Discovering the enchanting city of Venice, Italy is a journey into a world of timeless beauty and cultural richness. There are countless things to do in Italy, Venice, that promise to make your visit a memorable experience. As you traverse the intricate network of canals and historic streets, you'll find yourself immersed in the city's unique charm.
One of the must-visit attractions in Venice is the iconic St. Mark's Square, where you can witness the grandeur of St. Mark's Basilica and the impressive Campanile. Take a leisurely stroll around the square, enjoying the mesmerizing architecture and vibrant atmosphere. It's undoubtedly one of the top things to do in Italy, Venice.
For a quintessential Venetian experience, embark on a romantic gondola ride through the winding canals. Glide under picturesque bridges and past elegant buildings, creating memories that will last a lifetime. This timeless activity is among the most popular things to do in Italy, Venice, offering a unique perspective of the city.
Things to Do in Italy Venice
Venice is renowned for its rich art and history, and a visit to the Doge's Palace is a testament to this. Explore the opulent chambers, admire the intricate artwork, and cross the legendary Bridge of Sighs. It's a cultural journey that ranks high on the list of things to do in Italy, Venice.
To truly immerse yourself in Venetian culture, visit the Rialto Market. Here, you can indulge in the vibrant colors and aromas of fresh produce, seafood, and local delicacies. Sampling traditional Venetian cuisine is undeniably one of the most delectable things to do in Italy, Venice.
No visit to Venice is complete without exploring the labyrinthine streets of the city. Wander through the charming neighborhoods, getting lost in the narrow alleys and stumbling upon hidden gems. Exploring the local shops and boutiques is undoubtedly one of the most authentic things to do in Italy, Venice.
For art enthusiasts, the Peggy Guggenheim Collection is a treasure trove of modern masterpieces. Housed in Peggy Guggenheim's former residence, the museum showcases works by renowned artists like Picasso, Pollock, and Dalí. Exploring this collection is a must for those seeking cultural immersion and is undoubtedly one of the top things to do in Italy, Venice.
1. JUST WANDER…GET LOST IN VENICE
Put down your map and just wander. Forget the big, popular sites (we will get to those soon). The smaller canals off of the main tourist trail are perfect for wandering.
The main city of Venice is small enough that you can walk it in several hours. Explore the canals, sit and relax in the small squares that punctuate the city, go cafe-hopping for coffee or wine, and just enjoy this city without feeling like you have to check a bunch of sites off of your to-do list.
2. ST. MARK’S SQUARE
St. Mark’s Square is the heart of Venice. From here you can easily visit most of the other main sites. The best things to do here? Take a 360° panorama photo and go people watching.
St. Mark's Square, located in the heart of Venice, Italy, is a captivating cultural hub. Bounded by historic architecture, including St. Mark's Basilica and the Campanile, it exudes timeless elegance. The square's vibrant atmosphere, with lively cafes and iconic pigeons, beckons visitors to soak in its rich history and architectural splendor.
3. CLIMB THE CAMPANILE DI SAN MARCO
The Campanile is the bell tower that dominates the skyline of Venice. The only way to the top is by elevator. From the top, your reward is one of the best views of the city.
Hours: Hours vary by season. April 16 to September 30: 8:30 am to 9:00 pm (last admission 8:45 pm). Reduced hours the remainder of the year. Get the full schedule here.
PRO TRAVEL TIP: Lines can be long to enter the bell tower. Before your visit to Venice, book a time slot on the official St. Mark’s Basilica website. Only 30 tickets are available for each time slot so I recommend you make your reservation as soon as you know your dates of travel to Venice.
4. VIEW VENICE FROM THE RIALTO BRIDGE
Spanning the Grand Canal, the Ponte di Rialto is Venice’s most popular bridge. From the top of the bridge, enjoy another fantastic, iconic view of this city. See it at sunrise, see it at sunset, join the crowds of tourists in the middle of the day. Watching the gondolas, vaporettos, and ferries travel up and down the Grand Canal from this spot is mesmerizing.
Expect to share this space with a lot of other travelers. Find a spot, take lots of selfie photos, and smile because you are in Venice!
5. CRUISE THE CANALS ON A GONDOLA…AND IS IT WORTH IT?
Yes, it may be cliché and super-touristy, but in our opinion, a visit to Venice would not be complete without a gondola ride through the canals.
How Much Does a Gondola ride cost? That’s a good question. The city of Venice sets the rate at €80 per 40 minutes (€100 after 7 pm) but that doesn’t mean that’s the rate you will get. You will have to negotiate with your gondolier before you ride. Make sure you agree on the price and the length of time you will ride before you get in the gondola. And if you would like him to sing, that will cost extra. Here is a great article if you want to learn more.
