FILYGUIDES: VENICE 24H GETAWAY
Goethe wrote that “Venice forces the eye to wander without rest,” and this is perhaps the most accurate way to describe this city. Because in Venice, beauty is never concentrated in a single place: it is everywhere. In the reflections of the water against salt-worn palazzos, in windows opened early in the morning, in small tables tucked away in a quiet courtyard, in the shadows that constantly shift along the narrow alleys. It is a city the entire world continues to desire and idealize, yet one that only truly reveals itself when you step off the most obvious path. You only need to walk a few streets away from San Marco to find a different Venice: slower, more authentic, made of small bacari where you can order cicchetti and a glass of wine while standing, and elderly locals sitting outside their homes. And perhaps the true luxury here is exactly this: having a Venetian by your side, someone who knows where to go, which alley to turn into without thinking about it too much, which bar to choose at the right time, which fondamenta to cross when the city finally empties out. This guide gathers our favorite spots: places to linger without haste, eat well, observe, and experience Venice in the simplest and most special way possible.
Eat:
Harry’s Bar
A historic and timeless city landmark. You must order a Bellini here, and on Sundays, it is worth lingering longer to order the ossobuco: a classic that captures all the understated elegance of the place.
Calle Vallaresso, 1323, 30124 Venice VE
Antiche Carampane
An authentic and beloved restaurant hidden among the alleys. Real, uncompromising Venetian cuisine with incredibly fresh fish and a local atmosphere.
Rio Terà de le Carampane, 1911, 30125 Venice VE
Bepi Antico 54 — Da Loris
A simple address full of character, perfect for a traditional Venetian dinner in a warm and familiar atmosphere.
Salizada del Pignater, 3186, 30124 Venice VE
Caffè Florian
The historic café in Piazza San Marco where time seems to stand still. Order a coffee at the table and watch the square slowly fill up.
Piazza San Marco, 57, 30124 Venice VE
Drink:
Vino Vero
A small contemporary wine bar in Cannaregio, perfect for a glass of natural wine at sunset along the canal.
Fondamenta de la Misericordia, 2497, 30121 Venice VE
Al Mercà
A tiny, historic bacaro near the Rialto market, ideal for a quick spritz and some cicchetti while standing among Venetians and travelers.
Campo Bella Vienna, 213, 30125 Venice VE
Sweet stop:
Pasticceria Nobile
A small, elegant, and timeless pastry shop, perfect for a slow break between one walk and another.
Cannaregio, 1818, 30121 Venice VE
Stay:
Palazzo Danieli
One of the city's most iconic hotels, overlooking the lagoon and just a few steps from Piazza San Marco. Decorated ceilings, a timeless atmosphere, and a view that is worth the trip in itself.
Riva degli Schiavoni, 4196, 30122 Venice VE
Don't miss:
Gallerie dell’Accademia
The best place to immerse yourself in Venetian painting: Bellini, Giorgione, Tintoretto, and Titian tell the visual history of the city here.
Campo della Carità, 1050, 30123 Venice VE
Museo di Palazzo Grimani
A surprising and lesser-known Renaissance palace with dramatic rooms and a collection that conveys all the refinement of aristocratic Venice.
Ramo Grimani, Castello 4858, 30122 Venice VE
Palazzo Franchetti
Overlooking the Grand Canal, it hosts temporary exhibitions and offers one of the most beautiful views near the Accademia Bridge.
San Marco 2847, 30124 Venice VE
Fondazione Prada — Ca’ Corner della Regina
An elegant space dedicated to contemporary art within a magnificent eighteenth-century palace on the Grand Canal.
Santa Croce 2215, 30135 Venice VE
Giudecca & Chiesa del Redentore
The Giudecca preserves a quieter, more rarefied Venice, far from the constant flow of the center. Walking here at sunset, up to the Church of the Redentore designed by Palladio, is one of the most beautiful ways to observe the city from the other side of the lagoon.
Fondamenta della Giudecca, Venice VE
