Elizabeth Heath

What does it mean to be a local in Venice? It isn’t as simple as ‘someone from the place’. People flock to the city for inspiration or riches, adding to a diverse bloodline that has helped shape the city into a magical place. The traders of yesteryear are now the tourists of today, with the latter outnumbering full-time residents by a figure that makes ‘outnumbering’ feel like an understatement.While experiencing Venice as a local is nigh-on impossible, visitors can put themselves in the locals' shoes by staying in a charming neighbourhood, one that offers something different to tourist-filled streets, from cosy restaurants to curious bars and beyond. Here's our list of the best neighbourhoods in Venice to book your stay in.  RECOMMENDED:🛏️ The best Airbnbs in Venice🏨 The best hotels in Venice This article includes affiliate links. These links have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, click here.

Come Saturday, Sunday and sometimes weekdays in this wonderful city, you’ll find everything from flea markets for nabbing designer clothes and antiques to indoor food markets for cheese, meat, fish and more.   Some of the markets in Rome are touristy, some only locals know. But all of the markets on this list are well worth checking out. For everything from fresh groceries to secondhand furniture, here are the greatest markets in Rome, well worth your dough.  RECOMMENDED:🍕 How to eat like a local in Rome🍝 The best restaurants in Rome🍦 The best gelato in Rome🏘️ The best Airbnbs in Rome This guide was recently updated by Kate Zagorski, a writer based in Rome. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines. 

Between the endless things to do and multiple bowls of pasta you’ll devour on your trip to Rome, you might as well go shopping. Luckily for you, Rome takes shopping very seriously indeed.  At first glance, you might just expect pricey designer boutiques and jewellers, but you’ll be able to source a ton of vintage and bargain finds too. And if you’re only interested in a spot of window shopping? This is the place. Rome’s best shopping streets are a beauty. Here’s where to go shopping in the Eternal City.  RECOMMENDED:🏛️ The best attractions in Rome🍝 The best restaurants in Rome🏘️ The best Airbnbs in Rome🏨 The best hotels in Rome This guide was recently updated by Natalie Aldern, a writer based in Rome. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines. 

Forget everything you know about Rome, because the Italian capital isn’t just for city breaks. Once you’ve spent your days checking out everything this wonderful city has to offer, from the Colosseum and the Trevi Fountain, it’s likely you’ll fancy something a bit different.  Well if you do, you’re in luck. There are a ton of beaches just a short day trip from the main city, and they’re all easily reachable via public transport. The beaches here have something for everyone, be it watersports or family-friendly days out. Most important of all, you can swim at them, and they’re all very beautiful. From Terracina to Sperlonga, here are the best beaches near Rome.  RECOMMENDED:📍 The best things to do in Rome🍝  The best restaurants in Rome🏛️ The best attractions in Rome🏘️ The best Airbnbs in Rome Elizabeth Heath is a travel writer based in Rome. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines. This guide includes affiliate links, which have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, see our affiliate guidelines. 

Sure, Venice is the most romantic city on earth and all that. But don’t write it off for a family holiday. The Floating City is actually as kid friendly as it gets, not least because when you think about it, the whole thing is pretty much a massive playground. From its fascinating history to its winding streets and its iconic waterways, Venice is like one huge theme park. And we love it.  And if you’ve got kids in tow, we’ve got you covered. Grab a map and help them explore, watch glass-blowers at work, or take the infamous boat ride along the lake. There’s snacks, gelato and masquerade shows galore here, and the best part? No dragging them around on buses and trains. Everything you need is a short, scenic walk away. Whatever the little ‘uns want to try out, we’ve got it all here. Here are the best things to do in Venice with kids.  RECOMMENDED:📍 The best things to do in Venice🏛 The best museums in Venice🍴 The best restaurants in Venice🛶 How to experience Venice like a local Planning your next trip? Check out our latest travel guides, written by local experts. 