6. VISIT THE DOGES’ PALACE
The Doges’ Palace is a palace built in Venetian Gothic styles. For centuries, this building served as the residence for the Doge, the seat of the government, and a palace of justice. Now, it is a museum. Without a doubt, a visit to the Doges’ Palace is a must-have experience in Venice. The history that took place here is incredible. Touring this palace is one of the best things to do in Venice.
You can tour the Palace on your own or book a guided tour. As you tour the Palace, you will have more fantastic views of Venice. Yes, we love great views of the cities we visit, especially those that are unique or from a high vantage point. The Doges’ Palace has some great views of Venice.
Website: Get updated pricing, learn about the Secret Itineraries tour, and book your tickets in advance on the official website.
You can also join one of these highly rated skip-the-line tours of the Doges Palace and St. Mark’s Basilica.
7. THE BRIDGE OF SIGHS
So, you walked across the Bridge of Sighs from the Doges’ Palace. Now it is time to view the Bridge of Sighs from outside the Doges’ Palace.
Go for a stroll along Riva degli Schiavoni, which is a wide promenade that runs along the Venetian Lagoon near Doge’s Palace. As you cross Ponte della Paglia look down the canal for the iconic view of the Bridge of Sighs.
8. SAINT MARK’S BASILICA
St. Mark’s Basilica dates back to the 9th century AD. Over the course of eight centuries, mosaics were added to the interior of the cathedral, as well as treasures from the Crusades. The Pala d’Oro is a Byzantine alter piece that is covered in gold and studded with almost 2,000 gems.
This cathedral is one of Venice’s top attractions. Lines to get in are legendary but you can now book a ticket online in advance to skip the line.
On a visit to St. Mark’s Cathedral, you will pay a few euros to enter the basilica. For an additional fee, you can add on the Pala d’Oro, the Loggia dei Cavalli, and look out over St. Mark’s Square from the terrace. We cover each of these sites and their cost in much more detail in our Guide to St. Mark’s Basilica. This also includes tips to help you have the best experience, lots of photos both inside and outside of the basilica, and information on how to skip the line.
St. Mark’s Basilica opens at 9:30 am (on Sundays, it opens at 2 pm). I recommend getting in line at 9 am, or even earlier, to minimize your wait, if you plan to purchase your ticket onsite. But for the best experience, book your entrance ticket online for a 9:30 am entry. Before you go, get updates on hours of operation here.
Hours: 9:30 am to 5:15 pm Monday to Saturday; Sunday 2 pm to 5:15 pm; last admission at 4:45 pm
Skip-the-Line: This tour has skip-the-line access and includes a visit to the St. Mark’s terrace for great views of the city.
Nighttime Tour of St. Mark’s Basilica: If you like the idea of visiting the Basilica with low crowds, consider taking a nighttime tour of St. Mark’s Basilica. Offered after closing time, this small group tour allows you to visit the Basilica without the crowds and you get to see the Basilica illuminated at night. We took this tour in July 2022 and it was amazing! To tour the Basilica without the crowds and see it illuminated was an incredible experience and much better than visiting it during the day, in my opinion (we have done both).
9. VENICE’S BEST BARGAIN: THE VAPORETTO
What is a vaporetto? Basically, it is a water bus that takes passengers from point to point. Most people use the vaporetto as a way to travel between the main sites. For a cheap but fantastic way to tour the Grand Canal, ride the vaporetto from the lagoon through the Grand Canal, past the Rialto Bridge, all the way to the train station.
Take the No. 1 vaporetto (ACTV) Linea 1 from Piazzale Roma to Piazza San Marco (St. Mark’s Square). If you want, this vaporetto travels all of the way to Lido Island. It also runs in both directions, so if you are coming from Lido Island, you can ride the vaporetto across the lagoon and down the entire Grand Canal.
Avoid the Crowds: In the late afternoon, start at Piazzale Roma and journey down the Grand Canal towards St. Mark’s Square. At this time of day, most people will be traveling in the other direction.
10. TAKE A WALKING TOUR OF VENICE
Embark on a captivating journey through Venice with a walking tour. Wind through narrow canals, cross charming bridges, and explore hidden gems. Immerse yourself in the city's history, art, and culture as every step unveils the enchanting beauty of this unique water-bound destination.
If you prefer to walk the canals with a guide, here a few great options to consider.
