Best things to do in Venice: city guide and itineraries for the lagoon city

It’s no secret that we love Venice! This city built on water captured our hearts and imaginations the very first time we caught sight of her elegant palazzos gazing over the Grand Canal. And we’ve returned many times to soak up the beauty and majesty of La Serenissima as the city is known to Italians.

You must visit Venice at least once in your lifetime, even if it is only for a day or two. This is our guide to the best things to do in Venice which includes information on where to stay and how to get there and navigate your way around. If you’re struggling with how to fit everything into the time you have we’ve included suggested itineraries for one day in Venice or more.

Top sights and things to do in Venice

Grand Canal

The main “street” or artery of Venice is the Grand Canal. This majestic waterway winds itself almost 4 kilometers in a reverse S shape through the center of the city – from Piazzale Roma to just before Piazza San Marco. Lining its shores, are over 170 buildings, many of them elegant palazzos (palaces) in traditional Venetian style dating from the 13th to 18th centuries. Surprisingly only 4 bridges cross the Grand Canal – the Rialto and Accademia bridges are the most famous and uniquely beautiful. 

We think this is one of the world’s most incredible sights. If you only do one thing in Venice, make it a trip down the Grand Canal. You can do this in style, riding in one of the traditional wooden water taxis. The best way to do this is on arrival from the airport where you can join either a

• Shared water taxi transfer – €32 per person, kids under 6 ride free – click here to book

Or

• Private water taxi transfer – €190 – €260 per group depending on luggage and passengers (up to 6) – click for details

If you’re on a budget or have more time you can take vaporetto (water bus) line 1 from Piazzale Roma all the way to Sant Elena. Make sure to make your way to the back of the vessel where the outside seating offers incredible uninterrupted views of the bridges, palazzos and gondolas weaving their way through boat traffic on the canal.

San Marco – St Mark’s Basilica and bell tower

The glittering basilica of San Marco was founded 1200 years ago when Venetian merchants secreted the remains of the apostle Mark back from Alexandria in Egypt. Once the private chapel of the Doge (duke) of Venice, the basilica is full of treasures acquired during the Venetian Republic’s crusades as far east as Constantinople (Istanbul). 

Five Byzantine domes with gold mosaics depicting biblical scenes top the exterior of the basilica giving it a unique, eastern look. Above the main entrance a golden winged lion and a statue of St Mark surrounded by golden angels look down over the piazza below.

Inside there are 500 columns and a further 8,000 square feet of gold mosaics. Thousands of gems including pearls, rubies and emeralds adorn one of San Marco’s major treasures – the golden Byzantine altar screen known as The Pala d’Oro.

Even if you are not into churches or history then you need to take a peek inside this magnificent building. A visit only takes 10 minutes and it is an absolutely magnificent sight. The best time to visit the Basilica di San Marco is between 11:30 am to 12:45 pm on weekdays when the interior is illuminated. This also occurs during liturgical celebrations on Sundays and Holidays. At other times the lights are dimmed to protect the artwork. 

Entry to the basilica is €3 unless you want skip the line. There are charges inside the church if you want to visit the museum (this gets you to the roof for amazing views) €7, Pala d’Oro €5. You can freely enter the Basilica for prayers, Mass and Services.

Make sure to check the Basilica website for information on opening times and visiting information as this changes regularly.

For views of the city and basilica from above, visit the Campanile or bell tower opposite the basilica. The campanile was rebuilt in 1903 to the 16th century design after the original collapsed. A lift takes you right to the top and on a clear day you can see the Dolomites mountains in the distance. Lines for this attraction can be as long as 2 hours.

Piazza San Marco

At the heart of Venice is Piazza San Marco, this huge open space is dominated by the ornate San Marco basilica and its campanile (belltower). Under the loggias that line the square are some of the most historic and beautiful cafes in all of Italy like Caffè Florian dating from 1720.

Cafe seating spills out onto the piazza and here patrons enjoy music and entertainment while they watch the passing parade of people and sip their coffee. Be warned though that a coffee in this idyllic setting could cost over €10. It’s definitely one of those times when you want to linger over your drink and soak up the atmosphere.

At the northern end of the piazza you will notice the striking astronomical clock tower topped with the symbol of Venice and St Mark., the winged lion. From underneath the clock tower, turn to face the lagoon and you’ll see the lion once again rising on its pedestal over the Piazetta, the smaller piazza off the main square leading to the water. 

You can easily spend an hour or two walking in this area enjoying one of the most beautiful squares in the world. 

