In the sunlight on a happy summer day, Venice just might be the prettiest city ever. It has a sleepy, fairytale Old World quality about it because the thoroughfares are pedestrian-only and there are canals where you'd expect to see streets. Some people find their ancient murk—and the fact that the city is actually sinking as the sea level rises—to be a bit depressing, but most love its unique pace and storybook setting.

Even on a first visit, Venice landmarks like the Piazza San Marco, the Bridge of Sighs, and the Ponte di Rialto seem familiar because they've been in so many movies, photographs, etc. There are countless monuments and churches, plus the incomparable Doge's Palace. But some of the most fun you can have in Venice is just walking its labyrinthine little streets—Riva degli Schiavoni being the most touristy—or cruising around via water taxi, which is the city's form of public transportation and ten times better than a bus.