Looking for fun things to do in Venice? Don’t forget to check out this list of the very best things to do in Venice, Italy.
Venice is one of the most beautiful and romantic cities in the world. In fact, there’s no place on earth quite like Venice. This unique city is located in the middle of the sea on more than 100 islands connected by more than 400 bridges. There are no roads other than waterways. And there are no vehicles but boats that serve as the main means of transport.
So, Venice is such a special place on earth that everyone should visit at least once in their lifetime. The whole city is characterized by idyllic canals, beautiful bridges, rocking gondolas, and crooked houses. Oh, and then there are so many exciting things to do in Venice that it’s impossible to get bored.
If you’re planning a trip to Venice, it’s absolutely perfect! Here’s a list of the very best things to do in Venice, Italy.
Table of Contents
The best things to do in Venice:
1. St. Mark’s Square
In the heart of Venice lies St. Mark’s Square, also called Piazza San Marco in Italian. St. Mark’s Square is the most famous square in Venice and regularly hosts many of the major events in the city.
The square is always crammed with lots of tourists and street vendors … Well, and then there are many pigeons as well! And I mean like extremely many pigeons – they’re everywhere! However, be aware that feeding them is no longer allowed.
The popular square is surrounded by impressive buildings and some of the most popular must-see sights in Venice. This is where you’ll find St. Mark’s Church, the Bell Tower, and the Doge’s Palace. When visiting Venice, it’s almost impossible to avoid St. Mark’s Square during your stay.
2. St. Mark’s Basilica
The main attraction on St. Mark’s Square is St. Mark’s Basilica, officially called the Basilica di San Marco. This Roman Catholic basilica is among the very best things to do in Venice. The basilica is seriously beautiful and is adorned with gold mosaics, diamonds, rubies, large domes, and marble sculptures.
St. Mark’s Basilica is just as beautiful inside and is definitely worth a visit. Remember to visit the small museum and the outdoor terrace with a beautiful view of St. Mark’s Square. Since St. Mark’s Basilica is one of the biggest tourist attractions in Venice, the queue can be extremely long. Visiting the basilica is free, but you should consider paying a few euros to skip the queue.
3. Canal Grande
The many islands on which Venice is located are connected by hundreds of canals. The largest is called the Canal Grande and winds its way through the city as an inverted S. Venice’s largest waterway is so large that it’s more likely to be described as a river.
Along the Canal Grande, there are more than 170 old and charming buildings. Many of the buildings can only be reached by boat as the canal is only crossed by four large bridges. One of the best things to do in Venice is to go for a walk along the banks of Canal Grande. Enjoy the view of the charming buildings and the busy water traffic.
4. Scala Contarini del Bovolo
Scala Contarini del Bovolo is a unique and relatively unknown thing to do in Venice for most tourists. Inside a narrow alley, you’ll find a beautiful spiral staircase, built in the late 15th century.
The stairs wind all the way up to a viewing platform from which there’s a unique view of the city’s roofs. It’s such a great place to take some great photos in Venice! Admission to the Scala Contarini del Bovolo is around 7 Euros per person.
5. Buy a Venetian mask
The spooky Venetian carnival mask is one of the most famous and iconic things in Venice. Therefore, it’s obvious to buy a Venetian mask during your trip to Venice. Or even better, you can make one yourself! When visiting Venice, you’ll find that you can buy Venetian masks almost anywhere. Most of them are really beautiful but the prices vary quite a bit.
Originally, the Venetian masks are said to have been used to hide participants’ identities and social classes. When wearing the masks, they were given a form of temporary freedom. However, it resulted in the possibility of participating in betting, robberies, murders, and other bad things without consequences.
6. Burano
Burano is one of the many small islands located in the Venetian lagoon surrounding Venice. This fishing village is especially known for its many colorful houses in all sorts of rainbow colors. It really is a beautiful sight to see how the many colorful houses are reflected in the narrow canals.
If you’ve plenty of time in Venice, I definitely recommend a day trip from Venice to Burano. To reach the island, it requires a 40-minute boat ride with a water bus (Vaporetto)… Or any other type of boat for that matter. When visiting Burano, don’t forget to make your way past one of the many bars and local fish restaurants.
