More about: 15 Best Things To Do in Venice
Venice is the capital of the Veneto region in the north-east of the country and one of its most beautiful and visited cities, with 50,000 inhabitants and a whopping 25 million tourists a year.
If you want to enjoy the city without falling into the typical tourist traps or getting lost in the crowds, here is a list of essentials for a unique trip that will be useful whether you are visiting Venice for a day or spending a week in the City of Canals.
1. Enter the magnificent St. Mark's Basilica
The impressive St. Mark's Basilica is another must-see if you are visiting Venice in a day. Also located in St. Mark's Square, this Byzantine temple, unique in Italy, was built in 828 to house the relics of this saint.
If the outside is impressive, wait until you see the inside and, above all, the views of the square from its viewpoint. I recommend taking a guided tour of St Mark's Basilica, but if you are short on time, booking tickets to St Mark's Basilica will suffice. Without a doubt, it is one of the best tickets in Venice. Would you like to know some options?
- Tickets for St Mark's Basilica, from €48
- Tour of St Mark's Square with guided tour of the Basilica, from €71
- Guided tour of St Mark's Basilica, from €46
- Guided tour of St. Mark's Basilica after closing time, from €128
- Guided tour of St Mark's Basilica and the Doge's Palace, from €97
And if you're looking for somewhere to eat after your visit, here are some restaurants near St Mark's Basilica where you can enjoy Italian food as it should be enjoyed.
2. Visit the majestic Doge's Palace
Located in the great St Mark's Square, the Doge's Palace is one of the most important monuments in Venice, a symbol of its greatest period of power and splendour and the residence of the powerful doges for almost a century.
More than 120 doges decided the fate of the city inside the Doge's Palace, in its majestic halls and chambers decorated with works of art and paintings by Renaissance artists such as Titian, Veronese and Tintoretto, which you can admire today.
There are many ways to visit the Doge's Palace, but I recommend buying tickets for the Doge's Palace in advance to avoid the long queues at the entrance. Here is a post about the prices of the Doge's Palace in Venice that will answer any questions you may have, and below are several options:
- Tickets for the Doge's Palace in Venice, from €30
- Tickets for the Doge's Palace in Venice with a paper guide, from €45
- Tickets for the Doge's Palace in Venice with audio guide, from €43
- Guided tour of the Doge's Palace, from €62
- Guided tour of St Mark's Basilica and the Doge's Palace, from 97
- Guided tour of the Doge's Palace and its prisons in Venice, from €95
- Skip-the-line guided tour of the Doge's Palace in Venice, from €63
3. Enjoy a good coffee in St Mark's Square
In addition to the Doge's Palace and St. Mark's Basilica, the imposing 9th-century St. Mark's Square is home to other important buildings and museums in Venice, such as the Clock Tower, the Campanile, the Correr Museum and the monumental rooms of the Sansovino Library.
You will see many of them when you book a tour of St Mark's Square, which will help you learn all about its history.
Nicknamed 'The Most Beautiful Hall in Europe' by Napoleon himself when he stormed the city and was enthralled by its beauty, St. Mark's Square is a must-see for its lively day and night life, and you can even pop into one of its historic cafés, such as Café Florian or Café Quadri.
Acqua alta in St Mark's Square
If you travel to Venice in winter, you may be surprised by the rain and the resulting rise in the water level of the canals. This phenomenon is known as Acqua alta and lasts only a few hours, but if you witness it, don't hesitate to take out your camera.
You are very likely to see it if you visit the city in November or December, but it is practically impossible if you do so in August or September and unlikely but not impossible if you travel to Venice in October, January or February.
Personally, I think it's quite an experience, but if you want to avoid it, here's a post about the best time to travel to Venice.
4. Take a gondola ride through the small canals of Venice
Taking a gondola ride through the canals of Venice is a romantic, enjoyable and iconic activity. I recommend that you don't miss out on this once-in-a-lifetime experience, but above all, I advise you to book your gondola ride through Venice in advance and online so as not to waste time there, given the high demand and the difficulty of distinguishing the 'official' gondoliers from the 'pirates', who are very common in the city. Here are several options:
- Gondola ride in Venice, from €39
- 30-minute gondola ride in Venice, from €39
- Guided tour of Venice with gondola ride, from €58
- Guided tour of hidden Venice with gondola ride, from €94
Given the demand for this activity, there are different combinations available where you can book your gondola ride together with a guided tour of the city or its most important buildings, which will save you money on your trip, especially during special times of the year such as Christmas in Venice, when gondola rides tend to be more expensive.
