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Say “Venice” to almost anyone on earth and pictures of canals, gondolas, and gorgeous buildings rising straight out of the water will almost surely spring immediately to mind. Such is the fame of this ancient city that it’s one of the top destinations for almost any first-time visitor to Italy - and with good reason!

Here, you’ll find no cars or honking horns; just canals, boats, and narrow streets winding off in every direction, often ending at pretty bridges, cute little squares, or glorious centuries-old buildings.

Once the capital of the powerful Venetian Republic and a center for trade and commerce, wealth poured into Venice for centuries, a legacy that is on full display everywhere you look, with magnificent art and architecture on almost every corner.

But of course, with so much to offer, Venice is squarely on the tourist map, and this city has been one of the most visited places in the world for centuries. Today, millions of people arrive here every year for multi-day stays or quick day trips, clogging the streets and filling up its restaurants and monuments.

What this means, of course, is that choosing where to stay is increasingly important, because in a city overrun by tourism, you have to work hard to avoid the tourist traps and to find a tranquil base that you’ll actually want to return to after busy days touring and jostling through crowds.

To help you decide which area is right for you, I’ve put together below an explanation of Venice’s layout, followed by in-depth descriptions of the city’s 5 central and historic neighborhoods.

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Overview of Venice’s layout

Explaining Venice’s layout is actually pretty complicated, because the city is really a collection of around 100 small islands dotting the Venetian Lagoon, long and narrow barrier islands protecting it, and a stretch of heavily urban terrain on the Italian mainland.

This means that Venice doesn’t have neat boundaries like a normal mainland city. However, we can seriously simplify that explanation, as what most people are referring to when they say “Venice” is the one main island, the place where you’ll find the 6 central neighborhoods that make up the city’s historic core. Within this guide, I’ve focused exclusively on the main island, as this is where the major sights are located and where you’re sure to be spending almost all your time.

Often said to look like a fish (and it really does!), the island is easily walkable and you can reach just about anywhere on foot within around 30 minutes. There are also public ferries - vaporetti - that crisscross the island’s canals, bringing you quickly between anywhere you want to go.

This main island is connected to the mainland (where most “Venetians” actually live) by a 2.5 mile bridge, and it’s surrounded by a few other islands of interest, like Lido - which has nice beach resorts, and Burano and Murano, famous for their glassblowing and lace-making, respectively.

Quick summary of my 5 recommended neighborhoods

When in Venice, you always need to be prepared for crowds, especially if you’re visiting any time from May through September. This is one of the most visited cities in the world, and with only 50,000 year-round residents left on the main island, almost everywhere in Venice is touristy to at least some degree.

Fewer and fewer people actually live on the main island these days, as skyrocketing rents and a drive to build ever more tourist accommodations have pushed most locals onto the mainland.

Less sinisterly, people also just want to live in modern apartments, have a car, and be somewhere that’s easy to get around, which the historic center of Venice just isn’t. As with all historic cities in Italy, they’re gorgeous to be in, but aren’t always super convenient for modern life.

So, what this means as you seek to choose your base in the city is mostly that you need to have realistic expectations. You’ll find other tourists everywhere you go and will need to do your research if you want to find good restaurants, shops, bars, and cafes where you can have a local experience. It’s all certainly possible, but definitely takes more work than in other cities.

Let’s take a quick look at the 5 neighborhoods that make up Venice’s historic center. Despite their small size and proximity to one another, they’re pretty distinct, so which you stay in can have a big impact on your Venetian experience.

In general, the areas closer to Piazza San Marco, Venice’s main square, are always the most touristic, and the atmosphere becomes more local and residential as you move farther away from the square and the center of the city.

Here’s an overview:

1. Cannaregio

To the north of the city center, this is one of the most local areas of Venice and it’s very popular with students and younger residents. It’s my favorite part of the historic city center, and it provides a great balance between convenient sightseeing and authentic life. With a lively evening atmosphere, it’s an especially nice area to return to after a day of exploring.

2. Santa Croce and San Polo

Right in the center of the city, these are the most convenient areas from which to explore Venice on foot. They’re touristy but not overwhelmingly so and have a nice selection of palaces, squares, churches, and big sights to explore right within them.

