Often the best plan for sightseeing in Venice is to have no plan at all. Those who choose to follow a map soon end up on a one-way street with a watery end, or cut off by construction.

For initial sightseeing, it is advisable for visitors to get on one of the main well-signposted tourist thoroughfares from the train station to St Mark's Square, either via the Rialto or Galleria dell' Accademia. As water is so integral to the city, another recommended way for tourists to get a feel for Venice and its layout is to take a vaporetto ride from Piazzale Roma, located in the far east of the city, right along the wide artery of the nearby Grand Canal to St Mark's Square in the centre.

The Grand Canal provides an insight into the very essence of Venice, with all sorts of waterborne craft, from vaporetti and speeding water taxis, right through to the more leisurely traghetti and, of course, the ubiquitous gondola.

All along the length of the Grand Canal are some of the most renowned sights in Venice, from the charming arch of the Rialto Bridge and the artistic treasure trove of the Galleria dell' Accademia to the more modern charms of the canal-side restaurants and the avant-garde art mecca of the Peggy Guggenheim Museum. Breaking away from the water, there are the attractions of St Mark's Basilica, the Doge's Palace, Basilica dei Frari and Scuola di San Rocco.

Elsewhere around the Venetian Lagoon are the enticing islands, such as Murano, renowned for its glass, Burano, famous for its lace, and Torcello, famous for looking much like Venice would have before the builders moved in. 

On a clear day, taking a vaporetto over the lagoon to the Lido is also recommended to see the city shimmering across the water with a hulk of snow-capped mountains as a dramatic backdrop. For repeat visitors, day trips to the surrounding cities of Padua, Vicenza and Treviso beckon, with good rail connections to all three.

Azienda di Promozione Turistica (APT, Tourist Board of Venice)
Giardini Ex Reali, San Marco (Venice Pavilion)
Tel: (041) 522 5150.
Website: www.turismovenezia.it
Opening hours: Daily 0900-1730.

Other tourist offices are located at the railway station and on the Lido, at Viale Santa Maria Elisabetta.

Hello Venezia (tel: (041) 2424; www.hellovenezia.com) can also provide information on transport, cultural events etc. in Venice. It has English-speaking operators.

The VeniceCard is available in 12-hour, 48-hour and week-long variations. It offers free public transport, entry to many museums and galleries, as well as shopping discounts. The VeniceCard is available from railway stations, tourist information offices and online (www.hellovenezia.com).

The Chorus Pass (tel: (041) 275 0462; www.chorusvenezia.org) includes entry to 16 of Venice's churches, including the spectacular Frari church and Palladio's Santa Sede Redentore. The pass lasts for one year, with proceeds going towards the upkeep of some of Venice's most historic parish churches. This pass is available for purchase at the tourist office, which will also provide a full list of the participating churches and their locations, and from the churches themselves.