Have you ever thought about a day trip from Venice to the Dolomites?
Most people don’t know that in about 2 hours you can reach one of the most beautiful UNESCO spots in Veneto and live a day surrounded by its magnificent mountains.

If you like hiking or simply you would like to spend a day seeing one of the most enchanting natural places in our region and breath some fresh air, you definitely must consider the idea of a day trip from Venice to the Dolomites, especially if you’re planning to stay in Venice more than just a weekend.
You have many ways to get to the Dolomites and we are going to talk about all of them in this article.

How to get to Dolomite mountains from Venice 

As we said, you can decide to reach the Dolomites in different ways: by car, by train or by bus. Let’s see all the possibilities and evaluate what option suits you best.

By Train 

If you don’t feel comfortable driving in Italy, there’s no need to rent a car to get to the Dolomites, but you should be aware that getting there by train is not so immediate.

Venice train station is less than 10 minutes away from our hotel and there you can catch a couple of trains to Calalzo di Cadore, a town located at the feet of the massive Monte Antelao, and then take a bus, with Dolomiti bus company, to Cortina d’Ampezzo.

Cortina is famous for being VIP’s favorite location for holidays, but it’s not the only reason why visiting it is worth it. It’s really a gem, especially during the winter season.

Getting here from Calalzo it takes about 50 minutes. Instead, the journey from Venice to Calalzo by train will take about 4 hours.

By bus 

Taking a bus from Venice to Cortina is probably the fastest and the most convenient way to have a day trip to the Dolomites.

The Atvo bus company has a line going directly from Venice to Cortina, passing through Treviso, but there’s also another private company that you can take, called Flixbus, which takes you there even in only about 2 hours.

By car 

Obviously, this is the easiest way to have a nice and stress-free day trip to the Dolomites from Venice.  
If you decide to rent a car, you can think about going to the Tre Cime di Lavaredo and walk around these three huge and spectacular peaks.
This journey will take you about 2 hours and a half, quite a good deal if you really want to see this place that is visited by people from all over the world, every year.

So, making a day trip from Venice to the Dolomites without having to book another hotel and be able to come back to Venice for the night is something you can actually do.

If you’re interested in having a journey like this, don’t hesitate to ask us for more information and suggestions at the reception desk.

The Festa del Redentore is an important event that takes place in Venice and celebrates the end of the plague of 16th century. From that time on, the Festa del Redentore has been celebrating every year with amazing fireworks.
If you want to live Venice during this festival, you have to book your stay during the weekend of the third Saturday of July.

What is the Festa del Redentore
As we said, the Festa del Redentore is a feast that reminds about the end of a terrible plague that affected the whole city in 1576.
The Doge Alvise I Mocenigo, who was in charge at the time, promised to built a wonderful church to thank God if the plague ended. And this is actually what happened.
After having killed about 50.000 people, including the famous painter Tiziano Vecellio, the plague finally ended and the church started to be built.
The Redentore church is located on the Giudecca island and, the weekend of the fest, can be reached through a temporary bridge, built with boats.
Venetians care a lot about this feat and they make a pilgrimage to the church, every year.

How Venetians celebrate the Festa del Redentore
On the third Saturday of July, you will see all Venetians decorating their boats with colorful garlands and preparing food for the evening.
The appointment for the night show is in Bacino S. Marco, where all the decorated boats take place one next to the other and get ready for the fireworks.
You will see people sharing food and having fun from boat to boat. The Redentore feast is a special moment, where everyone forgets about problems and want to share his happiness with the world.

The best places to view the Redentore fireworks
If you have the chance to book a ticket for a party on a boat, the Bacino S. Marco is the best place ever to view the Redentore fireworks. But if you don’t have a boat or you cannot find a ticket for boat party, you can still find a place to view the fireworks from the island.

Riva degli Schiavoni is the first choice to watch fireworks on Redentore Day, since it’s just in front of the Bacino S. Marco. Get yourself ready to stand for a while.

Giudecca Island is where the Redentore church is located. Along the promenade, Venetians prepare their night positioning tables and chairs to have dinner with friends and view the fireworks. You can stand behind them and see the show from there.

Punta della Dogana is absolutely one of the best places to view the Redentore fireworks for free, because you are right in front of the place where the fireworks are actually launched.

“Acqua alta” is how Italians call the high tide. It occurs every now and then in Venice. Seeing the high tide can be a great experience when you are visiting Venice. Although it’s something that naturally occurs, it is not really a good thing.

Before discussing all you need to know about the high tide in Venice, we would like to underline that the presence of “acqua alta” does not mean that the city is sinking. This phenomenon is absolutely natural, and is due to astronomical, geographical and meteorological influences.

Why high tide floods Venice?
This is probably the first question you asked yourself.
First of all, the acqua alta is directly influenced by the moon. Every six hours it goes up and down. This can be an advantage, which can help you predict the waters top level and decide if you need to carry a pair of rainboots with you!  Acqua alta is also affected by the “scirocco”, a strong south-east wind.

