Nightlife in Venice is diverse. From the traditional concert halls through to the modern dance clubs in the centre, Venice has something to suit all tastes.

Venice possesses a long tradition of classical music and constantly there is a concert going on somewhere in the town. Several churches also offer classical music concerts from local and international artists. Tickets for these events can be bought from the church box offices and visitors should book in advance to avoid disappointment.

Venice is a comparatively quiet town in the early evenings and much of the nightlife is centered on the many bars and cafes near to the Piazza San Marco. Although drinks are quite expensive in this area, it is well worth a visit simply in order to soak up the Mediterranean atmosphere. Cafe Florian on the south side of the piazza is one of the more famous establishments and it is said that when Casanova fled from the prisons in the Doge's Palace, he stopped here for a coffee.

Clubs and Discos

Venice is distinguished for its lack of decent nightlife, relying mostly on the handful of late bars dotted around the city. The most buzzing area, particularly in winter, is along the Fondamenta della Misericordia, in Cannaregio, where Iguana, Le Notti d'Oriente and Paradiso Perduto (see listings under "Bars and snacks") stay open late and have occasional DJs or live music. Dorsoduro, on and around the studenty Campo S. Margherita, is another good bet, particularly in the warmer months: try Margaret DuChamp, Il Caff� or Green Pub, all of which stay open late. To really get down, however, there's only one recommendable option, Casanova (Tel: 041.534.7479), on the Lista di Spagna.

As a huge, old-fashioned disco-club it would be half empty anywhere else, but in Venice it stays fairly busy from Thursday to Saturday. The current regime is salsa (Wed), student/Indie (Thurs), classic dance (Fri) and House (Sat), but don't even think about arriving before around 2am.

The true action is further away, out in the northern reaches of the lagoon at Jesolo. Every Friday and Saturday evening, this sedate resort transforms itself into a ravers' haven, as a swarm of clubs kick into life. Just stroll into town after 11pm and you'll find the hot spots. The problem is that though there are plenty of buses out to Jesolo, there's no way of getting back except to get a lift with someone and Jesolo is notorious not so much for its weekend bachannals as for what happens afterwards, when hundreds of inebriated young Italians go blasting back home. The Jesolo-Venice road has just about the highest death toll of any strip of tarmac in the country.