Splash out on a gondola ride in atmospheric Venice

Believe the hype. Venice is quite simply the world's most stunning city - 15 million visitors a year (and some 15 trillion pigeons) can't be wrong.

Built on 177 small islands complete with 150 canals, Venice is a mesh of narrow streets, atmospheric bridges, Gothic cathedrals and colourful Moorish and Renaissance palaces.

Divided into six districts - Cannaregio, Castello, San Marco, Dorsoduro, Santa Croce and San Polo - Venice is blissfully free of cars and you'll want to explore it with boots that are certainly made for walking.

The romance of Venice lies in getting absurdly lost in its winding back streets, taking a vaporetto (small ferry) down the breathtaking Grand Canal and splashing out on a gondola ride at sunset.

The heart of Venice is the gigantic San Marco square, filled with overpriced coffee shops, overfed pigeons and overexcited tourists. Still, it's one of Europe's most jaw-dropping public spaces, domainted by a 99-metre bell tower (the views from the top are unbeatable), the elaborate St Mark's Basilica and the must-see Doges Palace.

Those interested in modern art shouldn't miss the Collezione Peggy Guggenheim. Equally, for a thorough education in Venetian art you can't go past the Academy of Fine Arts.

Venice is at its busiest (and hottest) between May and September. The year's biggest draws are the Carnival of Venice (a 10-day masked and costumed street party held in late February or early March) and the prestigious Venice International Film Festival held every September.

The much talked-up islands of Murano (famous for its Venetian glass factories) and Burano (with its colourful houses and lace production) can both be given a miss.

Marco Polo airport (12km outside Venice) and San Giuseppe airport in Treviso (30km outside Venice) are the city's main international gateways.