Getting There

By plane: Venice has two airports - Marco Polo and Treviso. Bus #5 from Marco Polo goes to Piazzale Rome in the city centre and costs €2 one-way. A shuttle bus from Treviso connects it to the same square. That journey costs €4.50 one-way.

By train: Trains going to Venice terminate at Stazione di Santa Lucia in the city centre.

By bus: Buses going to Venice also terminate in Piazzale Roma.

Getting Around

On foot: Your feet will be your main mode of transport in Venice. All the city's main sights are within walking distance of each other.

By vaparetto (water bus): While they are expensive (€6 for a single journey), you will probably need to use a vaparetto at least once.

By traghetto: Traghettos are boats which cross the Grand Canal. Passengers stand and the journey, which lasts little over a minute, costs €0.50.

By gondola: As famous as they are, gondolas are only used by tourists, not as modes of transport.

Venice's coldest months are January and February but temperatures begin to climb up the thermometer in March when spring finally arrives. Between March and June are the most pleasant months to visit as it can get unbearingly warm in July and August, the hottest (and busiest) months of the year. In September temperatures become bearable once more, making it another of the best months to visit.

Embassies / Consulates

USA: +39 06 46 741*
Canada: +39 06 44 59 81*
Australia: +39 06 85 27 21*
South Africa: +39 041 524 1599
UK: +39 041 522 7207
Ireland: +39 06 697 9121*
Germany: +39 041 523 7675
Spain: +39 041 520 3709
New Zealand: +39 06 441 7171*
France: +39 041 522 2392

* Embassy in Rome

Osteria alle Botteghe, Calle dell Botteghe, San Marco For tasty pizza and pasta at prices that won't leave you wishing you opted for the cheaper snack option instead, locate this cosy restaurant just off Campo San Stefano. Pizzas range from €5-€8. It also has a wide range of cicchetti (Venetian version of tapas) and snacks. Open daily from 11am-11pm.

Trattoria all'Antica Mola, Fondamenta degli Ormesini, Cannareggio Of all the restaurants that decorate Fondamenta degli Ormesini, this is by far the most reasonable. Main courses will set you back anything between €7-€10 and the food is excellent. It is the perfect place to dine during the summer thanks to some tables on the canal and a garden terrace out the back. Open daily from 8am-midnight.

Arca, Calle San Pantalon, Dorsoduro Arca has been one of Venice's best-loved pizzerias for years and deservedly so. Pizzas are gloriously tasty and extremely reasonable (€5.50-€8). Due to its popularity it always has a nice atmosphere with a mix of locals and tourists streaming through its doors all day. Open daily from 8am-midnight.

Snack bars/osterias As eating out in Venice can be quite expensive it may not always be feasible to dine out. In such circumstances there are innumerous snack bars and osterias all over the city. Snack bars sell pizza slices for €2, paninis for €3, while osterias sell various cichetti such as clams and crab claws.

Gelato! Gelato! They say in Paris you are never more than 500 metres from a metro station. The same could be said about ice-cream parlours and Venice. Open from early morning until late at night, tourists wait patiently at various counters around the city for a nice (and cheap) treat any time of the day. A cone with one scoop costs €1, €2 for two, €2.50 for three or €3.50 for four. Flavours include nutella, pistachio, mint and peach.

Paradiso Perduto, Fondamenta della Misericordia, Cannareggio Nightowls flock to this jazz bar in the Cannareggio district every weekend for the live bands which perform between 9pm-11pm. After that it's Italian-flavoured music which prevails. This suits the local crowd just right as vino-filled Venetians serenade each other until the taps stop flowing. Open daily from 11.30am-3.30pm and from 9.30pm-1am.

Orange, Campo Santa Margherita, Dorsoduro Bright, bold, and always buzzing, 'Orange' is the coolest bar on the vibrant Campo Santa Margherita. Whether it's the orange-painted bar, the stainless steel seats out front or the beer garden to the rear, you'll find something in this newly opened bar that will make you want to return. Open daily from 8am-2am.

Café Noir, Calle San Pantalon, Dorsoduro Café Noir is a place which seems to attract a crowd up for fun every night of the week. This is largely due to Venice's large student population that spills from the nearby Campo Santa Margherita. Choose from a large selection of beers and spirits, but make sure to try a 'spritzer', a Venetian speciality. Open daily from 7am-2am.

Campo San Marco Just like all main sights in Italian cities, St Mark's Basilica looks even more beautiful at night than it does during the day. Wander down to Venice's illustrious square and you'll be treated to the sounds of a classical quartet entertaining crowds outside one of the square's exclusive cafés.

