How to Enjoy Venice After Dark

Venice, Italy is one of the world's most enchanting cities. Its beauty, architecture and slow pace are incredibly intriguing. While most tourists spend the day strolling the streets and go to bed early, there are other travelers who thrive on the nightlife. Most restaurants are winding down by 10 p.m., so finding the after dark gems of Venice is much easier if you follow these steps.

Things You'll Need

• An Italian phrase book
• A phone
• Money or credit cards

Instructions

1. Pick up the free pamphlet "Un Ospite di Venezia" from the Venice tourist office in the Marco Polo airport. This guide to what's happening is distributed every 15 days. "Un Ospite di Venezia" lists all music, opera and theatrical productions along with local exhibits and special events.

2. Soak in the atmosphere at a cafe in Saint Mark's Square. Many cafes have full orchestras that play in the late evenings while you enjoy a drink or snack. Caffe Florian is Venice's most famous cafe.

3. See a late night opera at the famed Teatro de La Fenice. For information on purchasing tickets, contact the box office. Call 011 ([phone] from the United States, or call 041 2424 from Italy.

4. Drink a Bellini at the original Harry's Bar. Harry's Bar has been around since 1931 and is the proud creator of the infamous Bellini. This Venetian hot spot is often frequented by celebrities.

5. Participate in a unique Venetian tradition--the pub crawl. A "giro di ombra" (pub crawl) is an entertaining way to spend an evening in a city with no cars. Start in Saint Mark's square where watering holes are plentiful. Walk from wine bar to wine bar sipping on small glasses of wine and devouring light snacks like cheese and crackers.

6. Gamble in a casino. Venice is home to two rivaling casinos: Casino Municipale and Vendramin-Caleri Palace. Both are open through the wee hours of morning.

Tips & Warnings

• The best way to find establishments is to ask the locals. They're happy to help.

• Use an Italian phrase book if you need help ordering or getting directions.

• 011 is the dialing prefix used for telephoning abroad from the United States. If you are calling from another country, check which international dialing prefix to use.

• Most bars are closed on Sundays.

• Venetian bar owners have a reputation for overcharging, so check your bill carefully before you pay your tab.

• Most restaurants and bars in Italy include gratuity in the check.