Last updated: September 2026
Venice holidays offer an experience unlike anything else in the world — a city of extraordinary beauty built on water, where centuries of art, architecture and Venetian tradition are woven into every canal, bridge and piazza. Venice holidays draw visitors from across the globe who come to walk its car-free streets, cross its 400-odd bridges, glide through its waterways by gondola and vaporetto, and marvel at the sheer improbability of a city that has stood in its lagoon for over a thousand years. There is simply nowhere like Venice on earth.
Venice is a city that defies rational explanation. Built on 118 small islands separated by canals and linked by bridges, with no cars, no roads in the conventional sense and an architecture that seems to float above the water, Venice offers a travel experience that is profoundly and permanently memorable. The city has been a centre of art, culture, trade and power for over a millennium, and its legacy is visible at every turn in its Gothic palazzos, Byzantine basilicas and Renaissance paintings.
The best time to visit Venice is spring (April to June) or autumn (September to October), when the weather is warm and pleasant and the summer crowds have not yet arrived or have departed. July and August can be extremely hot and very crowded, though Venice in high summer has its own electric atmosphere. Winter visits, while cold, have their own reward — a misty Venice on a quiet morning, with acqua alta flooding the piazzas and carnival masks in the shop windows, is hauntingly beautiful.
The Piazza San Marco is the centrepiece of Venice — Napoleon reportedly called it “the drawing room of Europe” — and the Basilica of St Mark is its extraordinary centrepiece. Built to house the relics of St Mark the Evangelist, the basilica is a breathtaking fusion of Byzantine, Gothic and Renaissance architecture, its five domed exterior encrusted with golden mosaics that shimmer in the light. Inside, the ceiling is covered in over 8,000 square metres of gold mosaic, creating one of the most extraordinary interiors in the world.
The Grand Canal is Venice’s main waterway, a reverse-S of water lined on both sides by over 170 magnificent palazzos built between the 12th and 18th centuries. The best way to experience the Grand Canal is by vaporetto (water bus) — take Line 1, which stops at every landing stage along its length, for a slow and spectacular journey from the station to St Mark’s Square. The three bridges that cross the Grand Canal — the Rialto, the Accademia and the Calatrava — are each architectural landmarks in their own right.
The Palazzo Ducale was for centuries the centre of Venetian political power, home to the Doge (the elected ruler of the Republic of Venice) and the seat of government. Its extraordinary Gothic facade, in white Istrian stone and pink Verona marble, is one of the defining images of Venice. Inside, the state rooms are lavishly decorated with paintings by Tintoretto, Veronese and Titian, and the infamous Bridge of Sighs — connecting the palace to its prisons — is one of Venice’s most photographed spots.
The Rialto Bridge, completed in 1591, was for centuries the only crossing of the Grand Canal and remains one of Venice’s most iconic images. The bridge is lined with small shops and offers superb views along the canal in both directions. Immediately below, on the San Polo side, the Rialto Market has been the commercial heart of Venice for nearly a thousand years, and its fish, fruit and vegetable stalls remain among the most atmospheric in Italy.
Venice’s lagoon contains several islands well worth visiting on a half-day excursion. Murano is famous for its centuries-old glassblowing tradition and is home to dozens of glass workshops and the impressive Glass Museum. Burano is arguably the most photogenic village in Italy — a tiny island of brightly coloured fishermen’s houses whose reflections shimmer in the canals. Torcello, the most distant of the three, is the oldest settlement in the lagoon and home to a magnificent Byzantine cathedral.
Venetian cuisine reflects the city’s unique geography and its centuries as a maritime trading power. Seafood dominates — fresh from the Adriatic and the lagoon itself — and the city’s signature dishes include sarde in saor (sardines in a sweet-and-sour onion and pine nut marinade), baccalà mantecato (creamed salt cod), risotto al nero di seppia (black cuttlefish ink risotto) and cicchetti (Venetian tapas) served at the city’s many bacaro wine bars. The bacaro tradition — hopping between wine bars for small plates of food and glasses of local wine — is one of Venice’s great pleasures.
Venice Marco Polo International Airport is located on the mainland near the lagoon, approximately 13 kilometres from the city centre. Water taxis and the Alilaguna water bus provide scenic arrivals directly to the city by boat, while buses and taxis connect the airport to the Piazzale Roma on the edge of the historic centre. Direct flights operate from major UK airports, with flight times of approximately two and a half hours. EasyJet, Ryanair, British Airways and Volotea all serve Venice. Venice is also well connected by train, with services from Rome (3.5 hours), Florence (2 hours) and Milan (2.5 hours) on Italy’s high-speed network.