When does acqua alta flood the city?
If you come to Venice between November and December the chance of finding the acqua alta is very high. However, you don’t have to worry about it disrupting your stay with us, Cannaregio, where our hotel is located, is not one of the low areas in Venice. This means you will not frequently find the high tide having an effect on this area.

Some useful tips about high tide in Venice
If you are visiting Venice during the high tide period, you should be aware of a few things.
First of all, consider buying a pair of rain boots in Venice or packing them in your suitecase. Then, be careful when you walk because when the acqua alta is really high, you barely can recognize the end of the street and the beginning of the canal.
To keep yourself informed about the situation and the level of the high tide you can download the free app called hi!tide or visit the Venice municipality website.
Do not worry about the possibility of getting wet, if you are wearing a pair of rainboots and you walk on the wooden walkways all around the city you won’t have any problem. You can have a safe and unforgettable experience in this amazing, and sometimes flooded, city.

Walking around Venice during a hot summer day can be hard, but a great gelato could restore your energies. You can look for the best gelato in Venice on your own, or you can take some note from our list below.  We’ve carefully selected six ice-cream parlors in Venice, one per district. In this way, it doesn’t matter if you are visiting St. Mark’s Square or the Jewish ghetto, you’ll always have the chance to be near a trusted ice-cream parlor.

Dorsoduro – Gelateria Nico
This is one of the most known ice-cream parlors in Venice, not only because of its strategic location but mainly for its so-called Gianduiotto. You won’t eat just a gelato here, but a yummy ice-cream with a big Gianduia chocolate bar on the top.

Cannaregio – Gelato di Natura
Not far from our hotel, a new ice-cream parlor has recently opened: Gelato di Natura. All the ingredients this gelateria use for its ice-creams are completely natural. We suggest you taste a cone with figs and ricotta or a classic pistachio.

San Marco – Suso Gelatoteca
This tasty ice-cream parlor is away from the most bitten paths in Venice, in fact, you have to cross Sotoportego de la Bissa from Campo San Bartolomeo and go straight. You’ll find it, for sure, and order a cone with salty pistachio and lemon with chocolate.

Castello – Gelateria Pasticceria Peter Pan
This is not only a place to eat the best gelato in Venice but a place you can call home. The gelato here is cheap and tasty. This ice-cream parlor is located in Castello district, where you’ll surely find some peace and a perfect moment to sit and enjoy a local Venice.

Santa Croce – Fontego delle Dolcezze
If you like yogurt, this is the place where to stop by. In fact, the Fontego delle Dolcezze make both homemade gelato and yogurt. If we might give you a suggestion, try the chocolate with cardamom flavor.

San Polo – Gelateria Millefoglie da Tarcisio
Few steps away from one of the most visited and beautiful churches in Venice, Basilica dei Frari, there’s a small ice-cream parlor, called Gelateria Millefoglie da Tarcisio. Don’t get fooled by the fact that there’s a sliced pizza place right next to it, the ice-cream here is amazing.

Feel free to print and bring this list of the places where to eat the best gelato in Venice with you, while you’re visiting our amazing city.

Even if Venice seems a tiny city, there is such an amount of things to see and do that you won’t be able to visit everything in a day.
But if the capital of the Serenissima Republic is just a stopover during you long trip, don’t worry, there are a lot of things you can do in Venice in one day, also including a boat tour. 24 hours in Venice are enough to get the most out of this wonderful city, try its typical food and have a short boat tour to one of its islands.

Visit the main attractions
Visiting Venice in one day means that you have to plan your day carefully. You don’t want to miss a thing, do you?
The first thing you must see in Venice is its historical center, with St. Mark’s Square and the Basilica, but above all the Doge’s Palace. You have to consider that visiting the Doge’s Palace takes about 2 hours, that’s why we suggest you to go there as soon as it opens. In this way, you will probably find no queue. Entering the St. Mark’s Basilica is free. You can wait in line or book a skip-the-line ticket in advance, through one of the several website that offer this service.

Join a boat tour
In the afternoon you can join a boat tour to one the three most known islands of the Venetian lagoon: Burano, Murano and Torcello.
If you want to learn more about the fascinating art glass, you should go to Murano Island, that is also the closest one.
If you are more attracted to colorful places and you want to know more about the history of laces, you should go to Burano. Burano is unique, you will see!  Venice Islands Tours: day trips to Burano, Murano, Torcello.

Eat like a local
Last but not least, don’t miss to step by Rialto bridge and have a “cicchetto” and glass of wine in a typical Venetian bar.
If you have time, coming back from the boat tour, go to Fondamenta della Misericordia, in Cannaregio district and spend the night having fun and eating like a local. In this article you can find a detailed itinerary for a typical Venetian night.
If you are tired after a long day in Venice, you can choose from one of these places  – not far from our hotel -, where you can taste the typical Venetian aperitif.

Venice is known for its twists and turns, its bridges and palaces, but not for its beautiful and hidden gardens. Which is a pity, by the way. With all those high walls on both sides of each Venetian streets, imagining that behind them there could be a garden, it’s not so obvious.
A lot of Venetian palaces have their garden, but if you don’t step in, you won’t know it.
What are the hidden gardens in Venice you can’t miss? Here’s our personal list.

