Venice: 15 Best Things to Do and Unique Places to Visit

Venice is a timeless masterpiece, a city built on water where every turn reveals stunning canals, historic landmarks, and hidden gems. Whether you’re visiting for the first time or returning to uncover more of its charm, there’s an endless list of unforgettable things to do in Venice.

As someone who has explored its labyrinthine streets and glided through its serene waterways, I can tell you firsthand—Venice is more than just gondola rides and St. Mark’s Basilica.

From wandering through the iconic Piazza San Marco to discovering secret spots like Libreria Acqua Alta, Venice offers an immersive experience steeped in history, art, and romance. You can marvel at the breathtaking Doge’s Palace, cross the legendary Rialto Bridge, or take a vaporetto ride to the colorful island of Burano. And let’s not forget the culinary delights—savoring authentic cicchetti in a traditional bacaro is a must.

Planning your itinerary? I’ll guide you through the best activities in Venice, ensuring you make the most of your visit. Whether you’re an art lover exploring the Peggy Guggenheim Collection, a history buff intrigued by the Bridge of Sighs, or a traveler seeking the best spots for Venetian sunsets, this guide covers it all. Let’s dive into the most incredible experiences Venice has to offer.

Top Things to Do and Places to See in Venice

We have been lucky enough to visit Venice on numerous occasions: we both studied in Padua , right next to this beautiful island that everyone dreams of visiting, so we can safely say that we know it quite well. And yet, every time we return we discover something new, a neighbourhood we hadn't visited, a newly opened museum, a bar to add to our cicchetti route ...

So this post will be subject to constant and numerous updates 🙂 even so, if you see any incorrect or outdated information, please send us a comment and we will keep the guide “fresh”.

gondola in venice

Venice Travel Guides

The first thing you need to know is that the island of Venice, with its curious fish shape , is a puzzle of canals, bridges and alleys that is organized into six main pieces: the sestrieri . They are these:

San Marco : the historic and touristic heart of the city, home to the famous Piazza San Marco, the Basilica and the Doge's Palace. Full of luxury and classic charm.
San Polo : small and vibrant, with the Rialto market as its soul and many bars where you can enjoy a spritz with cicchetti.
Dorsoduro : artistic and bohemian, home to the Accademia Gallery, the Peggy Guggenheim museum and the best sunsets (from le Zattere).
Cannaregio : quiet and authentic, here you will find the former Jewish ghetto, Tintoretto's birthplace and local life away from the crowds.
Castello : the perfect mix between the monumental, with the Biennale gardens, and the everyday, with less explored streets.
Santa Croce: the gateway to Venice that combines residential with discreet historic areas, perfect for leisurely exploring.

what to see in venice

⭐ The best way to break the ice with the city is by taking a free tour. In fact, there are several, so we leave you the article where we tell you about the best free tours in Venice. Now, let's find out Venice's top attractions, and the best things to do in Venice.

1. Piazza San Marco (Basilica, Bell Tower and Doge's Palace)

It is the icon of Venice , its heart and soul. And also a 3 in 1: there you can admire the “ Basilica di San Marco ”, the “ Campanile ” and the “ Palazzo Ducale ”. We talked about them at length in this post of the 10 best places to visit in Venice but here is a mini summary:

St. Mark's Basilica is a true architectural treasure, with its spectacular mix of Byzantine, Romanesque and Gothic styles. Built in the 11th century to house the relics of St. Mark (which, by the way, were stolen from Alexandria by some cunning Venetian merchants), the basilica is famous for its golden mosaics, which cover the entire interior, reflecting the wealth and power of the ancient Republic of Venice.
Just opposite stands the imposing St. Mark's Campanile , which was originally a watchtower. Standing 98.6 metres high, it was built in the 9th century and, although it suffered a tragedy in 1902 when it collapsed, it was rebuilt almost immediately.
The Palazzo Ducale (Doge's Palace) was the residence of the Dukes of Venice and the centre of political and judicial power in the city. This majestic palace has a Gothic façade that, like the basilica, is steeped in history. It was built over centuries, and its interior is a labyrinth of halls, rooms and corridors decorated with works by artists such as Tintoretto and Veronese. The Salon del Maggior Consiglio, one of the most impressive rooms, has a ceiling painted with historical scenes from the Republic of Venice.

