6 Must-See Venice Neighborhoods and How to Visit
Venice is made up of more than 100 tiny islands surrounded by canals, each linked to its neighbors by arched footbridges. This labyrinth of calli and canali—what the Venetians call their alleyways and canals—represents both the charm and the challenge of exploring La Serenissima, a city that defies printed maps and GPS apps.
Avoid getting in over your head by exploring Venice one neighborhood at a time. The city is divided into six sestieri (neighborhoods), each of which can be covered in a few hours. From the city’s blockbuster main squares to its lesser-known treasures, here are the six neighborhoods every visitor to Venice should visit.
1. San Marco
Admire Venice’s most famous attractions.
Virtually every traveler who sets foot in Venice will pass through San Marco, the city’s most famous neighborhood and home to its heavy-hitter attractions.
Saint Mark’s Square, Venice’s landmark square, sits at its center, flanked by St. Mark’s Basilica and Doge’s Palace. Meanwhile, the Grand Canal snakes around three sides of San Marco, spanned by the Rialto Bridge and lined by ranks of ornate palaces and grand hotels.
Like all of Venice, San Marco can only be explored on foot or by boat. Knock off its top sights in just a few hours with a walking tour that takes in both the A-listers and unsung delights like the Palazzo Contarini del Bovolo. Or, opt for a gondola ride through its picturesque canals to take in views of the city’s top sights from the water.
2. Castello
See the authentic side of Venice.
After checking the top sights in San Marco off your list, stroll through Castello to experience Venice like a true Venetian, far from the tourist hordes. Take in the spectacular architecture of the Scuola di San Marco and pause on the neighborhood’s Arco del Paradiso bridge for a postcard-perfect view of the city sans tourists.
The city’s largest neighborhood, Castello is the only district not set along the Grand Canal—but that doesn’t mean that it lacks its fair share of attractions.
Via Giuseppe Garibaldi is one of Venice’s most elegant boulevards, a wide promenade lined with excellent shops and restaurants. The nearby Arsenale and Venice Naval History Museum honor Venice’s legacy as a powerful maritime republic. Every two years, the neighborhood steps into the limelight as the backdrop to La Biennale di Venezia, one of the world’s top contemporary art exhibitions.
3. Cannaregio
Visit the former Jewish ghetto.
One of the most atmospheric districts in Venice, Cannaregio stretches all the way from the Rialto Bridge to the Santa Lucia train station along the Grand Canal.
Step away from this main waterway, and you’ll stumble upon delightfully deserted squares and canals in what was once the city’s Jewish ghetto. The area is also known for its lively bacari (wine bars) serving traditional cicchetti, the region’s Italian-inspired answer to tapas.
While exploring Cannaregio on foot, take a few minutes to marvel at the exquisite Ca’ D’Oro, one of the most beautiful palaces in all of Venice. The neighborhood is also home to two important churches: Madonna d’Orto, decorated with a number of Venetian Gothic works, and the 15th-century Santa Maria dei Miracoli.
Related: Must-See Museums in Venice
4. San Polo
This is the neighborhood for foodies.
Set just across the Rialto Bridge from the San Marco neighborhood, San Polo is Venice’s gastronomic hub. From the landmark Rialto fish market to the many gourmet food shops, old-school restaurants, and local bacari (wine bars), this is where hungry travelers should head.
The smallest Venetian neighborhood, San Polo has a maze-like center of narrow medieval alleys that remind visitors that this is one of the oldest corners of the city. After poking around in the fish market and snacking or dining, browse the area’s shops and pop into the Scuola Grande di San Rocco to marvel at works by Tintoretto, and the Frari Church, decorated by Titian’s masterpieces.
5. Dorsoduro
Dig into famous Venetian art.
Bordering San Polo and set across the Grand Canal from San Marco, the sprawling Dorsoduro district boasts some of Venice’s top art collections in its storied museums and churches.
The galleries inside the Accademia Museum and Peggy Guggenheim Collection hold works that collectively span more than 1,000 years of art history, and the Ca’ Rezzonico showcases the glory of 18th-century Venetian masters. And the neighborhood’s Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute and Church of San Sebastiano are both treasure troves of Venetian art.
After admiring the neighborhood’s spectacular art, linger into the evening when Dorsoduro comes alive along Fondamenta delle Zattere, a paved dock with trendy bars and cafés lining the canal.
6. Santa Croce
Explore unique museums.
This historic area of Venice flies under the radar of most tourists, which has left Santa Croce with a sleepy air that seems worlds away from the chaos of St. Mark’s Square. Set close to the Piazzale Rome transport hub, Santa Croce is an ideal stop for a final walk in Venice before heading off by bus or train to your next destination.
Wander the area, stopping for classic Venetian food in one of the many bustling trattorias. Then, visit Venice’s Museum of Modern Art, housed in Santa Croce’s Baroque Ca’ Pesaro. Just beyond the Church of San Stae, Palazzo Mocenigo is home to the Museum of the History of Textiles and Costumes, with a special section dedicated to the history of perfume.
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