Book flights to Venice

You probably don’t need to be told where your first stop in the city should be when you travel to Venice. Head for the nearest gondola and take to the city’s waterways. This is an indescribably romantic way to see a city and it may well be the highlight of your trip. Take care to book your gondola in advance, as waterway cruises are extremely popular. Visit the website for the Istituzione per la Conservazione della Gondola e la Tutela del Gondoliere, for recommended itineraries.

Venice’s art scene is world famous and you don’t need to go far out of your way to see works by artists such as Titian and Canaletto. The city has dozens of galleries, but if you want to see the classics and take a tour of the city at the same time, then go and see them in situ. I Frari, a Gothic church, is home to Titian’s Assumption. Seek out the Museo Del Settecento Veneziano to see works by Giambattista Tiepolo or the Scuola Grande di San Rocco, a beautiful building in northern Venice that houses paintings by Tintoretto.

If you are craving yet more culture, pay a visit to Teatro La Fenice, Venice’s premier opera house, where you can take in a live vocal performance, watch a ballet or catch a concert orchestra playing some of Vivaldi’s great works.

There is also a cluster of islands in Venice’s lagoon that are well worth visiting. Head for Murano, for its exquisite glass; Burano, for delicate laces; and Torcello and Lido, for the Venice International Film Festival.

Beyond the inevitable (and rewarding) culture overload, there are plenty of attractions to suit all ages and tastes during a trip to Venice. Visiting a women’s prison might seem like an odd idea, but the Casa di Reclusione Femminile is much more than that. The inmates there run a tailors’ workshop that produces some amazing goods, from clothing, jewellery and cushions, to reproduction 18th-century costumes.

The Peggy Guggenheim Museum is perfect for children, as it is brimming with weird and wonderful art to inspire young minds. There’s even a sculpture garden for your little ones to stretch their legs and run around.

Your trip to Venice ought to include a visit to the heart of the city: Piazza San Marco. There are cafés here offering strong Italian coffee and delicious pastries. Meanwhile, outdoor orchestras serenade casual diners and pedestrians alike. Cast your gaze upward and you'll see some glorious artwork on the outside of the Piazza's buildings, which include the iconic Clock Tower on the north side of the square.

There are plenty of family pizza restaurants and those selling traditional Venetian fare, which can be surprisingly eclectic, differing from the pasta-with-everything menus you get elsewhere.

Its aquatic geography makes Venice a seafood specialist, with fresh catches each day. One of the city’s signature dishes is cuttlefish, served with its ink. It's incorporated into everything from risotto to polenta. Cuttlefish and cuttlefish-ink dishes are usually indicated by the phrase, "nella seppia" for cuttlefish, and "nero di seppia" for dishes that incorporate the ink (especially in sauces).

Venetians love to shop. It is as much a part of their way of life as pasta and gondolas. Consequently, Venice’s labyrinthine streets are stuffed with hideaway outlets and classy boutiques.

Mercerie, which runs between Piazza San Marco and the Rialto Bridge, is a perfect example. It is overflowing with shops and stalls selling handmade trinkets, Venetian sweets and small leather items. To the west of the Piazza, you will find Calle Larga XXII Marzo, a street famous for its designer clothing, shoe shops and high-end boutique stores.