7. Gondola ride on the canals of Venice
A ride in a gondola on the canals of Venice is seriously one of the most iconic things to do in Venice! Here you’ll be sailed around the beautiful canals by a gondolier who controls the gondola using a single oar. If you’re lucky, the gondolier will sing a song for you (just like in the movies). Along the way, you’ll pass sumptuous mansions, historic buildings, charming bridges, and countless other boats.
The gondolas are one of Venice’s largest landmarks. Unfortunately, this is also reflected in the price. Therefore, it isn’t unusual for the price of a half-hour boat ride to be between 70-100 euros. Although a gondola ride is expensive, it’s still such a romantic thing to do in Venice for couples.
Be aware that there are many different types of gondola rides. Some of the gondolas have room for several groups of people. Meanwhile, other gondolas are controlled by a very boring and burnt-out gondolier.
8. Boat trip with a Vaporetto
If you don’t feel like spending a lot of money on a gondola ride, you should consider a boat trip with a Vaporetto. A Vaporetto is a kind of water bus that transports tourists and locals around Venice. The water buses also sail back and forth to the nearby islands such as Burano and Murano.
Of course, a boat trip in a Vaporetto isn’t nearly as romantic as a gondola ride at all. However, it’s still a nice and cheap alternative if you would rather spend your money on something else. The vaporettos usually sail from 06:00 AM to 10:00 PM. A one-way ticket for a Vaporetto ride is 7.50 Euro per person. But you can also, for example, buy a 24-hour ticket for 20.00 Euro per person.
9. Gallerie dell’Accademia
The Gallerie dell’Accademia is an art museum in Venice that has an impressive collection of art from the 14th to the 18th century. However, the museum specializes mainly in 19th-century Venetian art.
The art museum exhibits more than 800 paintings made by great artists such as Leonardo da Vinci, Bellini, Giorgione, Tiziano, and Canaletto. A visit to the Gallerie dell’Accademia is definitely one of the very best things to do in Venice for any art lover. The museum really is an absolute must-see sight in Venice.
10. Doge’s Palace
On St. Mark’s Square on the banks of the Canal Grande, you’ll find the Doge’s Palace called the Palazzo Ducale in Italian. This impressive palace is built in classic Venetian Gothic architecture and is lavishly decorated. Besides the sumptuous exterior and interior, the palace is also one of the most historic sites in Venice.
Once upon a time, this palace served as a government building. It was the home of the Doge who was elected head of state of Venice by Venetian nobles. Today, the Doge’s Palace functions as a museum and is one of the very best things to do in Venice. There are so many exciting things to see inside the Doge’s Palace. It’s easy to spend at least a few hours in there.
11. Bridge of Sighs
One of the most popular things to do in Venice is to see the Bridge of Sighs, called the Ponte dei Sospiri in Italian. The bridge once connected the lavish Doge’s Palace with a notorious state prison.
The name of the bridge is said to be due to when the prisoners crossed the bridge from the interrogation room in the Doge’s Palace to the state prison. While crossing the bridge, they saw the charm of Venice for the last time in a very long time (perhaps forever). This last sight of Venice made them sigh.
If you’re a true romantic, you can go on a boat trip under the bridge. It is said that kissing your loved one under the bridge at sunset gives eternal happiness and love. As you can see, there are many different rumors about the beautiful bridge. However, it seems that the love story about the bridge is just a romanticized picture of the harsh reality.
12. Explore Cannaregio
If you need to get away from the crowds of Venice, visit the Cannaregio district. In this district, many of the locals live in peace from the massive tourism in the city. This is also where you’ll find the old Jewish ghetto.
Cannaregio is an authentic area of Venice that lets you get up close and personal with the locals. This is where you get the feel of the genuine and authentic Venice! The laundry hangs across the canals and the locals talk to each other through the windows. Well, there’s just an absolutely wonderful Italian vibe! Exploring Cannaregio is definitely one of the best things to do in Venice!
13. Peggy Guggenheim Collection
The Peggy Guggenheim Collection is a modern art museum and one of the most popular tourist attractions in Venice. Here you’ll be able to see one of the world’s leading private art collections. It’s all on display in an unfinished palace, once owned by the art collector Peggy Guggenheim.
Inside the museum, there’s a large collection of modern art from the 20th century. Excellent works by great famous artists such as Picasso, Dalí, Pollock, and Mondrian are on display here. If you’re interested in modern art, the Peggy Guggenheim Collection is one of the very best things to do in Venice, Italy.