3. Dorsoduro (and Giudecca)

Two mostly local areas (especially Giudecca) in the south of the city center, where you’ll find a big student population and good, more casual restaurants and bars. The neighborhoods can be sleepy at night and Giudecca, in particular, is farther away from the main sights and you’ll need to take the ferry everywhere.

4. San Marco

The Venice you’ve seen in photos, the city’s biggest sights are here and it’s an undeniably beautiful area that’s filled with an astonishing amount of art, architecture, and history. However, it’s also tourist central and you will find almost no one who actually lives here. Tourist traps abound and everything is centered around tourism.

5. Castello

On the far eastern side of the center, this is one of the most local and authentic parts of Venice. Venetian life is the predominant theme here rather than tourism, and it’s a pleasant area with some nice green spaces and easy access to nearby beaches in the Lido. The western side of the neighborhood (closer to San Marco) is much more touristy, while the eastern portion becomes far more local.

1. Cannaregio

Pros: Local and residential area, easy access to the train station and airport, good restaurants, fun evening atmosphere

Cons: Can be noisy until late if your accommodation is near the bars

*Looking out on the Cannaregio Canal from the Ponte dei Tre Archi. Photo:* *Didier Descouens*, *CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons*

*The main square of the old Jewish Ghetto. Photo:* *Didier Descouens*, *CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons*

Cannaregio is the northernmost sestiere (neighborhood) of Venice and one of the most densely populated by locals and students. Unlike the more tourist-heavy areas of the city, Cannaregio has retained much of its local character, with businesses still catering primarily to residents, and rather than tons of tourist kiosks, here you’ll find grocery stores, small shops, and lots of traditional bars and restaurants.

This is my favorite part of Venice and it’s where I, as a local, spend the majority of my time.

The neighborhood stretches east from the railway station toward the Rialto Bridge, and it is easily accessible from both the train station (just a short walk) and the airport, with which it’s directly connected by a 20-minute ferry ride.

Somewhat rare in Venice, Canneregio also has a thriving evening/nightlife scene, particularly among young people and students, thanks to its many wine bars and a few spots with live music. While not as busy as the San Marco area, it’s a much more local crowd and you’ll hear lots of patrons speaking Italian rather than English (or other foreign languages).

All along the canals running through the neighborhood, you’ll find bacari - traditional Venetian wine bars where you can sample cicchetti, Venice’s version of tapas - well as nice casual spots to enjoy a spritz.

The neighborhood has a mixed social composition, and has historically been home to both working-class residents (closer to the lagoon), and upper-middle-class families living in noble palaces along the canals. Today, this diversity remains, with students, families, and older residents coexisting alongside visitors. It’s a lively but not overwhelmingly busy area, offering a balance between daily Venetian life and an engaging social scene.

This are is a favorite among art lovers, particularly those visiting for the Venice Biennale or the Venice Film Festival, as it offers an alternative to the more touristy districts while still providing easy access to the city's main attractions and the festival exhibits and shows.

Cannaregio is also home to Venice’s historic Jewish Ghetto, the first of its kind in history. This area, distinct for its unusually tall buildings (some up to eight stories), was once a self-contained village within the city. Today, you can still see the well-defined borders of the ghetto, as well as its historic synagogues and the Jewish Museum, centered around the main square, the Campo di Ghetto Nuovo.

There are a few other nice sights to checkout right in the area, like the beautiful churches of Madonna dell’Orto and Santa Maria dei Miracoli, but for me, the true charm of this neighborhood is simply wandering its quiet streets and canals, where daily Venetian life unfolds.

And of course, Venice’s longest and broadest street, perhaps the only true boulevard in the city is here: Strada Nuova. 10 meters wide and 400 meters long, this is a grand street lined by shops and restaurants, perfect for a leisurely stroll. A whole section of the neighborhood was destroyed for its construction toward the end of the 19th century, but we’ll save that discussion for another time.

If you’re after a relaxed and authentic atmosphere, a bit of evening activity, and a quiet place to escape the crowds after busy days of sightseeing, I think Cannnaregio is the obvious choice.

Where to stay

Hotel Heureka - A nice hotel in quiet area beside the lagoon and facing the islands of San Michele and Murano.

Hotel Venice Venice - Well-located close to many of the other central neighborhoods, this is a fancy and elegant option right beside the Grand Canal.

