Venice holidays Long weekends and short break holidays in Venice
Venice is one of Italy's special cities packed full of incredible historic palaces and with so much to see and do, a short city break will just wet your appetite to come back.
Venice is known for it's waterways, the most famous being the Grand Canal with water taxis and gondolas going in every direction. At one point, the 16th-century Rialto bridge lined with shops was the only way of crossing. Apart from the canals, the best way to explore Venice is on foot - through the winding cobbled streets where you will stumble across gillaterias, cafes, bars and restaurants all off the beaten track.
A magical city, Venice attracts visitors from all over the world throughout the year. The best times to visit are spring and early Autumn where the temperatures are more tolerable than the peak summer months and certainly less crowded.
| Top attractions |
|---|
| Piazza San Marco |
| Grand Canal |
| Saint Mark's Basilica |
| Doge's Palace |
| Rialto Bridge |
| Gallerie dell’Accademia |
| Murano island - see the famous glass being made |
| Ca d’Oro - 5th-century Grand Canal palazzo |
Featured holiday rentals in Venice
There are plenty of options when choosing where to stay in Venice if you are looking for self catering holiday rentals. With villas on the ouskirts to apartments in the city centre, there is a self catering holiday home to suit all budgets. Getting around Venice is best done on foot or water taxi as you simply cannot drive. All of the historical centre is pedestrianised and cars need to be left at the entrance to the city, typically at Piazzale Roma.
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Day trips
- Burano Island in the northern lagoon and famous for its coloured houses, fishermen and lace making
- Visit the historic city of Verona - famous for its open air operas
- Padua is just 30 minutes by train with the main attraction being the Scrovegni Chapel at Piazza Eremitan which contains Giotto’s early 14th-century Biblical frescoes
Twin centre holidays
If you are taking a city break in Venice, which can be exhausting with all the sight seeing, a train up to Milan and then the Italian lake district may be the tonic - relaxing within some of the most spectacular scenery in Italy all around you.
Our view on holidays in Venice
One of the most historical and romantic cities in the world, Venice takes some beating with almost too much to see and do in one visit. A great city break destination any time of year but especially in the 10 days leading up to Shrove Tuesday where Carnevale is held and the famous masked balls.
