Enjoy a boating holiday in the Venetian Lagoon

There are plenty of fun things to do in Europe, but if you're a boating enthusiast, there is perhaps nothing more exciting than enjoying a holiday on the water - and the Venetian Lagoon, with so many pretty islands to visit, is a great place to do this. 

Stretch your legs in Venice

The Venetian Lagoon is best known for being home to Italy's most romantic destination, Venice. Culture vultures and couples on romantic breaks come here all the time to soak up the sights and walk together hand-in-hand over narrow bridges.

If you want to stay active on your boating break, you will certainly be able to stretch your legs as the only way to get around Venice is either to hit the water or walk along its long streets and over its narrow bridges. There are plenty of places to visit in the city, so you'll certainly work up a sweat during the day, travelling from the likes of Basilica San Marco to the Peggy Guggenheim Collection museum.

Due to Venice's location, there are 120 boat races here every year. You could even apply to get involved in one or more of these events if you're interested. Of all of them, the most famous is the Regata Storica, and even if you don't have a chance to get involved in a boat race in the Venetian Lagoon, this is an event well worth attending simply to watch.

To make your trip extra special, dine at one of the city's best restaurants. Venice is famous for the Cipriani Hotel and you could eat at its Fortuny Restaurant, tucking into healthy potions of delicious Venetian food, including sea bass ravioli, scampi risotto, roasted turbot and rare fine Italian cheeses.

Explore the lace-making island of Burano

The beauty of going on a boating holiday is that you get to enjoy your passion, while taking in several sights. When you're abroad, this means you are able to visit as many destinations that you can possibly fit in during your trip away. One place you should definitely criuse to is Burano.

You might have heard of this little, quaint island, as it is known the world over for its lacemaking industry. The best way to explore this destination is by walking around it and the first thing you'll notice are the brightly-coloured houses on the island. Burano boasts a charming character, with each small building painted a different colour from the next.

After walking around the island - and over its narrow bridges - make sure you leave time to stop at the Museo del Merletto (Lace Museum) and a couple of shops where you pick up some lace souvenirs. You might want some doilies or tablecloths for your home, but make sure it's authentic Burano lace you're buying and not products that have been imported from elsewhere.

Buy glass from Murano

Another famous island in the Venetian Lagoon is Murano. This is well-known for its glassmaking industry, which dates back to the 13th century. Glassmakers moved to the island from Venice for fear that the fire used to produce glass would cause a huge amount of damage to the city, as most of the buildings at the time were made of wood. Since then, Murano has produced some of the best glassmakers in the world, perfecting their skills in producing multicoloured glass, crystalline glass, glass mirrors and glass gemstones.

If you want to learn more about the glassmaking process or Murano's history in this industry, visit its glass museums. There are also several galleries, showrooms and shops on the island where you can see more examples of Murano glass and can even buy a few souvenirs to bring home for friends and family.

Lido Di Jesolo

This seaside resort has a golden-sand beach, which attracts many tourists to the area every year. On one trip to Italy, you can visit the cultural centre of Venice, before finishing off soaking up the sunshine in Jesolo.

As well as a gorgeous beach, the area also boasts a romantic old town where you can while away afternoons simply by sitting in cafes watching the world go by. This is an ideal place for a boating holiday as you can cruise along the Sile River before reaching the Adriatic Sea and the area's large, busy tourist harbour.