30+ Best Things to Do in Venice, Italy

For years I dreamed of visiting Venice — and somehow, the real Venice was even better than the hype. How long could this marvel of engineering exist? How could it be so beautiful?

There are so many fantastic things to do in Venice, from hopping among the museums to exploring the islands in the archipelago, climbing towers for their best views, and eating delicious cicchetti as the sun sets.

Made up of 118 small islands and 438 bridges, Venice is unlike any other place in the world. Historically, the city was the seat of power for the Republic of Venice, also known as La Serenissima, for more than 1,100 years. 

Even today, Venice feels like it’s frozen in time, with beautifully preserved architecture from the palazzo-lined Grand Canal to the city’s many churches and bell towers.

There are no cars, buses, or even bikes in Venice — the best way to get around is on foot or by boat! This makes for a unique experience, and there’s nothing quite like getting lost as you explore the hidden corners of Venice.

Here are some of the very best things to do in Venice, Italy, for an unforgettable trip!

This post was published in May 2024 and was co-written by Adventurous Kate and Dale Peterson.

Best Things To Do in Venice, Italy

Get lost in the streets of Venice

One of the best things you can do in Venice? Just get lost as you wander the narrow streets and canals of the city! Start your time out by walking, walking, walking, and see where you end up. (Just know that Google Maps doesn’t always work well in Venice. It might put you a few streets away from where you are.)

Speaking personally, my best experiences in Venice often happen far away from the crowds, on the eastern and northern reaches of the archipelago.

A walking tour with a local guide is a great way to get to know the area on your first day in Venice. I highly recommend this walking tour in Venice, which also includes a gondola ride!

For some of the best views in Venice, head to the Ponte dell’Accademia, a bridge overlooking the Grand Canal, or the T Fondaco Terrace, a free rooftop observation deck (you just have to book a time slot online in advance!).

Tour Piazza San Marco and Basilica San Marco

Piazza San Marco, or St. Mark’s Square, is by far the most popular destination for tourists in Venice. This grand square is where you’ll find St. Mark’s Basilica, St. Mark’s Bell Tower, the Doge’s Palace, and the Museo Correr.

Entry to St. Mark’s Basilica is 3 EUR ($3.25 USD) and climbing St. Mark’s Bell Tower is 12 EUR ($13 USD), which is worth it for the great views over the city and the surrounding islands.

However, this is the most crowded part of this very busy, touristy city, so I recommend getting to St. Mark’s Square early in the morning to sightsee and take photos without having to elbow your way through the throngs.

Another nice option — you can take a special evening tour to St. Mark’s Basilica to experience it after-hours, with no crowds at all.

Visit the Doge’s Palace

Most Venice visitors make a beeline for the Doge’s Palace (Palazzo Ducale) — and they’re not wrong! This historic palace constructed in the 15th century played an important role for several hundred years in the Republic of Venice. It was the home of the Venetian doge, or head of state.

Tickets for the Doge’s Palace are 25 EUR ($27 USD) if purchased online at least 30 days in advance, or 30 EUR ($32.50 USD) otherwise. Your ticket also includes same-day access to the Museo Correr, Museo Archeologico Nazionale, and Monumental Rooms of the Biblioteca Nazionale Marciana, all of which are also located in St. Mark’s Square and worth visiting.

If you’d like to see even more of the Doge’s Palace, book a guided VIP Secret Passages tour that goes to many additional off-limits parts of the palace. Or do this guided tour which combines the Doge’s Palace and St. Mark’s Basilica.

See or walk across the famous Bridge of Sighs

The Bridge of Sighs is one of the most iconic bridges in Venice. It connects the main part of the Doge’s Palaces with the prison, and it’s said to have received its name because of the prisoners who would sigh as they caught one last glimpse of Venice through the bridge’s small windows before they were locked away.

You can walk across the Bridge of Sighs with an entry ticket for the Doge’s Palace, or you can see the exterior of it from Ponte della Paglia, another bridge outside the palace.

Take a gondola ride

Taking a gondola ride is an iconic activity in Venice — and absolutely worth it for your first visit to this magical city. Just know that a gondola ride isn’t exactly a tour of Venice because gondolas move very slowly; it’s more of an atmospheric activity.