Venice, Italy is often associated with exorbitant prices, from gondola rides—singing costs extra—to the news of a trio of British tourists charged €526 for lunch on Piazza San Marco. While there’s no doubt that Venetian restaurants and merchants are creative when it comes to finding ways to separate tourists from their euros, hotels in Venice offer a refreshing surprise. Thanks to a market oversaturated with Airbnbs and other non-hotel type lodgings, there are more beds than ever in Venice. For travelers, that means some true bargains can be found, particularly if you visit in the off-season or book at the last minute. Here are some of Time Out’s picks for the beast cheap hotels in Venice. Note that by "cheap" we don’t necessarily mean bargain-basement, but rather hotels which, based on some combination of location, amenities and vibe, offer great value in La Serenissima; leaving you with more cash to spend on the city’s top attractions, best restaurants and a tipple or two.

What’s the vibe? There’s not a surface in Antiche Carampane that’s not covered by something—wine bottles, old photos, plaques touting the restaurants many accolades. Diners are elbow-to-elbow in this packed eatery, awaiting artfully plated seafood entrees that come out of a tiny, adept kitchen.  What should I order? The catch of the day is guaranteed to be as fresh as anything you’ll eat in Venice, and the wine cellar is packed with gorgeous wines for that perfect pairing. What are the prices like? This family-run eatery is proud of its cooking, and menu prices reflect that, though the wine list has several decently priced bottles. Mains cost around €30, with antipasti and first courses averaging in the same range. Time Out tip Fresh fish or seafood sold by weight can result in some real sticker shock on your final tab. For anything sold by etto (100 grams), make sure your waiter specifies how much your serving will cost before you confirm your order. This review was fact-checked and updated in 2025. 📍Discover the best restaurants in Venice

What’s the vibe? On colorful Burano, the azure blue façade of Trattoria al Gatto Nero is a landmark, as diners flock to this cozy, family-run eatery, open since 1946, for generous portions of fresh seafood harvested from the lagoon and the Adriatic. What are the prices like? Menu prices reflect the fact that you’re something of a captive on Burano when lunch or dinner rolls around, but this is Venice after all, where meals rarely come cheap. If you book far enough ahead, you can back a table by the canal.  Time Out tip For an only-on-the-island dish, try the Risotto Burano-style, made in a delicate fish broth and with a two-person minimum. The tiramisu here is also highly praised. Note: This restaurant is strictly reservation only, no walk-ins.  What’s worth visiting nearby? 1. Museo del Merletto: For history and demonstrations of Burano’s lacemaking traditions2. Merletti dalla Olga: For purchasing real handmade Burano lace3. Pasticceria Garbo: For authentic cookies, strudel and meringues This review was fact-checked and updated in 2024.  📍 Discover more of the best things to do in Venice

Stylish contemporary décor isn’t the norm for Venice hotels, but Charming House DD724 (and its sister property, Charming House DD694 is 1 minute away) makes it work, with sleek, understated furnishings and color schemes offset by bold shots of color. You won’t be overwhelmed with amenities at this boutique property, but a glass of prosecco at check-in, art-filled common areas and a generous hot and cold breakfast buffet are nice added touches. In-room extras include Nespresso machines, bespoke toiletry kits and natural mosquito repellant—a welcome amenity during Venice’s humid summer months. Time Out tip: For a quieter stay, ask for a room overlooking the Rio de lo Toreseie canal or the Peggy Guggenheim Collection sculpture garden. Nearby:Gelateria Nico: For a cup or cone with a waterside view of GiudeccaAi Gondolieri: For a celebrated meat dishes in a city famous for its seafoodIl Pavone: For Venetian handmade paper stationery, books and gifts

