Venice City Guide

Venice

St Mark’s and the Grand Canal, Rialto, Burano and Murano, cicchetti and lagoon seafood, canal-side tables and places to stay, in photos.

171 photos and clips

Gondola on the Grand Canal at dusk

The Grand Canal in Venice towards Santa Maria della Salute

Coloured houses beside a canal on Burano

Weathered statue in a vineyard on Torcello

Beach huts on the Lido di Venezia

Facade of St Mark’s Basilica at golden hour

Narrow canal between buildings in Venice

The upper hall of the Scuola Grande di San Rocco with paintings by Tintoretto

Bridge over a Venice canal at night

The Gothic loggia of the Doge’s Palace, Venice

Venice waterfront at night with Santa Maria della Salute

The Grand Canal leading to the Rialto Bridge in warm late-afternoon light

Elevated view of the Campanile, Doge's Palace and the San Marco waterfront

St Mark's Campanile and the Doge's Palace seen from the water under clouds

Inner courtyard of the Doge's Palace with its arcades and bronze wellheads

St Mark's Basilica reflected in a rain puddle on Piazza San Marco

St Mark's Campanile seen from below against a deep blue sky

Bronze Moors and bell on top of the Clock Tower above Venetian rooftops

San Giorgio Maggiore island and its marina seen from above

Bell tower and dome of San Giorgio Maggiore seen across the lagoon

Santa Maria della Salute silhouetted against a golden sunset sky

The dome and Baroque facade of Santa Maria della Salute seen from below

Punta della Dogana and the Salute dome from above at sunrise

Punta della Dogana, the Salute and Giudecca seen from high above San Marco

Colourful houses, shops and boats along a canal on Burano

A canal lined with colourful houses and moored boats on Murano

A canal on Torcello at sunset, with houses reflected in the water

The arcaded Pescheria fish-market hall on the Grand Canal at Rialto

A campo in the Venetian Ghetto at night, with trees and an old wellhead

Gondolas passing beneath the Bridge of Sighs

A long straight canal flanked by fondamente and pastel houses

The red-brick Molino Stucky building on Giudecca seen across the water

Modern housing blocks on Giudecca with laundry drying from the windows

Crenellated clock tower at the Arsenale under a clear blue sky

A sunlit calle between old brick houses in Cannaregio

Weathered brick houses and hanging laundry above a quiet side canal

A residential canal with a small stone bridge and moored boats

Flower-filled balconies and green shutters on a Venetian facade

The Central Pavilion of La Biennale with its white columns

A side canal opening onto a palazzo across the Grand Canal

Books and a boat inside Libreria Acqua Alta, Venice

Acqua alta on Piazza San Marco, mirroring the Basilica and Campanile

Crates of tomatoes delivered to a wet quay on the Grand Canal

Laundry strung across a sunny calle in the Arsenale district

Laundry drying above a quiet canal with moored boats

A weathered house with laundry and a hand-painted vaporetto sign

A shop window crowded with Carnival masks and costumes

Hand-painted Venetian masks displayed on a shop wall

A waterbus ticket booth with a sign for the Venezia–Lido–S. Marco line

A vaporetto stop on the Grand Canal lit up at night

Morning fog over moored gondolas, with San Giorgio Maggiore beyond

A gull on a mooring post as a waterbus passes in thick fog

A squero boatyard with a gondola under repair on the slipway

A corner bar on Campo de l'Arsenal with a chalkboard drinks list

A fruit and vegetable stall with stacked crates in a Venetian street

A fruit and vegetable stall under an awning in a sunny Venetian campo

A courier boat loaded with parcels crossing a Venice canal

Wine delivered by boat, with demijohns lined up on deck

Two spritz and filled bread rolls served for aperitivo in Venice

Trays of fresh bigoli pasta with tomatoes and garlic in a Venice shop

Prawn crostini served with an orange spritz

Hands garnishing a tray of prawn crostini

Sfogliatelle, cannoli and nut brittle in a Venice bakery window

Fried cicchetti labelled tonno and seppie in a Venice bar display

Octopus, prawns, salmon and fish on ice at a Venice market stall

Spaghetti with clams, spritz and white wine on an outdoor table

Strawberries, melons and citrus piled high at a Venice market stall

Canapés and two spritz-style drinks on a terrace overlooking the lagoon

Paccheri pasta with spider crab sauce and parsley

Spaghetti with clams and fresh parsley

Restaurant terrace in Campo Sant'Angelo under a clear blue sky

Grilled fish and prawn platter served at a table with red wine

Bright dining room with white tablecloths and yellow pendant lamps

Corner exterior with outdoor tables and a wine-filled shop window

Olive oil bottles and pepper mills on a table in the dining room

Chocolate dessert with cream in a hand-painted porcelain bowl

Lobster with tagliolini pasta on a white plate

Long dining room with Murano chandeliers, leather chairs and laid tables

Round table set in front of a backlit wall of wine bottles

Wine glasses and colourful tumblers on a table under glowing chandeliers

Entrance with painted signboards and a warmly lit window

Filled pasta in a bright yellow sauce with seared toppings and microgreens

Creamy risotto topped with shellfish, crisp pastry shards and herbs

Gilded Sala delle Stagioni with oval mirrors, red benches and marble tables

View through ornate glass doors into the frescoed historic rooms

Hot chocolate poured at the table, with biscuits on a silver tray

Modern dining room with black-and-white Venice photos and wooden tables

Whole prawn in a tomato fish broth served in a white bowl

Cured meat carpaccio with salad leaves and physalis on a white plate