File:Piazza San Marco, Venice.jpg - Wikimedia Commons

Things to do

Remember that visiting St. Mark's Basilica is no longer free (it costs €3). If you are travelling during the high season, it is best to buy your ticket online to avoid the queues.

Tip : If you don't have much time and want to visit the main attractions of Venice, a good idea is to sign up for this complete tour in Spanish . It includes skip-the-line tickets to the Doge's Palace and St. Mark's Basilica + a guided tour of the center of Venice.

2. Bridge of Sighs

You don't have to go far to see one of the most famous sites in Venice: the Bridge of Sighs, which connected the Doge's Palace to the city's former prison, known as the Prigioni Nuove. The sighs were not of love, but of despair: it was the last glimpse of the outside world for condemned prisoners.

From their small barred windows, inmates could catch a last glimpse of the canals and lagoon of Venice before facing their fate, which was often torture or execution. Among the most famous prisoners was Giacomo Casanova , who managed to escape in 1756 in a daring feat that is still remembered as one of the most legendary escapes in history.

The Bridge of Sighs has become a symbol of the city , and is without a doubt one of the best tourist attractions in Venice, and it won't take you more than a few minutes.

⭐ Recommendation: If you want to know more about the history of this terrible prison, you have this guided tour of the prison.

Bridge of Sighs in Venice

3. Rialto Bridge (and its Market)

And since we are talking about bridges… How can we forget the most beautiful one in the city? Obviously we are referring to the Rialto Bridge ! Once here you will have the best view of the Grand Canal . Inside the bridge there are always souvenir stands where, of course, there is no shortage of typical Venetian masks.

But be careful with your wallet, as it is one of the favorite places for those who love other people's property.

And what about the Canal Grande ? It is like the Gran Via in Madrid or the Diagonal in Barcelona, or in other words: the main artery of the city . But in this case, instead of cars and electric scooters, vaporetti and gondolas circulate here.

The Rialto Bridge on Venice Grand Canal in Venice Italy

On its banks rise the most beautiful Venetian palaces , which once belonged to powerful families. Among the most notable are the Ca' d'Oro , with its delicate façade that looks like marble lace, and the Ca' Rezzonico , now a museum that transports you to the splendor of the 18th century.

⭐ To get around Venice, it's best to walk and/or buy this transport card that includes unlimited trips on the vaporetto , the city's typical boat. Remember to validate the ticket before boarding the boat or you risk a hefty fine as a souvenir.

drawing venice

Top Activities

Before leaving here, take the opportunity to visit the nearby Rialto Market , which we consider one of the most authentic places in Venice. Extra tip: if you feel like stopping along the way, go and have a spritz (the typical drink of northern Italy) and a snack at the bar at Mercà.

4. Venice Jewish Ghetto, one of the most interesting things to see in Venice

Not everyone who visits Venice gets to see the former Jewish ghetto, and that's a real shame. It's one of the corners where you can see the normal, everyday life of the city, and it also has an unprecedented historical value: it was the first Jewish quarter built in Europe. Here you can visit the city's synagogues and the Holocaust memorial, try kosher food and stroll through the attractive Ghetto Novo .

It is located in the Cannaregio district , one of the most picturesque districts of Venice . Do you know why it is called that? The name comes from the cane fields ( canna in Italian) that abounded in this area before it was urbanized.

⭐ You can visit it on your own (we did it this way) or by signing up for an interesting tour in Spanish through the Jewish quarter of Venice.

Jewish quarter in Venice

5. Boat ride… vaporetto or gondola?

One of the things to do in Venice is to sail along its canals. How? Depending on the size of your wallet, you can do it by gondola or vaporetto . If you are sure that you are going to use the vaporetti (public boats in Venice), it may be worth buying the 1-2 day Venice transportation pass .

Are you really looking forward to riding in a gondola but don't want to spend a fortune? There are not so expensive alternatives, such as sharing a gondola for around €38 (per person). Although if you prefer a gondola just for yourself, you can always try to haggle the price directly with the gondolier; if you get €50 for 30 minutes you're quite the bargainer (the price is €90 for that time).

what to see in venice gondolas

› Trick to get on a gondola for €2

We also have a surprise: we are going to tell you the trick to get on a gondola for 2€ . Yes, you heard right 🙂 But don’t expect a panoramic tour: the journey is to cross from one side of the Grand Canal to the other (5 minutes or less) but hey, you will have gone up in a gondola. There are 7 different crossing points. To find them, ask a gondoliere where the traghetti leave from , as they call these gondolas.