(Fun fact: I took my first-ever gondola ride with several girls from Boston with whom I was studying abroad. “It smells like Revere Beach,” I commented. “Revere Beach?” said our gondolier. “End of the blue line!” Yep, our traditional Italian gondolier had lived in Boston himself!)

Gondola rides aren’t cheap — they have fixed rates, and it’s 90 EUR ($97.50 USD) for a 30-minute ride during the day and 110 EUR ($119 USD) for a 30-minute ride at night. This is the price per ride for up to five people, so don’t let your gondolier try to convince you it’s per person!

If you don’t mind being in a gondola with others, you can pre-book a shared gondola ride for a more affordable price.

And if you’re looking for an extremely budget-friendly gondola ride, take the traghetto. This is a no-frills gondola that ferries passengers across the Grand Canal. You’ll only be on the water for a couple of minutes, but for 2 EUR ($2.15 USD) it’s well worth it.

There’s no formal schedule for the traghetti, but they typically run in the morning and afternoon. The Santa Maria del Giglio gondola station is a good place to catch the traghetto, and you’ll cross the Grand Canal to reach the Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute.

Go on a boat cruise down the Grand Canal

If you want to see more of Venice from the water, go on a boat tour down the Grand Canal. This massive canal snakes through the city, and the big difference from gondolas is that you’ll go faster and see much more.

This Venice boat tour is an incredible experience that includes a boat ride down the Grand Canal as well as through more of the “back streets” or smaller canals of Venice. You’ll also stop at the lesser-visited island of San Giorgio Maggiore and climb the bell tower there for spectacular views over the city.

Or you can do this sunset boat cruise to admire the Floating City as the sun goes down — with a glass of prosecco in hand, of course.

Another budget-friendly DIY option is taking the vaporetto (water bus) on route #1 — you’ll go down the Grand Canal for a fraction of the price of a cruise!

Eat cicchetti in Cannaregio at sunset

Cicchetti (pronounced chih-KET-tee) is a Venetian food tradition, similar to tapas in Spain. These small bites, typically different combinations of toppings on bread or other dishes like polpette (fried meatballs), are perfect to enjoy with a glass of wine at sunset.

Not all cicchetti are equal — some places will just serve random overly fried food, so be sure to take a look at what people are eating before you decide on a place to eat.

But what I love most is heading to the fun, nightlife-filled neighborhood of Cannaregio at sunset. The atmosphere is electric, especially once the sunset lights everything up, and there are lots of nice cicchetti spots here. It’s one of the best places to spend the early evening.

My favorite spot is called Vino Vero. This tiny shop dishes up excellent cicchetti, the best I’ve had in Venice, along with an excellent selection of funky wines. There’s not a lot of room for seating, but you can take a plate and sit on the edge of the canal. I literally send all of my friends here when they go to Venice!

See Rialto Bridge

Of Venice’s 438 bridges, Rialto Bridge (Ponte di Rialto) just might be the most beautiful. This historic bridge was constructed in the late 16th century and is considered to be a masterpiece of the Renaissance for both its architecture and feats of engineering.

Rialto Bridge stretches across the Grand Canal — one of only four bridges along the length of the massive 2.4-mile canal. The top of the bridge is the perfect place to get a snap of the canal. Don’t miss Rialto Market nearby, an open-air market for fish and produce that takes place every morning except for Sundays.

And if you’re looking for even MORE cicchetti, Bar All’Arco is close by and dishes up some fantastic little bites. I had a great lunch there.

Go on a Venice food tour

Unfortunately, quite a few of the restaurants in Venice are overpriced tourist traps, especially in the areas around St. Mark’s Square and Rialto Bridge. Picking out the good ones can be challenging, especially if this is your first time in Italy.

But if you want to discover real (and delicious!) Venetian cuisine, one of the best ways to do so is with a food tour. I always recommend taking a food tour, wherever you are in Italy!

On this top-rated Venice food tour, you’ll try eight local foods and four drinks as you navigate the Grand Canal, Rialto Market, and more.

Alternatively, try a sunset food tour where you’ll enjoy cicchetti and local wine as the sun sets in this magical city. And if you can’t tell by now, cicchetti is one of my favorite things about visiting Venice!

Visit Murano Island and Learn How to Blow Glass

Murano is a small island that is part of Venice, but it’s set apart from the main city and only accessible by boat. The island is famous for glass-blowing, so much that the finest glass artists in the world train here.