Querini Stampalia garden
Inside this ancient Venetian palace, known for being home to the Querini Stampalia Foundation, there’s a garden.
On the contrary of what you might think, this garden (as it is today) is quite recent. In fact, in 1949, the architect Carlo Scarpa was chosen to renovate and redesign the garden, that had become a storage during the 80s it.

Peggy Guggenheim Collection’s garden
Among the list of the museum you must see once in Venice, we mentioned the Peggy Guggenheim collection, not only for the gallery itself but also for the beautiful garden, the palace hides inside its walls.
During summer, this hidden garden in Venice becomes a place where to drink a good Spritz in company with Art.  

San Giorgio Maggiore island
Even the island that every day wakes up with a splendid view of St. Mark’s Square has a hidden garden. With a labyrinth too.
If you want to know more about the island, how to get there and how to visit it, here’s you find all the information you may need.

Palazzo Contarini Dal Zaffo
This palace is located in Cannaregio, not far from our hotel, near the church of Madonna dell’Orto. Unlike several palaces in Venice, Palazzo Contarini Dal Zaffo’s facade has no symmetry.
Inside this beautiful and fully frescoed palace, there’s a secret and huge garden. Unfortunately, you won’t see the garden as in the famous painting of Francesco Guardi, but it still astonishing.

Ca’ Zenobio
Could you imagine a place with a giant garden in Venice? And when we say “giant” we meant it. Ca’ Zenobio is the place where you can find the most incredible hidden garden in Venice. Ca’ Zenobio palace is located in Dorsoduro district and is owned by the Armenian Community of Venice. We have to say that is not always open for a visit, but you can stop by and see if there’s any Biennale collateral event hosted.

If you are wondering which district you should stay in when in Venice, you might be curious to know the reasons why choosing Cannaregio would be a comfortable choice. Cannaregio is the first district you walk in once you step out the train. Cannaregio is the back of that fish called Venice. Despite the fact that Hotel Arcadia is located in this district, here are the reasons why Cannaregio is the perfect place to stay.

• It’s a quiet neighbourhood
  Cannaregio is a off-the-beaten-path place, where you can walk and silently admire beautiful little glimpses. Getting lost here is a pleasure, it seems to be projected in one of Canaletto’s paintings. This is the perfect place where to escape from the crowd and enjoy some peace.

• It’s home to Venice’s Jewish Ghetto
  The first European Ghetto is located here, in Cannaregio by the entrance of the restaurant Gam gam. It takes only a 5-minute walk from our hotel. You can spend an entire day here, if you have time, and discover the fascinating Jewish culture and religion, visiting the synagogues and the museum. Don’t miss the chance to have a biscuit or some sweet from one of the many Jewish bakeries around.

• It’s full of typical bacari
  Even if we said that Cannaregio is a quiet district, there’s a fondamenta, in particular, where people love to have happy hour. This fondamenta, we have already mentioned when we wrote about a Bacaro tour idea, is full of typical Venetians bars, where you can taste the traditional cicheti and order an ombra (small glass of wine, usually sold for 1 or 2 euros). When the sun is going down, the aim of this site changes and from a quiet place with almost nobody around, it turns into a funny and comfortable aggregation point. Here’s where locals meet after work, before going home.

• Lots of Venetians stay here
  Since Cannaregio is away from the most touristic beaten paths, it’s also the place where lots of Venetians live. You won’t be surrounded by restaurants, masks and souvenir shops but you’ll be the neighbour of a Venetian. Among Venetian narrow streets the inhabitants’ real life comes out, revealing its true nature.

• It’s close to several iconic places in Venice
  We have already talked about the presence of the oldest Jewish Ghetto in Europe, but in Cannaregio there are also the Ca’ d’Oro palace, the famous Venice Casino and the beautiful Church Madonna dell’Orto. Next to the Ca’ d’Oro palace there a so-called stazio, a typical pier from where you can reach Rialto’s Market with a 2-minute gondola ride, called ferry service.

As you can see Cannaregio is plenty of things to do and see.  Now that you know the reasons why you should choose Cannaregio for you stay, are you still doubting where to stay?

Everyone knows the three main island of Venice, Murano, Burano [link] and Torcello [link], but a few people know that there are several other visitable minor islands in the Venetian lagoon. If you are not staying in Venice for just a day [link], you should give yourself the time to discover the amazing and hidden world behind these little islands. The minor islands you must see in Venice during your vacation are, at least, five: San Lazzaro degli Armeni, Lazzaretto Nuovo and Lazzaretto Vecchio, Sant’Erasmo and San Francesco del Deserto.

San Lazzaro degli Armeni
Did you know that Armenians used to live in Venice and trade with its inhabitants? This island, however, is not related to any trade exchanges, in fact, it has been home to the monastery of the Armenian Catholic Mekhitarist congregation since 1717.
Once you get off the vaporetto, that from St. Mark’s Square takes you to San Lazzaro degli Armeni, you’ll instantly understand the beauty and the quiet of this island. Inside the church of San Lazzaro degli Armeni, there’s a library with approximately 200,000 ancient books.
The island can be visited only with a guided tour at 3pm, every day.

