Download a city guide of some of Europe's most beautiful cities onto your iPod, mp3 player or phone. As we guide you through the streets, along the route we've planned for you, our city guides will tell you what you're looking at and how to make the most of your city break.

Florence
We only had a long weekend to do the city and so your tour really helped us get our bearings. There's just so much to see there! I know we only scraped the surface but it worked really well for us.
Tanya Ellison - (27/08/06)

Venice
This was a great tour that took you everywhere you needed to go. Particularly liked the walk through of the mosaic frescoes on the front of the Basilica. We had a great time in Venice, made all the more special by this evocative guide. Like the speaker's voice too - one of the best I've listened to.
Andrea How - (19/02/06)

VENICE CITY GUIDE: We've really got Attila the Hun to thank for all the beauty and historical buildings that Venice is so famous for. As he swept through Europe from the East during the fifth century people fled in terror from the mainland of what is now northern Italy into marshes of the lagoon.
After centuries of trade and successful military campaigns, Venice has been in decline for over five hundred years.
But what a glorious decline - elegant churches, achingly beautiful views and great art. Our Venice guide will show you the best of Venice.

VENICE TOURIST INFORMATION:
Arriving from Venice/Marco Polo Airport The ATVO bus departs every 30 minutes (40 minutes to an hour during the early morning and late evening) from stop number one just outside the entrance to Arrivals. Look for 'Venezia Express'. The journey takes about 20 minutes. Tickets cost EURO 3 for a single and can be bought from the ATVO office in the Arrivals area.
Buses arrive at the Piazzale Roma bus terminal from where it's a short walk to the Piazzale Roma Vaporetto stop.
Return buses to the airport leave from stop D2 every 30 minutes (40 minutes to an hour during the early morning and late evening). Tickets can be bought from the ATVO office at the far end of the Piazzale.
For more information ring: + 39 0421 383672 or + 39 0421 383671 or see www.ATVO.it

Arriving from Treviso Airport ATVO bus departures are timed to coincide with flight arrivals. They leave from outside the Arrivals hall. The journey takes about 1 hour ten minutes stopping at the town of Mestre on the mainland. Tickets cost EURO 5 for a single and can be bought from the ATVO office in the Arrivals area
Buses arrive at the Piazzale Roma bus terminal from where it's a short walk to the Piazzale Roma Vaporetto stop.
Return buses to the airport leave from stop D2 related to flight departures and timed so they should arrive about one hour 15 minutes before departure time. Tickets can be bought from the ATVO office at the far end of the Piazzale.
For more information ring: + 39 0421 383672 or + 39 0421 383671 or see www.ATVO.it

Arriving from Venice Santa Lucia railway station Trains arrive here from Milan, Mestre, Vicenza and other mainline destinations. Opposite it is the Ferrovia Vaporetto stop.

GETTING AROUND VENICE

Vaporetto: There are no taxis and no buses in Venice, just foot power and the water bus known as the Vaporetto.

Look out for the yellow Vaporetto stops along the Canale Grande and at other points. Tickets cost EURO 5 for a single journey. You can also get a one day Travel Card (EURO 12) or a Three Day Travel Card (EURO 25) which offer unlimited travel. Better still, the VENICEcard also offers unlimited travel as well as free entry to 11 museums and 16 churches in Venice - plus the public loos. It costs from EURO 17 (if you're aged over 30) for one day. See useful websites below.

Vaporetti depart roughly every 10 minutes.

Vaporetto Line 1 goes along the Grand Canal from the Piazzale Roma bus station and the railway station in the north round via the Rialto bridge to Vallaresso (for the Piazza San Marco) in the south, stopping at alternative banks. It's the best sight seeing route.

Vaporetto Line 82 goes along the Grand Canal from the Piazzale Roma bus station and the railway station in the north but only stops at certain stops including Rialto and Vallaresso (for the Piazza San Marco) and then onto the Lido.

NB: the stops serving each direction (ie Piazzale Roma in the direction of Rialto and Rialto in the direction of Piazzale Roma) are usually next to each other so make sure you get the right direction.

For more information ring: + 39 041 24 24 or see www.actv.it

On foot: The network of canals and calles or streets in Venice is infuriatingly complex. Many streets have a number of different names and every map seems to show a different lay out. We've tried to make our printed route guide as clear as possible so do refer to it. We've also tried to make our spoken directions clear but rather than complicate the matter with too much confusing detail we don't mention every little twist and turn or side street so, if in doubt, take the main street ahead of you. Again, you can always refer to your map.

Look out for a series of yellow tourist signs leading you through the city to main points of interest such as the Rialto, San Marco and the Piazzale Roma.