UNMASKING ADVENTURE

Cruise to Venice, Italy

A floating jewel among Italy’s dynamo cities, Venice captivates in unexpected ways. Spanning over 100 islands, its maze of canals winds around world-renowned sights like San Marco Campanile— and tucked-away adventures loom beyond every backstreet corner. With no roads, the City of Bridges is best explored by gondola or on foot. Admire Palazzo Ducale’s pink marble colonnades and explore the city’s political life in Doge’s Palace. View Venetian masterworks in Gallerie dell'Accademia or relish Italian opera in Teatro La Fenice. From sunning along the Adriatic to shopping in waterfront markets to engaging in a Venetian Carnevale mask-making workshop, Venice’s serene waterscape overflows with adventure.

National Language Italian

Currency Accepted Euro (EUR)

Things To Do in Venice

The San Marco basilica in Venice, Italy

IN GOOD CAMPANILE

Discover the heart of Venice in Piazza San Marco, home to outdoor cafés and flocks of hungry pigeons. Enter San Marco Basilica to admire its Byzantine architecture and golden mosaics. Then take an elevator to the top of the 320-foot-tall Campanile bell tower for rewarding views of Venice.

A group riding in a gondola in Venice, Italy

PADDLE THROUGH THE AGES

A boat cruise is a must-do when visiting the City of Canals. Relax in a gondola, as you’re rowed along the Grand Canal and under the stone-arch Rialto Bridge. Paddle your own kayak through the Venetian lagoon. Or take the motorized Vaporetto waterbus around neighboring islands.

SEE HOW IT’S MADE

Travel to the offshore island of Murano to go behind the scenes in a historical glass-blowing factory. Watch local artisans create one-of-a-kind glassworks, using techniques dating from the 13th century. You can even bring home your own masterpiece from one of the island’s glass showrooms.

Tables set up at a waterfront café in Venice, Italy

LOCAL CUISINE

Fresh-off-the-boat seafood from the surrounding lagoon highlights many Venetian menus. Try fritto misto (lightly fried seafood) or risotto frutti di mare (fruit of the sea). Afternoon cicchetti (small plates) come in the form of meatballs and bruschetta, while baicoli (thin oval cookies) and fregolotta (almond cake) satisfy dessert lovers. Enjoy a bellini in Harry’s Bar, birthplace of the Italian cocktail.

SHOPPING

A string of souvenir kiosks borders the Grand Canal, but roam the backstreets to shop artisan studios. Pick up authentic Venetian pearl jewelry, marbled paper travel journals and long-nosed carnival masks. Burano is known for its handmade lace products, while hand-blown Murano glass comes in the form of vases, jewelry and housewares.