Cannaregio, Venice

The proximity of Cannaregio to the train station and its position as a key commercial zone ensure a high density of tourists and foot traffic that isn’t entirely conducive to an exciting nightlife.

A rather modest residential area for young professionals and families, the neighborhood does contain Strada Nova, a modern shopping street that follows the arc of the Grand Canal and features daytime street vendors, shops, hotels, quick-service eateries, a cinema, and innumerable well-established but no-frill bars.

While it’s not the liveliest or classiest choice for a night out in Venice, Cannaregio offers a few cool spots that are worth venturing into.

In particular, the farther one strays from the station, the more laid-back and less touristy the neighborhood becomes, especially along Fondamenta della Misericordia where an alternative, artistic crowd can often be found singing and playing music in front of a favorite canal-side retreat.