Murano has plenty of glass-blowing studios that allow you to walk in and observe a demonstration. This is something that you can’t find anywhere else in Italy.

Would you like to learn how to blow glass yourself? You can try a glass-blowing class with a local artisan in Murano.

You can get to Murano via vaporetto, or you can book a small-group tour like this one that combines the islands of Murano and Burano and includes private transportation.

What else is there to do in Murano besides glass-blowing? Murano Gelateria Artigianale is one of my favorite gelato shops in all of Italy — don’t miss it! (Yes, that’s right. In all of Italy. Not just Venice!)

I love their salty pistachio, but they also have fun flavors like black sesame, lemon basil, and their signature, Bussolà Buranello, a traditional biscuit from the year 1500.

Visit Burano Island

Another unique island that’s part of Venice is Burano. Burano is a photographer’s dream, with quaint houses in every hue of the rainbow lining the island’s narrow canals. The streets here make me smile so much!

The island is also famous for its lace — there are tons of workshops selling beautiful lace products that make for a great souvenir from Burano. (Though do be careful if you come across any surprisingly cheap lace — genuine Burano lace will be high-quality expensive.)

You can take the vaporetto to Burano from Venice, but if you’d like to visit both Murano and Burano on the same day, it’s better to book a tour like this one.

Climb the cupola at Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute

Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute is another one of the most important churches in Venice after St. Mark’s Basilica. The church was constructed in the 17th century after a terrible outbreak of the plague killed nearly a third of the population of Venice in 1630 and 1631.

The church is dedicated to the Virgin Mary, who was thought to have ended the plague and became known as the protector of Venice. Even today, the Feast of the Madonna della Salute is one of the most important holidays in Venice, celebrated on November 21 each year.

Tens of thousands of Venetians gather in a procession across a temporary bridge over the Grand Canal to visit the church on this day.

The church is open to visitors every day and entry is free. You can also climb the dome of the church for 8 EUR ($8.65 USD) to enjoy sweeping views over Venice and the Grand Canal.

Take a cooking class

Every region in Italy has its own unique cuisine, and the Veneto (Venice’s region) is no exception. Since Venice is on the coast, fish and seafood dishes are the cornerstone of many Venetian menus.

One thing Venice is not known for at all? Good pizza! That’s because they don’t have the good wood-burning ovens, for fire prevention reasons. (My recommendation? Go to Naples and eat pizza nonstop.)

If you want to discover more about Venetian cuisine and cook with a local, a cooking class is the perfect activity to try. 

In this cooking class, you’ll accompany a local chef to the historic Rialto Market to buy fresh fish and produce for your meal. Then you’ll return to the chef’s home and prepare a delicious three-course meal with your ingredients. You’ll also enjoy an aperitif and local wine.

Another option is this cooking class with a local chef where you’ll prepare a three-course meal including handmade pasta and tiramisu for dessert. You’ll also enjoy some local wine with your meal to celebrate your hard work in the kitchen.

Climb the spiral stairs at Palazzo Contarini del Bovolo

Palazzo Contarini del Bovolo is a small 15th-century palace tucked away in the heart of Venice. The main draw of the palace is its striking tower with a beautiful spiral staircase. And it is quickly becoming popular with Instagrammers!

If you’re looking for a great view over Venice, climb the 80 steps to the top of the tower. Here you’ll be able to see across the rooftops of the city from a lovely terrace.

Admission to the palace is 8 EUR ($8.65 USD), which is cheaper than St. Mark’s Bell Tower. In addition to climbing the spiral staircase and enjoying the scenic views of Venice from the top, you can also peruse the small art and history exhibitions at the palace.

The Palazzo Contarini del Bovolo is open daily from 10 AM-6 PM. I recommend going first thing when it opens to avoid crowds and snap some great photos of the staircase.

Visit San Giorgio Maggiore

If the crowds of St. Mark’s Square are getting to you, take the vaporetto over to San Giorgio Maggiore instead. You might have noticed this small island with a church on it from the main island of Venice.

Just a 10-minute water bus ride from St. Mark’s Square on the vaporetto line 2, the little island of San Giorgio Maggiore is very calm and never packed with tourists. 

