During the 2024 Biennale we walked by almost everyday but were never able to get a table. It is now…read morethe 2026 Biennale and I finally was able to eat at Ai Artisti. Well worth the wait and the perstence. Great spot and highly recommended.

A MUST! We were so lucky to get in. Beware, you MUST have a reservation. We went to the website and…read more"joined the waitlist" for 8:30, but when we arrived we found out that really meant they were fully booked and you were waiting for a cancellation. However, the server was so kind and made space for us about 20 minutes later. 10/10 food, service, and atmosphere. It's a very small space but so intimate.

I have a rollercoaster relationship with Venice because I probably got the most beautiful pictures…read morein Venice for my European travels, but what you don't see in the pictures is how much I had to suffer getting around. On the island side of Venice, the buildings are extremely dated and there are no nice hotels to stay at. You relied on the vaporetto, or waterbuses, as the city's main public transportation system. It was inconsistent with long waits and it would be completely packed. Otherwise you mostly walked to get around, many narrow alleys, a lot of stairs and bridges, cobblestone streets. THE STREETS EVEN GET FLOODED!! Not even slightly but a few inches when we went in October. And ENDLESS SMOKING. There is smoking in other European and Asia countries, but the smoking in Venice is next level because YOU CAN'T ESCAPE IT. The alleys are so tight and narrow, if even one person smokes, the scene will fill the whole alley and there is no fresh air to help you escape. The best attraction is the Palazzo Ducale, or the Doge's Palace. It was absolutely stunning and terrifying at the same time. A true depiction of the Venetian past. I owe any enjoyment I had in Venice to my amazing photographer Marta from Picster who helped me capture stunning photos in the St. Mark's Square area. She also referred me to a Gondolier, Simone Furlanetto Sandolista, and we got to experience an authentic tour in a quiet part of the canals. We were here for less than 48 hours and it was quickly after getting here that we knew we would never want to come back. Also we were in agreement that we didn't need any more time here. It was crowded, hectic, and smokey. The hassle exceeds the enjoyment for us, but I understand if others would want to experience it for themselves. The only nice thing I got from the city was gorgeous photos.

I wonder what the weather is like in Venice today. Besides Paris, in my opinion, this is the most…read moreRomantic City I have visited. I went on a date with a young man named Georgio. We later wrote to each other. Then my letter went unanswered and I forgot him. I already had a boyfriend at the time anyway. Enough for my romantic secrets. You must take a ride in a gondola. You must eat in a beautiful Italian Restaurant. Please walk around Saint Mark's Square and visit the shops. Go to a lesson in glass blowing. Pick up some mosaic jewelry. Get kissed by an Italian.

Every day this square becomes a marketplace. It is the central meeting place for the citizens and…read morevisitors to the area. It has wonderful local products at very reasonable prices. http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/piazza-erminio-ferratta-mestre?select=tofpbGnTbl6g1WFw9JYWng#tofpbGnTbl6g1WFw9JYWng Of course, being Italy, it has lots of sidewalk, outdoor eating places. There is always a big crowd strolling and dog walking at night.

Well off the beaten path, next time I intend on making Giudecca more central to the plan. Tucked…read moreaway from the tourist crush of Venice, Giudecca feels like the city's best-kept secret. Quiet canals. Ghostly calm. Locals who actually say buongiorno. Its facades at sunset are cinematic magic; like walking through a dream that forgot to wake up. There's raw authenticity, like Venice without filters. Skipping the gondolas and getting lost on the archipelago could well have an appeal all its own.

This is an island all to itself. It sits across from St. Mark's and the Grand Canal. When you…read morewant to escape the crowds in Venice take a 3 minute vaporetto ride from St. Marks to Giudecca. Here you will find such peace and quiet. Giudecca has been many things - from large palaces to an industrial zone with shipyards, factories, etc. Today it is a quiet residential neighborhood.

This is also another review on watches. This one was bought during my trip to Venice, where they're…read morefamous for their Murano glass, and you can easily buy these Millefiori Watches With Leather Band, as tourists attraction. In other words, they're everywhere in Venice! That was 7 years ago, and I'm still loving & wearing this watch. Last night, I polished it so I can wear it during St. Patrick's Day, and the battery is still works . . . and all through March or when my outfit calls for anything in Green! I bought the green band, it was a hard decision, because I LOVE them all, and I wasn't just being impulsive, I NEEDED one from Venice made of Murano and I need one yesterday. I got online, in search for the address, and guest what? I'm in Watch Heaven! With this price, I can buy a white one, a purple or lavender one, sapphire color, and I can get them shipped free! I think I better go there and go shopping right now. Tru-lo-lo!

Our hotel offered us a free water taxi ride at our convenience to the glass center. Obviously, it's…read morea tourist trap. But it is also a truly venetian experience. The glassworks are extraordinary. You see the pieces being created in real time and then you wander the store. There's no hard sell but, hey, you just got a free ride and a lovely show. On a personal note, I fell in love with a piece. It's the most beautiful art I've ever purchased. Any subsequent questions or help I've needed, they've been extremely responsive. Even had I not found anything I loved, I would have bought something small and found it well worth the price of adventure.

