Venice is a port of call for Viking Ocean Cruises and CroisiEurope on nearly year-round itineraries, with a few Viking Ocean and Azamara sailings also departing from the Chioggia terminal.
Chioggia sits at the southern mouth of the Venetian Lagoon, a compact town of canals, arched bridges, and pastel facades that has long made its living from the sea. Its main artery, the Corso del Popolo, runs past the Duomo and a lively fish market that still supplies much of the region, giving visitors a glimpse of lagoon life shaped more by nets and boats than by crowds.
The historic center is easily explored on foot from the waterfront, with narrow side streets, or calli, leading toward smaller canals and fishing boats moored along the quays. Chioggia's setting also makes it a practical gateway to the wider lagoon and nearby Po Delta wetlands, while Venice itself remains within easy reach for those continuing on. The pace here is unhurried, offering a quieter, more local counterpoint to its famous northern neighbor.
Watch the morning catch come in along Corso del Popolo, where stalls display the lagoon's daily haul; arrive early to see the trade in full swing before it winds down by midday.
Wander the Calli to the Canals
Duck off the main corso into narrow side streets that open onto small canals lined with fishing boats, a quiet, easy walk that reveals Chioggia's working-town character away from the crowds.
Climb the Duomo's Bell Tower
Visit the Duomo on Corso del Popolo and, if open, climb its campanile for rooftop views over the town's canals and out toward the lagoon and Po Delta wetlands beyond.
