Top 10 Places to Visit in Venice

Venice is a timeless masterpiece, a city built on water where every canal, bridge, and piazza tells a story. I’ve explored its labyrinth of cobblestone streets, sailed through its serene canals, and uncovered the best-kept secrets that make it one of the most enchanting destinations in the world.

Whether you're here for the iconic landmarks, the rich history, or the romantic atmosphere, knowing the best places to visit in Venice can make all the difference in your trip.

From the grandeur of St. Mark’s Basilica to the charm of hidden Venetian alleyways, this floating city is packed with unmissable attractions. Strolling through Piazza San Marco, riding a gondola along the Grand Canal, or visiting the lesser-known island of Burano with its colorful houses—every moment in Venice feels like a scene from a painting. But beyond the tourist hotspots, I’ll reveal the authentic side of Venice, from centuries-old cafés to secluded palaces where history lingers in every stone.

This guide is packed with expert travel insights, practical tips, and essential details to help you experience the most breathtaking places in Venice. Whether you’re a first-time visitor or a seasoned traveler, let’s uncover the hidden gems, iconic sights, and cultural treasures that make Venice one of the most magical cities in the world.

10 Best Places to Visit in Venice

This article focuses on the first one, because very often time is limited, and unfortunately we have to focus on seeing the most important monuments and attractions of a city.

→ If this is not your case and you have 3 or more days, take a look at this post where we tell you 35 things to see and do in Venice . And of course, don't miss our tips for traveling to Venice .

Ready to discover the 10 best places to visit in Venice ? Let's go!

Doge's Palace Venice

1. St. Mark's Square, one of the must-see places in Venice

You will see signs directing you to it at almost every crossroads, after crossing a bridge or arriving at a small square. This is the heart of the city, its most representative place and the main destination for those who only have a few hours to spend. Some of the most famous Venetian icons are located there, such as the basilica of the same name or the Palazzo Ducale.

Take a stroll under the arcades that surround the whole square, from where you can take beautiful photos, playing with the arches and the lamps. And contemplate a timeless view of what Napoleon himself called "the most elegant salon d'Europe" . And for the elegant, the historic cafés of the Square. But beware, they are historic and very expensive: a coffee at the Florian costs €6.50, to which you will have to add an extra €6 for... listening to the music! So don't sit down, unless you don't want to wake up with a much lighter wallet :-p

Tip: Visit St. Mark's Square both during the day and at night, as with the rest of Venice, when the sun goes down it has a special charm.

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2. St. Mark's Basilica

It is one of the symbols of Venice, a unique architectural jewel as it perfectly fuses characteristics of Romanesque buildings with elements of Byzantine art, without giving up Gothic style details or the influence of Middle Eastern art.

The original Basilica was built between 828 and 832 to house the body of Saint Mark the Apostle , the city's patron saint. But it was only from 1063 onwards that it began to take on the Byzantine appearance it has today. If it is impressive on the outside, things are only getting better on the inside: with a Latin cross, five domes and an interior full of golden mosaics , St Mark's Basilica leaves all visitors speechless.

⭐ Admission costs €3 , although there are areas that require an extra fee (the Museum, the Pala d'Or and the Treasury). There is a ticket that allows skip-the-line entry to the Basilica and all areas for €20. Another option is to take a guided tour (with a ticket) so you don't miss a single detail of the building and its history.

3. Bell tower of San Marco

In St. Mark's Square, next to the Basilica, stands the imposing bell tower of St. Mark's, which at almost 99 metres is the tallest building in Venice . Most of the tower is built of red brick, although you will soon spot a strip of white marble with 4 arches on each side, which is where the 5 bells are housed. The whole is crowned with a pyramidal bronze peak where you can see a golden figure of the archangel Gabriel.

We would love to say that it is the original tower, the one that began to be built no less than in the 9th century, but unfortunately in 1902 it could not resist the advance of a deadly crack and collapsed . So what we see is a deconstruction of that one.

The Venetians affectionately call the Campanile di San Marco “el patron de casa” (the boss) and if you fancy enjoying a unique panoramic view of St. Mark’s Square, you can take the lift up to the viewing platform . However, you will need to pay 10€.

4. Doge's Palace

The third of the places to visit in Venice without leaving St. Mark's Square is the Doge's Palace. If the Basilica was the religious soul, the Doge's Palace was the political center of the city, which for centuries was considered the bridge between the Western and Eastern worlds. This is where the Doge resided , the leader of the Republic of Venice, a figure who was in power between the 7th and 18th centuries.

The first thing that catches your eye is the elegant and refined Gothic-Venetian architecture and the Byzantine elements of its façade… But don’t stop at the exterior: the real treasure is inside. Some must-see places here are:

The Scala D'Oro , or golden staircase.
The Doge's Apartment , with an enviable collection of paintings by Tintoretto and Titian, among others.
The Sala del Maggior Consiglio , where voting took place.
The Armory , which houses a collection of weapons and armor.
The prison , where all those who went against the rules of the Serenissima were imprisoned.

⭐ Entry to the Doge's Palace costs €25 (included in the Venice Unica City Pass ), although if you prefer you can sign up for this guided tour and go around it with a local guide. By the way, the visit takes you across the Bridge of Sighs , the famous bridge that connected the Palace with the dungeons, named after the sighs of the prisoners who, upon crossing it, knew that it would be the last time they would see the light of day. It is one of the curiosities of Venice that we like the most.

best places to visit in venice

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5. Rialto Bridge

Although, if we're talking about bridges, the most famous in Venice is undoubtedly the Rialto Bridge. But what does it have that the other 353 Venetian bridges don't? To start with, spectacular views of the Grand Canal and all its hustle and bustle... And to continue, a lot of history.

