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Greater Venice City Breaks

Hidden Venice, off the beaten path

The historic centre of Venice is made up of six different districts, or sestieri. But step beyond the borders and you’ll find much more of this famous Italian city to explore. The Greater Venice area is part of the wider Metropolitan City of Venice, with its own charm and character. 

Along with the famous canals, the metropolitan region covers a diverse landscape, from the mainland's countryside to the alluring islands of the lagoon. It embodies everything that’s great about Northern Italy and the beautiful Veneto region. 

Staying in Greater Venice is ideal if you’re looking to save on hotels, leaving more money in your pocket to spend on sightseeing and souvenirs. It’s also perfect if you prefer staying in quieter areas, away from the crowds. So, if you’re planning a trip to Venice, the Metropolitan City of Venice, Italy, is an excellent choice. 
 

Explore our map of Greater Venice

Your Greater Venice questions, answered

You’ll usually hear Venice’s mainland referred to as Venezia. It’s just the Italian word for Venice, but it helps distinguish between the mainland, the lagoon, and its islands.
The bridge connecting Venice and Venezia is just under four kilometres long. You can cross it by car, bus, taxi, or tram in around five minutes. You can also take a 30-minute water bus to Tessera near the airport.
Venice is a hugely popular holiday hotspot, so expect to pay a little more than usual for hotels in Venice's city centre. You’ll often find more budget-friendly options in the Greater Venice area.
Venice doesn’t have a strip, as such, but it does boast some lively shopping streets. Strada Nuova is usually considered the main high street, packed with souvenir shops, bars, and restaurants.
Venice’s only official square is Piazza San Marco or St. Mark’s Square. However, there are loads of other unofficial squares – usually packed with local markets – known as campi, which means fields in English.