How about a trip to an Italian city where you’ll find stylish and hip hotels, restaurants, and bars? If you’re thinking Milan, think again and head to Venice. Yes, this is a city known for its overpriced touristy restaurants, hotels overdosing on antiques, and lifeless streets at night, but a new hip side of Venice has emerged recently. In the 18th century it became the first city in the world to live off tourism and has since then relied on its timeless charms to attract visitors, but the 21st century traveler is much more demanding and wants to experience the present as much as the past. Venice’s contemporary attractions are found in beautifully restored buildings such as the Palazzo Grassi (restored by Tadao Ando in 2006 and now housing temporary art exhibitions), while the Peggy Guggenheim Museum is a mandatory stop for its modern art collection.
Modern architecture has also been finally unveiled in 2008 with the controversial opening of Santiago Calatrava’s bridge over the Grand Canal. The controversy surrounding it illustrated how much the city has resisted change and contemporary styles, but its younger population has now opened hipper restaurants and bars around the city. Go for drinks at Bacaro Lounge or Centrale, two hotspots that could also be found in a major metropolis like New York or London, and dine at Avogaria with its stylish minimalist design and delicious cuisine erasing the idea of dining at mediocre tourist trap restaurants in the city.
Before going to bed at the Ca Pisani or Palazzo Barbarigo design hotels, head in the direction of the Rialto bridge, with Campo Dell’Erbaria and Campo Cesare Battisti behind it being the hottest hangouts at night, as that’s where Muro, Naranzaria, and other hip bars are found.  Just steps away is the Grand Canal and the city’s stunning old architecture proving that 21st century Venice is now a city where ancient marvels and modern tastes can finally be experienced side by side.

For all of Venice’s timeless and more recent attractions, see UCityGuide’s complete Venice City Guide, which covers all of the places mentioned above.