Venice

Scarcely can a city take the breath away quite as effortlessly as Venice, and this magnificent beauty means that the charming Italian city is a big draw for visitors. There’s plenty of delightful architecture to gaze at, and Venice’s hotels take advantage of a rich heritage to produce stunning results. Examples such as Corte di Gabriela (Calle degli Avvocati 3836) and Hotel Antico Doge (Cannaregio 5643) combine elegance with modern comfort superbly, while the lavish Hotel Moresco (Sestiere Dorsoduro 3499) is just a five minute walk from Piazzale Roma. The island of Giudecca hosts the renowned Hotel Cipriani (Giudecca 10), which is great if you want to get away from the main tourist areas.

Venice is not in short supply when it comes to souvenir shops, offering everything from unique trinkets to mass-produced masks to top-quality glassware and fabrics. You’ll find similar gear stocking the shelves of outlets around the Rialto and St Mark’s Square, but a little exploration goes a long way in Venice. Venture to the island of Murano for celebrated Venetian glassware, while Burano is great if you're looking for lace items.

Meander along Venice’s alleyways and explore the hidden gems of the city’s streets, being careful not to fall into a tourist trap. Dal Moro’s (Calle De La Casseleria 5324) is famed for its takeaway pasta, while similarly popular among locals is the simple yet rewarding Bacareto Da Lele (Campo Dei Tolentini 183). If you're after something a little more up-market, enjoy the city vistas at Terrazza Danieli (Riva degli Schiavoni 4196), or the well-placed and highly-recommended Quadri (Piazza San Marco 120). Wash down your meal with a Bellini at Harry’s Bar (Calle Vallaresso 1323), one of Venice’s quintessential delights.

Carnevale di Venezia

February

The world-renowned Carnevale di Venezia is an enchanting masked ball of simply epic proportions. The run-up to Lent sees St Mark’s Square packed with musicians, costumed entertainers and other performers, while private masked gatherings are put on all around the city to compliment the open-air offerings.

Vogalonga

May

Thousands of wooden boats and human-powered crafts take to Venice’s waterways as an antidote to the increased number of motorised vessels, racing along a route that stretches over 30km.

Festa de San Piero de Casteo

June

The church of San Piero’s village green is the epicentre of this week-long festival that retains a quaint atmosphere through its puppet shows, fairground attractions, musical performances and food stalls.

Venezia Jazz Festival

July

This jazz festival spreads out from Venice to the city’s wider region, as leading names are drawn to the City of Water each year in July.

Venice International Film Festival

August – September

The Venice International Film Festival lays claim to being the oldest such international festival of its kind anywhere in the world, and can also boast being one of the most prestigious film festivals around. The Lido plays host to the event, which awards the illustrious Leone d’Oro, or Golden Lion, each year to a lucky winner.