VANBRUUN Editorial
A honeymoon in Venice
Where to stay, what to drink, and the most romantic things to do in Venice on a honeymoon, from the Hotel Cipriani to a Bellini at Harry's Bar.
There are cities one visits, and there are cities that stay as a memory for a lifetime. Venice belongs to the second kind. It has no cars and no traffic, only water, old stone, and a light that changes by the hour. It is a city where you move through it slowly, and a honeymoon is the one journey where slowness is the entire point.
Having spent time in Venice ourselves this summer, we at VANBRUUN created this guide based on our personal advice and favorite discovered moments. From a quiet morning on the tennis court to a Bellini where it was first poured, these curated recommendations from where we stayed are designed to help you make the absolute most of your time in this intimate city.
Where to stay: Hotel Cipriani
On the eastern tip of Giudecca island, directly across the water from St. Mark’s Square, sits the Belmond Hotel Cipriani. It was opened in 1958 by Giuseppe Cipriani, the same man who founded Harry’s Bar and created the Bellini. Today it is part of Belmond, and it remains one of the most storied addresses in Italy.
The appeal is in the contrast. St. Mark’s is only a short boat ride away, but the hotel feels like a private garden in the lagoon. It holds the largest swimming pool in central Venice, heated and filled with filtered seawater, and gardens that are rare in a city where every square foot is precious. Arrival is by water taxi from Marco Polo Airport, a ride of roughly 35-45 minutes across the open lagoon. There is no more beautiful start to your honeymoon.
A note on timing: the hotel operates seasonally, so confirm opening dates before planning, and request a lagoon-view room when booking.
A Morning on the clay
Hotel Cipriani is home to a red-clay tennis court, reserved exclusively for its guests. In a city built entirely on water, a private court is a small luxury that feels almost impossible, which is precisely what makes it memorable. Play early, before the heat of the day, when the gardens are quiet and the light is soft. Pack classic whites. Afterward, walk straight to the pool to order breakfast on the terrace, and let the rest of the morning disappear.
Dinner at the Cipriani
The hotel offers several restaurants, each suited to a different kind of evening. For a honeymoon, two deserve a reservation.
Oro. The hotel’s Michelin-starred restaurant, with culinary direction by Massimo Bottura and interiors redesigned by the architect Peter Marino. Lagoon cuisine, refined and quietly inventive. Reserve it for the one grand evening of the trip.
Cip’s Club. Often described as one of the most romantic restaurants in Venice. It sits on the water facing St. Mark’s, informal in spirit yet elegant in every detail. Order the carpaccio and ask for a table at the edge of the terrace at sunset. Before either, take an aperitivo at Bar Gabbiano by the pool, where the Peach Bellini is served as it should be.
A Bellini at Harry’s Bar
Harry’s Bar is not part of the hotel, but it shares its origin. Giuseppe Cipriani opened it in 1931 at the end of Calle Vallaresso, steps from the Grand Canal near St. Mark’s. The Bellini, a blend of Prosecco and white peach purée, was invented here, and it is still served in a short, simple glass rather than a flute. Ernest Hemingway, Orson Welles, Truman Capote, and Peggy Guggenheim all sat at these tables.
The room is small and unassuming by design. Go in the late afternoon, sit at the bar, order two Bellinis, and resist the urge to photograph everything. Dress well; this is a place that notices.
The Boat Journey
Venice is best understood from the water. Plan at least one unhurried half day on a private boat.
The lagoon islands. Ask your concierge to arrange a private motorboat to Burano, with its painted houses, and on to Torcello, a nearly deserted island with a Byzantine cathedral. Lunch at Locanda Cipriani on Torcello, another Cipriani address and a favorite of Hemingway, whose garden is among the most peaceful places in the lagoon.
The gondola. Go at dusk, and ask the gondolier to take you through the small side canals rather than only the Grand Canal. Agree on the route and the duration before stepping aboard.
The traghetto. For a local moment, cross the Grand Canal standing up in a traghetto, the shared gondola ferry Venetians have used for centuries. It lasts two minutes and costs very little.
The Night Walk
Venice has no river. It has canals, and at night they become the most romantic streets in the world. After dinner, choose one of these walks.
The Zattere. A long, wide promenade along the Giudecca Canal in Dorsoduro, open to the water and the sky. Locals take their evening stroll here, and it is quiet enough to hear the boats.
The Accademia Bridge. Stand at the top of the wooden bridge and look down the Grand Canal toward the dome of Santa Maria della Salute. It is the view on a thousand postcards, and it is still breathtaking at night.
St. Mark’s Square after dark. Once the day visitors leave, the square belongs to the city again. The café orchestras play on under the arcades, and Caffè Florian, open since 1720, is worth a final drink.
Small local tips that change everything
Rise early once. St. Mark’s Square at seven in the morning, nearly empty, is one of the most beautiful sights in Europe.
Choose San Giorgio Maggiore over the Campanile. The bell tower on San Giorgio Maggiore, a short hop from Giudecca, offers the finest view back toward St. Mark’s, with a fraction of the queue.
Eat cicchetti in Cannaregio. In the early evening, walk the Fondamenta della Misericordia and stop at small bacari for cicchetti and a glass of local wine, called an ombra. This is how Venetians spend their evenings.
Visit the Rialto Market in the morning. Arrive early to see the fish and produce stalls come alive. The fish market rests on Sundays and Mondays.
Get lost on purpose. Put away the map for one afternoon. The empty campi and small bridges found by accident become the stories told for years.
Book the essentials ahead. Reserve Oro, Cip’s Club, and any canal-side table well before arrival, particularly in high season.
Pack flat, elegant shoes. Venice is walked, and it has more than four hundred bridges.
Respect the city. Keep to the right on narrow streets and bridges, and do not stop in the middle of them. Venetians notice, and appreciate, visitors who move with care.
Consider a photographer at dawn. A short session in an empty Venice leaves a record of the honeymoon that feels private rather than posed.
One perfect day
Morning. Tennis on the red clay, a swim in the seawater pool, breakfast on the terrace.
Midday. A private boat to Burano and Torcello, lunch in the garden at Locanda Cipriani.
Late afternoon. The hotel boat to St. Mark’s, and two Bellinis at the bar of Harry’s Bar.
Dusk. A gondola through the side canals.
Evening. Dinner at Cip’s Club or Oro, then a slow walk along the Zattere.