Grand Canal

The palace-lined main artery of Venice's waterways

Of the 150 canals that weave through the streets of Venice, the Grand Canal (“Canal Grande”) is the most spectacular. As the name suggests, it’s the largest of the waterways and measures in at a massive 70 metres (230 feet) across at its widest point. 

Its total length is just over 3 kilometres (1.9 miles), yet there are only 4 bridges that cross it on the entire island.

The canal meanders from west to east and eventually joins the Venetian Lagoon at St Mark’s Square (“Piazza San Marco”). Along the way it connects to countless smaller canals to form the iconic maze of Venice’s water that can be seen from above.

As the city’s main waterway, the canal is often busy with boats moving up and down. These range from speedboats delivering goods to restaurants to gondolas giving visitors an experience to remember.

You’ll find a mix of hotels, shops and apartments along the canal-side. There are also plenty of restaurants and bars by the water. Stop to enjoy some local pasta, cicchetti or wine with an unbeatable view.