dark - request a fare down the Grand Canal (try to do this around sunset for the most enjoyable light and colors reflecting from the waters of the Canal).

Another incredibly popular method of seeing the city is by gondola, and while scenic and quite an experience it can also be pricey, so plan a romantic gondola ride, but do your sightseeing by water taxi. Another good method to save money on a vacation to Venice is to arrange airfare and hotel accommodation through HotelsCombined.com, who offer discounted rates to any travelers using their web site. If you're planning on an extended stay or have a larger group, then Venice apartments for self catering accommodation may be more suitable.

The most popular destinations in Venice are St. Mark's Square and Church, Campanile di San Marco (which is the famous tower located in the center of St. Mark's Square), the Rialto Bridge, the Doge's Palace, the Grand Canal, the Bridge of Sighs, Riva degli Schiavoni, Santa Maria della Salute and the Accademia Bridge. All of these sights are within easy walking distance of each other and a good tour can be accomplished with a day or two of comfortable walking.

St. Mark's Square lies in the heart of the city and is the home of St. Mark's Church, the Doge's Palace and is a popular spot for feeding the masses of pigeons that take shelter in Venice, and is one of the most photographed locations in the city.

The Rialto Bridge is one of the most famous landmarks along the Grand Canal and is lined with rows of shops selling souvenirs and local jewelry. It is a good area for people watching at one of the many cafes or restaurants.

Though it sounds romantic, the Bridge of Sighs earned its name from the many mournful sighs that passed from the lips of prisoners being led from the Doge's Palace to the prison on the other side of the waters. It is another popular location for photographs and one of the best can be taken on the Ponte della Paglia, which tends to have many people waiting to take a good photo of the Bridge.

The Riva degli Schiavoni is one of the most popular promenades in Venice and is very close to St. Mark's Square. It is usually lined with many vendors and souvenir sellers, and is a good place to choose a hotel for its lovely views of the water.


To browse our wide range of Venice holiday accommodation please click on Venice Apartments

If you would like to discover our full range of italian holiday accommodation in all areas of Italy then please click on Italy Map