Each late summer, Venice plays host to the world’s oldest film festival, the Venice International Film Festival, held annually on the Lido, one of the islands in the Venetian lagoon. Founded in 1932, the event attracts thousands of cinema enthusiasts, industry professionals, and high-profile guests, including stars such as George Clooney, Penélope Cruz, and Robert Pattinson this year. While the festival’s red carpet and premieres draw much attention, many veterans of the event highlight lesser-known corners of Venice and its surrounds that reveal a quieter, authentic side of the city and its islands.

Director Mark Cousins, who first visited Venice as a student in the 1980s, recalls the city’s cinematic charm, likening a nighttime boat trip past Murano to stepping into a Fellini film. Among his recommendations is the Madonna dell’Orto church in Cannaregio, noted for its tranquility and remarkable Tintoretto paintings, including monumental works nearly 15 meters high.

Producer Jeremy Thomas, whose family connection to Venice dates back to his father’s 1952 film “Venetian Bird,” favors the decaying charm of the Lido. He points to two restaurants as culinary highlights: Corte Sconta in Castello, praised for its unpretentious Venetian dishes cooked on a charcoal grill, and Trattoria Da Scarso in Malamocco, a fishing village on the southern Lido.

Photographer Stefania D’Alessandro, who covers the festival’s photocalls, finds respite at Fondamente Nove, a waterfront promenade offering tranquil lagoon views during the blue hour, the fading daylight after sunset. She also appreciates the Arsenale area in Castello, a historic shipyard whose red brick architecture reflects Venice’s maritime power and offers atmospheric photo opportunities.

Lido native and longstanding Hotel Cipriani concierge Sebastiano Scomparin recommends culinary destinations such as Ristorante Wildner in Castello, cherished for its Venetian dishes and curated wine selections by owner Luca Fillini, and the recently opened Osteria Da Bubi near Piazza San Marco, where his favorite dish involves local lagoon mantis shrimp. He also notes the Armenian island of San Lazzaro degli Armeni, featuring an 18th-century monastery and a historic library.

Film programmer Gaia Furrer recalls arriving at the festival in 1997 and emphasizes the symbolic nature of Venice within the collective cultural imagination. She favors walks along the Zattere waterfront at sunset, stopping for gelato at Gelateria Nico, and suggests visiting contemporary art spaces at Punta della Dogana and Palazzo Grassi. For moments of calm, she highlights the Giardini Reali in San Marco and Serre dei Giardini in Castello. The neighboring island of Giudecca also receives her recommendation, particularly for its cultural hub Spazio Punch and dining options like Trattoria Altanella and Osteria da Codroma.

Writer John Bleasdale, a long-time resident since 1999, describes Venice as a university town centered around Campo Santa Margherita, known for student gatherings and the unique Ponte dei Pugni, a bridge historically associated with clan fights. He advises exploring all six sestieri, or districts, for a fuller experience beyond the tourist hotspots.

Publicist Jonathan Rutter has attended the festival regularly since 1994 and prefers staying on the Lido’s Albergo Quattro Fontane, whose garden serves as a social hub during the festival. He recommends dining at Da Celeste on the nearby island of Pellestrina, which requires a bus and ferry journey, as well as local favorites in Cannaregio and Castello, including Osteria Anice Stellato and Osteria Alle Testiere. For casual treats, he points to Pasticceria Rizzardini in San Polo and Caffè Rosso in Dorsoduro.

Fresh to Venice after taking the helm at Hotel Excelsior on the Lido, general manager Ehkado Brito encourages visitors to explore the island by bicycle, discovering nature reserves like Alberoni with their sand dunes and birdlife. He stresses the variety of Venice’s neighborhoods and islands and cautions against limiting one’s visit to the city’s main tourist sites. In the evenings, he recommends the Granviale Santa Maria Elisabetta, a lively promenade where locals socialize, and suggests dining at M22, a seaside terrace restaurant with a Calabrian culinary influence.

Together, these voices paint a portrait of Venice that extends beyond its famed festival and iconic landmarks—highlighting hidden art treasures, neighborhood vitality, culinary gems, and the diverse rhythms of island life.