The original bridge, which was built in 1181, was floating. In 1250 it was replaced by a wooden bridge, and it was not until 1591 that it was given its current design, made of stone and with a covered part to provide space for small shops.

Nearby we find the Rialto Market , which has an open-air section with fruit and vegetable stalls, and another section under a pretty loggia that houses the fish market. We think it's a very interesting stop, especially if you have a foodie soul.

→ The Rialto district is one of the best areas to look for accommodation. Here we tell you which are the best areas to stay in Venice .

6. Canal Grande, another top place to visit in Venice

We've already seen the Grand Canal from the top of the Rialto Bridge, but why not take a cruise along it? There's no shortage of canals in Venice, but the Grand Canal, 4 km long, is the main artery and the busiest of all. Despite its length, there are only 4 bridges that cross it: the aforementioned Rialto Bridge, the Accademia Bridge, the Ponte dei Discalci and the Ponte della Constituzi.

⭐ A good way to explore it is on board a vaporetto , the typical Venetian ferries that serve as urban transport. They are not cheap (€7.50 for a single ticket) but there is a transport pass (1 day for €20, 2 days for €30, 3 days for €40 and a week for €60) that allows unlimited travel and is worth it if you think you will use it often.

You will obviously also have the option of hopping on a gondola and sailing along this and other minor canals in Venice. You will see quite a few gondolier stands all over Venice (stazi), offering a 30-minute ride for €80 (up to 5 people). These are fixed prices, but you can always try to negotiate. You can find more tips in our article on tips for travelling to Venice .

Tip: If you want another place to have a great view of the Canal Grande, head to Fondaco dei Tedeschi , a shopping centre with a free panoramic terrace (you have to book here ).

7. The Ghetto, an original neighborhood to visit in Venice

When the Republic of Venice (Serenissima) decreed by law on 29 March 1516 that all Jews had to reside in a specific area of the city, from which they could not leave at night, the first ghetto in Europe was born . It was after the fall of the Serenissima, at the end of 1700, that the end of segregation was decreed, although as we all know, a few centuries later the Jews would once again be singled out, persecuted and deported. It is said that in 1938 a total of 246 Jews lived in the Venice ghetto and that after World War II only 8 returned from the concentration camps.

Located in the Canareggio area , it is now a lively, authentic, and picturesque neighborhood, one of our favorite neighborhoods in all of Venice . If you visit (which you should!), head to the Museo Hebraico (€8) to learn more about Judaism and the history of the Venice Ghetto.

Other places to visit are the Scole (Synagogues in Veneto), the Banco Rosso (Pawnbroker's shop) and a handful of restaurants and bakeries where you can try typical Jewish dishes (they are closed on Saturdays, since the Sabbath is the day of rest for Jews).

places to visit in venice

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8. La Fenice Theatre

There are many historic buildings scattered around Venice, but few have managed to maintain the splendour of another era like the Teatro La Fenice. This is one of the most important and prestigious theatres in the world, where top-class opera and theatre have premiered since it opened its doors in 1792. True to its name, it has risen like a Phoenix (with a few minor tweaks) from catastrophes such as fires and floods, to present a world of opulence and elegance today.

Following a devastating fire in 1996 and extensive reconstruction work, it was reopened in 2003 and has not been interrupted since. So watching a play or concert in one of its red seats or boxes is a great way to end a day in Venice.

⭐ Or the alternative (and cheap) plan: take a tour with an audio guide.

9. Peggy Guggenheim Museum

This museum dedicated to 20th-century European and North American art is housed in the beautiful Palazzo Venier dei Leonis in the Dorsoduro district. Inside, we can enjoy one of the best private collections of modern art , including works by Pollock, Kandinsky, Picasso, de Chirico, Dalí, Boccioni and Max Ernst, who, incidentally, was Peggy's husband.

But who was Peggy Guggenheim ? She was an art collector and you may know her name because she was the niece of Solomon R. Guggenheim (yes, the one from the Guggenheim in Bilbao ). By the way, her father, Benjamin Guggenheim, died in the sinking of the Titanic.

⭐ Tickets cost €15, you can buy them here and avoid queues (it's cheaper here than on the official website, because you save €1.5 on pre-sale). Closed on Tuesdays.

10. Excursion to Burano, Murano and Torcello

It would be unforgivable to visit Venice and not hop on a vaporetto to see 3 of the most beautiful islands in Venice : Burano , with its colorful houses and lace workshops, Murano , world famous for glassmaking, and Torcello , one of the most peaceful and authentic corners of the Venetian lagoon.

⭐ To go out and explore them, you have two options : buy the daily vaporetto ticket and visit the islands at your leisure, even signing up for a free tour (here we tell you which are the best free tours of Venice in Spanish ). Or sign up for a tour to Burano, Murano and optionally Torcello (in Spanish) that includes both transportation and the companion and has an excellent price.

Extra: cicchetti route

Although it is not a place, we are obliged to recommend a gastronomic experience that you can only have in Venice. Don't tell us that wandering through the cobbled streets between narrow canals looking for little bars where you can try Venetian tapas doesn't sound like a great plan! So that you don't get too lost, we have prepared this bacari route , with some of the best bacari (typical tapas bars) in Venice.

what to visit in Venice

These 10 are the must-see places in Venice , although of course there are still many things to see and do in Venice and alternative plans. And it is undoubtedly one of the most magical cities of the old continent. You know, if you have several days of time, we encourage you to explore the city as it deserves and get lost in its narrow streets to discover less touristy places (yes, there are NOT touristy corners even in Venice)!

Did you like our selection of 10 places to visit in Venice? Did we forget anything essential?

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