Venice Top Sightseeing List
With only 24 hours in Venice, I wanted to see the gondoliers, magnificent architecture and explore some of its 118 islands, 400 bridges and 100 canals. Most tourists and even some locals get lost in the maze of medieval alleyways, so I needed to find a good place to stay and a local expert guide who could introduce me to the highlights.
Most of our group arrived by water taxi from the airport direct to Hotel Danieli, provided by Your Exclusive Services in Venice.
Here are my recommendations on where to stay, dine, and how to see beautiful Venice and all the top sights in a short time.
STAY: Hotel Papadopoli Venezia – MGallery by Sofitel
I arrived at Piazzale Roma near the train and bus stations, just a 2 mins walk to my hotel — the Hotel Papadopoli Venezia – MGallery by Sofitel. It’s been fully renovated and decorated in Venetian splendor – it’s an ideal place to stay! The hotel is in a picturesque location on the Tolentini Canal and surrounded by the Papadopoli Gardens. You can even watch the gondolas glide by from the lobby and the rooms facing the canal. It’s about a 20-30 minute walk to Piazza San Marco and the Rialto Bridge.
The Hotel Papadopoli MGallery is located in the historic city center, close to the Grand Canal and Constitution Bridge. Its 96 rooms and suites are designed with furnishings reflecting the elegance and splendor of the 18th century. The hotel is surrounded by art, history and culture: the Scuola Grande di San Rocco, with frescos by Tintoretto, the church of Santa Maria dei Frari with Titian’s Assumption of the Virgin and the Scuola Grande dei Carmini containing works by Tiepolo. Highly recommend this elegant hotel!
Good to note: When you arrive by bus or train, and stay at Hotel Papadopoli Venezia – MGallery by Sofitel, you don’t need to carry your luggage through the alleyways and canals of Venice to reach your hotel.
DINE:
These restaurants will give you a good taste for the amazing food Venice has to offer!
- Giardino D’Inverno – a romantic restaurant in a grand Venetian setting – regional cuisine – exquisite!
- Acqua Pazza – best pizzas in Venice!
- La Zucca – wonderful local cafe/restaurant with freshly made Italian dishes
SIGHTSEEING:
If you don’t have time to get lost in the labyrinth of alleys, but still discover some real “off the beaten path” secrets of Venice, we highly recommend you contact a fantastic tour guide in Venice!
Venice Tour Guide/Lecturer Extraordinaire:
Cristina Gregorin will take you and/or a group on a memorable tour of Venice, email: gregorin@tin.it and www.slow-venice.com
Water Taxi Services & More!
Your Exclusive Services for private and group transfers to/from airport to hotel, sightseeing the Grand Canal, or nearby islands (Murano, Burano), special events & more.
They will drive you comfortably anywhere in Venice and its lagoon. Tours – if you are planning to explore Venice and its islands, they have crafted some custom lagoon tours. Your Exclusive Services provides experiences from tours to transfers and can design your Venice dream trip for you.
More Sightseeing Ideas & Local Attractions – either walk or take a vaporetto….
Art & Culture
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Grand Canal
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Bridge of Sighs
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Saint Mark’s Square – Saint Mark’s Basilica and Saint Mark’s Bell Tower
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Doges Palace
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Correr Museum
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Ca Rezzonico Venetian 18th Century Museum
- Peggy Guggenheim Collection
- Santa Maria della Salute Basilica
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Fortuny Museum
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Rialto Bridge
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Frari Church
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Ca’ Pesaro Modern Art Museum
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Ca d’Oro Museum
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Redeemer Church
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Giorgio Cini Foundation
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San Giorgio Maggiore Church
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Glass Museum and Murano Island
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Burano Island
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Torcello Island
Sports and entertainment
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Lido Beach
Day Trips from Venice
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Treviso 18.6 miles
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Padova 24.2 miles. The city’s Botanical Garden is part of the World Heritage Sites List and definitely worth a visit.
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Asolo 42.9 miles
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Vicenza 47.2 miles The Palladian Villas are one of Veneto’s best examples of Architecture and were rightly nominated World Heritage Site in 1994
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Trieste 49.7 miles
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Verona 62.1 miles. This city is famous for Shakespeare drama Romeo and Juliet, but it is also part of the UNESCO list of World Heritage
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Dolomiti (Alps Range) 55.9 miles. These magnificent mountains were inscribed in the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites in 2009. More information about the Dolomites
Metropolitan City of Venice, Italy
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Global Adventuress would like to thank the following for hosting me: Cristina Gregorin, and the Hotel Papadopoli Venezia – MGallery by Sofitel and Giardino D’Inverno .