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Venice holidays are enriched considerably by exploring the other islands of the Venetian Lagoon, accessible by vaporetto (water bus) from Venice’s main waterfront. Murano — the glassblowing island, 20 minutes from Fondamente Nove — has been producing intricate Venetian glass since 1291, when the furnaces were moved from Venice to protect against fire. Glass factory visits with live demonstrations are available free at several furnaces (though with a certain amount of sales pressure), and the Museo del Vetro traces the island’s remarkable glassblowing history. Burano — 40 minutes from Venice by vaporetto — is a fishing island of brightly painted houses (each a different colour so fishermen could identify their home through the fog) and a long tradition of handmade bobbin lace. The photographic opportunities on Burano are extraordinary and the island is quieter and more authentic than central Venice. Torcello — the most remote of the easily accessible islands — contains the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta (7th century), with Byzantine mosaics almost as impressive as those at Ravenna.
Venice holidays require a few practical adjustments. The city charges a day visitor fee (€5 in 2024, applied on busy days) for non-overnight visitors — those staying in hotels are exempt. Book accommodation well in advance, particularly for carnival season (February), Easter and summer. The vaporetto water bus system is the practical way to navigate the city — a 24-hour, 48-hour or 72-hour unlimited travel pass is better value than single tickets if you plan to use it frequently. Venice in July and August is hot, humid and extremely crowded — spring (April–May) and autumn (September–October) offer the best conditions. Acqua alta (high water) flooding affects central Venice occasionally from October to January — hotels provide rubber boots, and it is rarely as dramatic as photographs suggest. St Mark’s Basilica requires advance booking for the Pala d’Oro treasury visit; standard entry to the main basilica is free but may require queuing.
Venice’s calendar of events adds unique dimensions to holidays timed accordingly. The Venice Carnival (February, 10 days before Ash Wednesday) fills the city with masked revellers in historical costume — extraordinary to witness, though accommodation prices peak. The Venice Biennale (odd years for Art, even years for Architecture) draws the international contemporary art and architecture world to the Giardini and Arsenale from May to November — the most important cultural exhibition programme in the world. The Venice Film Festival on the Lido in late August and early September is the world’s oldest film festival and tickets to public screenings are available. The Regata Storica historical boat race in September is a free spectacle on the Grand Canal of rare beauty.
Venice’s Marco Polo Airport is 12 kilometres from the historic centre, connected by water taxi (25 minutes, expensive but atmospheric), Alilaguna water bus (75 minutes, more affordable) or land bus to Piazzale Roma then vaporetto. Direct flights from UK airports take approximately 2 hours. Venice is also accessible by high-speed train from Milan (2.5 hours) and Florence (under 2 hours), making it an excellent addition to a multi-city Italy holiday.
Venice is absolutely worth visiting — it is one of the world’s most unique and beautiful cities, and despite its crowds and tourist reputation, it retains a magical quality that is unlike anywhere else on earth. The key is to explore beyond the immediate vicinity of St Mark’s Square, wander into the quieter sestieri of Cannaregio, Dorsoduro and Castello, and experience the city at its own pace.
Venice has no roads or cars — the city is navigated entirely on foot and by water. The vaporetto (water bus) network connects the major points of the city and the lagoon islands at an affordable price. Gondolas are the iconic Venetian experience but are primarily a tourist attraction rather than a practical transport option. Water taxis are fast and comfortable but expensive. For most visitors, walking is the primary way to explore.
Venice is busiest in July and August, during the Venice Carnival in February, and on summer weekends. The quietest periods are generally November, January (outside of Carnival) and early December, when hotel prices are lower and the crowds are significantly thinner. Spring weekday visits from mid-April to early June offer a good balance of pleasant weather and manageable crowd levels.
A gondola ride is an iconic Venice experience, but it comes at a significant price — official rates start at around €80 for a 25–30 minute ride. Sharing a gondola with other passengers reduces the cost. For a more affordable water experience, the traghetto — a gondola ferry that crosses the Grand Canal at several points — costs just a couple of euros and gives you a taste of the gondola experience without the tourist price tag.
Venice has always been subject to flooding (acqua alta), and the combination of natural subsidence and rising sea levels means flooding events are becoming more frequent and more severe. However, the MOSE flood barrier system, completed in 2020, is now operational and has already prevented several major flood events. While Venice faces genuine long-term challenges, it is not about to disappear any time soon — and visiting now is as worthwhile as it has ever been.
If you book a flight-inclusive Venice package through a UK ATOL-licensed tour operator, your money is fully protected if the company fails before or during your trip. Our holiday protection guide explains ATOL, ABTA and Section 75 in plain English.
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