This Venice Highlights walking tour gets near perfect reviews and it covers the major highlights of the city.
The walking tour with a local guide can be customized for how much time you have and what you want to see and do in Venice.
11. ENJOY THE VIEW FROM PONTE DELL’ACCADEMIA
From Ponte dell’Accademia, you have one of the best views of the Grand Canal. This old, wooden bridge is not one of prettier bridges in town but the view from here is stunning.
Look east along the Grand Canal. You will be able to see the Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute, a 400-year-old church that is a famous Venetian landmark. This bridge also a great spot to watch as gondolas, water buses, and taxis drift up and down the Grand Canal.
12. VISIT THE BASILICA DI SANTA MARIA DELLA SALUTE
This Basilica was completed in 1687 and it was built to celebrate the end of the plague. It is dedicated to Our Lady of Health (Salute in Italian).
There are two reasons why visiting the Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute is one of the best things to do in Venice: it is a beautiful basilica, both inside and out, and the views from the cupola are one of the best in the city.
The Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute is located on the Grand Canal. From Ponte dell’Accademia, this baroque cathedral is one of the main focal points.
During the summer months, the Basilica is open from 9 am to 12 pm and 3 pm to 5:30 pm. Get updated hours here before your visit.
We didn’t know that this was a thing you could do. We just happened to notice the sign to climb to the cupola while visiting the inside of the basilica. And of course we wanted to climb the cupola (and I am so glad we did!).
There is an 8€ fee per person to climb the steps to the cupola (the dome). We purchased our tickets from the attendant but here is a link to purchase them online.
You can visit the cupola on the hour and the half hour. Your visit lasts 30 minutes. Note: the cupola is not open on Monday or Tuesday.
When you enter the Basilica, follow the signs to the cupola. Wait here on the hour or half hour for the attendant to appear, pay your ticket, and then climb the steps. The attendant accompanied us to the cupola and when we did this, it was just Tim and I with one other couple.
Also, when we did this, the attendant was about 5 minutes late, so if he/she doesn’t appear right on time, it’s worth waiting a few extra minutes.
There are 150 steps to the cupola. This is on a spiral staircase and it is very narrow at times. If you suffer from claustrophobia, or don’t think you can climb a tight, twisting staircase, skip this activity.
13. T FONDACO ROOFTOP TERRACE
The Fondaco Dei Tedeschi building sits next to the Rialto Bridge on the Grand Canal. It was originally built 800 years ago by Germans for trade and lodging. In 1925 it was the headquarters of the Central Post Office in Venice. And in 2016, the building opened to the public as the first DFS store in Europe.
Sitting on top of the building is a rooftop terrace that overlooks the Grand Canal. From here, you look out over the Rialto Bridge and can watch as gondolas, water taxis, the vaporetto, and other boats zip back and forth along the Grand Canal.
Tickets to visit the terrace are free and can be reserved online in advance. When we did this (July 2022) tickets sold out at least in week in advance, so we recommend making your reservation sooner than that. Tickets are released 21 days in advance. You will be reserving a 15-minute time slot and visitation is limited to 40 people.
14. TRY CICCHETTI
Cicchetti are small plates of food, similar to tapas, that are eaten as a snack or a small meal. They can be found throughout Venice. Usually, cicchetti are small sandwiches, meats or cheeses arranged on top of bread, or vegetables served on top of polenta.
Indulge in Venetian culinary delight by trying cicchetti, small, flavorful bites bursting with local flair. These savory treats, enjoyed in cozy bacari (wine bars), offer a delicious taste of Venice's culinary diversity and are a must for those craving an authentic gastronomic experience.
15. CLIMB THE STEPS AT SCALA CONTARINI DEL BOVOLO
The Palazzo Contarini del Bovolo is a small palazzo, or palace, in Venice. This palazzo is famous for its spiral staircase that leads to an observation terrace. The staircase is featured in Orson Welles film adaptation of Shakespeare’s Othello.
Tickets cost €8 per adult (€6 for those 26 and younger). We purchased our tickets onsite and did not have to wait in line when we did this (July 2022).
16. CHURCH OF SAN GIORGIO MAGGIORE
San Giorgio Maggiore is a small island that sits just to the east of Giudecca. This island, and the church that is located here, the Church of San Giorgio Maggiore, is a focal point when looking across the lagoon from Riva degli Schiavoni.
The first church that was built on this island dates back to 790. The present day church was completed in 1610. The bell tower that sits beside the church was completed in 1791.