⭐ A unique and interesting alternative is to sign up for a boat ride with dinner included on a Venetian galleon . It is an original plan in Venice, without a doubt. I am sure that children will also like it.

traghetto 2€ gondola

Fun Things to do

6. Peggy Guggenheim Museum

The Guggenheim is one of the best museums in Venice , thanks to its interesting permanent exhibition dedicated to the best artists of the 19th and 20th centuries , including geniuses such as Pablo Picasso, Jackson Pollock, Miró, De Chirico, Mondrian, Magritte, Kandinsky and Malevich . We also think it's a great plan to do in Venice if it's raining, so make sure to mark it on your map.

But who was Peggy Guggenheim , the woman behind this artistic treasure? A true visionary and a character that is not forgotten. Peggy was an American art collector , famous for her unique eye for discovering talent and for being one of the great promoters of modern art in the 20th century.

Her life, by the way, was marked by tragedies and eccentricities. For starters, her father died on the Titanic (yes, the real Titanic), leaving her family with a considerable inheritance. Peggy used part of that fortune to feed her passion for art, becoming a patron who supported artists who are now legends, such as Jackson Pollock or Max Ernst (to whom she was married for a time).

In 1948 she arrived in Venice and fell in love with its charms . She settled in the Palazzo Venier dei Leoni , an unfinished palace on the banks of the Grand Canal, which she transformed into her home and the epicentre of her impressive collection.

⭐ Buy your Peggy Guggenheim Museum skip-the-line tickets online and save time.

Peggy Guggenheim Collection

7. La Fenice Theatre

This historic theatre is one of the most beautiful in Italy and, like the Phoenix , it always rises from its ashes. Literally. It has been destroyed by fires (the last one, terrible, in 1996) or floods on many occasions . But, one way or another, it always manages to rise again.

It opened in 1792 and quickly became the cultural epicentre of Venice . Iconic operas such as Verdi’s “ La Traviata ” and Rossini’s “ Tancredi ” have premiered here . It has seen the greatest of all (Maria Callas, Luciano Pavarotti…) perform on its stage and remains a must-see for music lovers from all over the world.

⭐ If you want to visit it and learn more about its curious and eventful history, you can book your skip-the-line ticket with an audio guide here .

La Fenice Theatre

Take out IATI travel insurance with a 5% discount here . Whatever your destination

8. Bacari route: the best of Venetian gastronomy

The Italian people don't live on pasta and pizza alone, I'm a true Italian, but if you still don't believe me, I recommend you read the post " Eating in Venice " where we tell you about the typical dishes of the city.

Now, if you want to live a 100% authentic experience, one of the best things to do in Venice will be a bacari route . Don’t know what we’re talking about? If you want to be a true Venetian, even for a day, you better get to know the concept of “ bacaro ”. Bacaro-what? We could say that bacari are bars where you drink “ ombre e cicchetti ”, which are the Venetian version of Spanish wines and pintxos .

We have written a super guide to the best Bacari (tapas bars) in Venice but if you want a spoiler, here are 3 essential stops:

Bar at the Market
Bacareto by Lele
Baccarat in the Gold Court

⭐ Worried about your budget? You don't need to spend a fortune to eat well in the city, and we'll prove it to you in this article with a few restaurants where you can eat cheaply in Venice .

Bacari route, cicchetti, tapas Venice

Top Activities

9. The best viewpoints in Venice

You'll see the best viewpoint in Venice even before you land: don't miss those views from the plane ! But if you arrive by land, don't worry, there are always options to enjoy the most impressive panoramic views of the city . Here are our favorite viewpoints, those that you can't miss:

San Marco bell tower , a must-see classic, with an unbeatable view of the square and the lagoon.
Rooftop terrace of the Fondaco dei Tedeschi (free, with reservation ), offering a beautiful panoramic view of the Grand Canal.
Spiral staircase of Palazzo Contarini del Bovolo (buy your skip-the-line ticket here ), a hidden gem with a unique view of the Venetian rooftops.

terrace fondaco dei tedeschi

10. Scuola Grande de San Rocco

The Scuola Grande di San Rocco (Great School of St. Roch) is one of those places in Venice that you can't miss. Founded in 1478 , this ancient lay brotherhood was dedicated to St. Roch, the saint who protected the sick and travelers . Originally, the scuola served as the headquarters of the brotherhood, but over time it was transformed into an epicenter of Venetian art and culture.