5. Go in search of the most important and oldest bridges in Venice
With more than 400 bridges, it is impossible to walk around Venice without crossing many of them or even passing under most of them when booking a trip along the Grand Canal.
But a cruise along Venice's Grand Canal is not the only way to discover the different essential bridges in Venice, whose history you can learn about thanks to some of the guided walking tours of the city. These are the most important bridges:
- The Rialto Bridge: it is the oldest and most famous of the four bridges that cross the Grand Canal and was built in stone between 1588 and 1591. At dusk, you can enjoy the best sunset in Venice from here. From one of the streets leading down from the bridge, you can discover the Rialto Market, with dozens of stalls selling food, Venetian masks and Murano glass.
- The Ponte degli Scalzi: also called the Ponte della Stazione due to its proximity to the Santa Lucia railway station, it was built in 1932 in stone with a single arch.
- The Accademia Bridge: built in wood, it is 48 metres long and was erected to replace the previous iron bridge and inaugurated in 1933.
6. Explore other major churches in Venice
In addition to the majestic St. Mark's Basilica, Venice has other important churches that you can visit through some of the tickets that include guided tours of Venice and that stand out for their architecture and the artistic treasures they hide inside. Some of the most important are:
- Santi Giovanni e Paolo: one of the most beautiful churches in Venice and the largest of all, housing the remains of 27 dukes and notable works of art.
- Santa Maria della Salute: it has works by Tintoretto and others by the great Titian. This church was built after the tragic plague epidemic that struck the city and claimed the lives of more than 80,000 inhabitants.
- Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari: its ornate exterior displays great works by Titian, such as 'The Assumption', and houses his mausoleum and that of another genius, Antonio Canova.
- Church of San Barnaba: located in the interesting Dorsoduro district, it became famous worldwide for its appearance in the film 'Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade'.
Some of these churches are included when you book the Venice Chorus Pass, a pass that gives you access to around 14 churches without having to queue at the ticket office, allowing you to enjoy Venetian art and architecture while making the most of your time in the city.
7. Discover Murano and Burano from Venice
If you are spending at least two days in Venice, I recommend setting aside half a day for an excursion to the islands of Murano, Burano and Torcello. You have several options:
- Excursion to Murano and Burano from Venice, from €25
- Excursion to Murano, Burano and Torcello from Venice, from €25
- Full-day excursion to the islands of Murano, Burano and Torcello from Venice, from €30
- Boat trip to the islands of Murano, Burano and Torcello, from €38
- Murano glass tour from Venice, from €120
Visiting one of the many factories producing the famous Murano glass and learning how it is made by a master glassmaker (something particularly interesting if you are travelling to Venice with children), losing yourself among the colourful fishermen's houses and handmade lace stalls in Burano, and discovering the architectural and historical heritage of Torcello are all unforgettable experiences.
Getting to the islands of Murano and Burano from Venice is easy, but if you want to make the most of your time and see all the tourist attractions in Murano, as well as enjoy everything there is to do in Burano, I recommend an organised excursion.
Excursions from Venice
These islands are two of the must-see getaways from Venice whenever you have the opportunity.
If you're wondering how many days you should spend in Venice, I'd say that you can see the city in a couple of days, or at most three days if you want to see it in depth. If you're planning a four-day trip to Venice, don't hesitate to book an excursion to Murano and Burano, among other nearby towns.
8. Use the vaporetto whenever you can
Walking around Venice can be exhausting, but fortunately the Venetian Vaporetto is at the service of citizens and tourists alike, taking you from one side of the city to the other in comfort while you enjoy the views of the majestic palaces that line its canals.
A tip for visiting Venice? Take a trip along the entire length of the Grand Canal. It is undoubtedly the most economical way to cross it by water, and although the experience is not as exclusive as that of a gondola, the views are the same and it is one of the main ways to get around Venice.
