4. Peggy Guggenheim Collection
6. Ristorante Antica Sacrestia
8. Weitere Sehenswürdigkeiten für Venedig
9. Informationen zum Hafen von Venedig
10.1 Meine Landausflüge
10.2 Get Your Guide
10.3 Viator
Venedig
Venice never loses its magic, no matter how many times you have visited. It is like a vast open-air museum; everywhere you look, there are beautiful houses, impressive buildings, museums, and squares to discover—each telling its own story.
What makes Venice unmistakable is its unique location: built on wooden piles, the city sits above the water, interwoven with countless canals. While a single day is certainly not enough to explore the city in its entirety, it is plenty of time to gain a wonderful first impression. Currently, around 30,000 people call this lagoon city their home
Entering the lagoon in sunrise
Even more beautiful than the departure at the beginning of this journey was the arrival at sunrise a week later. It is truly worth getting up early to enjoy the sail-in toward the harbor. There is always something magical about watching a city wake up. At this hour, Venice is almost deserted and breathtakingly beautiful.
Since we had already started a previous journey from Venice, we decided to stay away from the typical hotspots this time and venture a bit off the beaten path. We walked from the cruise terminal toward the main train station (Stazione di Venezia Santa Lucia). This allowed us to experience a different side of Venice right from the start. The walk to the station takes about 45 minutes.
The Jewish Quarter
From the 16th century until 1796, this area served as the enclosed residential quarter for Venice's Jewish population. As a result, this small island gave its name to all 'ghettos' of that era, and the term was later applied to similar districts elsewhere. Until 1796, although the Jewish community lived in very cramped conditions separated from the rest of the population, they enjoyed the protection of the Republic.
When Napoleon conquered Venice at the end of the 18th century, it meant freedom for the Jewish residents. However, during the era of Fascism, many Jews living in the ghetto were deported; today, only a very small community remains in the quarter. While the area was once quite run-down, it is now a charming, quiet neighborhood that is significantly less crowded—making it an excellent spot for anyone looking to spend a few relaxed moments away from the bustle
Osteria Del Cason
We simply wandered through the narrow alleys of Venice, away from the crowds. When we started feeling a bit hungry, we stumbled upon Osteria del Cason and spontaneously decided to stop for a bite to eat. The restaurant is located right on a quiet canal. We ordered bruschetta and gnocchi, accompanied by a glass of rosé wine. The food was excellent, though you should be prepared for 'Venetian prices.' Nevertheless, it is a very beautiful spot for a lunch break.
Peggy Guggenheim Collection
Peggy Guggenheim began collecting modern art in 1938. In 1948, she returned to Europe and moved to Venice. A year later, she acquired the Palazzo Venier dei Leoni on the Grand Canal, an 18th-century palace that was never completed. During her lifetime, Peggy used several rooms of the palace for exhibitions alongside her private living quarters. She lived in Venice until her death and is buried in the palace garden. Today, visitors can admire her extensive collection of modern art.
The museum is interesting even for those who aren't typically art lovers; we ended up spending quite a while there. It’s also an excellent tip if the weather doesn't quite cooperate. You can find 'skip-the-line' tickets here.
Teatro la Fenice
Venice's opera house opened in 1792 and was renamed La Fenice (The Phoenix) in reference to the fire of 1774. Today, it stands as the most important and largest opera house in Venice. Since 2004, it has also been the prestigious venue for the city's annual New Year’s Concert.
You can explore the opera house at your own pace with the help of audio guides, allowing you to fully soak in the beauty of this magnificent building. A visit is absolutely worth it! You can find 'skip-the-line' tickets here.
Ristorante Antica Sacrestia
After soaking in so much culture, we slowly made our way back toward St. Mark's Square. There, we met up with our friends to spend the final evening of our truly wonderful journey together over a great pizza. In the early evening, St. Mark's Square was beautifully quiet, allowing us to take a few more photos in peace.
We already knew Antica Sacrestia from a previous trip starting in Venice. It is located slightly off the beaten path and is a favorite among locals, which is always a good sign. The restaurant features a charming little garden where we, of course, loved to settle in. Both the food and the service were excellent, and the value for money is very reasonable by Venetian standards. We had a fantastic evening.
After our wonderful meal, we decided to walk back to the ship. Walking allows you to see a city through completely different eyes. Following a leisurely 45-minute stroll, we reached the harbor, where the AidaBlu sat festively illuminated before us.
Unfortunately, our journey ended here after one week. We saw so much, experienced a lot, and had a thoroughly wonderful trip on the Blu. One thing we particularly enjoyed on board was the Brauhaus (the brewery restaurant), which we visited every evening to escape the 'battle at the buffet.
Top Sehenswürdigkeiten
Venice is a very popular destination. Not only do cruise ships dock here, but there are also many day visitors. As a result, long queues can form at the top attractions, or tickets may only be available for specific time slots. For the following sights, it is highly recommended to book a fast-track ticket or a fixed time slot in advance.
Status 2025
More top sights for Venice
Venice can be explored very well independently. Here you can see the highlights awaiting you.
Cruiseport Guide Venice
Here you will find information about the location of the port, public transportation, rental cars, and options for independent excursions.
Book shore excursions
Meine Landausflüge
Meine Landausflüge offer you fantastic cruise trips at the most popular ports worldwide. Typically, they are available in much smaller groups and at more affordable prices than the cruise line’s own excursions. All our options are carefully selected to guarantee you an unforgettable outing experience.
- Small group sizes
- Punctual return guarantee
- Convenient pick-up and drop-off service from/to the port
- Money-back guarantee for itinerary changes and port cancellations
- Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the tour (Flex option up to 60 minutes before the tour start)
GetYourGuide
With GetYourGuide, you can book land excursions in small groups, often at better prices than those offered by cruise lines. All experiences are carefully selected and reviewed by experts. Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the start of the excursion.
Viator
Viator, a Tripadvisor company, is one of the world's leading online marketplaces for travel experiences. The platform provides travelers with access to more than 300,000 activities, including guided tours, day trips, attraction tickets, and exclusive experiences in thousands of destinations worldwide. A key advantage for users is the millions of authentic traveler reviews that help in making informed choices.
Viator is known for its high flexibility:
- offering free cancellation on many bookings up to 24 hours in advance.
- Additionally, the "reserve now, pay later" option provides financial freedom during trip planning.
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