Venice Holidays

Explore the enchanting canals in Venice

Luring in lovers, artists, poets and traders for centuries, Venice simply inspires as it transports you into another world. Enjoy the delights that this historic and world-famous city offers by taking a tour of the islands, or discover hidden gems with a walking tour on foot.

Holidays to Venice have an unforgettable appeal. With beautiful historic buildings, traditional gondolas to transport you around the waterways and a romantic ambience to warm every heart, this really is a special place. Couples will love being punted down the waterways while being serenaded by the gondolier before alighting to enjoy a romantic meal for two in one of Venice’s traditional restaurants. But it’s not only couples who are drawn by its charm; the city’s historic buildings and splendid architecture are perfect for those looking to experience history and culture. Food lovers will enjoy exploring the streets and seeking out the most beautiful authentic trattoria serving up delicious delicacies.

Base yourself at the Hotel Monaco & Grand Canal for stunning views over the Grand Canal from this lavish 17th Century building and a central location which is perfect for exploring the sights of Venice. For a truly Venetian experience, stay at the 16th Century Hotel Colombina, overlooking a quiet canal side and with views of the Bridge of Sighs.

Did you know?

If you hop on the train, you can get to Verona or even Lake Garda in just over an hour!

The perfect opportunity to combine two incredible destinations on one trip.

Call one of our Italy Experts who will build you a custom holiday experience.

Our suggested trip itinerary

Enjoy an unforgettable trip to Venice

At Citalia we’re the leading provider of holidays to Italy, so we can help you to enjoy a city break in Venice like no other.

Train links in Italy are fantastic so start your holiday to Venice by train and travel into the city across the Ponte della Liberta causeway, which provides breath taking views of Venice. Find the hidden gems with Citalia and visit the Island of Sant’Andrea. Often forgotten in favour of Murano, Burano and Torcello, this island is home to a ruined 17th Century fort, while the rest of the island is untouched by humans, providing an ideal picnic location with unrivalled views over the lagoon and city. Spend an afternoon wandering the island, exploring the old fort and relaxing on the grass enjoying the views.

Why not get out of the city and visit Chioggia? This nearby fishing town is a quieter, more tranquil version of Venice. With its arched bridges and narrow canals, it is very similar to its larger neighbour, however Chioggia has fewer examples of striking architecture on a grand scale and less art. A day trip to this charming town is perfect for those looking for a calmer pace and a break from city life.

Excursions and experiences in and around Venice

Experience more of Italy by adding an excursion to your holiday. To pre-book one of our specially selected excursions, please call our Italy Experts on 01293 762410*.

/holidays/italy/veneto/venice/discover-venice-excursion/Discover VeniceDiscover the most famous sites in Venice on foot

/holidays/italy/veneto/venice/grand-canal-boat-tour-excursion/Grand Canal Boat TourAdmire the Grand Canal and its famous sites from the comfort of the boat

/holidays/italy/veneto/venice/islands-tour-excursion/Island TourA half day tour visiting three islands in Venice by boat

/holidays/italy/veneto/venice/walking-tour-of-venice/Walking Tour of VeniceExperience the main sights in Venice on foot, with a local guide in tow

Venice Multi Centre Holidays

Take a look at our suggested itineraries for inspiration, or call our Personal Travel Planners on 01293 762400* for a bespoke multi-centre

Venice and Lake Garda

11 day suggested trip

At a glance

Immerse yourself in the history and culture that surrounds Italy’s largest lake
Take a cable car ride for the best views over Lake Garda
Take a gondola trip on Venice’s Grand Canal
Visit Venice’s historic palaces and beautiful piazzas

From £1245 per person

ATOL Protected

Find out more about Venice and Lake Garda

Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, London to Venice

6 day suggested trip

At a glance

Unforgettable one-night stay on the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express
Delicious four-course meal included
Optional departure from London or Venice

From £4195 per person

ATOL Protected

Find out more about Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, London to Venice

Italian Cities, Venice

Magnificent views over the lagoon and St. Mark's Basin
Private launch to St. Mark's Square

Find out more

View all hotels

Things to do in Venice

Venice is a remarkable place with iconic sights and hidden treasures at every turn – it’s no wonder it’s on so many people’s bucket list.

For one of Venice’s most romantic sights, visit the Rialto Bridge, which spans the Grand Canal and, at the time of its conception, was thought to be too ambitious to succeed. This palatial bridge is buzzing with life and activity, with stalls to wander around and shops to explore, as well as a chance to simply take in the atmosphere at one Venice’s most important locations.

A must see is the Island of Murano, known as the Glass Island due to its famous glass making history. Here you can browse shops full of beautiful glass wares and even watch a demonstration of this wonderful art in practice.

