Your ultimate guide to the Venice Biennale
Feb 11, 2026A few years ago, it was finally time to attend my very first Venice Biennale. I remember the feeling clearly: excitement mixed with a sense of awe. I was excited but also very confused.
After all, I was about to discover one of the world’s oldest and most prestigious art exhibitions unlike anything else — an international art event with official country representation, spread across the entire city of Venice.
Before going, my head was full of questions.
- What should I see?
- How do I plan the visit?
- Where do I start, what do I prioritise, and how do I avoid missing the most important things?
- How do I “read” the Biennale—and what should I actually take away from the experience?
- And then all the practical things: where to stay, where to eat, how to move around the city, which tickets to buy, how many days to set aside, and what else to combine the trip with.
When I searched online for practical visit guides around the Biennale, I could find almost nothing. I mean – there was lots of in depth art coverage of art pieces and pavilions, but nothing gave a broad picture of what visiting Biennale really means.
Today, after having been to several Biennales and explored it in and out, I would like to share with you my best know-how on how to get the most out your experience – something I wished I had myself before my first time there. So let’s look at it properly, once and for all!
What is Venice Biennale d’Arte?
Venice Biennale was founded in 1895, and is held every second year. Today, it consists of national pavilions, curated and organised by each country’s official cultural committees, and central exhibitions curated by the Biennale’s appointed artistic director.
Each edition has a new overarching theme, and the artworks—both contemporary and historical—respond to it. You’ll encounter cutting-edge contemporary art alongside rediscovered or honoured artists from the 20th century, presented through installations, film, sound, performance, and experimental formats.
It is, quite literally, a chance to experience the world in one place. No other exhibition offers this structure, scale, and global diversity.
1. Overall planning: give the Biennale the time it deserves
Venice Biennale is far more than an exhibition or a museum visit. It is a city-wide experience — cultural, physical, intellectual, and emotional.
Venice is one of the most beautiful cities in the world — but the Biennale alone is worth the entire trip.
If you want to combine both the Biennale together with exploring Venice as a city – history, churches, shopping, bars – you realistically need at least one week.
That said, my strongest recommendation is this: treat the Venice Biennale as its own trip. Set aside 3–4 full days dedicated primarily to the Biennale.
When it comes to tickets, go for a 3-day multiple entry Biennale pass. With a multi-day pass, you can move at a better pace, revisit areas, and avoid rushing through exhibitions that deserve time.
2. Understanding the setup: how the Biennale is structured
The Venice Biennale is not one location. It unfolds across several layers.
Giardini della Biennale
Giardini is a beautiful park that houses historic national pavilions, constructed by the participating countries from 1895 onwards. The pavilions themselves are an experience. Architecture reflects different eras, ideologies and aesthetics, and walking through Giardini feels like travelling through history, cultures and time. Each pavilion presents a country’s official exhibition for that edition/year. Giardini also contains the Central Pavilion, where the Biennale’s main curated exhibition is shown.
In addition to the national pavilions where are is curated by the respective countries, there is also a Central Pavilion with art picked by the Biennale's curator.
My advice is to arrive right at the opening time and plan to spend an entire day here. Start with the national pavilions and finish with the Central Pavilion.
If you’re short on time, you can do a reduced version in four to five hours, but know that this is not enough. Some pavilions have queues, and certain exhibitions deserve time.
If you really are into art and have time, do spend a full day here, or come back another day to see it one more time!
Arsenale
Arsenale is the second main site of the Biennale, located about a 15-minute walk from Giardini, and it also deserves a full day.
Here, the structure is similar, with national presentations and a large central curated exhibition. The difference is architectural. Many national exhibitions are housed inside the historic Arsenale buildings – is a complex of former shipyards and armories, memories of the might and power of medieval Venice.
Countries shown here are typically those that joined the Biennale later and do not have permanent pavilion buildings in Giardini.
Pavilions, exhibitions and installations across the city
The Biennale does not end at its main sites. As more countries join, many national pavilions are now located across Venice; in palaces, former churches, warehouses, and historic apartments. You can easily find them with the Biennale's own map. I highly recommend using it – you will find it on the Biennale's official website.
These external pavilions are usually free to enter, which means that you can save them for the days you are no longer planning to go to Giardini and Arsenale.
You don’t need to see them all—and you shouldn’t try to.
3. Planning what to see: curate your own Biennale
A good strategy is to combine critical consensus with personal curiosity. Start with the top-reviewed pavilions, then add countries or regions you’re naturally drawn to. Maybe you’re fascinated by African contemporary art, Korean pavilions, the UK, or smaller national voices. Follow that instinct.
