Visiting Venice is not just "watching" but "being" in an other space and, most importantly, in an other time.
Nothing has changed since Goldoni's and Vivaldi's days.
Enjoy the silence, enjoy the water but be ready for the incredible feast of Redentore and for the Carnival, famous all over the world.
Wine, food and fine handcrafts, like Murano glass, are major attractives too.

Grandiben is very well situated:

here are two photos showing the canal it overlooks, in the Arsenale area, close to the church of S.Martino.

At 100 meters from the" Riva degli Schiavoni," the world famous seafront promenade leading to S.Marco(10 to 15 minutes'walk )

Grandiben is set in a simple, yet distinguished neigbourhood, still inhabited by Venetians. 
You can essentially take three directions from Grandiben:
- to S.Marco by the seaside walk (Riva degli Schiavoni)
- to S.Marco by the interior "calli"(=streets): this way you go past a busy and lively calle (Calle Crosera)featuring very good food shops to the beautiful Campo Bandiera e Moro, then to the" Ponte dei Greci ". Alongside this main itinerary, real jewels like Palazzo Querini Stampalia or the Greek Icons Museum are within easy reach.
- to the "Arsenale"(=Old Shipyard) and to the Biennale Gardens, then to Via Garibaldi.

If you go to Venice for the"Biennale" art exhibition, no accomodation can be better than Grandiben. It takes just 5 minutes to go to the glorious Arsenale, and then 5 more to get to the first Biennale Area ( Le Corderie)