The Grand Canal is the main waterway of Venice, sweeping in a magnificent S-curve through the heart of the city for nearly 4 kilometers. Lined with over 170 buildings dating from the 13th to the 18th century, the canal is an open-air gallery of Venetian Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque architecture, including palaces like Ca’ d’Oro, Ca’ Rezzonico, and Palazzo Barbarigo.

Crossed by four bridges — the famous Rialto Bridge, Ponte dell’Accademia, Ponte degli Scalzi, and the modern Ponte della Costituzione by Santiago Calatrava — the canal is the lifeblood of Venice. Vaporetto line 1 offers the most scenic ride, making every stop along both banks. Watching daily Venetian life unfold from a waterbus — delivery barges, water taxis, gondolas, and the occasional kayaker — is one of Italy’s great travel experiences.

Pro tip: Take vaporetto line 1 from Piazzale Roma to San Marco for the full Grand Canal experience. Sit at the front or back of the boat for the best views. For a budget alternative to a gondola ride, hop on the traghetto (EUR 2) — a standing gondola ferry that crosses the canal at several points.