Each year, some pavilions stand out and become critical favourites. Before arriving, check reviews or search for “must-see pavilions” for that particular year you are visiting. Usually the critics choose their top favourites, which could be a good starting point for your visit. In addition, I also recommend to set your own priorities: go through the list of the represented countries, and choose the ones that interest you the most – and visit them! It is best to do this research before you arrive, so you have it all figures out, as it is all about logistics and time optimisation in the end.
Maybe you’re fascinated by African contemporary art, Korean pavilions, the UK, or smaller national voices. Follow that instinct. The reward is immense. You leave feeling like you’ve travelled intellectually across continents in just a few days.
4. The side programme: Venice as a city of art
During the Biennale, Venice becomes an unparalleled art city.
Most major museums in the city and private foundations organise special exhibitions, many of which are once-in-a-lifetime shows. Look out for the Pinault Collection at Palazzo Grassi and Punta della Dogana, the Gallerie dell’Accademia, the Peggy Guggenheim Collection, as well as temporary exhibitions by leading international galleries.
I call it a side program, and to plan it, you need to check out the program on the official Biennale website.
My recommendation is to plan this in advance. Choose a few key exhibitions before you arrive so you can manage your time calmly and intentionally. These shows are often set in extraordinary Venetian interiors, adding a powerful spatial and historical dimension to the experience.
5. Where to stay: Mestre or Venice?
Mestre, the mainland part of Venice, offers cheaper hotels—but staying there is, in my experience, a nightmare. You are dependent on train schedule, need additional time to travel, and will be left disconnected from the city’s Biennale rhythm.
My advice is to stay inside Venice itself. From almost anywhere you can walk to Giardini and Arsenale within an hour, or take the boat-bus (vaporetto).
Before booking your accommodation, do check out its location on the map and walking distance from your hotel to locations like San Marco square, Giardini and Arsenale.
6. Transport: walking first, boats second
Venice is best naviagated on foot – so comfortable shoes is a must!
THere is also an excellent boat-bus system, the vaporetto. However, it is quite expensive and slow, as it winds through canals. If you do opt for bus, which I think you may have to at some point, I would advise getting a multiple-day ticket, which you can buy right on your arrival at the airport.
There are also boat taxis – they are efficient but costly.
And finally there are gondolas – but remember that they are purely for entertainment, not for transport. :)
7. Food during the Biennale
Once you are inside Giardini and Arsenale, and if you want to maximise exhibition time, I would advise to stay there for lunch. The in-house cafés are simple but the food is surprisingly good – perhaps it is among the best museum food you’ll find.
And don’t miss the gelato offered in the outdoor areas —it’s excellent.
Outside the Biennale areas, Venice is full of both tourist traps and fantastic restaurants. Do your research, book upfront and you are in for a treat!
8. What else to combine with your trip
If you want more than art, attend an opera at La Fenice and book in advance.
Take a gondola ride—yes, it’s expensive, and yes, it's a tourist thing, and yes – it’s worth it!
Visit San Marco Basilica – opt in for a paid skip-the-line ticket – it will save you a lot of time standing in line.
I would also recommend to choose one or two more famous churches and visit them.
Go to the Murano island for half a day and combine it with lunch along one of its quieter canals. Skip Burano if time is limited – it takes longer to travel there, and in my opinion, it was not as cool as Murano.
And simply walk around Venice. Check out the different areas: Dorsoduro and Castello are my favourite!
9. Practical advice that really matters
Use GPS constantly—Venice is confusing, even for experienced visitors. But remember – getting lost is part of Venice’s magic.
Make sure to bring with you a phone charger or power bank. Your phone will need a recharge after all those photos and maps navigation!
Wear comfortable flat shoes. Dress for long days, and dress up at night. Treat yourself to at least one fine dining experience.
Travel light. Since there is no transport in Venice (apart from the boats along the canals), you will end up having to carry your bags to your hotel. This can be only avoided if 1. you take a boat taxi from the airport and 2. your hotel is located on a canal and has a docking station.
10. What to buy (and what to avoid)
Look for local fashion designers and leather goods.
Buy a proper Murano glass item – but only from reputable designer stores, not the tourist kiosks.
Biennale bookshop is excellent, and the Peggy Guggenheim Collection shop is a favourite.
Avoid mass-tourism shopping streets.
If you are planning a trip to Venice and/or the Biennale alone, and if you’d like a visit guide, personalised itinerary, or hand-picked recommendations for exhibitions, restaurants, events and hotels – feel free to get in touch by sending us an email to team@thearttrotter.com
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