City guide · Italy

Venice

Venice's historic centre occupies islands linked by bridges, with no road traffic inside the core. San Marco holds the best-known monuments, San Polo and Santa Croce sit across the Grand Canal, and Cannaregio, Castello and Dorsoduro form distinct walking districts. Murano, Burano, Torcello and the Lido require water transport and should be planned as separate lagoon journeys.

Practical information

Language spoken: Italian; National practical orientation; regional and minority languages may also be used
Dialling code: +39; International calling code; local area and mobile prefixes still apply
Currency: Euro (EUR); Use the official local currency; card acceptance varies by place
Emergency number: 112; Use only for an emergency; tourist assistance may use a separate number
Plug type: Type C, F and L · 230 V; Check that chargers support the recorded voltage before using an adapter
Tap water: Not recorded; No verified nationwide visitor statement was recorded

Planning a visit

Suggested stay: Not recorded
Getting around: Walking and ACTV water bus

January: seasonal closure recorded
February: seasonal closure recorded
March: seasonal closure recorded
April: seasonal closure recorded
May: seasonal closure recorded
June: seasonal closure recorded
July: seasonal closure recorded
August: seasonal closure recorded — this month
September: seasonal closure recorded
October: seasonal closure recorded
November: seasonal closure recorded
December: seasonal closure recorded

Top things to see

Ranked by importance — sitelinks, pageviews and heritage status, not editor preference.

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How the city is laid out

The Grand Canal curves through the historic centre and separates San Marco and Castello from San Polo, Santa Croce and Dorsoduro. Cannaregio stretches north toward the rail station, while Castello extends east beyond the busiest visitor streets. Piazzale Roma is the road and bus terminus; Santa Lucia is the rail arrival point. Lagoon islands are not extensions of a central walk and need dedicated vaporetto time.

Checked 2026-08-26

Getting around

Walk within the historic centre and use ACTV water buses for longer canal journeys and lagoon islands. Venezia Unica lists vaporetti, buses, trams, the People Mover and ferry boats within the city transport system, while Alilaguna provides separate water connections to Marco Polo Airport. Routes can be indirect, so group island visits and confirm the current timetable before relying on a transfer.

Checked 2026-08-26

Common questions

How many days should I spend in Venice?

A fixed duration is not recorded. Plan the historic centre first, then reserve separate time for Murano, Burano, Torcello or the Lido if those islands matter to the visit.

Can I walk everywhere in central Venice?

Most of the historic centre is explored on foot across bridges and narrow lanes. Water buses are useful for longer canal trips, step-free alternatives and journeys to lagoon islands.

What is a vaporetto?

A vaporetto is a public water bus. ACTV routes connect stops in the historic centre with the Lido and lagoon islands as part of Venice's public transport network.

Are Murano and Burano part of a central Venice walk?

No. They are separate lagoon islands reached by water transport. Combine island stops deliberately and allow for waiting and transfer time between routes.

How do I travel from Marco Polo Airport by water?

Venezia Unica identifies Alilaguna as the water connection between Marco Polo Airport and Venice. ACTV city transport and airport services are separate products, so check the correct operator before purchase.

Turn this list into a plan

Set your days, your pace and the hours you actually want to be out. The planner works around closing days and travel time, and leaves room to eat.

Plan Venice

🇮🇹Venice