We've been in Venice several times. Always a joy. But somehow we've never made it to Burano. So…read morethis time we did. Had a weekly pass for the Vaporetto and took the No.12 from Fondamenta Nove in Venice. The trip took around 40min. And even on a weekday in April the Vaporetto was completely packed. But Burano is popular for good reason, it's an insanely pretty place! The Vaporetto will stop at the northern part of the small island. And it is indeed small. You can explore it easy in a few hours. It's very walkable - and most parts are even fit for wheelchairs and strollers (special bridges for these). From here you best get to the Fondamenta Assassini and Mauro. That will take you Vial Baldassare Galupp, the main drag here in Burano with countless shops, cafés and restaurants. And the famous buidlings in all colors (not just on this street of course). Soon you will reach the main Piazza with the lovely Chiesa di San Martino. Its tower is pretty tilted/leaning. You can see it clearly from further away west. From there you can head to the Fondamenta Cao di Rio - a more quite walk along along the canal. We did just that and then walked along the also pretty quiet Fondamenta della Peschera in the south. That will bring you back to the Fondamenta Cavanella and then Fondamenta Mauro where you came in first. It's a nice little round-trip. Of course there's more to explore. But this covers the most important and famous parts. There's also good food. Many good option. Cicchetti of course. But we've felt like a real meal and had lunch at the Osteria Cicchetteria da Gigetto. Excellent fried seafood and wonderful pasta. Nicely located at a more quiet canal. It's a really lovely place, this small island. The colors are amazing, we were lucky to get a picture-perfect blue skied day. And the colors were really glowing. It's definitely a must-do at least once. The ride there isn't that much fun, but definitely worth it.

What a treat! Watching an authentic woman who has had the tradition of lace making passed down to…read moreher was an honor to witness! Looking around the island during my visit was special and hearing about the tradition of painting the houses in colors that stand out because the men who are fisherman need to see their house distinct from others in the foggy weather! True or False...Burano benefits by having beautiful homes that tourists find unique! We had lunch while On the island and the food was fresh and tasty... If in Venice..only 30 mins or so distance..you can catch a public water bus and I would say it is worth it!

Palazzo Ducale or the Doge's Palace was one of my favorite parts of my trip to Venice. Ducale or…read moreDoge means Duke. The Duke was the highest governing position in Venice, and this is once where they lived. While strolling St. Mark's Square I already admired the beauty of the building. The building has gothic architecture with influences from the Byzantine times, Islamic and European Medieval styles. My camera does not do its' beauty justice. The tickets to Doge's Palace are time entry tickets, but they didn't seem to be too strict compared to other museums. Tickets are 37€/person. There is a baggage check in area for large items like a backpack, at no cost. It's nice because my boyfriend and I left our stuff there, even things that weren't required to be checked so we walked around more lightly. I only kept my phone for photos. One of the first things I remember seeing is the snitch mailbox. In the olden days the citizens were encouraged to rat on one another and they can leave anonymous tips for the government here. Unfortunately as a result many were wrongfully imprisoned... and there is a full on prison in the later ends of the tour. It was really scary to walk through. On a more positive note, there had the most stunning golden staircase and one of the most incredible largest paintings in the world, the Il Parasido by Jacopo Tintoretto. A must visit when visiting Venice!

Situated between the Basilica di San Marco and the Riva degli Schiavoni waterfront, the Palazzo…read moreDucale, or Doge's (Duke's) Palace, is arguably the jewel in the crown. It was the seat of the government of Venice for centuries and hosted various government institutions, including the Great Council and the Council of Ten, which controlled the affairs of the republic. Its façade featured intricate marble reliefs, elegant arches, and decorative elements that showcased the beauty of the place where my partner, our friend, family members, and I had gotten self-guided tickets without a reservation last Saturday and moved quickly. One entered the palazzo through a door next to the Lagoon into an enormous courtyard and the Arco Foscari. Here we saw the mix of styles that made up the palace, as successive doges tried to make the palace ever more magnificent. Inside, one can explore a series of opulent rooms, grand halls, and ornate chambers adorned with exquisite artworks, stunning frescoes, and elaborate ceilings. Notable rooms include the Doge's apartments, the Hall of the Great Council, and the Chamber of the Council of Ten. Plan a minimum of two hours to get a good bit of history, which is a living echo of a world that helped shape Europe. We can recommend.

Ponte di Rialto, or the Rialto Bridge, is the oldest and most iconic bridge across the Grand Canal,…read moreand it is an essential landmark to visit when in Venice. The bridge connects 2 key districts in Venice: San Marco and San Polo. It was only a 15 minute walk over for us and as we approached I was surprised to see it wasn't just a bridge. There were jewelry shops, leathered goods shops, Murano glass shops, and other different types of souvenir shops. The only downside is that IT WAS SO BUSY. The crazy inconsiderate tourists would be walking and then stopping part way through the bridge blocking the flow of the walk way to talk their photos. I feel like you're obligated to see the Rialto Bridge if you're in Venice, but mentally prepare for some madness.

