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Whatever your request, a Venetian will nearly always answer “sempre diritto ” (“straight on”). The idea is that by following the main flow of pedestrians you’ll reach the main sights. A detailed map is always a good idea.

Yellow placards point visitors in the direction of the main landmarks such as San Marco, Rialto, Ferrovia (railway station) and Piazzale Roma (bus terminal and car park). But be aware that inconsistencies in spelling may be encountered between street signs and addresses in this guide due to the Venetian dialect applied to local names.

The ACTV runs a marvellous network of public ferries throughout Venice and the lagoon. Buy your ticket beforehand or, if the landing stage is unmanned, ask the crew for a ticket as soon as you board.

A one-way ticket can be expensive (around €5 along the Grand Canal). You can get better value from a 24-hour or 72-hour ticket (€10.50 and €22). Children under four years of age travel free on all public transport.

A laguna nord day ticket is a good deal for the panoramic circuit via Murano, Burano and its neighbours, as well as Punta Sabbioni (see The Northern Lagoon). An equivalent applies for the LidoChioggia route (see The Southern Lagoon and Venice Lido) via a combination of buses and ferries.

If you’re staying longer than a few weeks, it’s worth investing in an abbonamento (travel pass). A passport-sized photo is required. Apply to ACTV/Vela at Piazzale Roma.

Charges are around €73 for 50 minutes with a maximum of six passengers, although this increases after 8pm. The gondola traghetto ferry service across the Grand Canal is far cheaper if less romantic (see Gondola).

Not exactly a cheap transport option, but it’s undeniably stylish to cruise around in a varnished waterborne equivalent of a limousine if you can afford it (see Vaporetto).

The €15.50 Musei Civici ticket covers entrance to the Doge’s Palace, Museo Correr including the archaeological section and Libreria Sansovino, Ca’ Pesaro (see Ca’ Pesaro Galleria d’Arte Moderna), Palazzo Mocenigo, the Glass and Lace museums (see Museums and Galleries) and Ca’ Rezzonico. The pass is excellent value.

If you plan on visiting most of the 15 outstanding churches managed by the Chorus organization, splash out on the all-inclusive combined ticket, rather than paying admission charges for each one. Included among the churches are Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari, Santa Maria dei Miracoli, San Sebastiano and Madonna dell’Orto (see Venice Churches).