You can visit the beautiful San Giorgio Maggiore Basilica for free (compared to St. Mark’s Basilica which charges admission) and climb up the San Giorgio Maggiore Bell Tower for just 6 EUR ($6.50 USD), which is half the cost of St. Mark’s Bell Tower. Not a bad deal at all!

The view from the San Giorgio Maggiore Bell Tower is spectacular and you can see all of Venice and the surrounding lagoon. And it’s nice to get photos from this unique vantage point, as opposed to the same ones everyone else has.

Note: You can’t purchase return tickets for the vaporetto on San Giorgio Maggiore, so be sure to buy two one-way tickets or a time-based unlimited travel card before you go.

Tour Teatro La Fenice

Teatro La Fenice (pronounced la feh-NEE-cheh) is one of the most spectacular opera houses in the world. Built in 1792, this opulent theater has hosted some of the world’s most renowned opera singers, musicians, and other performers. 

The theater caught fire and was almost completely destroyed not once, but twice — first in 1836, and again in 1996. Both times, the theater was rebuilt and restored and it has since become a symbol of Venice and a point of pride for Venetians.

Even if you don’t make it to an opera at La Fenice, touring the theater is absolutely worth it. It’s open every day for visitors, typically from 9:30 AM-6 PM. Tickets are 12 EUR ($13 USD) and include an audio guide.

You can also book a guided tour of La Fenice if you’d like to learn more about the theater and its history from a knowledgeable guide.

Make your own Carnival mask

It’s impossible to walk more than a few minutes in Venice without seeing a shop selling colorful, ostentatious Carnival masks. These masks are by far one of the most popular souvenirs in Venice, but what’s even cooler than buying one to take home is making your own!

For a truly special experience, take this mask-making workshop with a master artisan to create your own Carnival mask. You’ll learn about the rich tradition of mask-making and how Carnival is celebrated in Venice.

Then you’ll spend time decorating your own mask with guidance and expertise provided by the master artisan, with the end result being an unforgettable souvenir you can bring home with you.

Attend the opera

If you’re looking for something fun to do in the evening, travel back in time to the 18th century and attend the opera in Venice. I Musici Veneziani performs baroque opera in full historical Venetian costumes, transporting you back to a bygone era.

You’ll enjoy live music and opera from I Musici Veneziani within a unique venue, the Salone Capitolare at the Scuola Grande di San Teodoro.

Another pricier option is attending the opera at La Fenice. You can see what’s currently on here. Tickets for the opera usually start at 100 EUR ($108 USD) or more and sell out quickly, so you’ll want to reserve tickets online in advance.

Visit the Libreria Acqua Alta

I love visiting local bookstores when I travel, and my fellow bibliophiles, you can’t miss stopping at the Libreria Acqua Alta, a unique used bookstore in Venice. Named for the acqua alta phenomenon that causes seasonal high water levels in Venice, this bookstore is quite literally flooding with books.

There are books crammed into every available space, including a giant gondola in the middle of the bookstore. There’s also a mountain of waterlogged books in the back courtyard of the bookstore that has become a popular spot for photos.

I recommend getting to this bookstore right when it opens in the morning to beat the crowds and take your photos. It can become pretty packed inside, and since there isn’t much space, it’s hard to browse when it’s very crowded.

Visit Lido di Venezia

Venice isn’t what I would call one of the best beach destinations in Italy, despite being on the coast. I’d give that honor to Sardinia, followed by Sicily and Puglia. That said, if you’re craving some sand, sea, and sun, you can visit the beach while in Venice! Lido di Venezia is a beach destination on the Adriatic Sea, and it’s technically part of the city of Venice. 

This narrow barrier island is 6.8 miles long and it’s where the annual Venice Film Festival takes place. It’s also just a short journey from the central part of Venice.

Lido di Venezia has sandy beaches lined with Art Nouveau-style hotels and villas. To get there, you can take the vaporetto to Lido S.M.E., the main station on the island. From Piazza San Marco, it’s only a 15-minute vaporetto ride to Lido S.M.E. and from there, it’s a 10-minute walk to the beach.

Take a day trip to the Prosecco Hills

One of the best day trips to take from Venice is the Prosecco Hills. While they make wine in every region of Italy (and every nonno seems to make his own in his backyard), Veneto is home to particularly nice red and white wines. And this is the place where prosecco is made!

