I arrived in Venice the way most people do: slightly disoriented but quietly thrilled. It was my second time in the Serenissima. I took a vaporetto from the train station, gliding across the water on my way to the hotel. As the city slowly revealed itself, that familiar travel question formed once again: now that I knew the big sights, where should I begin my second journey through this extraordinary city?
As it turned out, the answer was waiting for me in my hotel lobby.
On a wall next to the reception desk, there was a beautifully illustrated map of Venice. At a first glance, it looked like a piece of art: an elegant yet playful rendering of the city, with all the known landmarks and plenty of visual details. Only then did I notice the small QR codes placed beside each illustrated sight, hinting that there was a practical, functional side too.
Scan to Discover
A staff member explained the concept simply: see something that catches your eye, scan the QR code, and you’re instantly taken to the corresponding page in a digital visitor guide. One guide covering more than 100 things to do across the city. No app to download, no account to create: just scan and explore.
That evening, jet-lagged but curious, I scanned my first landmark right there in the lobby. Within seconds, my phone opened a clean, mobile-friendly guide that didn’t just tell me what the place was, it showed me why it mattered: its history, its quirks, and the details to notice when I got there. It felt less like reading a guidebook and more like being let in on a secret.
Guide in Hand
The next morning, I headed out with no rigid plan: just the guide bookmarked on my phone. Venice has a way of rewarding wandering, and this tool fits perfectly with that philosophy. When I crossed a small, unassuming bridge in Dorsoduro, I pulled out my phone and opened the guide. A location-based suggestion led me to a squero, a workshop where traditional gondolas are crafted, and ten minutes later, I was watching a craftsman restore a gondola, something I never would have sought out intentionally.
It was a clear-skied day, and I realized I wanted to see the city again from its highest point: the St. Mark’s Campanile. Curious what my new exploration companion had to say, I opened the guide once more. I quickly learned there were plenty of other spots offering panoramic views of the red-tiled roofs and the shimmering lagoon beyond. Since I was near La Salute, I followed the guide’s recommendation to climb to the upper balcony. I was rewarded with some of the most breathtaking elevated views of the Grand Canal.
Looking Forward to My Next Venetian Adventure
This time, I had allocated only two nights in the city, as part of a longer trip to the mountains (and partly to shake off the jet lag). But a quick look at the guide’s incredible range of things to see and do made it clear that this was far too little time, even for a second visit.
By the time I checked out of the hotel, that poster in the lobby felt like a quiet voice reminding me that I needed to come back since there was still so much more to discover.
The name of this beautiful project is CityScrolls Venice visitor guide, and it’s such an inspiring way to plan your trip and have Venice quite literally at your fingertips.