The views from the island and the bell tower are wonderful. From here, you look across the lagoon to the Doge’s Palace, the St. Mark Campanile, St. Mark’s Basilica, and Riva degli Schiavoni.
Not many people venture out this way, so this is a great activity to do if you want to escape the crowds and get an amazing view of Venice.
It is free to visit the church but you will pay €8 per person to visit the bell tower. When we did this, payment was by cash only.
To get to the top of the bell tower, no steps are required. An elevator zips you to the top in just a matter of seconds. And once at the top, you get 360° views of the area.
Getting Here: Take the water bus (vaporetto lines 2 and N). It’s best to purchase a daily pass, since your total visit could be longer than 75 minutes. There is no ticket machine for the vaporetto on San Giorgio Maggiore island. You can also take a water taxi, but getting back will be more challenging, since water taxis don’t regularly visit this island.
17. DAY TRIP TO MURANO, BURANO, AND LIDO
Murano, Burano, and Lido are a series of islands that sit in the Venetian Lagoon and make a great day trip from Venice.
Burano is famous for its colorful buildings and lacemaking. Murano is famous for its glass making. And Lido is a long, thin island with a beach. One of our favorite memories in Venice was day tripping to Lido and cycling around the island on a 4-person surrey.
18. TEATRO LA FENICE
This opera house is one of the most famous and historic opera houses in the world. The theater was destroyed by a fire three times, the most recent being in 1996. It reopened in December 2003, truly earning its name “the Phoenix,” as it continually rises from the ashes.
The theater is open for tours on a daily basis. Your admission fee includes the audio guide tour.
Hours: 9:30 am to 6 pm daily
Website: Get updated hours and pricing here.
Other Ticket Sellers: We purchased our ticket in advance through GetYourGuide, which allowed us to select a morning ticket or an afternoon ticket, so we were not locked into one set time.
19. PEGGY GUGGENHEIM COLLECTION
This modern art museum is located in the Palazzo Venier dei Leoni, an 18th century palace. It contains modern art by Picasso, Dalí, Miró, and Kandinsky that was collected by American heiress Peggy Guggenheim.
One of our favorite parts of this museum is the terrace on the Grand Canal. From here, you have a nice view of Ponte dell’Accademia.
Hours: 10 am to 6 pm daily; closed Tuesday
Website: Get updated hours and pricing on the official website. Purchase your ticket online in advance to avoid waiting in line.
20. LIBRERIA ACQUA ALTA
The Libreria Acqua Alta is a bookshop in Venice. Books are stored in bathtubs and even a gondola, to protect them from the flooding that occurs annually in Venice.
With colorful books stacked against the walls and a gondola running down the center of the store, Libreria Acqua Alta has become a very popular Instagram spot in recent years.
In my opinion, this bookshop is an overrated attraction in Venice. The shop is small, crowded, and not nearly as photogenic as it appears in some photos.
Libreria Acqua Alta Gondola | best things to do in Venice
At the back of the store, you can exit out onto a small terrace and climb the stacks of books for a view of a canal, but it’s not any more scenic than other canals you will see in Venice.
And there is a small patio with colorful books piled up against the walls, which makes a nice spot to take a photo.
If you have limited time in Venice (a day or two), I think your time is better spent in other places in the city. But if you are curious and want to check this place out, it is free and quick to visit (it just takes some time to walk here).
FAQ
Q1: What are the must-visit attractions in Venice, Italy?
A1: The must-visit attractions in Venice include St. Mark's Basilica, the Grand Canal, the Rialto Bridge, the Doge's Palace, and the Peggy Guggenheim Collection.
Q2: How can I travel from Marco Polo Airport to the city center in Venice?
A2: To travel from Marco Polo Airport to the city center in Venice, you can take the Venice Airport Shuttle, water taxis, or the Alilaguna water bus, providing convenient and varied transportation options.
Q3: What are the best times to visit Venice to avoid crowds?
A3: To avoid crowds, it's recommended to visit Venice during the shoulder seasons of spring (April to June) and fall (September to October). These months offer pleasant weather and fewer tourists.
Q4: Are there any traditional Venetian dishes that I must try during my visit?
A4: Yes, some traditional Venetian dishes to try include Risotto al Nero di Seppia (black squid ink risotto), Cicchetti (Venetian tapas), Sarde in Saor (sweet and sour sardines), and Tiramisu for dessert.
Q5: How can I explore the smaller canals of Venice?
A5: To explore the smaller canals of Venice, consider taking a traditional gondola ride or a Vaporetto (water bus) ride through the charming waterways, providing a unique and scenic experience.
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