Was walking by and saw how cute it was! Our group had time to kill and got a jumbo Bellini and it…read morewas amazing. Francesco gave amazing service and was super kind to us. Def a fun part of our trip!

We checked into our hotel around 1:30pm when most restaurants were closing after the lunch hour. I…read moresaw that Dal Moro's was nearby, and pasta on-the-go sounded like a good option for a late lunch. My husband and I found the queue, which didn't appear to be that long of a wait. There were a lot of people, of course, but they were filling orders quickly. While waiting in line, you pass by the window into the kitchen where you can see staff members freshly making pasta. It was good to know that even pasta out of a box can be prepared with the freshest ingredients. I ordered the pesto with garlic and pecorino, and it was honestly one my favorite pastas I've had in Italy. My pasta came with rigatoni, which was perfectly al dente.

TL;DR - That one spot we kept wanting to go back to. If you don't go for yourself, go for us…read more Picture this - you've had a bit too many drinks the night before, taken a 1 hour taxi, 2.5 hour train, a 30 minute ferry, and 15 minutes of dragging your luggage over the bridges and through the alleys. You're tired and ready for bed, but your stomach disagrees. Your Airbnb host mentioned that there was a "typical Venetian spot" a few steps away. You muster the last of your strength to make your way over, telling the owners, Stefano and Toni, that Luigi recommended it. What followed might've been a fever dream, but we remember it as one of the best meals of the trip. The pesto linguine (linguine con il pesto al Genovese) and spaghetti alle Vongole were some of the best I've ever had. The clams were fresh, the pasta al dente, the sauce light and authentic. We even got a refill of bread to mop it all up! Everything was simple, but made with care. The prices were very fair, especially for Venice. We knew that we had to make our way back at some point in the future. Eat there for us in the meantime.

We enjoyed our first meal in Venice. Truly outstanding…read moreItalian food. Authentic taste. We will definitely go back.

Torcello is one of the outer islands in the Venice lagoon and it took almost an hour and half to…read moreget there from San Marco - San Zaccaria area. The boat ride out is leisurely and you need to change in Burano. Torcello has very few inhabitants (possibly more cats than people) and is known for two stunning Byzantine era churches, one of which has excellent 9th century mosaics. The island is small, easy to navigate and has some natural beauty and wildlife as well as a couple of restaurants. I really enjoyed visiting this island. It's less touristy and more laid back. Excellent churches. Also look out for the devils bridge!

The Torcello island currently has eleven residents. Most tourists come to visit the Basilica di…read moreSanta Maria Assunta, which is a notable example of Late Paleochristian architecture. I would suggest to also check out the Ponte del Diavolo, which is a bridge with no parapets.

The Venice Mestre City Center is where our hotel was located when we visited Venice. Very…read moreconvenient, with many stores and restaurants. The area looks very safe to me. Of course, I do not say you don't have to use your common sense when you're in Europe. Please watch your wallet and passport all the time. I found so many excellent restaurants in the Venice Mestre City Center area within a short walking distance. So many supermarkets and even pharmacies in the area. We spend a lot of time in the evening. We enjoyed the safe and comfortable stroll through the streets while walking to the restaurants or supermarkets. This is an excellent choice if you're visiting Venice. The Venice Mestre train station is also the central hub in the area. It is also ok only one station to/from the island--extremely convenient when you're visiting Venice.

The City of Mestre sponsors events throughout the year including free outdoor concerts in the city…read morecenter. http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/v-WQ16eQcvnw7771Q_XPag?select=Mbuldpqt5MmTQ4Y8uY2esg#Mbuldpqt5MmTQ4Y8uY2esg When visiting Venice, you can stay near Mestre for a fraction of the cost of downtown Venice and enjoy a more relaxed environment with locals. Here is just one of the sites, one night http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/v-WQ16eQcvnw7771Q_XPag?select=7vTy6ekdoD0E7CRewUE0wA#7vTy6ekdoD0E7CRewUE0wA

This was only a couple minute walk from my hotel and it was wonderful. We got there a little early…read moreso we were able to get seated right away. There was definitely a line for tables when we left. We wanted a light dinner so we only got lasagna and a glass of wine, but the service was wonderful and it was the best lasagna of my life. The interior of this restaurant was small, but really cute all the food at all the tables looked amazing. I would definitely want to eat here again and try more things. This was a wonderful dinner.

This place was one of the first stops we made for lunch while walking through the paths of Venice…read more The scenery was excellent and the restaurant looked clean and high end for a good lunch. Unfortunately our wait staff had major issues getting the orders through. In the end what we thought were small personal pizzas ended up being full size ones. Simply too much food for three people. The quality of the dish was questionable at best and gave each of us terrible upset stomachs for the rest of our day in Venice. Overall just an extremely disappointing experience.