Margaret Duchamp, Campo Santa Margherita, Dorsoduro Of all the other bars dotted around Campo Santa Margherita, this one just across from Orange is the one most worthy of your attention. Attracting a young crowd from the nearby universities (like all bars in this square), tunes are chilled and there are chairs outside asking to be sat in. Open daily from 8am-2am.

Basilica San Marco, Campo San Marco Modelled on the Church of the 12 Apostles in Constantinople, construction of St Mark's Basilica began in 1063 after the original burnt down in 976. Highlights include St Mark's Treasure and the view over Campo San Marco from the balcony. Open Mon-Sat 9.30pm-5pm, Sun 2pm-4pm; gen. admission free.

A Symbol of Venice Ponte di Rialto, San Polo/San Marco Venice is built on 117 small islands which are connected by 409 bridges. Only three of them cross the Grand Canal that dissects this city. The best known of these, and Venice's most instantly recognisable landmark, is the Rialto Bridge. Built in 1592, this huge marble bridge boasts breathtaking views over the Grand Canal.

Doge's Palace, Riva degli Schiavoni, San Marco Initially built as a castle in the 9th century, 'Palazzo Ducale' is a Venetian Gothic building that was home to the Doge (Duke), the highest political figure in Venice. It was also the city's political hub for centuries. Today it's Venice's most popular attraction. Open daily from 9am-7pm; admission €9.50 (this is for St Mark's Square Museum Card).

Galleria dell’Accademia, Campo della Carita, Dorsoduro This art gallery is home to the most important collection of paintings in Venice. The gallery's 24 rooms contain works by the earliest recorded Venetian painters like Paol Veneziano and Lorenzo Veneziano. Open Mon 8.15am-2pm, Tues-Sun 8.15am-7.15pm; admission €6.50.

Cannaregio district Trying to propell yourself through the hordes of tourists in San Marco's and San Polo's labyrinthine streets can get quite tedious. For a break from the crowds visit Cannaregio, home to markets, the Jewish Ghetto and some great bars and restaurants.

January - Witches on the Grand Canal Held January 6th, this is one of over 100 regattas held on Venice's Grand Canal. Those taking part dress up as Epiphany witches on various types of boats.

February - Carnival Carnival is the biggest event on the Venetian calendar and has been since the 18th century. For seven days locals don masks and costumes for processions, masquerades and traditional ceremonies.

April - Up and Down the Bridges One of Venice's more unusual events, this 'race' sees competitors take part in a 14km run up and down the unknown bridges and areas of Venice.

May - Vogalonga First held in 1975, today this annual boat race attracts over 3,000 participants. The course is a long one, covering approximately 18km. The best place to watch it is along the Grand Canal as this is the home straight.

June - Sagra di San Pietro Each year in the final week in June Cattedrale di San Pietro in the Castello district of Venice is the site of a festival with dancing, eating and drinking.

July - Festa del Redentore Festa del Redentore is a spectacular event that sees fireworks displays light up the Venetian skies over the Dorsoduro district. It was first held in 1576 in thanks for the city's deliverance from the plague.

September - Venice Film Festival Each year the biggest names in Hollywood flock to Venice for this film festival, making it the biggest in the world after Cannes. The best film of the festival wins the coveted Golden Lion award.

October - Venice Marathon Venice's annual marathon is one of the world's most unique long-distance races and requires a lot from those who choose to compete in it. The finishing line is at Campo San Marco.

November - Festival of La Salute Just like the Feast of the Redeemer in July, this festival commemorates the end of a plague, this one in 1630. Its highlight is a procession across the Grand Canal to the Chiesa di Santa Maria della Salute.

December - Christmas in the Lagoon Campo San Stefano is the location for Venice's annual Christmas markets. Over 30 miniature wooden houses line the square selling seasonal goods and, of course, mulled wine.

Planet Internet, Lista di Spagna, Cannaregio According to this internet café's flyer, they have a 'turbo connection'. They'd want to considering their rates. In saying that, rates are just as expensive in most of Venice's other internet cafés. They enjoy a location just three minutes from the train station. Open 9am-midnight; €5 per 30 mins, €8 per hour.

ABC Color, Lista di Spagna, Cannaregio This small cyber shop is located down a small lane at Campo San Germia. Along with the obligatory internet access, here they specialise in CD burning and transferring photos from digital cameras to PC. They also offer cheap international calls to students. Open daily from 9.30am-10pm; €4 for 30 mins, €6 per hour.

Venetian Navigator, Calle Stagneri, San Marco There are two Venetian Navigators and both enjoy extremely central locations. This one is just minutes from the Rialto Bridge and offers all types of services, from email and internet access to laser printing and CD burning. They also have a collect call facility. Open daily from 10am-10pm (8pm in winter); €4 for 30 mins, €7.50 per hour (also on Calle Casselleria near Campo San Marco).

