Venice experiences very high humidity, with hot weather in July and August, the height of summer. Temperatures in summer usually range between 86°F to 91°F (30°C to 33°C), dropping in winter to between 32°F and 37°F (0°C to 3°C). Due to its location on the Adriatic coast, Venice often experiences thunderstorms and rain showers which, particularly in spring and autumn, tend to cause flooding. Known as the 'acqua alta, ' it is best to pack waterproof shoes or boots to avoid a soaking. April to October is usually the busiest time in Venice, though it is a popular destination all year round. Christmas, Easter, Carnival (in February) and the Venice International Film Festival (in August) are also busy periods, and winter is perhaps the best time to travel to Venice to avoid crowds and find better rates on accommodation.

While Venice's cuisine can't compare with many other Italian destinations, it does have some wonderful restaurants featuring the cuisine of the Veneto. Near the Rialto Bridge, there is a string of restaurants with tables along the canal, where you can enjoy the quintessential Venetian practice of dining by the canal lights. The Dorsoduro area has the highest concentration of places where locals, especially students, go to eat.

One of Venetian cuisine's most celebrated ingredients is cuttlefish, and its ink. This powerful black ink serves as an ingredient and a sauce in polenta (corn meal), risotto (rice), and pasta dishes. Despite the intensity in colour, the ink has an unexpectedly mild taste. Also popular in Venetian restaurants and bars is cicchetti(Italian tapas), which is usually made up of small servings of fish, little sandwiches, plates of olives or even very small servings of regular full-course meals.

For fresh fruit, including chilled coconut, visit the street market stalls. If self-catering, the Rialto food markets are the best place to find fruit, vegetables and cheese; and a huge range of seafood, most of it fresh out of the lagoon.

Travellers looking for authentic Venetian cuisine and prices should avoid establishments with menus in six different languages displayed in the windows, and rather head away from the tourist centre to look for quaint and welcoming eateries tucked away in the city's nooks and crannies.

As you might expect from a city famous for its canals, water is the main medium of transport in Venice. Water buses, known as Vaporetti, ply the Grand Canal and make scheduled stops. Instead of taxi cabs, visitors can hire a water taxi or a gondola, piloted by a stripe-shirted gondolier, who for an extra fee will serenade his passengers as he poles them through the waterways. Though an iconic experience of a Venetian holioday, the gondola option is exceedingly expensive. Once ashore the only way to explore is on foot, through the narrow alleys and lively squares; there are no cars at all in Venice.

With such a rich and diverse cultural history, many would think that Venice would be a dull holiday destination for kids. But on the contrary, this beautiful canal-lined city offers its younger visitors plenty to see and do.

Obviously a ride on one of the famed gondolas will be a memorable experience for children of all ages, and highlights are guaranteed to include spotting the fire fighters' boat, the ambulance boat and many more. While parents are admiring the architecture in St Mark's Square, be sure the kids have enough breadcrumbs to feed the hundreds of pigeons this square is known for. Kids will also enjoy the Peggy Guggenheim Collection, as there is lots of space to run around outside, and Parco delle Rimembranze is probably the best-suited park for children in Venice and a great place to head for a picnic or a stroll. For outdoorsy families, a hike or walk in the Po Delta Natural Park is a must.

On rainy days, visit some of the museums this historic city has to offer, such as the Naval Museum or the Museum of Natural History. A trip to the nearby island of Murano is also a must, where children will be mesmerised by the glass-blowers and their incredible creations.

The official language of Italy is Italian. English is understood in the larger cities but not in the more remote parts of the country.

The Euro (EUR) is the official currency, which is divided into 100 cents. Those arriving in Italy with foreign currency can obtain Euros through any bank, ATM or bureaux de change. ATMs are widespread. Travellers cheques can be exchanged with ease in the large cities, not so in the smaller towns. Credit cards are accepted in upmarket establishments and shops around the cities. Banks are closed on weekends, but tend to have better rates than casas de cambios.

Venice is not famed for a hectic nightlife but the persistent will persevere... Piazza San Marco has the most popular social venues, and the tourist information centres have current English-language schedules of special events. The Ospite di Veneziaguide is available in the more expensive hotels.

Cafés abound in Venice, one of the most popular being Taverna del Campiello Remer, near the Grand Canal's Rialto bridge, which often has live music. Near San Marco, Caffè Lavena and Caffè Quadri (the first to serve coffee in Venice) are also worth visiting. In Campo Santo Stefano, the Paolin Bar and Gelateria serves the best ice-cream. The Devil's Forest Pub sees patrons enjoying backgammon, chess and Trivial Pursuit, while Bacaro Jazz cocktail bar has great Bellinis. El Moro Pub boasts numerous beers on tap and a TV (smokers welcome!), and Torino@Notte offers live jazz performances and beer from Lapland.

Nightclubs are more limited: Piccolo Mondo, on Dorsoduro, has disco nights during summer; and Casanova on Lista di Spoagna is also quite popular. Visitors are better off trying their luck at one of the city's casinos, the most acclaimed being Casino Municipale di Venezia (note: a passport and jacket are required for entry). Otherwise, there are regular classical-music concerts, with the Vivaldi Church, San Stefano, Chiesa di Vivaldi and the Scuola di San Giovanni Evangelista being popular venues.

Venice still has a few residents who work in the non-tourism industries, but these are comparatively rare today. The city's waterways can be difficult to navigate so you should buy items you want immediately, rather than risk not being able to find the store later on. The Rialto is the commercial core of Venice, famous for being the site where the first bridge over the Grand Canal was built. Most shops in Venice are closed for an extended lunch hour.

Visit Venetia Studium on San Marco for fine velvets and silks, of every imaginable colour, woven into subtle scarves, delicate evening bags and luxurious pillows. You can buy unique costumes and masks at Atelier Marega, where you can often see the preparation and painting of the masks. Francis Model sells locally-crafted leather goods, and for gloves and accessories go to Fanny, on Calle dei Saoneri and Campo San Polo. Handmade paper and beautiful miniature buildings, made by Moro, can also be found in Venice. Look out for handmade examples of Venetian glass ( Muranoglass) and fine lace sold throughout the city.

VAT (IVA in Italy) of 20% is added on to the price of all consumer goods, and tourists can apply for a tax refund. Some shops participating in a Tax-free Shopping programme.

Mention Venice and the image of beautifully-lit canals and graceful gondoliers comes to mind. This romantic city does, however, boast many more excellent tourist attractions...

The Grand Canal ( Canalazzo), Venice's main waterway, divides the city with sestierito the west and east of it. It is the core around which much of the activity in Venice is conducted, surrounded by the elegant facades of the palazzi. A 'must-see' is St Mark's Square ( Piazza San Marco), in the heart of Venice. Basilica dei Frari, a Gothic Franciscan church, was constructed in the 14th century and is mostly known for being the gravesite of Titian and the Venetian sculptor, Antonio Canova.

Explore the School of St Roch or the Gallerie dell'Academia, which houses one of Europe's finest art collections from the 14th to 18th centuries. Visit the historic La Fenice Theater or the Jewish Ghetto of Venice, where the word 'ghetto' derives from. Life is still very active in the ghetto, home to five synagogues, as well as various shops and restaurants.

The traditional mode of transport in Venice is by foot or boat, so enjoy the strolls and relaxed boat trips. All visitors to Venice should buy a Venice Card, as it gives you use of the main tourist services, including optional discounted airport transfers, vaporettoservices and admission to some museums and attractions.