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Between the UK and Venice lies the vast chain of mountains that make up the Alps. You avoid the mountains when you take the sleeper train but, if you travel by day, you are rewarded with fantastic scenery and the opportunity to extend your holiday with nights en route in Zurich, Lausanne, Munich or Nuremberg. You can even travel via the Italian Lakes or the jaw-dropping journey aboard the Glacier Express.
Once you arrive in Venice, you can easily get around on foot, or take advantage of the city’s water buses (vaporetti) which chug up and down the Grand Canal or further afield to the Lido and other islands in the lagoon. At the top of the Grand Canal is Santa Lucia Station; at the bottom, St Mark’s Square opens majestically on to the Lagoon. /If you get lost in Venice’s maze of streets (and it’s likely you will so do more than once – don’t worry, it’s part of the experience!) the frequent signs to San Marco will always guide you back to the grand arcaded square, dominated by the ornately beautiful Basilica of the same name. Other iconic landmarks of the city include the Rialto Bridge and the Galleria dell’Accademia – all equally well sign-posted across the island’s narrow lanes.
Other not-to-be-missed attractions include the Doge’s Palace (Palazzo Ducale) overlooking the lagoon. It’s probably best to take a tour here to get a real sense of the building’s history. Highlights include crossing the Bridge of Sighs into i piombi – the dungeons. Directly across from St Mark’s Square is the lovely Chiesa di Santa Maria della Salute, built as a votive offering for the city’s deliverance from a devastating plague in 1630.
If you have time during your visit, it’s great to get out and about on the water buses around Venice so that you can visit other islands in the lagoon. The colourful islands of Murano (famous for its glass making) and Burano are well worth a visit, as is the Lido, where Venetians come to sunbathe on the beaches of the Adriatic Coast.
As Venice has canals for roads, private transfers will be boats that can meet you at the station or airport to take you to your hotel (or as near as it's possible to get on the water).
from £150 per transferDating back to 1340, the Doge’s Palace was the home of the Venetian Republic’s supreme authority for 400 years. Find out more about this mighty European power and cross the Bridge of Sighs to the famous dungeons.
from £44 per personEnjoy a half-day cruise to three of the most enchanting islands in the Venetian Lagoon. Watch a glass-blowing demonstration in Murano, see the lace workshops and colorful fishermen’s homes in Burano, and set foot on Venice's oldest settlement in Torcello. It’s a convenient way to venture off the beaten path without the hassle of navigating Venice’s public transport.
from £18 per personLove prosecco? Then this tour is for you! Head out of Venice into the countryside of the Veneto region with stops at Valdobbiadene and Conegliano. There are, of course, opportunities to taste the local prosecco at a winery with lunch in a local restaurant to finish your tour.
from £80 per person