Cannaregio is Venice's most populous sestiere, and it shows — this is where you'll see laundry strung across back canals, kids playing football in small campi, and bars that fill with locals rather than tour groups after 6pm.
The Ghetto
Cannaregio is home to the historic Jewish Ghetto, established in 1516 and the origin of the word "ghetto" itself — from the Venetian for the area's earlier use as a foundry (geto). It remains an active Jewish community today, with several historic synagogues (several open for visits) and a small, moving museum on the community's history.
The Strada Nova
Cannaregio's main thoroughfare, the Strada Nova, runs from near the train station toward Rialto and is one of the widest, most direct walking routes in the city — useful for orientation, though busy with foot traffic for exactly that reason. Duck one street off it in either direction and the crowds thin out fast.
Fondamenta della Misericordia
A canal-side strip that's become one of Venice's best evening bar streets, popular with both locals and residents' university-age children — a good gauge of where actual Venetians choose to spend an evening.
Practical notes
Cannaregio's proximity to Santa Lucia station makes it a genuinely convenient base for early departures or late arrivals, and it's generally better value for both food and accommodation than sestieri closer to San Marco — without losing much in walking time to the main sights.