Casa Boccassini - A basic but clean and comfortable no-frills hotel in a quiet part of Canareggio just a 15-minute walk to Piazza San Marco. Rooms are tight and fairly sparse, but if you’re after an affordable stay in central Venice, this family-run hotel is hard to beat.

2. Santa Croce and San Polo

Pros: Extremely central, great base for sightseeing, lots of sights in the neighborhoods, good dining

Cons: Crowded with tourists during the day, not much going on at night

*Typical architecture in Santa Croce. Photo:* *karel291*, *CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons*

*Campo San Polo. Photo:* *Marc Ryckaert (MJJR)*, *CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons*

Santa Croce and San Polo sit right in the heart of Venice, and while they’re technically two distinct neighborhoods, I’ve grouped them together because they’re closely connected to one another and are quite small compared to some of the other sestieri.

These are definitively touristic areas, but they’re still very pleasant and are packed with bacari (wine bars), great restaurants, and some important historical sights. They’re also literally in the center of the city, so you can easily walk everywhere from here.

Both neighborhoods were once a mix of locals, students, and tourists, but like much of Venice, tourism has now largely taken over. Many traditional homes have been converted into Airbnbs and small hotels, so while the atmosphere is still charming, it’s not as local as it once was.

But as long as you’re ok with a fairly touristic feel, they’re very pleasant places for strolling, grabbing a drink, and soaking in the atmosphere.

Santa Croce is the first part of Venice that you’ll see if you arrive by train, as it sits right across from the railway station. The part of the neighborhood closest to the station may surprise you a little with how “modern” it is (some of the buildings are “only” 200 years old!), but as you move deeper into its streets, the architecture becomes much older and unmistakably Venetian, with grand palazzi featuring piani nobili (noble floors) and windows with distinct Oriental-style arches.

Continuing toward the center of the city, Santa Croce transitions into San Polo, the smallest of Venice’s six districts. San Polo is particularly known for its narrow, tightly packed streets, and some of the calli (alleys) here are among the narrowest in Venice, giving the area a tight, intimate feel. Historically, it was also the city’s red-light district, and you’ll still find a few street names that hint at its past, with references to the women who once worked here centuries ago.

While tourism is visible everywhere in both neighborhoods, you can still find plenty of local life in them, especially around the campi (squares), where Venetians gather for a chat, drink, or bite to eat. One of my favorite spots is Campo San Giacomo dell’Orio, a lovely open square lined with bars and restaurants, shaded by trees, and full of local activity.

While not a center for sightseeing, there are a few places between the two neighborhoods that are well worth checking out: the Church of the Scalzi, located right in front of the train station and home to the tomb of the last Doge of Venice; the Fondazione Prada, which always has interesting contemporary art exhibitions; and the Scuola Grande di San Rocco, which has some incredible Tintoretto paintings.

And of course, San Polo is home to the Rialto area, where you can visit the famous bridge and the still-active fish market, one of the best places to experience Venice’s daily life in action.

Both Santa Croce and San Polo have excellent dining options, although I should warn you that there are also lots of tourist traps, so make sure to read the reviews and check the menu before going somewhere. If you’re looking for a great meal, I highly recommend La Zucca, a fantastic vegetarian restaurant, and Antiche Carampane, a traditional Venetian spot that’s one of my personal favorites.

One final thing to be aware of: if you’re traveling with heavy luggage, I wouldn’t necessarily recommend staying here, as you’ll have to cross multiple small bridges with your bags. It’s certainly not a dealbreaker, but can be a hassle, especially if you’re only in town for a day or two.

Where to stay

Santa Croce Boutique Hotel - Super easy to get to from the train station and/or ferries, this is an elegant little hotel with exceptional service.

3. Dorsoduro (and Giudecca)

Pros: Less touristy, fun and local atmosphere, inexpensive restaurants, very peaceful (Giudecca especially)

Cons: Giudecca requires regular ferry trips and is a bit dead at night. From Dorsoduro it’s a slight walk to Venice’s main sights

*Pretty houses just past the Ponte Longo in Dorsoduro. Photo:* *Didier Descouens.*, *CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons*

*Campo Santa Margherita. Photo:* *Didier Descouens*, *CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons*

On the southern edge of Venice’s main island is Dorsoduro, a lively yet relaxed neighborhood that’s home to both students and families, with plenty of small squares where kids still run around after school and people meet up to enjoy a coffee or spritz.