Things to do Doge's Palace and Bridge of Sighs

The Doge's Palace is one of the main landmarks of Venice and was the residence of the Doge of Venice. Connecting the spectacular Doge’s Palace with the interrogation rooms of the city prison is the Bridge of Sighs.

Find out more about Doge's Palace and Bridge of Sighs

Things to doFamous Venetian MuseumsVenice has an abundance of amazing museums to suit every interest. Well known ones include the Peggy Guggenheim, Accademia (which is not to be missed!), Ca' Pesaro. Additionally, one of our favourites is the Palazzo Mocenigo for those interested in perfume and venetian costumes. Find out more about Famous Venetian Museums

Things to doGondola RideIf there’s one thing you do in Venice, make it a gondola ride. There’s no better way to see Venice than by boat, as you cruise through impossibly narrow waterways and underneath time-worn bridges.Find out more about gondola rides

Things to doRialto BridgeThrumming with life, the Rialto Bridge is as important to Venetians today as it was 400 years ago. If there’s one sight in Venice that everyone knows, it’s this bridge – and quite rightly so.Find out more about the Rialto Bridge

Things to doSt. Mark's Basilica and St. Mark's SquareDedicated to the patron saint of Venice, the Basilica di San Marco is an iconic landmark and one of the most visited sites in the city located on the equally as famous St. Mark's Square.Find out more about St. Marks Basilica and St. Mark's Square

Things to doVisit MuranoThe Island of Murano is actually a series of seven islands linked together by bridges in the Venetian Lagoon.Find out more about Murano

Flight Information

Direct flights to Venice Marco Polo airport (VCE) are available from Birmingham, Bristol, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leeds Bradford, London City, London Gatwick, London Heathrow, London Luton, Manchester, Newcastle and Southend and take approximately 2 hours. Transfers from the airport are by water taxi or water bus and take approximately 40 minutes to reach the centre of Venice.

Direct flights to Venice Treviso airport (TSF) depart from London Stansted, Leeds Bradford, Bristol and East Midlands and take approximately 2 hours.

When to go

Venice is a great year-round destination, with each month offering a different reason to visit. Late spring and summer are the best times to go if you're looking for warm weather. But to avoid busy crowds, visit during winter – the weather can get quite cold, but with this comes fewer people and lower hotel prices. Spring and autumn are also popular times to visit Venice, but bear in mind that between October and January acquaalta (high water) is more likely. However, it's still possible to access most of the city during this time using the temporary wooden walkways that are constructed.

Visa Information

At the current time, British citizens do not require a visa to visit Italy.

Tipping

Tipping

You don’t have to leave a tip in Italy – most Italians don’t tip for restaurant meals, bar drinks, taxi rides or hair and beauty treatments. However if you do leave a tip, you might receive quicker service.

Introduction to languages

Venice Specialities Like all Italian cuisine, Venetian dishes follow traditional recipes passed down from generation to generation, providing an authentic taste of the area you are in.

Located next to the sea, Venice is known for its seafood such as sarde in soar. Translated as sweet and sour sardines, this dish is fried fresh sardine fillets marinated in lightly cooked onions, usually with vinegar and finished with raisins and pine nuts all combined to create a tangy and delicious dish. Often served with wine as a small plate appetizer known as cichéti, it offers a real taste of traditional Italian cuisine.

Venice Specialities For possibly one of the most Venetian dishes around, try risotto al nero di seppia, a unique dish where squid ink is used to give a jet black colour to the rice. Don’t be put off by its strange appearance, this rice dish has a distinct briny flavour and is combined with wine, onions and tomatoes to win over even the most sceptical diners.

Venice HistoryThere is no official date of the foundation of the Venice, though it was in the 5th century AD that the lagoon started to fill up with inhabitants from mainland Italy. Venice City started as a refuge for those people seeking shelter from the Barbarians after the fall of the Roman Empire. For more than 1,400 years, Venice has seen people living on the waters away from mainland Italy and it has now become one of the most desirable cities to visit in Europe. Venice might not be the oldest city in Italy, but it is definitely one of the most unique.

Our recommendations

Insider tips from our well travelled team

Linda Kulka

Train travel is a fantastic and easy way to see Italy. Arriving in Venice by train is memorable - travelling across the Ponte della Liberta causeway with fabulous views from your window makes the perfect start to your Venice city break.

Find Out More

Venice Holidays

Explore the enchanting canals in Venice

Did you know?

Enjoy an unforgettable trip to Venice

Excursions and experiences in and around Venice

Venice Multi Centre Holidays

Venice and Lake Garda

Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, London to Venice

Handpicked hotels in Venice

Savoia Jolanda

Hotel Londra Palace

Ca' Sagredo

Hotel Bel Sito

Hotel Monaco and Grand Canal

Cipriani, A Belmond Hotel, Venice