Canal-side terrace with a gondola moored in front of the restaurant

Fish with sweet-and-sour onions and a glass of white wine

Elegant table setting with gold-rimmed plates and a warm table lamp

Creamy white polenta topped with fried small shrimp

Fresh tagliolini with seafood on a gold-rimmed plate

Covered terrace tables on the Grand Canal with flowers and lanterns

Platter of raw scampi on ice with lemon and vegetables

Fish fillet in broth with samphire, served with roast potatoes

Sauce poured at the table over a plated starter with beetroot

Green salad with potatoes and cherry tomatoes beside a velvet chair

Historic dining room with carved figureheads and a model ship in the window

Wood-panelled dining room styled like a ship's interior

Nautical-style dining room with a ship's wheel and wooden beams

Lineadombra's wooden terrace with white umbrellas over the Giudecca Canal

Lineadombra dining room with exposed wooden beams and red wall panels

Plated seafood dish with caviar, peas and purple potato crisps at Lineadombra

Local's dining room with wooden tables, arched windows and a lagoon painting

A nest of spaghetti in a dark ceramic bowl at Local

Fish fillet with green herb oil on a blue plate at Local

Muro Frari dining room with set tables, brick pillars and a long wine wall

Pizza with rocket, cherry tomatoes and Parmesan shavings at Muro Frari

Wall of wine bottles above a display counter at Muro Frari

Outdoor tables under the red awning of Muro San Stae

Muro San Stae entrance and outdoor tables beside a canal

Sliced grilled tomahawk steak on a hot stone at Muro San Stae

Shop window of Oficina Ormesini with wines and herbs, canal reflected in the glass

Raw seafood platter with langoustine and salmon at Oficina Ormesini

Vaulted brick dining room with wooden tables at Osteria Bancogiro

Table set with glasses and a candle under brick vaults at Osteria Bancogiro

Burrata with diced tomato and basil at Osteria Bancogiro

Spaghetti with mussels and clams at Osteria da Alberto

Spaghetti alle vongole on a white plate at Osteria da Alberto

Spaghetti with langoustines in tomato sauce at Osteria da Alberto

Dining room with brick walls and set tables at Osteria Enoteca San Marco

Layered tiramisu-style dessert dusted with cocoa at Osteria Enoteca San Marco

Red wine poured into a glass on the counter at Osteria Enoteca San Marco

Pumpkin flan with pumpkin seeds and grated cheese at Osteria La Zucca

Wood-panelled corner table by the window at Osteria La Zucca

Wooden bar counter with flowers and carafes at Osteria La Zucca

Venetian-style liver with onions and polenta at Pane Vino e San Daniele

Platter of mozzarella and preserved vegetables at Pane Vino e San Daniele

Glazed pork shank with roast potatoes at Pane Vino e San Daniele

Ristorante La Piazza's outdoor tables in front of the restaurant

Long dining room with paintings and white tablecloths at Ristorante La Piazza

Laid tables in the wood-panelled dining room of Riva del Vin

Table setting with green glasses and a small lamp at Riva del Vin

A plate of fried calamari and fish with lemon at Riva del Vin

Black-and-white view of the dining room at Trattoria al Gatto Nero, Burano

Aerial view of the Venissa vineyard and bell tower on Mazzorbo

Small plated dish on a blue ceramic plate at Venissa

Green vegetable dish in a white bowl at Venissa

Design room with dark wood screen, double bed, orange armchair and beamed ceiling

Rooftop altana with colourful wicker seats, lemon trees and the Salute dome

Hotel facade at dusk with the restaurant-bar's outdoor tables on the street

Bright junior suite with stuccoed ceiling, double bed and mirrored wardrobes

Royal Suite window with flowers and candle sconces, opening onto a Venetian canal

Breakfast table with croissants, muffins, jams and fresh orange juice

Venetian bedroom with damask walls, gilded headboard and silk curtains

Long lounge hall with Persian rug, cream sofas and glazed doors at the far end

Marble lobby with a carved column dated 1881 and the reception desk

Wood-panelled room with sailboat painting, armchairs and a writing desk

Wood-panelled suite with flowers and a small table, the bedroom beyond

Hotel Bucintoro facade with green shutters beside a historic brick church front

Balcony room with red damask bed and a view of St Mark's bell tower

Breakfast room with wooden beams, herringbone floor and a buffet with flowers

Hotel ground floor with large windows on a quiet stone-paved calle

Venetian-style room with stuccoed ceiling, upholstered headboard and wood floor

Glass-roofed winter garden lounge with green velvet sofas, plants and books

Aerial view of the hotel's white facade on the Grand Canal with moored gondolas

Attic junior suite with exposed beams, orchids and a table set with champagne

Room with green bedspread, damask wallpaper and windows onto greenery

Warm-toned double room with bedside lamps and champagne with a red rose

Room with gilded Gothic-arch headboards, Murano chandelier and tall windows

Candlelit terrace restaurant on the Grand Canal at dusk, facing Palazzo Grassi

Palazzo Stern seen from the Grand Canal, with its waterfront terrace

Room with carved wooden headboard, coffered ceiling and geometric tiled floor

Rooftop terrace with sun loungers and a bell tower at sunset

Wood-panelled bar with a wall of bottles and a gleaming brass counter

Chef piping a filling into a courgette flower at Ai Mercanti

A chef's hands holding fresh porcini mushrooms at Ai Mercanti

Overhead view of a shared fish starter and wine on a wooden table at Ai Mercanti

Where to eat, stay and walk, with practical tips for your visit.

Read the Venice City Guide

Photographers and venues are credited on each image.