Venice Biennale - art travel guide with local secrets and tips

Venice, Italy—the beginning of true love

The wonder and love I felt as a ten-year-old in Venice has lingered in my thoughts for years. I left with a small wooden gondola (that I still have), vivid memories, treasured family photographs, and a dream of returning to the magic and mystique.

My family photo in St. Mark's Square. I'm wearing a white shirt.

Family feeding pigeons in St. Mark's Square.

My family at St. Mark's Basilica in Venice, Italy.

Venice is the alluring romance of whispering canals, hidden masterpieces tucked behind heavy doors, and narrow alleys leading to unexpected street art. Its gorgeous gondolas gliding through a labyrinth of canals, the echo of opera singers serenading the city, and historic buildings brought into the 21st Century with remarkable contemporary art exhibitions.

Thirty-five years later, Venice exceeded my childhood expectations. It was even more charming and fantastic than I remembered.

The gondola ferry takes you across The Grand Canal for only 2 euros. If you find a Gondola Traghetto, definitely take it! 

What is the Venice Biennale?

Achieving my dream of attending the Venice Biennale was pure perfection, a lifelong goal fulfilled. Now I can’t imagine missing a single Biennale.

This year’s show, Stranieri Ovunque - Foreigners Everywhere, was curated by Adriano Pedrosa, the artistic director of the São Paulo Museum of Art in Brazil. The Biennale features 331 artists from 87 countries, and the title has a dual meaning: “First of all, wherever you go, you will always encounter foreigners—they/we are everywhere. Secondly, no matter where you find yourself, you are always, truly, and deep down inside, a foreigner.” The exhibition showcases artists who are foreigners, immigrants, expatriates, queer individuals, refugees, and indigenous people. It celebrates diverse backgrounds and marginalized groups. It was truly outstanding and inspiring!

I'm standing at the entrance of the Venice Biennale. Kapewë Pukeni by Movimento dos Artistas Huni Kuin is a vibrant mural painted by an Amazonian art collective.

Jeffrey Gibson –The first Native American artist to represent the U.S.

Personal Accounts by South African artist Gabrielle Goliath.

The Mapping Journey Project by Bouchra Khalili.

Miscegenation Masks VIII (Trans Body: Indigenous Yuracare Woman/Young Filipino Boy) (2024) by Sandra Gamarra Heshiki in the Spanish Pavilion of the Venice Biennale.

Painting by Brazilian artist Dalton Paula in the Venice Biennale.

Thresholds in the German Pavilion at the Venice Biennale.

Pro Tips for Venice Biennale:

• Please be mindful of opening hours and double-check them! While most places are open from Thursday to Saturday, planning is essential for Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday visits. I have included as much information as possible regarding opening hours on the curated art map of Venice (also embedded at the end). Sadly I missed some exhibitions because I showed up on the wrong day or after closing. A 24-hour time still confuses me.

• Venice has so much art that it is impossible to capture it all in one art guide. So, I've created a detailed map of the places I saw and loved. Keep in mind there's plenty I didn't see due to time constraints or because it didn't pique my interest. Also, if I wasn't impressed, I did not include it.

• I woke up early and started each day by sipping a cappuccino at a darling cafe, giving myself plenty of time to explore as I walked to the Biennale. Along the way, I treated myself to a morning gelato, checked out collateral events, and photographed myself in the Instagrammable hot spots of Venice before the crowds. I reached the Biennale by noon, ensuring I had enough time to experience it without feeling rushed and overwhelmed. Also, plan exhibitions to visit if you finish early; maximizing your time is essential if you want to see as much as possible.

Walking around under hanging laundry felt so European.

I spent all 4 days photography gondolas and each scene looks magical.

The narrow streets in Venice are so charming and photographic!

Gondolas gliding down a canal in Venice. So dreamy to watch!

The narrower the street, the better! Love these colors, shapes, and lines.

Venice travel guide for four days:

• Day 1: Visit Giardini Pavilions and collateral events

• Day 2: Explore Arsenale Pavilions and collateral events

• Day 3: Enjoy the Peggy Guggenheim Collection, Liminal by Pierre Huyghe at Punta della Dogana, and give yourself time to explore and get lost

• Day 4: Visit exhibitions you missed, do more wandering, and visit a few tourist spots (if that's your vibe!).