Internet Point, Lista di Spagna, Cannaregio Internet Point is one of the brighter internet cafés in Venice. There are 14 PCs to choose from meaning you're nearly always guaranteed to find one spare. They provide a webcam service, and sell stamps if you decide to go with the snail mail option rather than email. Open daily from 9.15am-11pm; 30 mins costs €4.50, €8 per hour.

Ruga dei Orefici/Ruga dei Speziali Located in the San Polo district, these two streets are lined with stalls selling everything from masks to football jerseys to ties. Unfortunately this means they are constantly jammed with tourists, but there is lots to choose from, particularly if you're looking for gifts.

San Marco District If you're looking for something smart to swoon the local men/women during your stay in Venice, the streets between Rialto Bridge and St Mark's Square are where you will find well-known high street shops such as Benetton, Footlocker and Champion USA. The only thing is you won't find too many bargains.

Venetian Masks While the tradition of wearing masks has declined since the fall of the Venetian Republic in the 18th century, you can still pick them up anywhere in Venice. Styles include joker, Casanova and Pinocchio and you can expect to pay anything between €10-€20 for the ceramic ones from stalls. Hand-crafted ones from specialist shops are a lot more expensive.

Rialto Produce Markets These vibrant markets are noisy, colourful and always buzzing with activity, making them a must-see in Venice. You will first come across the fish markets, complete with live lobsters wriggling away in hope of escaping the claws (pun intended) of hungry Venetians, then you'll see the food markets which are a far more colourful affair. Open daily from 7am-4pm.

Cannaregio This district on the northern side of the Grand Canal has just as many shops as San Marco except the ones here aren't as costly. The streets between the Rialto Bridge and Strada Nuovo are peppered with shops, as is Lista di Spagna.

Catch a traghetto Fitting around twenty people, traghettos are boats that cross the Grand Canal. As only three bridges cross this 2½ mile-long canal, they can save you quite a lot of walking. Even if you don't need to cross the canal, go for the journey as it only costs 50c and trying to balance for the duration of the 90 second journey is extremely enjoyable.

Wine will never taste so good Due to the amount of walking required from you in Venice, a large bottle of water will be attached to your hand for the most part of each day there. Rather than throw them away, bring them to one of the numerous wine shops around the city where you can get them filled with sumptuous wine for as little as €2.10 per litre. You'll find them on Campo Santa Margherita, Fondamenta dei Ormeisini and Calle de la Bissa, just minutes from Rialto Bridge.

Visit Venice's churches Some of Venice's most beautiful buildings are its churches, most of which are free to enter. These include Chiesa San Salvador with its paintings from the 14th and 15th centuries, Chiesa San Rocco which represents the structure of a typical Venetian school and Chiesa San Giacomo di Rialto, the oldest church in Venice.

Go to the beach Twenty minutes from Venice via vaparetto is Lido, home to Venice's golden beach making it the perfect place to flake out for the day when the crowds in the city get too much.

Buy the St Mark's Square Museum Card Costing €11, the St Mark's Square Museum Card grants you entrace to a total of 4 museums. This includes Doge's Palace and Museo Correr, two of Venice's best. It also gains you entrance to the Archaeology Museum and the Monumental Rooms of the Marciana National Library.

After breakfast visit Ponte di Rialto, Venice's best known bridge. Savour the views over the Grand Canal. Those from the southern side of the bridge are breathtaking.

Make your way through the crowds to Campo San Marco. Visit Basilica di San Marco, one of Italy's great cathedrals.

Grab a panini from one of the Venice's numerous 'snack bars'. Unless you suffer from peristerophobia (fear of pigeons), find somewhere to eat it in Campo San Marco.

Marvel at the ornate rooms in Palazzo Ducale. Highlights include Doge's apartments and the palace's prisons.

Upon exiting the palace, chill out at the steps at Piazetta San Marco overlooking Bacino di San Marco. Watch flush tourists part with hundreds for gondola rides.

Make your way back towards Rialto Bridge, en route for Cannaregio. You'll welcome the lesser number of tourists and enjoy exploring different parts like the Jewish Ghetto.

Enjoy a glass of wine and some cichitta (Venetian tapas) in a traditional Venetian osteria. There's one on Calle della Bissa near Rialto Bridge called Ai Rusteghi.

Arca, a restaurant in Dorsoduro, boasts some of the finest pizzas in Venice. Clear one off your plate in this pleasant eatery.

Finish the night off in Campo Santa Margherita, Venice's liveliest square. Its best spots are Orange and Margaret Duchamp.