On a budget, Venice Biennale still earns its price.
~€30 (1-day, Giardini + Arsenale)
When it's on (roughly spring–autumn), the Giardini national pavilions and the vast Arsenale rope walks turn Venice into the centre of the contemporary-art world — a full day or two of provocative, of-the-moment work in extraordinary spaces. The catch: it's strictly seasonal (nothing to see off-year/off-season), tickets aren't cheap, it's a lot of walking, and it leaves classical-Venice seekers cold while thrilling the art crowd.