Lazzaretto Nuovo and Lazzaretto Vecchio
These two islands, New and Old Lazzaretto, are known because of their role in the past. In fact, they were used as a place for quarantining people and goods and prevent the city from plague.
Here’s why they are named “Lazzaretto” that in Italian means leper hospital.
Both of them, exactly as Venice and the whole lagoon, are UNESCO World Heritage sites.

Sant’Erasmo
Sant’Erasmo is located on the north of Venice, next to Lazzaretto Nuovo island. It’s famous for its artichokes, called “Castraure”.
You won’t find any museums here, but you can taste one of the most delicious products of the Venetian Lagoon and live a peaceful moment, far from the rest of the world.

San Francesco del Deserto
This island is inhabited by a small group of monks, belonging to the Franciscan Order. The island is a heaven on earth with its beautiful garden and monastery. You can visit it joining a boat tour and learn the history of the island, directly from one of the monks, who are living there.

These are just five of the several minor islands of the Venetian lagoon, probably the most fascinating. However, these are those we sincerely recommend, to make your Venice vacation complete.

When you plan a trip to Venice, we are sure that one of the first questions you ask yourself is: what to eat in Venice?
There’s some many things to eat in Venice that you should stay here a month to taste them all, but here’s why we decided to help you out and list those traditional food dishes you definitely must try.
Let’s start with some appetizers and then with some main courses. After reading this article you’ll definitely know what to eat in Venice, especially if you’re coming for the first time.

Sarde in Saor
You probably have already heard about this typical Venetian dish, made by sardines and onions. Venetian sailors used to it them often, since the onions among sardines could actually conserve the whole dish for a long time.
You can eat it as a “chicheto”, accompanied with a glass of prosecco, or you can have it as main course.

Baccalà mantecato
If you see a soft white mousse behind on bacaro’s counter, usually spread on a piece of bread, that’s what we call “baccalà mantecato”. It’s a delicious mousse of codfish, prepared with some milk, following an ancient and not-so-easy recipe.
Once you’ve tasted it, you’ll crave for more!

Fried moeche
Among the things you must eat in Venice there are the so-called moeche: soft-shell crabs. The tradition wants them to be fried alive and even if it sounds cruel, the few places which serves them, they actually follow the original recipe.
They are pretty rare and you’ll be very lucky if you can taste them.

Half boiled Egg with anchovies
Don’t get fooled by the simplicity of this dish, because this is a typical cicheto too. This half boilf egg is flavoured with salt, pepper and some olive oil, and served with a marinated anchovy.

Spaghetti alla Busara
You will love this. It’s a plate of spaghetti, served with a yummy and delicate scampi sauce. Its recipe is very ancient too, in fact, it seems that the word “busara” comes from the name of the pot where Venetian saliors used to cook the sauce.

Squid Ink spaghetti
Be ready to have a black smile right after finishing this plate of spaghetti, but except that you’ll be very satisfied. This is really typical and loved by Venetians: some spaghetti with a delicious squid ink sauce. Kids usually adore it.

Fegato alla Veneziana
Literally translated as “Venetian Liver & Onions” it’s actually a pork or a lamb liver, served with onions and some polenta.
The so-called polenta is another traditional Venetian food you must try. It is usually eaten instead of bread, since it’s made by flour and water. It can be yellow or white, but it’s delicious anyway.

Did you know that you can reach several beautiful places near Venice taking a one-hour (or two) train ride? Venice is a beautiful city, with plenty of things to see, but if you have more than one day and you have already planned a boat tour around the three main Venetian island, you might think about taking a train and discover its surroundings.

Furthermore, our hotel is only 5 minutes from the train station.

Here are 5 day-trips from Venice by train that you can easily insert in your vacation plan.

Day-trip from Venice to Padua by train
With a 30-minute train ride, you can reach the city of Padua, which is famous for its centenarian university and for the unique Scrovegni Chapel. Lots of important Venetian people dealt with Padua for different reasons, Casanova, for example, graduated here, as well Elena Lucrezia Cornaroas the very first woman in the history of the whole world. Don’t forget to visit the Basilica of Saint Anthony and the marvelous Prato della Valle square.

Day-trip from Venice to Treviso by train
The city of Treviso is a little jewel, surrounded by Venetian walls and crossed by canals. The train from Venice to Treviso takes less than 40 minutes and it’s quite frequent. What to see in Treviso? Don’t miss Piazza dei Signori, the extremely suggestive Buranelli Canal, the peculiar Fountain of Tits and the majestic San Nicolò church.

Day-trip from Venice to Verona by train
Shakespeare loved this city so much that he set one of his play here: Romeo and Juliet. Getting to Verona from Venice by train takes about one and half hour, definitely a day trip you should consider. If you want to visit the places connected with the romantic story of Romeo and Juliet, you must go to Juliet’s house and Romeo’s house. Then you should visit the fascinating Arena and the beautiful church of Santa Anastasia.There is almost a train every hour from Venice to Verona.

