Castello

The residential area with local markets, cheaper dining, and fewer tourists. You'll see how people actually live here. Safe and less crowded than the main zones, though you'll need to walk or take the vaporetto to reach major sights.

Venice's largest area and the most residential. The western part near San Marco gets tourist traffic, but go east toward Via Garibaldi and you'll see locals at morning markets, laundry hanging between buildings, people speaking Venetian dialect. The Arsenale has naval history, the Giardini della Biennale has gardens and art pavilions. Small trattorias along Via Garibaldi serve locals eating alone - it's normal here. Prices are lower than San Marco. The neighborhood is safe day and night on main streets with decent lighting. Some narrow residential alleys feel isolated after dark when empty, so stick to lit streets like Via Garibaldi. The Arsenale vaporetto area stays active with dinner traffic. Less English spoken here than tourist zones - basic Italian helps though pointing at menus works.