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Venice, Italy

Discover Venice

Where the streets are made of water, a costume party erupts in the streets every year, and getting lost is the whole point

Venice is the stuff of travel dreams, and with good reason. The canal city is unlike anywhere else on earth, which means it's sometimes overcrowded and nearly always expensive. And? It can be absolutely divine.

The tiny island city, criss-crossed by a network of waterways of all sizes, is an attraction all by itself. Getting lost is a delight, the best way to spend a day, and also essentially impossible since you'll eventually bump into water at the end of a sidewalk and need to turn around. One of Venice's main sights, St. Mark's Basilica, overlooks the city's busiest piazza with its Byzantine onion domes and glittering golden mosaics. Rulers of the Venetian Republic once held court next door in the massive Doge's Palace, a tour of which grants you access inside the famous (and otherwise off-limits) Bridge of Sighs. Venice becomes a city-wide street party during Carnevale every year, with piazzas full of music, dancing, and revelers in costumes.

High-season visitors to Venice might find it hard to believe that the city's nickname used to be "La Serenissima," or "Most Serene." Day trippers and cruise ship passengers can make streets hard to navigate and lines especially long. But if you stay overnight, you'll be treated to truly peaceful evenings and mornings when it sometimes feels like it's just you and the lagoon. A magical Venice experience takes a little more work, but it's worth it.

Why we love Venice

Why we love Venice (1 of 5)
Venice feels a bit like you're walking into a postcard, which is a unique kind of wonderful. At the same time, it's still a living, breathing city whose residents go to work and do the shopping and take their kids to school. Aimlessly wandering gives you a chance to explore Venice's many faces.
It's an incredibly small city and easy to get around on foot (with the occasional boat ride, of course). With a little planning, you can see the sights in one or two days and still have plenty of time for leisurely strolls.
St. Mark's onion domes make for an interesting architectural break from the Gothic spires you're used to seeing on other Italian churches, and the whole inside ceiling is covered in huge gold mosaics. Just watch your step — the sinking city has made the mosaic floor uneven.
Festivals in Venice occupy essentially the whole city, from the riotous colors of Carnevale to the art installations of the Biennale. These internationally famous celebrations also mean accommodation can be hard to find, so book well in advance.
The Venetian version of aperitivo involves small glasses of wine or the local spritz cocktail and lots of bite-sized morsels called cicchetti — much of which features fish pulled from the lagoon. Bars around the city start to fill up in the early evening with locals on their way home from work (and visitors who know what's what). In nice weather, patrons spill out onto the sidewalks to enjoy a spritz in the sun.

Venice at a glance

When to go

fallAvg temp75° / 39°
springAvg temp71° / 39°

Visa information

U.S. State Department guidance

Safety

World Peace Index rankingEqualdex score

Getting There

Venice's international airport is small, but it's well-connected to cities all over the world. There are direct flights from several airports in the US as well as dozens of airports throughout Europe and the Middle East. The city's train station is also on the Italian high-speed rail network.

Venice airports

  • Venice Marco Polo AirportVCE
    14km / 9mito city center
    TaxiFerryCity busShuttle bus
  • Venice Treviso AirportTSF
    31km / 19mito city center
    TaxiTrainCity bus
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Venice flight trends

Analysis based on point.me exclusive flight data

Average fares

economy class

2¢/pointFare value

Typical cash

$1,425

Typical points

70,000pts

Lowest points

70,000pts
Average fares

business class

2.4¢/pointFare value

Typical cash

$6,632

Typical points

280,200pts

Lowest points

280,200pts

Recent award fares to Venice

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  • Atlanta (ATL)Venice (VCE)

    Oct 17, 2026first | multi-stop
    4d ago
    $15,775 Cashabout94,700 pts

  • Washington (IAD)Venice (VCE)

    Jan 22, 2027business | multi-stop
    4d ago
    $5,528 Cashabout57,500 pts

  • Baltimore (BWI)Venice (VCE)

    Jan 22, 2027business | multi-stop
    4d ago
    $5,535 Cashabout57,500 pts

  • Washington (DCA)Venice (VCE)

    Jan 22, 2027business | multi-stop
    4d ago
    $5,532 Cashabout57,500 pts

  • New York (LGA)Venice (VCE)

    Jan 22, 2027business | multi-stop
    4d ago
    $3,919 Cashabout57,500 pts

  • New York (JFK)Venice (VCE)

    Jan 22, 2027business | multi-stop
    4d ago
    $0 Cashabout57,500 pts

  • New York (EWR)Venice (VCE)

    Nov 19, 2026economy | multi-stop
    4d ago
    $668 Cashabout22,500 pts

  • Austin (AUS)Venice (VCE)

    Dec 07, 2026economy | multi-stop
    4d ago
    $1,157 Cashabout22,500 pts

  • Cincinnati (CVG)Venice (VCE)

    Nov 03, 2026economy | multi-stop
    4d ago
    $803 Cashabout22,500 pts

  • San Francisco (SFO)Venice (VCE)

    Mar 11, 2027economy | multi-stop
    4d ago
    $0 Cashabout22,500 pts

Explore Venice

Venice is best explored without much of an agenda, but if you need a to-do list here are five experiences that will help you see the best of this magical city.

Get lost
Visit St. Mark's Basilica
Get on a boat
Tour nearby islands
Sip a sunset spritz

Destinations near Venice

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Frequently asked questions

  • How many days is enough for Venice?

    Two days will give you a nice taste of Venice and allow time to see the highlights, but you could easily spend three to seven days simply wandering this maze-like city and discovering less-popular attractions.

  • When is the best weather in Venice?

    Spring (April-May) and fall (September) have temperate weather, though May can often be nearly as hot as the summer months.

  • When is the cheapest time to go to Venice?

    Hotel rates and flight fares tend to be at their lowest in winter, from November to March (aside from Christmas, New Year's, Carnevale, and Spring Break).

  • How far is the Venice airport from the city?

    The city's main airport, VCE, is on the mainland about 14km (9mi) from the islands, accessible via city bus, shuttle bus, vaporetto, or water taxi in about 30-60 minutes, depending on the transit method.

  • Is Venice safe?

    Venice is generally considered a safe city, though it is an extremely popular city that sees a lot of tourists, so you should exercise caution and keep your eyes on your valuables, especially at night or in crowded areas (including water buses).

  • Do I need to rent a car in Venice?

    A car will do you absolutely no good in Venice, where there's only one road (on and off the islands) and one parking lot. Stick to water transit and your own two feet.

  • Is Venice expensive?

    Venice can be an expensive place to visit, especially when it comes to hotels. A four-star hotel in a popular neighborhood can cost $300-$500 per night.