Day-trip from Venice to Ferrara by train
Ferrara is well known as the city of bicycles since it’s full of cycle lanes. We suggest you take a bike as soon as you get off the train, in order to get the most of your day trip, since the train from Venice to Ferrara usually takes one and half hour or two. A must-see thing is the Este Castle, a well-preserved medieval castle in the center of Ferrara. One of its towers have recently been opened to the public after a long and meticulous restoration, you can now climb it up and enjoy a breathtaking view above Ferrara.

Day-trip from Venice to Trieste by train
If you don’t mind taking a train for 2 hours and a half, you can go visit Trieste, the windy city. Be ready to see impressive things here, such as Piazza dell’Unità d’Italia, where the famous Caffè degli Specchi, one of the most historical Cafes in Trieste, is located. Don’t forget to get a picture to the Fountain of the four continents.  Behind Piazza dell’Unità d’Italia there’s a Roman theater that we suggest you visit.

Many movies were filmed in Venice, one of these is The Tourist with Angelina Jolie and Johnny Depp. But, where exactly was The Tourist filmed? In this article, we will find out all the movie locations of The Tourist, in Venice. Then, you’ll be able to create your own itinerary throughout the city and discover personally all the places where the film was shooted.

Venezia Santa Lucia, the train station
Even if the first part of the movie is set in Paris, all the rest takes place in Venice. During the first scene, Frank arrives in Venice by train and feel lost, when Elise approaches him on a motorboat and offers him a ride.

Palazzo Pisani Moretta
Elise and Frank reach the Hotel Daniel, as we can read on the external curtains, in reality, that is the entrance of Palazzo Pisani Moretta. Even the view from the balcony isn’t from the Hotel Danieli since the Rialto Bridge is not visible from St. MArk’s Basin, where the hotel is actually located.

Peggy Guggenheim Collection
The romantic restaurant where Elise and Frank have their first dinner is located on the floating platform facing the Peggy Guggenheim Collection building.

Rialto Market
During the chase, Frank walks on the roofs of several houses, reaching the famous lodge of the Rialto Market.
Wearing a pajama, he jumps down the lodge, falling right on a stand. We recommend you to spend a morning here to discover a piece of Venetian history.

Biblioteca Nazionale Marciana
The office of the Italian police is inside the beautiful Marciana library, in St. Mark’s Square. You can recognize it from the view of the Doge’s palace behind Frank

Scuola Grande di Santa Maria della Misericordia
This ancient building is located off the beaten path, but it deserves a visit for the beautiful frescos it has inside, at least.
In The Tourist, this is the location where the ball feast takes places.

Arsenale di Venezia
The heart of the naval power of Venice, the Arsenal, represents the Interpol’s headquarters in The Tourist. Here, Venice used to built its unsinkable ships in secret. Inside the Arsenal area, there’s also the Naval Museum.

You might consider it a tourist thing, but we all know that taking a private gondola ride in Venice is something that worths it.
If you think about Venice, probably the first image that comes up in your mind is about a gondola cutting through a quiet canal. Gondolas were the main transport used by Venetian during the Serenissima Republic and taking a private gondola ride is, somehow, a way to remember how Venice was like in its period of maximum splendour.
Being rocked on a gondola is an amazing experience. You can feel the water accompanying the gondola along an invisible path, you can fill your eyes with beauties, which are only visible from the venetian canals.

How much does a private gondola ride in Venice cost?
You might have heard a lot of stories about how expensive a private gondola ride could be, but let us say something: you might only be here once, do you really want to miss this experience?
The city of Venice sets official rates for a gondola ride: 80 euros for 40 minutes, before 7pm and 100 euros after 7pm.
A gondola can take up to six people, this means that, if you are a group of friends, you can divide the cost of a ride.

Reasons why taking a private gondola ride worths it
Venice can be really crowded in high season. Sometimes, finding a tranquil place where to spend a romantic moment with your partner can be really difficult, especially during summer.
Taking a gondola ride is a way to escape packed streets and experience a new side of Venice: the one on the water.
If you are traveling as a couple, it could be the perfect way to end your romantic holiday in Venice.
But, apart from that, taking a private gondola can give you the chance to know more about the city, discovering places you only saw in a movie such as Casino Royale or learning some curious stories about Casanova and other famous Venetian historical figures.
The gondolier will take you down some narrow and quiet canals, that people cannot reach on foot.
But, taking a private gondola ride isn’t only a thing for couples. If you are traveling with your family or with some friends, it can be an occasion to spend some times together, experiencing something you won’t find anywhere else.

Hermann Hesse, a famous German-born Swiss poet, after taking a gondola, said “it has the beauty of a dream, and is an integral part of the city of idleness, love and music”.

Venice is probably the most romantic city in the world and you are not wrong if you are thinking about proposing here.
Venice can be crowded, but you can still find out some romantic places where to spend an unforgettable night with your better half.
Here’s a list of the 5 most romantic places to propose in Venice, we hope you’ll find the perfect one for you.

Punta della Dogana
There isn’t a better place to propose in Venice than Punta della Dogana. This place is located right in front of St. Mark’s Basic, close to one of the most fabulous churches in Venice: Basilica of Santa Maria della Salute.
Punta della Dogana used to be Venice’s custom point during the Serenissima Republic, but now, the custom building is an art museum.
Usually not many people come here, except on the Redentore day, since it’s the perfect spot to watch fireworks.
Here you’ll find the tranquility and the privacy you’re looking for that special moment.