The Rialto Bridge is one of the ICONS of Venice! I was lucky enough that my hotel was less than a…read more5 min walk. It has a wonderful view of the Grand Canal..but for the best times to see it w/o the countless people taking selfies or blocking your view is to go early morning or late evening after the 'day trippers' leave! Tip: Don't go to the restaurants or buy souvenirs near the bridge...huge Markup on everything!!

The Bridge of Sighs, Ponte dei Sospiri in Italian, is a bridge in Venice, which is made of white…read morelimestone, has windows with stone bars and connects the new prison to the interrogation rooms. It's one of the most famous bridges in Venice, so expect tourists and crowds. I suggest you come here early during the day if you want to take photos without much interruption.

There is an old Venetian legend which says ... If two lovers…read more... kiss ... in a gondola ... under the Bridge of Sighs ... at sunset ... when the bells of the Campanile toll ... they will love each other ... forever ... The legend is true. Smooching while gently gliding on Rio di Palazzo under Ponte dei Sospiri (with a furtive glance from your gondoliero) is the most "romantic" way to experience this very popular tourist attraction near Canal Grande behind Palazzo Ducale. The other two ways to enjoy Venice photo spot #4 (or #2063 depending on which way your walking) aren't nearly as amorous. The "easiest" experience is to join the throngs of tourists crowded onto the Ponte della Paglia stone bridge (built in 1847 near Piazza San Marco) to get the same pic as every other single person that has visited Venice since 1848. It's a local custom (which may be an actual law) that you MUST take a picture of Ponte dei Sopiri from this view point. The most "educational" way to visit the Bridge of Sighs is the old-fashioned way ... like prisoners (such as the infamous Casanova) ... did since 1603 when being led from the interrogation rooms of Palazzo Ducale (Doge's Palace) to the Prigioni Nuove (New Prison). Take the self-guided tour of the palace to explore within the covered bridge. Inside, you can peek from the small windows carved into the ornamental Istrian limestone while learning more about why the bridge earned it's title as the "last view of Venice" ... causing prisoners to *sigh* on their way to the famously-cold, wet, and windowless jail. Why the sigh? Oh, it's this bridge. If you're already at Ponte dei Sospiri, why not take some (obligatory) pics? Whether they are the most romantic, easiest, or educational is forever entirely up to you.

At its peak, the Arsenal in Venice was 110 acres, about 16 percent of the island, employed 16,000…read morepeople and produced about a ship a day. The Arsenal towers are modeled after the Arch of Sergii in Pula, Croatia. It's still a state owned facility so only government and military personnel are allowed. Worth a look but not much to do.

I'll give this place a decent rating, even if there is pretty much nothing left of it, and nothing…read moreto actually tell you what went on here. Then again, the contents of the Arsenale were a pretty big secret and maybe much of it actually died with the empire. Still, it is nice to wander around, and there are even a couple of coffee shops as well (though they are more a part of the modern art museum). It is a shame though that they had done little to capture the history of the place.

Walking around Venice was a real treat!…read more You become emerged in the culture of Venice Italy! And there's so much that you can't see unless you walk around and checkout the city. I'm pretty lazy lol So, normally I don't like walking around. Venice has so much to see by foot though. It makes it worth the effort in walking around. There's so much to see to really enjoy Venice fully!

Do this tour! My guide was Simona and she was awesome. The tour was about 2 hours or so and she…read moreshowed the group the unbeaten path of tourists. The thoroughness of the details of Venezia was amazing. The entire tour was new to me and helped me understand Venezia and its history a lot more.

This Basilica is small but beautiful. Make sure to follow the dress code, knees and shoulders…read morecovered. There are additional features that you need to get separate tickets for (or get a bundle) so make sure to do your research beforehand and and book appropriately. It will be a short visit given the venue isn't large but it's worth it when you're in Venice!

Basilica di San Marco or the St. Mark's Basilica is dedicated to St. Mark, the patron saint of the…read morecity and a house for his relics. This is without a doubt the most important religious site in the city of Venice. At the time of our visit, there was construction on front of the building, but it was still beautiful. It is a masterpiece of Byzantine architecture with Gothic influences. There was so much incredible detail that went into every inch of the building. I did not get to go inside but the outside was already impressive. A great spot for photos.

Every time we come to Venice, we seem to find our way back here. There is something magical that…read morehappens when you look across the canal and see this traditional gondola boatyard. Can you even think of Venice without thinking of gondolas? This is where the artist makes and repairs the gondolas. This one is well known, as it is one of the oldest in the city - it has been going strong since the 17th century. Today, there are about 400 gondolas providing tourists with that romantic ride. What is interesting about this place is that it looks like a Swiss chalet. You can view the boatyard from across the canal.

An interesting museum with lots packed into a relatively small space. Plenty of models, cannons,…read moreand information on engineering. Well worth a visit.

This was a must see for me when I came to Venice. Why.......it's a naval Museum and it has models…read more Warning up front, this place is expansive and 5 ish floors. There is plenty to see so block off some time for this. I'm not going to spill all the beans, so just go if you are ever in the neighborhood.