Palazzo Ducale – Doge’s Palace

For centuries, the most important person in the Venetian Republic was the Doge (Duke). As the city rose to prominence thanks to its trading and seafaring skills, the office of the Doge became more powerful and amassed a wealth of riches. This fortune was held in the Palazzo Ducale that was converted into a museum in 1923 and is one of the most popular attractions in Venice today.

The building is a Venetian Gothic masterpiece in pink and white stone that has survived largely unscathed for over 500 centuries. While you can admire it from the outside, the interior is where you can see some of the city’s incredible treasures and learn about the might of the Republic of Venice.

Don’t miss the 24-carat Scala d’Oro (Golden Staircase) or the Sala delle Quattro Porte (Hall of the Four Doors) designed by Palladio. If you love history then a secret itineraries tour of the palace is a must, otherwise we highly recommend taking a combined tour of San Marco and the Palazzo Ducale – more information here. 

The Palazzo Ducale is open daily from 08:30am until at least 19:00pm November 1 to March 31 and until as late as 23:00pm in summer – more info.

Bridge of Sighs

One of the most famous bridges in the world, the covered limestone Ponte dei Sospiri (Bridge of Sighs) connects the interrogation rooms of Doge’s Palace to the New Prison across the Rio di Palazzo. Legend has it that prisoners crossing the bridge gave a lingering sigh as they glimpsed the beautiful city one more time before meeting their fate. It’s a nice story, but in reality, there is very little to be seen from the bridge thanks to the barred windows.

If you wish to walk across the Bridge of Sighs you need to go inside the Palazzo Ducale. For views of this iconic Venetian landmark (often with gondolas gliding beneath it) walk to the Ponte della Paglia. 

Rialto Bridge

One of only four bridges spanning the Grand Canal, the Rialto Bridge is often described as the most beautiful. Made of white Istrian stone, the iconic bridge was built in the late 16th century to replace a wooden structure linking the districts of San Polo and San Marco. Today the Ponte di Rialto is one of the city’s most popular attractions.

The inner corridor of the bridge is lined with souvenir and jewelry stores while the outer corridors provide spectacular views down the Grand Canal. Get there early (well before 10am) to take the best photos. You’ll also find the city’s 700 year old fresh fish and fruit and vegetable market close to the bridge on the western bank of the canal. We love checking out the catch of the day here. 

Ride a gondola

Nothing says Venice more than a gondola. These sleek black vessels have been the traditional means of transport in Venice for centuries. In the 15th century there were over 10,000 gondolas on the canals rowed by skilled oarsmen whose techniques and traditions have survived many hundreds of years. These days there are less than 400 gondolas on the Venetian canals. 

You can take a ride on a gondola from many spots throughout the city. There is a set fee of €80 for a 25-30 minute ride for up to 5 people during the day and €120 in the evening after 19:00pm. and yes it is absolutely worth every last cent. 

Be friendly to your gondolier and they may sing you a song but if they don’t (it’s not included in the service), just relax and enjoy your ride along the stunning canals. Even when the city is heaving with visitors, a trip down the side canals can transport you to another time and place.

Burano, Murano and the outer islands of the lagoon

There are 118 islands on the Venetian lagoon. While you will mostly spend your time in the six sestieri (districts) surrounding Piazza San Marco, it’s well worth taking the time to visit the islands of the outer lagoon. The most popular of these are:

• Burano – known for its colorful houses and lace making traditions
• Murano – famous for glass blowing techniques, this is the place to shop for glassware and jewelry 
• Torcello – one of the oldest parts of Venice and a quiet island to wander and admire 

Visiting this part of Venice is a half day activity. Vaporetto 12 will take you to these islands from Fondamente Nove pier. The journey to Burano, the furthest island, takes around 45 minutes with departures every 20-30 minutes from 05:00am – click here for tickets. Go early if you want to avoid the crowds and take photos particularly in Burano. Or for a very special experience you can stay at this small vineyard hotel on the island. 

We are hearing the vaporetto to Burano is becoming very busy so if you prefer, you could take a boat tour with a smaller number of people to the islands with no need to wait for the water bus – click here for details. It’s around the same price as a full day pass on the vaporetto.

Museums, galleries and culture in Venice

Venice is a cultural hub and it is well worth spending some time to explore its outstanding museums and galleries. Here is our pick of the best museums in Venice.

Gallerie dell’Accademia

Celebrating Venetian art up until the 19th century, the Gallerie dell’Accademia in Venice has an impressive collection that includes masterpieces by Carpaccio, Titian and Bellini and other treasures looted by Napoleon (who ruled Venice for 17 years) as he made conquests across Europe. The artwork is displayed in the buildings of the former Scuola della Carità and many remain in place as they have for centuries. 