On a gondola
We have abundantly talked about the reasons why you should take a private gondola ride and proposing is surely one of them.
Ask the gondolier to be brought to some hidden corners, better if at sunset, where nobody can disturb you. Venice is the perfect setting for proposing, especially if it’s seen by the water.
Don’t worry about the gondolier, he knows how to be discreet, like his forefathers used to be in the past, during a romantic gondola ride.

On a bridge
Another romantic place where to propose in Venice is on a bridge. Venice is full of bridges – more than 400 if we have to be precise – but we suggest you to avoid the most known ones.
In the Cannaregio district, where our hotel is, there are a lot of tiny and hidden bridges where you can stop by, without risking to be interrupted.

In a Campo
Campo is the world we use to identify those little squares you find all around Venice. Some of these “campi” are out of the common touristic paths, such as the one called Campiello del Remer.
This picturesque square faces the Grand Canal and when the restaurant Taverna al Remer is closed, on Wednesday, it’s completely isolated and silent. You’ll have the chance to propose while looking at the magnificent Rialto Bridge, from a unique point of view.

Burano Island
The last of the 5 most romantic places to propose in Venice is Burano island. Burano is one of the main three islands of the lagoon and it’s famous for its lace artworks and for its colors. Proposing on Burano island would be like doing it surrounded by a rainbow.

If you want to see the sunrise, the perfect place to see it is in St. Mark’s Square. But if you want to watch the sunset in Venice, there are a lot of places where you should go. Even if this city is astonishing and fascinating at every corner, here’s a list of the best places to watch the sunset in Venice.

Accademia Bridge
Millions of tourists every year take – at least – a photo to the splendid Madonna della Salute church, from this wooden bridge. And not only because it’s a great spot itself, but mostly because the sunset here is something you won’t see anywhere else.
By the way, you should consider that it’s one of the most known attractions in Venice and it can be packed at sunset, taking away all the romanticism. Watching sunset here is unique, but if you are willing to propose to your partner, probably you would like some more privacy. That’s why we wrote an article about the most romantic places to propose, in Venice.

Fondamenta delle Zattere
Less frequented, Fondamenta delle Zattere is a long promenade, facing Giudecca island and the picturesque Mulino Stucky.
From here you have a 180-degree view: St. Mark’s Basin on a side and a slice of the Venetian lagoon, on the other.
Embrace your partner tenderly and watch the sunset coming up and coloring Venice.

Giudecca Island
Another point of view. Crossing the Giudecca Canal, with a vaporetto departing from Fondamenta delle Zattere, you get to Giudecca Island. Here you have the most incredible view of the Venetian Lagoon. On your right side, you have the magnificent St Mark’s Square and on the other the color of the sun reflecting on the water.

Rialto bridge
The symbol of Venice, Rialto Bridge. Here, thousands of tourists go up and down its stairs, taking photos on each side, every day. But, at sunset, you can have the most beautiful view of Venice’s Grand Canal. Check the clock and get there in time, to take your place and watch the show.

Murano island
Murano is one of the three main islands of Venice, famous for its centenary glass art. This island is perfectly located and its position makes Murano one of the best places to watch the sunset in Venice.
You can easily reach it taking a vaporetto and if you haven’t your ticket yet, you can buy it at the reception.

The history of the Venice Carnival dates back to 1024, when this festival was mentioned on a document of Doge Vitale Falier, for the first time.  However, the Carnival of Venice was recognized as an official holiday by the Senate only in 1296.
This centennial festival was quite different from the one we are used to live nowadays. First of all the Carnival used to last months, from the 26th of December until Ash Wednesday, even if wearing masks were allowed since October.  
Originally the Carnival of Venice masks were used to level out the differences between the classes, since they can guarantee the anonymity of people.

Types of Venetian masks
Venetians used to wear just two kinds of carnival masks: the Bauta mask and the Moretta mask.
The Bauta mask is not only a mask, but a complete costume, composed by the traditional white mask and a black cloak, called “tabarro”. Wearing this mask gave the possibility to all Venetians to be the person they wanted to be, no matter what class they belonged to.
That is to say that rich people could act as poor and vice versa.
The Moretta mask, instead, is a typical feminine mask. Wearing this mask, women couldn’t speak, since they had to held it by gripping their teeth on a button inside the mask. In this way, women could decide when and whom to speak. As you can imagine, this masks allowed women to create an air of mystery around themselves.

How Venetians used to celebrate Carnival
During the Carnival period, Venice was full of events. Jugglers, acrobats and dancers entertained people with their performances in Saint Mark’s Square and in private parties.
Theatrical performances started to be played in cafes, private homes and theaters, becoming the perfect excuse to turn the party into a transgressive one.
Unfortunately, the anonymity gave spiteful people the opportunity of committing crimes, such as thefts and rapes. This is the reason why wearing a mask after sunset was banned in 1339.