If you want to learn more about how prosecco is produced — and taste plenty of bubbly while you’re at it — this full-day small group tour from Venice is a great option.

You’ll sample sparkling wine at two different wineries, and you’ll also stop at a local osteria for a delicious four-course lunch, including homemade desserts. As someone who believes that champagne is the ultimate drink for solo female travelers, I think prosecco is just as good!

Take a day trip to the Dolomites

Everyone knows the Dolomites are a breathtaking mountain range in northern Italy — but most people are surprised to learn how close they are to Venice! On a clear day, you can even see the peaks of the Dolomites from Venice.

If you want to get away from the invariably flat and watery landscape of Venice, the Dolomites is a great day trip. However, this region is borderline impossible to do as a day trip by public transportation — so I recommend booking an organized tour.

This full-day small group tour from Venice includes transportation by van to the Dolomites, where you’ll make various stops in the region. You’ll have some time to explore the picturesque town of Cortina d’Ampezzo (host of the 2026 Winter Olympics!), enjoy a leisurely walk around Lago di Braies, and take in stunning views at Tre Cime di Lavaredo.

This is a great overview of the Dolomites, perfect for a day trip from Venice — and hopefully you’ll be inspired to plan a longer trip to these mountains someday.

Read More: How to Spend Three Days in the Dolomites, Italy

More day trip options near Venice

Looking for more day trips near Venice? In general, I recommend not using Venice as a base for several day trips because it’s a bit of a process getting in and getting out. It’s not as easy as Florence or Bologna.

But here are a few spots that are easy to visit by train if you have the time and want to visit one or two more places:

Verona: Best known as the setting of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet (and home to Juliet’s balcony!), Verona is also famous for its incredible Roman ruins, including an amphitheater. Verona is 1 hour and 15 minutes by train from Venice.

Padova: Padova (also known as Padua) is a historic university city that is one of the easiest day trips you can take from Venice. It’s just a 30-minute train ride from Venezia Santa Lucia train station. Scrovegni Chapel features gorgeous frescoes by Giotto.

Ferrara: I love Ferrara! Located in my beloved Emilia-Romagna region, it’s a popular destination because of its beautiful Renaissance architecture and palaces erected by the Este family. It’s only 1 hour and 20 minutes from Venezia Santa Lucia train station.

Trieste: A lovely coastal city on the Adriatic Sea, Trieste is as far northeast as you can go in Italy — and has Italian, Austro-Hungarian, and Slovenian influences. It’s 1 hour and 55 minutes by train from Venice.

I recommend you resist the urge to take a day trip to Slovenia or Croatia. They’re a lot further away than they appear, and ferry connections are not that great or frequent.

How Much Time to Spend in Venice, Italy

How much time do you need in Venice? I find that many travelers tend to allot far too little time to Venice – often just a single day.

Honestly, I get it — my own first two trips to Venice were day trips from Florence! But then I started visiting Venice for longer, and WOW, what a difference it makes to experience Venice at night!

I feel that Venice should have a bare minimum of two full days to experience the city — bare minimum — but Venice is so much better when you have more time to relax and get into the rhythms of the city. For that reason, I encourage three days or more, which is enough time to enjoy the city at a more relaxed pace.

Most recently, I spent 12 days on my last Venice trip, and it wasn’t too long. That said — I was working through that trip, and I understand that most people don’t have that much time to travel, so don’t feel like you need to stay that long!

How to Get to Venice, Italy

Getting to Venice is easy, regardless of where you’re coming from. Venice has a well-connected international airport and train connections throughout Italy. 

You should know that the main train station in Venice is Venezia – Mestre, referring to the mainland portion of Venice. This is where many trains arrive from further destinations in Italy, including the high-speed Frecciarossa trains. From Mestre, you take a train to Venezia Santa Lucia, which is on the island itself.

Venice also has bus connections throughout Europe. Once, after multiple trains were canceled, I ended up on an overnight bus direct from Venice to Brno, Czech Republic! Buses go to a lot of random spots.

In terms of getting around Venice, you walk or take the vaporetto — the water bus! You can buy single rides or multi-day tickets at the stations. I personally prefer booking a multi-day transit pass, no matter where I am, because it allows me to be serendipitous and not rationalize every ride I take.

