Buy a ticket for the water bus (or if you’re going to use them a lot a Venice Card). Go further north than the train station (we started at P. d l Roma) and take a number 82 water bus as far as S. Marco and sit on the front seats. You then have an unrestricted view of the Grand Canal and how it bends and grows as you go south.

Great fun, captivating and at 5 euros each less than 10% of the price of a water taxi or a gondola.