  
  Where to stay in Venice:
  I stayed in the delightful neighborhood of Cannaregio and highly recommend it. Staying in residential areas immerses yourself in authentic Venetian life while avoiding crowds and tourist traps. Plus, wandering quiet streets is my favorite thing in a new city; it's where I take the best and most authentic photographs.

Postcard views from Ponte dell'Accademia in Venice, Italy.

Windowsill with plants and a perfectly aged Venetian wall. These scenes are worth walking around for.

Palazzo Tetta is a building in the middle of two canals in Venice Italy. It is best viewed from Ponte di Conzafelzi.

More gondolas on the canals of Venice. I could watch them all day.

Top art exhibitions at the Venice Biennale 2024

Best of Giardini:

• U.S. Pavilion featuring Jeffrey Gibson

• Austrian Pavilion featuring Anna Jermolaewa

• German Pavilion

Best of Arsenale:

• The Mapping Journey Project by Bouchra Khalili

• Paintings by Brazilian artist Dalton Paula

• Albanian Pavilion featuring Iva Lulashi

Best Collateral Shows:

• Re-Stor(y)ing Oceania at Ocean Space

• Bangkok Biennale inside Palazzo Smith Mangilli Valmarana

• Liminal by Pierre Huyghe at Punta della Dogana

Top places to visit in Venice, Italy

Must See:

• Peggy Guggenheim Collection

• The Migrant Child mural by Banksy

• Despar Teatro Italia (a stunning theater turned supermarket!)

Best Bookstores and cafes in Venice:

• Libreria Acqua Alta (a floating bookstore on the canal)

• Libreria MarcoPolo (cozy independent bookstore)

• Sullaluna Libreria & Bistrot (bookstore and vegan-friendly cafe)

• Torrefazione Cannaregio (Venice’s oldest coffee roaster + vegan cornetti)

• Caffè La Serra (a beautiful greenhouse cafe)

Things to do:

• Take a gondola ferry across the Grand Canal for just 2 euros.

• Eat all the gelato, especially pistachio (is there anything more Italian?).

• Walk around and get LOST! It’s the best way to discover the city’s magic.

• Treat yourself to a massage or reiki with Rachele (+39 3779965488). After walking all day, this massage was exactly what I needed—and I loved it so much that I went back twice. Be sure to call ahead to book an appointment.

Go to Libreria Acqua Alta bookstore to find this gorgeous book displace. Look over the top of the wall to see a lovely view of the canal.

Peggy Guggenheim Collection, one of my favorite things to do in Venice.

Banksy mural, Migrant Worker.

Definitely check out Libreria Acqua Alta bookstore and sit on the gondola in the back room.

Laboratoria Occupato Morion murals in Venice, Italy.

Eat all the gelato. I put my favorite gelato spots on the map.

Torrefazione Cannaregio is an amazing neighborhood cafe that is vegan friendly.

Check out my interactive art map of Venice to find the best instagrammable spots.

Re-Stor(y)ing Oceania at Ocean Space.

The only map you need for the Venice Biennale!

This brilliantly curated map and art travel guide have everything you need for the perfect four days in Venice, Italy. It features my favorite exhibitions and experiences. It includes art galleries, museums, installations, street art, hidden gems, charming cafés, cozy bookstores, and picture-perfect Instagram spots—everything you won't want to miss!

I've organized the map into categories:

• Art (black paint palette)

• Unique places (maroon heart)

• The most Instagrammable spots in Venice, Italy (purple camera)

• Delightful cafés (brown coffee cup)

• Delicious gelato shops with vegan options (orange ice cream)

• Mouth-watering vegan-friendly restaurants (green plant)

• A few iconic tourist sites (yellow star)

When you click on a symbol in the map legend, you’ll see I've included many details and Venice travel tips to make your visit effortless!

If you’d like more info and photos, here are links to detailed Instagram posts:

Venice Biennale Best of Giardini U.S. Pavilion Austrian Pavilion Peggy Guggenheim Collection Street art Stickers Word on the street Gelato spots Gondolas Gondola opera singer Narrow streets Laundry hanging Libreria Acqua Alta More street art

Have the best time ever! When you post photos, tag me on Instagram (@in_pursuit_of_art) because I'd love to see them!