You can rent a car from the airport if you’re going to be exploring the general area, but you cannot drive in Venice. It’s a waste of money to have a rental car if you’re spending a few days here. But if you’re traveling further afield after your time in Venice, you can check car rental rates here.

Where to Stay in Venice, Italy

Where’s the best place to stay in Venice? Although you’ll find cheaper prices on the mainland, I recommend staying in Venice proper because you can’t beat the atmosphere and convenience.

There’s something magical about walking outside and being among the bridges, canals, and squares of Venice.

These are my top picks for the best hotels in Venice for every budget:

Top-Rated Luxury Hotel in Venice: If you want to splurge in Venice, stay at Hotel Danieli. This five-star luxury hotel is decorated in sumptuous Venetian style and offers views of the Venetian Lagoon and St. Mark’s Square.

Top-Rated Mid-Range Hotel in Venice: Hotel Ai Cavalieri di Venezia is a great mid-range hotel in Venice located in a lively area. Another good option is Bellevue Luxury Rooms, just around the corner from St. Mark’s Square.

Top-Rated Budget Hotel in Venice: For a budget-friendly hotel in Venice, check out Albergo al Tiepolo. It has simple, comfortable rooms and a great location just steps away from St. Mark’s Square.

Find deals on places to stay in Venice here.

Best Time to Visit Venice

Venice is best visited during the off-season. I strongly discourage visiting Venice during the summer months, which are very hot and crowded — though if summer is the only free time you have, you can still have an enjoyable trip, especially if you make an effort to get off the main tourist trail.

Venice suffers from over-tourism, and this is exacerbated during the summer high season when large cruise ships dock in the city and buses full of day trippers arrive from elsewhere in Italy. (Day trippers are now paying a daily fee to enter Venice, but I doubt it will make much of an effect on the crowds.)

Spring and fall both bring beautiful weather and fewer crowds to Venice, making these two seasons an ideal time to visit. October is my personal favorite month of the year to visit Italy.

I’m also a big fan of Venice in winter. I love how the canals look in the faded light of the colder months, and it’s the best time to explore museums without crowds, eat at restaurants without a reservation, and feel like a local. It’s not for everyone, but I think winter looks lovely on Venice.

If you do visit during winter, just be prepared for very cold weather. Venice is located in northern Italy and gets significantly colder than cities like Rome. You also get some wind from being on the water.

Just keep in mind that Venice’s Carnevale, usually taking place in February, is a very expensive time to visit during winter – but it’s an incredible time of masks, balls, and parties! It’s definitely a once-in-a-lifetime experience for Venice!

You should also know that acqua alta (literally “high water”) is a risk from October until February. When this happens, water levels rise and parts of the historic center of Venice, including St. Mark’s Square, will flood. You’ll see locals walking around in knee-high rain boots when this happens, and the city installs temporary walkways over the flooding.

Is Venice Worth It?

Is Venice worth it?! Venice is incredibly worth it. No other city in Italy — or the world — looks like Venice, has the history of Venice, or is even painted in the perfect grays and pinks and lavenders of Venice.

If you make an effort to get off the beaten path by exploring further reaches of the city, I think you’ll have a much better time than if you stuck to the main attractions.

I hope you have the most wonderful time in Venice — and that this is only the beginning of your lifelong love affair with the city!

Planning a Trip to Italy:

More Cool Places in Northern Italy:

Best of Southern Italy:

• 28 Fabulous Things to Do in Naples, Italy
• 16 Fun Things to Do in Sorrento, Italy
• Tropea, Italy: A Spectacularly Situated Beach Town
• The Joys and Challenges of Traveling in Sicily
• 22 Beautiful Places to Visit in Sicily
• Where to Go in Eastern Sicily
• 23 Fun Things to Do in Palermo, Sicily
• Complete Guide to the Aeolian Islands, Sicily
• Aci Trezza: A Laid-Back Coastal Town in Sicily
• Visiting Sicily in the Winter: Worth it or not?
• 17 Fun Things to Do in Bari, Italy
• 17 Cool Things to Do in Matera, Italy
• The Stunning Trulli of Alberobello, Italy
• 16 Fab Things to Do in Lecce, Italy
• Experiencing the Carpino Folk Festival in Puglia, Italy

Have you been to Venice? Any recommendations? Share away!