Well-connected to the rest of the city, Dorsoduro is close to the train station and the ferry from the airport makes multiple stops along the Giudecca Canal (which runs along the southern edge of the neighborhood), so it’s easy to get here on arrival and convenient as a base from where to get around the city.

The neighborhood stretches from Santa Marta, a former industrial area now housing Venice’s architecture university (hence the large student population), to the Accademia, where impressive palaces line the Grand Canal and some of the city's most famous museums are located. The area around Santa Marta is much more low-key and middle class, whereas it gets quite upscale as you move toward the Accademia.

This is definitely another area popular with tourists though, especially as you get closer to the Accademia and Campo Santo Stefano. The western part of the neighborhood is much more local, as the student population helps balance out the number of tourists. If you want a good balance of touristic convenience and local life, I’d stick to this western side.

One of the liveliest spots is Campo Santa Margherita, a popular meeting place for students and locals. In the afternoons, kids play football in the square, while people gather at the many cafes and bars, especially when the weather is nice. This part of Dorsoduro still has local businesses and restaurants, keeping the atmosphere enjoyable and relatively authentic.

The neighborhood is also home to several of Venice’s most important museums and landmarks, including Palazzo Grassi, the Accademia Gallery, and the Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute - one of the most striking churches in the city.

Most hotels and accommodations are concentrated around the Accademia, which is a lovely, quiet area with many small, tree-filled parks that are a delight to sit in on a hot day. A perfect break from the crowded streets and long lines.

You should also be aware that the neighborhood is one of Venice’s livelier areas in the evening (for Venetian standards anyways), so it’s a good place to stay if you want a good deal of activity at night. The area around the Grand Canal is always especially lively, but you’ll find more of a mix of locals and tourists there.

Just across the water - the Giudecca Canal - is the island of Giudecca, a mostly local and residential area that feels a world removed from the tourist-heavy streets of Venice’s main island. While it feels distinct, Giudecca is technically a part of Dorsoduro, which is why I’ve included them together. The island is a mix of old Venetian palaces and 20th-century buildings, and it has a handful of good old-school bars and casual trattorias.

It probably doesn’t make sense for you to stay here since it’s removed from the center and most of the sights you’re probably planning to visit, but it’s a great area for a walk or a relaxed meal, and also affords fantastic views of Venice from across the lagoon. If you’re in Venice for more than 2 days, I absolutely recommend making a visit.

Where to stay

Venice Hostel - A very well-located youth hostel with good prices.

Hilton Molino Stucky - Strange name aside, this is exactly what you would expect from a 5-star Hilton brand hotel. A larger establishment with lots of rooms, a restaurant, spa, etc., it’s a more corporate style hotel over in Giudecca that has great views of the main island.

4. San Marco

Pros: Central, home to Venice’s main sights, gorgeous architecture, splendid lagoon views

Cons: Overwhelmingly touristy, always crowded, expensive accommodation

*Piazza San Marco. Photo:* *Matthias Süßen* , *CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons*

*Looking out over San Marco and central Venice. Photo:* *Jean-Pol GRANDMONT*, *CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons*

San Marco is the most famous and touristy area of Venice, home to the city's only true square, Piazza San Marco, and many of its most iconic landmarks. While undeniably beautiful, this neighborhood has been almost entirely transformed by tourism, with very few residents left. Most businesses here cater exclusively to visitors, and the area's charm is often overshadowed by the sheer volume of crowds.

Simply put, this is the part of Venice where the impacts of mass tourism is most visible. The local population has almost completely disappeared, and most traditional businesses have been replaced by luxury boutiques, international brands, tourist restaurants, and souvenir shops. Property prices have skyrocketed, pushing out residents and making way for hotels, short-term rentals, and high-end accommodations.

And while there is no shortage of dining options here, the majority are geared toward tourists, and this isn’t an area I’d recommend for dinner - though a few well-established places are still worth seeking out.

In case you can’t tell yet, this is not an area of the city that I like very much. Yes, it has an astonishing wealth of art, architecture, and beauty, and it’s certainly somewhere you must visit when in Venice, but that doesn’t mean you need to stay here. Far better is to stay in one of the more residential neighborhoods and visit San Marco for your sightseeing.

