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Wandering Chef: Sarah Grueneberg in Venice and Trentino

These travel photographers need to be on your radar asap.

Overview

14 Times Travel Went Really, Really Wrong for AFAR Staffers

AFAR’s cruise expert Judy Perl explains how to plan a family voyage that will be a hit with the whole gang.

In a city known for its rich history, a new wave of artisans is making Kyoto the place to be.

In the City of Canals, even cynics can fall in love.

The comforting taste of familiar Italian food is transformed into a different cuisine in Venice, where the cooking is influenced by spices like saffron brought by traders and by its proximity to both the Alps and the sea. Fresh fish dominates menus, turning up in seafood risotto and pasta as well as in spreads for cicchetti, tapas-like snacks. Sample typically Venetian dishes at family-run trattorie or dine at a fancy restaurant with a view with these top restaurants in Venice.

Experience a hotel stay made for royalty.

In the Adriatic Sea’s largest peninsula, esteemed journalist Mark Bittman finds out what it really means to “eat local.”

On a luxurious journey from Singapore to Bangkok, writer Chris Colin lifts the veil on the magic—and mystery—of rail travel.

Featured in countless films, novels, and TV shows, Venice can evoke a sense of deja vu in travelers who have never previously experienced the Grand Canal, Bridge of Sighs, and gondola rides. Those are worthy experiences, yet Venice also rewards those who seek out its small islands and give in to getting lost down quaint neighborhood side streets. Museums and a local’s cooking class round out the mix of must-do activities.

Few entrances are more quintessentially Venetian than the one made gliding up in a boat to the private jetty of the Aman Canal Grande. And few addresses surpass that of the Gritti Palace hotel, located front and center on the Grand Canal in San Marco. For a classic Venice experience, saddle up to Harry’s Bar at Belmond Hotel Cipriani. To escape the crowds of bustling Piazza San Marco book a stay at the Hilton Molino Stucky, just a five-minute boat ride away on Giudecca Island.

Independent for 1100 years, Venice still looks and feels very distinct from much of Italy. It’s been overrun by tourists, especially cruise lines, but still has so much to offer that it’s well worth spending a few days here. The city is one massive atmospheric experience so stroll far and wide. One note about dining: Venice is overrun by tourist traps. You’ll know them by their plastic coated menus and hawkers. Look for the Slow Food snail icon in the window as a guide to quality.