A treasure trove of art and architecture, canals and bridges all resting on an island in a lagoon on the Adriatic Sea - there's nowhere on earth quite like Venice. If you’re visiting in the hot and sticky height of summer, you can escape the crowds by booking a hotel in a quiet area and taking ferry trips to less touristy spots nearby like the island of Sant'Erasmo (St. Erasmus), the agricultural zone which produces the city’s fruit and vegetables.
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Passing through? Hop on a vaporetta - a motor boat bus - and cruise along the palazzi-lined Grand Canal, Venice's main waterway. Stop for a cappuccino in St Mark's Square, then take a wander around the surrounding streets and explore the designer boutiques.
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Staying a while? Take a boat trip out to the islands of Murano, Burano and Torcello, famous for glass and lace making.
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The inside track... The elegant Harry's Bar is the place to be seen sipping a Bellini. It's not cheap, but the former haunt of regulars including Orson Welles and Ernest Hemingway is impeccably stylish.
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