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Venetian Islands
April 5, 2026 at 07:37 AM
Added 1 internal cross-links
The Venetian Islands are a chain of small, exclusive islands located in the bay between the mainland and the barrier island of Vice City. Part of Vice-Dale County in the state of Leonida, the islands represent some of the most expensive and desirable real estate in the entire metropolitan area. Connected to both the mainland and the barrier island by causeways, the Venetian Islands serve as a residential enclave for Vice City's wealthiest residents.
The islands are visible in trailer footage for Grand Theft Auto VI, appearing as a string of low-rise landmasses dotted with waterfront mansions and private docks. Their position in the bay, between Downtown Vice City on the mainland and South Beach on the barrier island, gives residents (and players) easy access to both sides of the city while maintaining a sense of exclusivity and isolation.
The Venetian Islands consist of a series of small artificial islands arranged in a linear chain across the bay. A causeway road connects them in sequence, running from the mainland near Downtown Vice City to the barrier island. Each island is relatively small, with just enough space for residential properties, private docks, and landscaped grounds.
The islands are entirely surrounded by water, giving every property a waterfront position. The bay waters around the islands are shallow and calm compared to the open ocean on the eastern side of the barrier island, making the area suitable for boats and watercraft navigation. Yacht docks and boat lifts are visible along the shorelines of each island.
The causeway that connects the islands is a two-lane road with low walls on either side, offering open views of the bay, the Downtown skyline to the west, and the beach district skyline to the east. This causeway serves as both a transportation route and a scenic drive, and its exposed position over open water makes it a distinctive driving experience compared to the urban streets of the mainland.
The Venetian Islands primarily consist of residential properties and private facilities, but several notable features stand out.
Location | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|
Waterfront Mansions | Residential | Luxury single-family homes with private waterfront access, swimming pools, and landscaped grounds. These are among the most expensive properties in Vice City and may be available for purchase as part of the economy and properties system. |
Private Yacht Docks | Marina | Personal boat docks attached to individual properties. Many mansions feature their own boats and watercraft moored directly behind the house, including yachts, speedboats, and jet skis. |
Venetian Causeway | Infrastructure | The main road connecting the island chain to the mainland and barrier island. Features a low-profile bridge design with open water views on both sides. Functions as a key east-west transit route. |
Gated Entrances | Security | Security checkpoints and gated access points at the causeways leading onto the islands. These may restrict access during certain story missions or trigger wanted levels if the player enters uninvited. |
Waterfront Parks | Public Space | Small green spaces at the tips of certain islands, offering views of the bay and Downtown skyline. These parks provide pedestrian access to the waterfront. |
The Venetian Islands represent the upper tier of Vice City's real estate market. The properties here are characterized by modern architectural design, high walls and privacy hedges, infinity pools overlooking the bay, and meticulously maintained tropical landscaping. The NPC residents are likely to reflect this wealth: well-dressed individuals, luxury vehicles parked in driveways, and private security patrols.
For players, the Venetian Islands may serve as aspirational real estate. The economy and properties system in GTA VI is expected to include purchasable safehouses and properties, and a waterfront mansion on the Venetian Islands would represent the pinnacle of in-game real estate acquisition. This aligns with the series' long tradition of rewarding player progression with increasingly luxurious properties.
The island setting makes the Venetian Islands one of the best locations in Vice City for watercraft. The calm bay waters, private docks, and direct access to open water routes make the area ideal for boating. Players can likely access various types of boats and watercraft from the island docks, including speedboats for fast bay crossings, yachts for leisure cruising, and jet skis for quick personal watercraft rides.
The islands' bay location also provides access to swimming and diving opportunities. The shallow, clear waters of the bay around the islands may contain underwater points of interest, hidden collectibles, or marine wildlife to discover.
The concentration of wealth on the Venetian Islands makes them an attractive target for criminal activity. Home invasions, boat theft, and high-value property crimes are natural gameplay opportunities in this setting. The islands' isolated position, connected to the mainland only by causeways, creates interesting tactical considerations: the causeways can serve as both escape routes and chokepoints.
The law enforcement response to crimes on the Venetian Islands is likely to be swift and aggressive, given the wealth and influence of the residents. Private security teams may also operate on the islands, adding an additional layer of resistance for players attempting criminal operations in the area.
The Venetian Islands in GTA VI are based on the real Venetian Islands, a chain of six artificial islands in Biscayne Bay connecting Miami to Miami Beach via the Venetian Causeway. The real islands were created through land reclamation in the 1920s and named after the canals and architecture of Venice, Italy. The six islands are, from west to east: Biscayne Island, San Marco Island, San Marino Island, Di Lido Island, Rivo Alto Island, and Belle Isle.
In the real world, the Venetian Islands are among the most expensive residential areas in Miami, with waterfront homes regularly selling for tens of millions of dollars. Residents have included celebrities, business executives, and international buyers. The Venetian Causeway itself is a historic structure, originally built in 1926, that serves as both a vital transportation link and a popular route for joggers, cyclists, and sightseers.
Star Island, Fisher Island, and the Palm Islands are nearby real-world equivalents that may also have influenced the in-game design. These ultra-exclusive island communities in Biscayne Bay share the same characteristics of waterfront luxury, causeway access, and gated exclusivity.
The Venetian Islands are entirely surrounded by water, making them one of the few locations in Vice City where every property has direct waterfront access.
The causeway connecting the islands offers some of the best scenic views in the game, with the Downtown skyline on one side and the beach districts on the other.
The real Venetian Causeway in Miami charges a toll for vehicle crossings. It is unknown whether GTA VI implements any toll system for the in-game causeways.
The islands' isolated position makes them a natural setting for story missions involving wealthy targets, boat chases, or waterfront confrontations.
Luxury waterfront properties in previous GTA games, such as the mansion on Starfish Island in the original Vice City, have traditionally served as end-game rewards. The Venetian Islands may fill a similar role.
