Venice’s islands

Where to go and what to see in Venice to get the most from your trip – a 5-day itinerary from destination expert and travel writer Nicky Swallow.

Burano is famous for its picture-perfect coloured row houses, and its lace-makers although there are only a few of these left; most of what you see is imported schlock. When it gets too crowded in summer, the adjacent island of Mazzorbo (reached via a bridge) is a tranquil escape.

The Giudecca was once one of Venice’s poorer areas, home to factories and prisons. Today it is a thriving, residential neighbourhood attracting wealthy foreigners and artists. Visit Palladio’s Redentore church, have a waterside lunch at Alla Palanca, and hop over to the island of San Giorgio to see another superb church by Palladio.

Watch in fascination as authentic artisans blow, snip, twist and tug at fiery blobs of liquid to transform them into exquisite glassy artworks – as they have done for centuries.

The Lido – a long, slim sand barrier separating Venice from the open sea – is a tranquil residential suburb that morphs into a beach destination in summer; it’s THE place to be seen during the Film Festival. For swimming and sunbathing, head to the free beach at Alberoni.

This local operator offers several different full or multi-day itineraries touring around the islands on the Eolo, an old-fashioned bragozzo (traditional wooden boat), staying overnight in upscale inns. Food onboard is gourmet standard. The captain, Mauro, is one of the best seafood chefs in Venice.

Crammed with picturesque canals, Renaissance palazzos and artistic masterpieces, this unique and alluring city is heaven-on-earth for art lovers and romantics.