The area around Santa Lucia train station is not the most appealing in Venice, but this smart modern hotel makes up for it, with highly polished interiors, sleek, slightly posh rooms and a nice enclosed courtyard with tables, umbrellas and lounging areas. Rooms have wood or tile floors, tufted headboards and ample natural light. Beyond its convenience for those departing on early morning trains, the hotel is also a short walk to the Grand Canal and the main vaporetto lines to reach Rialto, San Marco and points farther. Amenities include a breakfast buffet and a small cocktail bar. Time Out tip: Rooms here tend to run on the small side. If you reserve through the hotel’s website, include a note or send an email asking for a larger room. Or ask for an upgrade at check-in. Nearby:Giardini Papadopoli: For a nice patch of shady green space across the canal from the train stationBacareto da Lele: For an overstuffed panino and a glass of wine to wash it down withSanta Lucia Station: For surprisingly good shopping, including Desigual and MAC Cosmetics

There’s something about Hotel Flora that evokes the Venice of yore, when the city was filled with small, affordable family-run hotels. Flora is an inviting sanctuary in the thick of San Marco, where longtime staff members offer a warm welcome and go out of their way to accommodate families with small children. An petite, enchanting garden offers a shady respite for tea or a cocktail from the bar. There are few hotels in Venice providing this level of comfort and service at this price point, and Flora is filled with repeat guests. Book early. Time Out tip: Frequent guests to Hotel Flora say that standard rooms can run on the small side, and that it’s worth paying extra for a larger room, particularly one facing the garden. Nearby:Teatro La Fenice: For Italian opera on one of the world’s most famous stagesSanta Maria del Giglio ferry stop: For a short-cut over to Punta della Dogana and La SaluteBar Longhi: For pricey cocktails and Grand Canal views

Casanova called this palace home while he carried on his trysts in 18th-century Venice, and while his rooms were probably slightly more grand than current ones at this budget hotel, the association with the notorious lothario is good fun all the same. Ca’Bragadin’s location, near the point where the San Marco, Cannaregio and Castello sestieri all meet, means you got both well-traveled and less-explored Venice right outside the door. Rooms, while not fancy, are bright and airy, and some are quite modern. Amenities include a tiny courtyard and free breakfast. Time Out tip: Economy rooms are a real bargain here, but note that while they have private bathrooms, facilities are not en suite Nearby:Santi Giovanni and Paolo church: For Doges’ tomb and a Veronese ceilingSuSo Gelatoteca: For artisanal gelato made with fresh, seasonal ingredientsLibreria Acqua Alta: For books piled everywhere in the “world’s most beautiful bookstore”

There’s been a church on this pretty square since the 600s, though the present Church of San Zaccaria dates to the late 15th century. The bones of Saint Zacharias (Zaccaria), the father of John the Baptist, still lie in this church, which was once the site of convent where the nuns, many of them daughters of the wealthy doges of Venice, weren’t exactly known for their purity and humble lifestyles. The 1505 altarpiece by Giovanni Bellini, Madonna Enthroned with Child and Saints is considered his finest work and a seminal example of the Venetian Renaissance. Pay a couple of euro extra to go down to the beautiful vaulted crypt, which contains the tombs of several doges and is permanently flooded. Time Out tip: Combine a trip to San Zaccaria with stops at several noteworthy churches in the same area, including the ornate, Greek Orthodox Chiesa San Giorgio dei Greci, Santa Maria della Pietà, where Vivaldi once gave music lessons, and San Giovanni in Bragora, to see altarpieces from Giambattista Cima. Nearby:Libreria Acqua Alta: For browsing the stacks in the “world’s most beautiful bookstore”Dal Moro's Fresh Pasta To Go: For elevated carry-out pasta with made-to-order saucesMagie di Carnevale: For handmade dolls, carnival masks and costumes

The menu is short at Antico Forno, the ambiance is of shoebox proportions and service may be brusque—that is if you can elbow your way to the counter, past all the Instagrammers snapping photos of the archetypally awesome pizza served whole or by the slice here, but always to-go. “Pizzaccia” is a thick chunk of lofty focaccia bread overflowing with pizza toppings, or you can get a regular thin pie or an overstuffed panino (sandwich). This is good, honest grub at fair prices. Time Out tip: Venice suffers from a dearth of public places to sit down, and Antico Forno has a tiny, SRO dining area. So make your purchase, then walk about 4 minutes WSW to Campo San Polo, where you might be lucky enough to snag a park bench on which to enjoy your meal. Nearby:Cantina Do Moro: For wine and cicchetti in a legendary Venetian hole-in-the-wallRialto Bridge: For swoon-worthy views of the most famous of the Grand Canal bridgesScuola Grande di San Rocco: For Tintoretto paintings in a dazzlingly ornate setting

