Experience a romantic gondola ride along the Grand Canal. One of Venice’s most iconic destinations, this distinguished waterway cuts through the heart of the city. A ride on a gondola down the Grand Canal is among the best ways to see the heart of Venice, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Travel to the Ponte di Rialto (Rialto Bridge). This famous structure is over 400 years old, and is the most historic of the four major bridges that cross the Grand Canal.

Spend the day perusing the storefronts in the Le Mercerie area, Venice’s premier shopping district. Located near the Rialto Bridge, this quaint neighborhood is packed with stores and stalls selling just about everything under the sun. For luxury shopping, head to the shops and boutiques of Calle Larga XXII Marzo. The name of this thoroughfare is in honor of the day the Republic of San Marco declared independence from the Habsburg Austrian Empire, March 22, 1848.

Enjoy the oasis of greenery and tranquility within the Giardini Reali, one of Venice’s most esteemed public parks. The gardens were planned by Napoleon during his occupation of the city, adjacent to his Royal Palace located within the Procuratie Nuove. Thus, the park is located near the sites of Piazzo San Marco as well as the Archaeological Museum and the Marciana Library.