14. Rialto Bridge
The Rialto Bridge is officially called the Ponte di Rialto and was the first of four bridges to cross the Canal Grande today. In fact, it’s even the oldest bridge in all of Venice.
The Rialto Bridge was originally built as a pontoon bridge in the 12th century. Since then, however, it has been rebuilt several times. The Rialto Bridge was completed in its present form in 1591. Today, the bridge has become a major landmark of Venice.
There are many souvenir shops on the bridge, resulting in the bridge almost always being filled with people. To avoid the worst crowds, it’s a good idea to arrive early in the morning or late in the evening. From the Rialto Bridge, there’s a beautiful view of the Canal Grande, one of the most popular things to do in Venice.
15. Teatro la Fenice
Teatro la Fenice is a beautiful opera house and theater in Venice. In fact, it’s among the most famous theaters in Europe. Since opening in 1792, the theater has been burnt down and rebuilt several times. It has risen from the ashes time after time.
When visiting the Teatro la Fenice, you’ll be greeted by a magnificent interior with marble, gold, and sumptuous red velvet chairs. It really is a beautiful building in Venice!
Guided tours are offered inside the theater, but the ultimate experience is to attend a show. However, it isn’t exactly a cheap thing to do in Venice. Tickets sell out quickly, so remember to book well in advance. You can check out Teatro la Fenice’s official site.
16. Murano
Murano is another beautiful Venetian island outside Venice. The island is filled with colorful houses, small canals, and great restaurants. Murano has become world-famous for its artistic glass manufacturers, producing colorful and hand-blown glass in all shapes and sizes. Along the canals, glass exhibition rooms and studios lie side by side, showcasing the island’s beautiful works of art.
When visiting Murano, be sure to drop by the glass museum. Here you can learn more about the Murano glass and how it’s made. You can also learn how to do it yourself by signing up for a glassblowing course. If visiting Murano, you can hop on a Vaporetto from Venice to the small island of Murano.
17. St Mark’s Campanile
St Mark’s Campanile is officially called Campanile di San Marco in Italian and is a famous bell tower in St. Mark’s Square. It’s one of the most iconic landmarks and tourist attractions in Venice. And it’s one of the very best things to do in Venice too! The current tower on the site is a reconstruction of the original tower which unfortunately collapsed in 1902.
With a height of 98 meters, the magnificent bell tower stands high above the rest of the city. In fact, it’s the tallest structure in Venice. Take the elevator to the top of the Campanile from where stunning views of Venice await you.
18. Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute
The Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute is one of the most famous churches in Venice and has a great religious significance for the locals. In 1630, Venice was hit hard by a violent plague that killed most of the population.
The locals promised to build a church in honor of the Virgin Mary if she saved them from the plague’s total extermination of the population of Venice. The following year, the population began to build on the magnificent Roman Catholic Church. It took a long time, and the church wasn’t completed until 1687.
Today, the Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute is an extremely beautifully decorated church that dominates the Venice skyline. Admission is free, so why not slip past the church? It really is one of the very best things to do in Venice, Italy.
19. Libreria Acqua Alta
Libreria Acqua Alta is a very special and unusual bookstore in Venice. As a result of Venice’s regular floods, the owner of the bookstore has come up with several clever ideas for storing his books.
Inside the bookstore, you can see thousands of books stacked in bathtubs, waterproof containers, and even a gondola. It’s such a special and fun thing to do in Venice! The owner of the bookstore has come up with many creative solutions to the flood problem. You’ll most likely also meet a few cats in there. The cats were once homeless but fortunately live inside the Libreria Acqua Alta today.
20. Get lost in the streets of Venice
One of the very best things to do in Venice is to get lost in the narrow streets of Venice. It isn’t allowed to drive in the city, so everything must be reached on foot or by water. Seize the opportunity, throw away the map and the phone with a GPS. Go out and explore the hidden places of Venice.
There are so many amazing hidden places in Venice. When only following the usual tourist routes, there may be many cool places you won’t see. The narrow streets of Venice are reminiscent of a large and confusing maze. So, maybe you’ll get lost in Venice without even planning to.
So, that’s all on this list of the very best things to do in Venice, Italy. What are your favorite things to do in Venice? What are you looking forward to on your trip to Venice? Feel free to leave a comment.
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