The gallery also contains several pieces by Leonardo da Vinci including the priceless Vitruvian Man drawing. Due to its delicate condition it is not always displayed but it’s worth going out of your way to see it if you can.

Found in the Dorsoduro district, the gallery is open from 08:15am every day until 19:15 (except on Mondays when it closes at 14:00pm) The best time to visit is when it opens in the morning. A visit usually takes an hour and a half and costs €13.50 for adults (under 18s go free, with ID) – more information and skip the line tickets. 

Gallerie dell’Accademia, Campo della Carita, 1050

Scuola Grande di San Rocco

The Scuola Grande di San Rocco is one of eight major confraternities that formed an important part of Venetian life from the 13th to 18th centuries. Home to one of the largest collections of masterpieces by Tintoretto, paintings depicting scenes from both the old and new testaments of the bible are found preserved in their original setting in the Sala dell’Albergo and the Sala Superiore. Some say the artwork in these two main meeting halls rivals that of the Sistine Chapel.  

The Scuola Grande di San Rocco is found at Campo San Polo and opens from 09:30 – 17:30 daily (except Christmas and New Year’s Day) – more information.

Scuola Grande di San Rocco, San Polo, 3052

Peggy Guggenheim Collection

If you need an antidote to the Renaissance splendour surrounding you in Venice, visit the Peggy Guggenheim Collection. This gallery is world renowned for its surrealist, futurist and abstract expressionist art pieces.

Here you will find pieces by Picasso, Jackson Pollock and Salvador Dalí alongside works by Rothko, Mondrian, Mirò and Chagall. The collection is a must see for modern art lovers. Make sure to step outside and wander through the sculpture garden and onto the terrace overlooking the Grand Canal.

The gallery is open daily from 10:00am – 18:00pm (except Tuesdays, and December 25). Tickets are €16.50 for adults – more information and skip the line tickets (recommended).

Peggy Guggenheim Collection, Palazzo Venier dei Leoni, Dorsoduro 701

Ca’Rezzonico

Ca’ Rezzonico is a museum dedicated to Venice in the 18th and 19th centuries that occupies an opulent palazzo on the Grand Canal. The palazzo has a fascinating history being home to many artists over the years including poet Robert Browning and jazz great Cole Porter.

Each room has been recreated to reflect its former grandeur including the ballroom with frescoes and chandeliers. There is a 19th century pharmacy filled with apothecary items displayed in their original wood paneled shop fittings.  Don’t miss the vintage gondola on the ground floor and views of the Grand Canal from the first floor. 

The museum is open from 10:30am to 16:30pm (and later in summer) everyday except Tuesdays. Tickets are €10 – more information

Note: from October 2022 Ca’ Rezzonico is closed for rennovation –  more information

Ca’Rezzonico, Dorsoduro, 3136

La Fenice Theater

Even if you are not an opera fan, a visit to the opulent La Fenice is a treat. The world famous opera house is known as Teatro La Fenice (The Phoenix) as it has literally been resurrected from catastrophic fires several times over the centuries. The latest reincarnation was reopened in 2003 to the 1837 design featuring gilt fixtures and extravagant chandeliers. 

No doubt, watching a performance on this stage would be a highlight of any trip to Venice. You can search for tickets on the theater website however the most popular shows and classic Italian operas sell out quickly. You can also visit La Fenice during the day for a tour of this remarkable building – more information.

Teatro La Fenice, Campo San Fantin, 1965

Exploring Venice beyond the obvious

It’s becoming a bit of a cliché but it is indeed true that getting lost in Venice is the most rewarding activity you can do in the lagoon city. Meander the small laneways, cross one of the 400 bridges, step into quiet campos and sigh at the beauty around you. 

For me, the best way to get lost is to be looking for something and get side tracked. Here are some favorite lesser known places in Venice to get you started.

San Giorgio Maggiore

Across the lagoon from Piazza San Marco and the Palazzo Ducale, the island and church of San Giorgio Maggiore offer a wealth of treasures.

First and foremost, the views from the bell tower are breathtaking. Visit at sunset for scenes like the one above. There is a lift to the top and it is relatively quiet so you can enjoy the scenes without too much squash. Tickets for the belltower – €6 for adults

There is no charge to enter the church and it is well worth a visit. Designed by Venetian architect Andrea Palladio, it has two large paintings by Tintoretto to admire.