There’s little not to love about the Castello sestiere, set to the east of St. Mark’s and spreading out to the end of the island. It’s Venice in all its gorgeous, crumbling glory, and is the site of historic churches, locals’ bars, hole-in-the-wall eateries and cheap to extravagant hotels. The neighborhood gets more working-class as you head east, which is just the way the locals want to keep it. Touristy highlights here include the churches of San Zaccaria and Santi Giovanni and Paolo, plus the Arsenale, the historic shipyard from when Venice ruled the seas.  Time Out tip: Lined with bars and restaurants, Via Giuseppe Garibaldi, in the eastern half of Castello, is a great destination for an evening out, and one place in Venice place where locals just may outnumber tourists. Nearby:San Pietro di Castello: For one of Venice’s most historic churches, set on a tiny islandPonte del Purgatorio: For photo ops of a tiny bridge named in honor of Dante AlighieriInishark Irish Pub: For raising a pint when you’re tired of drinking wine

You’ve probably already seen photos of Burano’s colorful houses, painted in those bright hues so that returning fishermen can find them in the fog. Though Burano’s age-old traditions of fishing and lacemaking are waning as time marches on, you can still find traces of them on a daytrip here, and you’ll get away from some of the craziness of Venice. Lots of people combine Burano with a stop at Murano, but do take at least a few hours to explore this quieter side of life in the Venetian Lagoon. Time Out tip: Consider spending the night on Burano so you’ll be there in the evening, when fishing boats pull in for the night, neighbors lean out of their balconies chatting, and the day-trippers have gone home.  Nearby:Museo del Merletto: For a fascinating look at Burano’s lacemaking traditionsTrattoria al Gatto Nero: For a memorable fresh-off-the-boat seafood dinnerTorcello Island: For a look at where Venetian history began

The women of tiny Burano island have been making lace since at least the 1400s, and this small, interesting museum tenderly recounts their history and traditions. Lace from Burano has long been a luxury item and at one point, hundreds of women were employed—often in sweatshop conditions—in the production of lace. A handful of lacemakers still live on the island today, and you can see them at work in the museum, which is in the former lacemaking academy.  Time Out tip: Real Burano lace is expensive, and cheap counterfeit products abound in Venice, most of it machine-made in factories nowhere near Burano. For a list of lace shops selling the real thing, check online. Nearby:Panificio Pasticceria Palmisano Carmelina: For homemade cookies from a postcard-pretty storefrontVia Baldassarre Galuppi: For a wander down Burano’s “Main Street”Trattoria da Romano: For risotto that is the stuff of legend

Tiramisu, the classic Italian dessert of mascarpone cream over espresso-soaked ladyfinger cookies, wasn’t invented in Venice, but I Tre Mercanti make some of the most creative varieties you’ll find anywhere—like mango, salted caramel (yes, please) or matcha green tea. At this elegant café and gourmet shop, you’ll also find gorgeous macaroons, plus cheeses, olive oils, and balsamic vinegars, all great gifts to take back home as souvenirs of your trip to Venice.  Time Out tip: There’s really no place nearby here to plop down and enjoy a picnic, but I Tre Mercanti is a great place for stocking up on provisions if you’re heading to Lido, Giudecca or the Biennale Gardens for the day. Nearby:Osteria alle Testiere: For excellent seafood dining in an unpretentious settingMuseo di Palazzo Grimani: For modern art, plus period furniture and costume in a former Doge’s mansionLe Mercerie: For getting lost in the retail bliss of Venice’s fashion shopping area