The end of the Venetian Carnival and its rebirth
The last Carnival in Venice is dated at 1797, the year when the Venetian Republic fell. With the Napoleonic domination, many of the Venetian traditions and feasts were abolished, including the Carnival.
After almost two centuries, in 1967, the Carnival of Venice was officially restored.

Nowadays Venice Carnival is one of the most famous festival in the whole world, full of activities and parties all around the city.
You can still live the traditional atmosphere of the Venice Carnival by wearing a typical period costume and participating to a masked ball, hosted in a marvelous Venetian palace.

Venice is always Venice. It’s the romantic city par excellence, the place that every couple should visit, at least once.
Venice is where lovers find their perfect moment.  
Venice is magic. It has the power of making you feel in the right place with the right person, every day.
Venice is the flawless backdrop for your romantic getaway.

If you want to make your vacation unique and surprise your partner with something truly unexpected, here’s a list of special things to do in Venice.

A night out at Teatro La Fenice
You can go to St. Mark’s Square or just walk around the infinite streets of Venice – which are both two nice things to do in a city like this – but give yourself the chance to live a one-in-a-million night at the Teatro La Fenice is definitely even better. Close your eyes and imagine yourself stepping into this ancient and gold Venetian theatre, holding your partner’s hand. It’s a feeling that you can’t describe, you must live it.

Gondola ride for two
You can consider it a little bit too touristic, but taking a private gondola ride in Venice always worths it[link], especially if you think that it’s something you can’t do anywhere else.
You can judge the price of a ride, but remember that you’re paying for something you’re going to do once, only.
By the way, this is the most romantic way to propose.

A special dinner in a special place
A dinner is always a good idea to spend a couple of nice hours with your better half. A perfect dinner can turn into a nightmare if you don’t know a good restaurant. Here’s why we are always happy to suggest you the best places where to have a romantic dinner, with a  good atmosphere. Leave your partner having a shower up in your room and come to our reception: we will recommend you the best restaurant for you two.

Watch the sunset or the sunrise, hand in hand
Sunset in Venice is something you can’t only see in a photo, you must see it personally. Lots of photographers come from all over the world to immortalize it, but the only two places where it lasts forever are in your heart and in your memories.
Read this article to discover the best places where to watch the sunset in Venice.

A kiss from the top
Have you ever given a kiss at almost 100 meters, surrounded by an unparalleled view? You can climb the St. Mark’s tower bell till the top. Embrace your partner, look at this incredible city from above and make this moment even more special, kissing your other-half while the sun is shining in the sky.

There’s an island in the Venetian lagoon that has the privilege to sit right in front of St. Mark’s Square, every day. San Giorgio Maggiore is the island we are talking about, a little paradise a few people know.

Why visiting San Giorgio Maggiore
Being located right in front of the Doge’s Palace, San Giorgio Maggiore island is an iconic place. Thousands of pictures have been taken here, with the Church of San Giorgio Maggiore as background, and now are filling several albums of memories.
But, San Giorgio Maggiore can’t only be admired from St. Mark’s Square. In fact, to get the most of it, you should go on the island and discover all its secrets.
You definitely have to visit the church of San Giorgio Maggiore and the monastery.
Inside the church, you’ll see paintings by Jacopo Tintoretto, Domenico Tintoretto, Palma il Giovane, Matteo Ponzone and many others.
The famous architect Palladio was the one who built this beautiful church.
Next to the church, you can visit the monastery. Over the centuries it became a theological, cultural and artistic center of primary importance in Europe. Today is an oasis of peace, a piece of paradise.
Don’t let your vertigos win and climb the bell tower of San Giorgio for a view you’ll never have anywhere else. The inner cloister is amazing. The ticket costs 6 euros and includes the church.
And, before leaving the island, why not getting lost in the Borges Labyrinth? We are kidding, you can only visit the labyrinth with a tour guide, but we are sure you’ll have fun.

How to get to San Giorgio Maggiore island from Venice
Getting to San Giorgio Maggiore island from Venice is easier than you think. From the train station stop, take the vaporetto line 2 and get off at the island. It takes about 45 minutes.
If you are planning to reach the island from St. Mark’s Square, don’t worry, the vaporetto line 2 is stopping at San Zaccaria and it will take you to the island in less than 5 minutes.

After a long and interesting tour of discovery around the Venice Jewish Ghetto, your stomach will probably ask you to stop and get some food, before start exploring Venice again. But the question is: what should you taste at the Venice Jewish Ghetto? What kind of typical food should I eat first? Let’s start saying that the Jewish cuisine introduced several ingredients into the Venetian way of cooking food. For example, the use of raisin and pine nuts, which gave birth to the extremely famous Sarde in Saor.
Being aware of this, we can now introduce you some traditional food you must taste at the Venice Jewish Ghetto.

Hummus
Classical and unavoidable, Hummus is a soft mousse made by chickpeas, olive oil, lemon and tahini. This cream is usually served with some bread, like a pita.

Haman’s Ears
These are filled-pocket cookies with jam, almonds, poppy seeds or chocolate. There are several bakeries that sell them, it won’t be difficult to find them.