Also worth a visit is the Fondazione Giorgio Cini that occupies the former monastery on the island. This cultural institution carries out important work to preserve Venetian culture. Take a tour between 10:00am and 15:00 (except Wednesdays) and discover three beautiful internal gardens, two impressive libraries and a glass museum. Tickets from €15 – more information.

To reach San Giorgio Maggiore take vaporetto line 2 – departs from San Zaccaria near San Marco and Zattere in Dorsoduro

Libreria Acqua Alta

I’m not sure anyone ever buys anything at Libreria Acqua Alta – possibly the most unique bookshop in the world. Stock is piled high in old gondolas and a black cat lounges amongst well worn editions.

In the courtyard, a staircase made of old books leads to a romantic view of a smaller canal, where, if you are lucky you will see a lone gondolier rowing in silence away from the crowds in Piazza San Marco. 

 

Libreria Acqua Alta, Calle Lunga Santa Maria Formosa, 5176b

Ponte de Chiodo

Visit the Cannaregio district to cross one of only two bridges in Venice without parapets or hand rails. Up until the 1700s this was the typical style of bridges in the city. Since then, balustrades have been added to all the bridges except this one and another on the island of Torcello.

The bridge spans the Rio di san Falice near where it merges into the Canale della Misericordia, and is a great spot for photos.

Ponte de Chiodo, Rio di san Falice, Cannaregio

Squero di San Trovaso

Squero di San Trovaso in the Dorsoduro district is a traditional Venetian shipbuilder’s yard dating back to the 17th century. It is only one of three remaining in Venice and the place where the 400 gondolas operating in the city go for repairs and maintenance.

You can only go inside the workshop as part of a group tour but for a unique vantage point visit is from Osteria Al Squero [Dorsoduro, 943-944] across the Rio di San Trovaso canal on Fondamente Nani. Here you can sip a spritz and eat cicchetti while you watch the iconic vessels being lovingly repaired.

Squero di San Trovaso, Fondamenta Bonlini, 1097

Special events in Venice

Carnevale

Dating back to the 12th century, Carnevale is one of the most important annual events in Venice celebrating the period leading up to Lent in February. Throughout the city special events, concerts, parades and masquerade balls are held as part of the festivities. 

Tickets to the balls are highly sought after. If you are lucky enough to get one then you need to find a suitable costume. Of course, the most important accessory for dressing up for Carnevale is a mask, one of the iconic symbols of Venice. 

Dates for Carnevale change each year – see the official site for more information and upcoming dates

Biennale

Every two years (odd numbered) Venice holds the important Art Biennale dedicated to contemporary visual arts. Countries from around the world present projects curated especially for the exhibition and showcased in their own pavilion within the main exhibition areas – the Giardini and at the Arsenale. An international exhibition by the Biennale curator can be seen at many of the beautiful palazzi across the city. 

Apart from the art, many of the venues are not open to the general public outside the Biennale and other major events so they are well worth visiting – in particular the Arsenale, former shipyards of the Venetian maritime republic – more information.

Venice Film Festival

Held annually on the Venice Lido, the Venice International Film Festival is one of the most prestigious events in the cinema industry and seen as a launchpad for the Oscars. In recent years the festival has seen the world premieres of award winning films La La Land, Gravity and Roma as well as smaller international film productions.

During the festival, the coveted Leone d’Oro (Golden Lion) is presented to the winning film and contributing artist. For tickets and more information click here.

Venetian traditions

Throughout the year you may be lucky to see some of the local festivities in Venice that have been running for centuries.

• La Sensa – early June – celebrations of Venice’s special relationship to the lagoon  – rowing regattas, parades and historic Marriage of the Sea ceremony 
• The Vogalonga – early June- huge rowing boat non competitive regatta on the Venetian lagoon – more info
• Festa del Redentore – mid July – historic thanks-giving celebration for deliverance from the Plague with fireworks show
• Regata Storica – early September – historic boating procession and regatta on the Grand Canal

Best tours of Venice

We love taking tours as you can relax and enjoy the city without constantly referencing a guide book. Here are our pick of the unique and fun tours to do in Venice 

City tours

If you have limited time in Venice, join a full or half day guided tour and let your guide show you the sights and highlights and tell you stories of this magnificent city

• Take Walks Venice in a Day – 6 hour small group tour with gondola ride – available every day May – October, otherwise Mon/Wed/Fri/Sat. This tour covers all the highlights – San Marco, Palazzo Ducale, Rialto Bridge plus hidden gems > click for more details
• Half day Venice highlights tour – 3 hour tour including San Marco, Palazzo Ducale and a gondola ride. Tours available daily except Sunday i