Personally, this is the one neighborhood of Venice where I actually risk getting lost - not because of the layout, but because so many of the old, familiar businesses have disappeared, replaced by generic tourist shops that make every corner feel the same.

With that said, San Marco is centrally located on Venice’s main island, and it’s one of the best-connected parts of the city, with multiple vaporetto (ferry) stops providing direct links to the train station, the airport, and other islands in the lagoon.

Now, having addressed the issues with the area, let me tell you about the good things: San Marco remains the artistic and cultural heart of Venice, with an unparalleled concentration of attractions. Within a small area, you’ll find a bevy of incredible sights like Piazza San Marco with its historic cafés, St. Mark’s Basilica, the Campanile (bell tower), the Clock Tower, and the Doge’s Palace (Palazzo Ducale). The district is also home to lots of museums and theaters, including the world-renowned Teatro La Fenice.

If you're looking for a great view, I have a local tip for you: I suggest skipping the long lines at the Campanile and instead visiting the Scala Contarini del Bovolo, a lesser-known spiral staircase with a panoramic view over the city center.

Here’s my suggestion: stay somewhere else and visit San Marco first thing in the morning - before the crowds have arrived - or later in the evening - when the day trippers have left. The crowds are much less at both of these times and the area becomes far more enjoyable.

Where to stay

Corte di Gabriela - Less than a 10-minute walk over to Piazza San Marco, this lovely boutique 4-star hotel overlooking a canal is one of my favorites in the city. Built in a nicely renovated 19th century palazzo, rooms are surprisingly large and the breakfast, which you can have in their inner courtyard, is exceptional.

Novecento Boutique Hotel - In the southwest of the neighborhood across the canal from Dorsoduro and the Accademia Gallery, this is another charming boutique hotel with a very eclectic and bohemian vibe. Family owned, you’ll often find return visitors, who come back for the charm and excellent service.

Hotel Flora - Owned by the same family that runs the Novecento, this 17th century palazzo houses a similarly charming boutique hotel along a quiet side street just to the west of Piazza San Marco. Warmly and tastefully decorated to maintain a distinctly old world atmosphere, a stay here feels a bit like traveling back in time. The inner courtyard and surrounding gardens (which many of the rooms have views onto) are peaceful oases, and the buffet breakfast is fantastic.

5. Castello

Pros: Local, good restaurants, lots of green spaces, some big sights, youthful vibe, easy access to nearby beaches

Cons: Somewhat removed from most of the rest of the city, not exciting at night

*Looking out over the Castello neighborhood, with the Basilica di San Giovanni e Paolo in the background. Photo:* *Luca Aless*, *CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons*

*The main gate of the Arsenale. Photo:* *Didier Descouens*, *CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons*

Traditionally a working class area, Castello is one of the most authentic parts of Venice, despite being well-known to visitors. This is because its location at the far eastern end of the city discourages mass tourism, meaning that those who explore this neighborhood tend to be more curious travelers, repeat visitors, or people staying in the city for a longer period.

Just know that if you choose to stay here, you will either need to be prepared for long walks into the center or to regularly take ferries.

This is still very much a lived-in area, where locals work and go about their daily routines, and you’ll find everyday businesses that are increasingly rare in other parts of the city. Together with Canneregio and Giudecca, this is the most local and authentic of Venice’s neighborhoods.

One of the largest sestieri (neighborhoods) in Venice, Castello stretches from the lively areas near San Marco (on the western side of the neighborhood) to the the more residential streets bordering the Arsenale - Venice’s historic shipyard - and on to the Giardini (gardens) in the far east of neighborhood. The area is loosely divided into an upper and lower section, and some streets are lined with elegant palazzi, while others retain a more working-class feel, with modest buildings and small artisan shops.

Castello is also home to several parks and recreational areas, a rarity in Venice, which is painfully short on green spaces. Even locals who don’t live here visit to relax outdoors, play sports, or take their kids to the playgrounds. You’ll also find the local soccer stadium, a basketball arena, and historic rowing clubs.

Local life here feels much more intact than in other neighborhoods and you’ll still find traditional bakeries, butcher shops, and old-school cafés and trattorias catering primarily to residents. You’ll rarely need to worry about tourist traps when here, which is incredibly refreshing considering how full of them other parts of Venice are.