9. Discover Venice's Jewish quarter
Often overlooked by visitors to the city, this Jewish quarter is one of the best-preserved ghettos in Europe today. Its streets are even more delicate and narrow than those of the rest of the city, and the history that permeates its walls is worth discovering.
To explore it, I recommend booking a tour of Venice's Jewish quarter. You won't regret it!
10. Enjoy an opera concert in Venice
On your trip to the City of Canals, you can also consider enjoying one of the best opera or classical music concerts in Venice. During my visit, I had the opportunity to book tickets for the following two events, and I did not regret it:
- Concert by I Musici Veneziani in Venice, from €35: a 90-minute show where you can listen to Antonio Vivaldi's Four Seasons.
- Concert by Interpreti Veneziani, from €41: an unrivalled opportunity to listen to pieces by Bach, Mozart and Vivaldi, held in the Church of San Vidal, located in the San Marco district.
11. Take in the best views of Venice
One of the most rewarding experiences in Venice is to climb up to its spectacular viewpoints, located on terraces or ancient towers, to take wonderful photographs of the panoramic view of this beautiful city. I especially recommend:
- Scala Contarini del Bovolo: the famous spiral staircase of this Venetian palace is another of the most beautiful spots from which to appreciate Venice, with unique views of the city's red roofs and the churches in the centre.
- St Mark's Campanile: the tallest in Venice, located in St Mark's Square. It offers the best views of the historic centre.
- Campanile of San Giorgio Maggiore: to fully appreciate the Venetian lagoon. Inside, this church houses masterpieces by Tintoretto such as 'The Last Supper', 'The Deposition' and 'The Gathering of Manna'.
12. Enjoy an aperitif and dinner in Canareggio
Enjoying a gastronomic tour in Venice or having an aperitif are two essential activities for immersing yourself in Italian culinary culture. And Canareggio is one of the most authentic areas of Venice for this. As you stroll through its streets, you can see how Venetians really live, what their houses are like and even the workshops where they take their boats to be repaired.
At night in Venice, the streets always have a festive atmosphere, with lots of terraces and groups of young people enjoying an aperitif or a good pizza.
Believe me when I say that you don't want to miss this part of the city. Here is a list of inexpensive restaurants to eat at in Venice.
13. Have a cocktail with a view of Santa Maria della Salute
Here comes the treat of the day: if after hours of intense walking you need to rest but don't want to go back to your hotel, I recommend treating yourself to a cocktail (or a coffee) on the terrace of one of the luxury hotels at the end of the Grand Canal, which offer wonderful views of Santa Maria della Salute.
The Palazzo Gritti (which, as a building in itself, is worth seeing) or the St. Regis are my favourites. But if you prefer to have the views from the opposite side, you will love the terrace of the Sina Centurion Palace. The terrace has incredible views and is right above the water.
14. Contemplate the Bridge of Sighs
The Bridge of Sighs deserves a special mention, not only for its beauty but also for its history, as it is the bridge that leads to the dungeons of the Doge's Palace.
You'll find it very close to St. Mark's Square itself, and I recommend seeing it both during the day and at night. You'll recognise it immediately as it's the target of flashes from tourists walking around the area.
15. Visit Lido beach if you go in summer
The Lido of Venice is an area unknown to tourists and loved by the citizens of Venice as it is the beach where they escape to on weekends (especially when the weather is good) to disconnect from the hustle and bustle of the city centre.
If you're in Venice on one of those hot summer days and you feel like discovering a much more "local" spot, you can get there by vaporetto with your
travel pass (the trip is included in this card) and take a dip like a true Venetian. There you'll also find a residential area with bars and restaurants where you can spend a relaxing afternoon. A key destination if you are spending a week in Venice during the summer season.
Book a transfer from the airport
The city of Venice will probably captivate you so much that you won't want to leave, but unfortunately all good things must come to an end, and you'll have to go to the airport.
Transfers from Venice airport to the city centre and vice versa can be just another formality or they can leave a bad taste in your mouth.
Venice is an expensive and very touristy city, so it's not unusual for people to try to rip you off when travelling to and from the airport. To avoid this and, of course, to make the most of your time in the city, my advice is to book your transfer from Venice airport in advance.