Shawarma
This is a meat preparation. Lamb, chicken or other kinds of meat are cooked on a vertical rotating spit and then served with some lafa flatbread. Delicious.

Bisse
These cookies are one of the most typical sweet treats from the Venice Jewish Ghetto. Even if they are usually prepared for Passover, you can find them almost all year around. They are unleavened cookies with an “S” form since the term “bissa” means grass snake in Venetian dialect.

Impàde
Among the things you must eat at the Venice Jewish Ghetto there’s another pastry, called Impàde. It’s a long pastry biscuit filled with a sugar, eggs and almonds dough.

Matzah ball
If you are visiting Venice in winter, this soup will warm you up. This soup is made from a mixture of matzah, water, eggs and a fat.
If you have already eaten Knödel, you ‘ll find some similarities in its flavor.

Rugelach
Last but not least, here’s another typical pastry: the Rugelach. At first sight, it looks like a banal croissant, but in reality, it has nothing to do with it. Rugelach can be made with sour cream or cream cheese doughs, but you can even find them with no dairy ingredients.

Shopping is a passion. Shopping in Venice is a must.
Venice is not only famous in the world for its history and architecture, but also for being full of nice and high-quality shops and brands.
Where to go shopping in Venice so? Here’s a list of places where you can find different kind of stores and beautiful handmade products.
Shopping in Venice can be expensive, but it’s always worth it.

Mercerie
The area from Campo San Bartolomeo to Saint Mark’s Square is called Mercerie and it’s where Venetian people used to stroll and stop by those stores where you could find everything you wanted.
Back in centuries, at the Mercerie you could find different dry goods stores and places where to buy some unique accessories. Nowaday, these streets are covered with brand shops, such as Gucci, Bottega Veneta and many others.
If you want to immerse yourself into a luxury world, this is the right place where to dream and buy something that make you feel like a modern Venetian noblewoman.
Looking for a Venetian mask? You’ll find thousands here!

Fontego dei Tedeschi
This is a brand new shopping center in Venice. The palace of Fontego dei Tedeschi is the ancient headquarters of the city’s German merchants. It was built in 1228 and during the 20th century Poste Italiane had some of its offices here. Today, the palace has been renovated and taken by DFS Group Limited, the world’s leading luxury retailer catering to the traveling public.
If you are looking for a prestigious bottle of wine, a pair of shoes, or a fascinating Murano glass vase, this place won’t disappoint you.
Don’t miss the chance to visit the beautiful rooftop terrace, from where you have a breathtaking view of the city.

Burano island
If you want to come back home with an original Venetian lace, Burano island is the place to buy one. In the city you’ll find several shops that sell Burano laces, but walking around in a colorful world, taking your time, visiting the Lace Museum and then choosing you piece of art has totally another taste.

Murano island
Do you think that a Murano Glass sculpture will fit with your living room? There’s spoilt for choice, but we suggest you to pay a visit to a furnace, to learn how those fantastic works of art are created.
The technique used for blowing and managing glass in Murano is ancient and unique, this is the reason why the cost of a chandelier or a vase is high. Don’t trust all those shops where a small prancing horse costs a couple of euros, it might be nice and cheap, but it’s not original.

Last but not least, we are sure that if you get lost, especially around Fondamente Nuove, you will find some artisans boutiques and hidden ancient shops. Are you still in doubt of where to go shopping in Venice?

Venice is the perfect place where to take a walking tour, especially because it’s a city built on water and if you don’t want to take a vaporetto or a gondola ride, walking is the only other way to get the most of it. Here’s a virtual and self-guided walking tour in Venice, we are always happy to suggest to our guests.

Jewish Ghetto
Starting from you hotel in Strada Nuova, you can easily reach the most ancient European Jewish Ghetto.
Here, you can visit one of the three opened synagogues and the Jewish Museum, but you also can just walk around and take some photos of the uncountable glimpses on your way to our next stop.
We recommend you to read “A day in the Jewish Ghetto”, a fully dedicated article about this unusual place.

Ca’ D’oro
This amazing palace is our next stop. Its name means “Golden Palace” because its facade used to be covered with gold. Can you image how beautiful this palace must have been from the Grand Canal?
Inside you can admire a rich collection of furniture, paintings, medals, tapestries, bronzes and sculptures.

Rialto Bridge
To get to one of the most iconic symbols of Venice, Rialto Bridge, we suggest you to take the so-called traghetto. Right next to Ca’ D’oro there’s a place called Stazio Santa Sofia, where you can take a gondola to cross the canal.
In a minute you’ll be walking around the stands of Rialto Market, just few steps away from Rialto Bridge.

St Mark’s Square
We left the best for the end: St. Mark’s Square. Here you can indulge your whims and visit the Doge’s Palace, the St. Mark’s Basilica and even the Clock tower.
However, why not climbing the bell tower too? Or spending an hour visiting the ancient Marciana library?
We know, it’s difficult to decide what to see and what not, since everything worths it. But you can still come back here the day after.
If you feel like having a nice cocktail in a traditional Cafe after this walking tour in Venice, a few steps away from St. Mark’s Square there’s the famous Harry’s Bar.

Enjoy it!