And although staying here would put you farther away from most of the city’s premier sights, there are some interesting things to see in the neighborhood: the Arsenale, Venice’s historic shipyard and arsenal buildings; San Giovani e Paolo church, where many of the Doges are buried; the church of San Giovanni di Malta, and the Naval History Museum (quite important considering Venice’s history as a powerful seafaring city state).

However many cultural highlights are also present here. Just to mention the navy museum, San Giovanni e Paolo, the church of San Giovanni di Malta, and the Arsenale - a complex of shipyards and armories -. During the spring the area becomes very popular because of the Biennale of Art, an art exhibition lasting till fall which attracts people into art from all over the world.

The area becomes extremely popular during the spring, for the opening of the Biennale of Art, an exhibition that attracts artists and art lovers from around the world. The event continues through November, but is busiest in spring.

One other note: this can be a really nice part of the city to stay in if you’re visiting during the summer, as it’s just 1 or 2 ferry stops from the Lido area, where you’ll find beach resorts. On hot summer days, don’t underestimate how nice it is to be able to quickly sneak away to the beach!

Where to stay

Hotel Priuli - A nice hotel in a good location that’s close to San Marco and in the less crowded part of Castello.

Lido - one more “neighborhood” to consider

While I think the neighborhoods above, all on the main island, are the best bets for the vast majority of visitors, there is one other “neighborhood” that you might want to consider: Lido, the barrier island just to the south of Venice proper.

If this is your first time to Venice and/or you’re just here on a quick trip, this would definitely not be my recommendation, but if you’re a returning visitor or are planning to spend more than just a few days in Venice, Lido can be a really nice choice.

Below is a quick overview:

Lido

Pros: Very quiet and sleepy during the off season, fun and lively in summer, surprisingly good beaches

Cons: No major sights, you need to take the ferry every time you want to explore Venice

*An aerial view over the Lido, with the main vaporetto stop in the foreground. Photo:* *Kasa Fue*, *CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons*

*A stretch of beach on Lido. Photo:* *Ebru Alan*, *CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons*

Lido isn’t technically a neighborhood of Venice, but it’s so close that it feels like an extension of the city. It’s a long and narrow barrier island that “protects” the Venetian Lagoon from the Adriatic Sea, and is just a short ferry ride from the historic center.

With surprisingly nice beaches, this is an excellent place to stay during the summer, or at any time of year if you like the idea of being somewhere quieter and more local. Just keep in mind that you’ll need to take a vaporetto every time you want to get into Venice proper.

Thankfully, Lido is well connected by ferry so getting around is really not an inconvenience. The main ferry lines in Venice all make a stop in Lido, and they run very frequently, typically every 20 minutes during the day, with diminished frequency at night. There’s also a gap between 2 and 5 AM, when the ferry stops running.

The airport ferry also stops here, making it perfectly easy to reach if you’re arriving straight from the airport. And unlike Venice itself, Lido has cars and buses, which run along its two main roads - one facing the beaches and the other along the lagoon. The buses are super convenient, as they make getting around the island very quick and easy.

As for the atmosphere, Lido has a much different feel from Venice’s historic center. The island is about 13 kilometers long and mostly flat, which makes it great for walking and biking.

And while it’s at its busiest in the summer and during the Venice Film Festival (which takes place here), Lido is a year-round residential area with around 10,000 local inhabitants. It feels more like a small town than a tourist hub, with supermarkets, bakeries, and restaurants that stay open even in the off-season.

Lido has been a popular summer resort area for aristocrats since the 19th century, and the architecture here is accordingly mixed - near the ferry stop, which is also the center and busiest part of the island, you’ll find older buildings that date back a couple of centuries, but as you move toward the beach it becomes more modern, with apartment buildings and houses that have their own gardens. It’s definitely not as densely packed or historic as central Venice, but it has a relaxed, lived-in atmosphere.

Accommodation here is usually cheaper than on the main island, but keep in mind that many of the hotels shut down during the winter, with some not reopening until summertime or late spring. Likewise, the restaurants and bars that are lined up along the beach during the summer (and are lots of fun!), will for sure be closed during the off-season.

Just a couple of things to keep in mind.

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