Hello! My wife and I will be in Venice for three nights (that is, two full days, not counting arrival and departure) in mid-January 2026, and we would like to walk around and along the Darsena Grande port near the Arsenal museum in Castello on the second full day. It looks like a fairly peaceful and non-touristy area that is further from the main attractions (although only a half hour walk from San Marco square) and the geography of the place is rather interesting, with the large square body of water in the middle! But judging from what I found online, it seems that some of the coastline (both on the edges of Castello and along la Darsena Grande) does not have a walkway along it, and some parts might be closed when the Biennale is not in session, while other parts seem to be occupied by a naval base that is closed to the public. How much of the area can we see? Are there any particularly neat places there that will be closed on Friday or Saturday (our Venice full days)? Also, how easy is it to get back to the part of Cannaregio near the train station (where our hotel is located), especially at night? We strongly prefer to go by foot, but we can take a vaporetto of course, if needed. Finally, are there any good and economical places to eat in that part of Castello? Thank you in advance for your suggestions!
Posted by
Ontario, Canada
6781 posts
So, to be clear, you are not concerned about accessibility (there are no mobility limitations), but how much of the area is open/walkable/available to the public?
Posted by
Citizen of the World
3769 posts
Because the Venice Arsenale is still an active military base for the Italian navy, access to most of it is off limits to the general public. During the Biennale—a six-month exhibition that will be held next year from May 9 through November 22–many parts of the Arsenale that are normally off limits to the public will be open and accessible. Unfortunately, the Darsena Grande and most other areas of the Arsenale will only be accessible during that timeframe.
I was at the Biennale this year in September and saw most sections of the Arsenale. Because the Venetians built it as a fortress, there are 18 to 50-foot tall curtain walls that do a good job of blocking views of the Arsenale’s interior sections from the perimeter. As a photographer, I was thankful we were there during the Biennale so we had views of most of its 60 acres.
Outside the dates of the Arsenale’s Biennale, you will be able to visit the nearby Naval History museum and walk up to the Arsenale’s iconic two entrance towers and griffin statues.
Posted by
Switzerland
68 posts
If it's still the same as when I visited 2 years ago, the northern part of the Arsenale (and the waterfront along the Darsena Grande) is easily accessible year-round. You can get there by taking the vaporetto to the Bacini–Arsenale Nord stop, then continue toward Tesa 105 Bar. You can also walk there via the metal catwalk that spans the northern waterway into the Arsenale - quite spectacular - location on Gmaps.
From there, if you walk east, you’ll find the giant sculpture of six pairs of hands on top of a dock. There’s plenty of space to wander around.
(later edit) It looks like this is still the case according to this city guide, and it even seems you can now visit the interior of the submarine I saw during my walk ... I need to go back! :)
Posted by
Citizen of the World
3769 posts
I believe the north Arsenale and the sculpture of the giant hands is accessible to the general public. However, the south Arsenale, which includes the Darsena Grande, is only accessible to the general public during the Biennale.
On the way back to St. Mark’s square from the Arsenale, you’ll find an incredibly beautiful park called “Giardini Napoleanici.” A glass and iron greenhouse built during the 1890’s is now a cafe that makes a great coffee stop before making your way back to Cannaregio.
Posted by
Arctophilia, Northamptonshire, England
35985 posts
on the south side of the Arsenale there is a vaporetto stop with the same name. Served by the number 1 Vaporetto, which stops all the way along the Grand Canal from S Marco all the way to Ferrovia and P Roma. Late at night the N night vaporetto makes the same stops.