Located in the charming San Polo district , it seems to us one of the most surprising visits in Venice: its interior is famous for the impressive frescoes by Tintoretto , who was commissioned to decorate the walls and ceiling of the School.

Entry costs €10.

San Roque Big School

11. Accademia Gallery

Another museum to see in Venice is the Accademia Gallery , which houses an exclusive collection of paintings : the greatest works of Venetian Renaissance art. Here you can stroll among paintings by artists such as Tintoretto, Titian, Antonio Canova, Tiepolo, Veronese, Canaletto and Giorgione.

Galleria dell'Accademia Venezia

12. Excursion to Murano and Burano, one of the best things to do in Venice

The best excursion from Venice is the one that will take you to two other islands in the Venetian Lagoon: Murano and Burano. Murano is famous throughout the world for the quality of its glass and Burano , beyond the picturesque and colorful houses, is known for the delicate handmade lace, a tradition that has been passed down from generation to generation.

Tip : There is a great tour that will take you to discover Burano and Murano , 2 of the most beautiful islands in Venice! You can also do it on your own, without a guide, you just have to buy the daily ferry pass that we told you about earlier.

burano-something-to-see-in-venice

13. Acqua Alta Bookstore

Are you one of those who go crazy visiting bookstores around the world? Here in Venice you will find one of the most spectacular : as it is located in front of a canal, it often suffers from the phenomenon of high water. But no problem: the books are stored in gondolas , bathtubs and shelves, protected from the water. It is undoubtedly a curious place to see in Venice.

⭐ It is located on Calle Lunga Santa Maria Formosa and its visit is free.

Acqua Alta Bookstore in Venice

Things to do

14. Beautiful churches to see in Venice

Obviously, St. Mark's Basilica is the most beautiful, but it is far from the only religious temple on the island. Here is a list of some of the most beautiful churches to visit in Venice:

Basilica dei Santi Giovanni e Paolo , which is the pantheon of the 27 Venetian duces , who at the time were the highest figures governing the city.
Churches of San Zaccaria , where you can see the painting of the “Sacra Conversazione” by Giovanni Bellini.
Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute , one of the most beautiful. The name is due to the fact that it was built during a great plague and the Virgin of Health was asked to put an end to it.
Church of San Pantaleon , one of the surprises of our last trip to Venice: although the façade is quite simple, once inside you will be amazed. It hides the work " The Martyrdom of Saint Pantaleon ", painted by Gian Antonio Fiumani between 1680 and 1704. It is a monumental painting on canvas (the largest in the world: it measures 443 square meters ). Extra curiosity: nearby is the Migrant Child , the only work by Banksy in Venice.
Church of San Moisés , with a beautiful baroque façade and where, among other wonders, the " Washing of the Feet " by Tintoretto is preserved.

Churches to see in Venice

15. Stay overnight: Venice at night is spectacular

We always recommend staying at least one night in Venice. Hotels are usually expensive, but with a little luck and wisdom, you can find interesting accommodation deals in Venice .

Why spend a night in Venice? Because when the sun goes down and leaves room for the shadows of the night, ahhh, my friend, Venice shows its most beautiful face : the vast majority of tourists will have left and the city reveals itself as it really is, wonderful and mysterious.

what to see in venice

More things to do in Venice

Of course, there are many things to do in Venice that have not been included in this list. Some examples are:

Visit the Venetian Arsenal.
We wouldn't say that coming here is a must-see in Venice, but if you like curious places, then we do recommend you go there. The reason? With a width of 53 cm, it is the narrowest street in Venice and probably in Italy.
Take home a handmade mask or a piece of Murano glass as a souvenir.
Go see the façade of the Scuola Grande di San Giovanni Evangelista , a beautiful Venetian Gothic style building.
Find the rarest niossieti .
Visit the Casanova Museum.
Stuff yourself with Italian ice cream , the ones at Gallonetto are brutal.
Bathe on the beaches of the Lido.
Step onto Giudecca Island and much more.
There are many occasions for celebration in Venice: throughout the year there are several important dates ( Carnival, Festa del Redentore, Venice Film Festival, the Biennale... ), so if you want to experience the most festive atmosphere, you know what to expect.

Do You Have To Pay To Visit Venice? Here's What To Know About The Entry Fee

These are the 15 things to see and do in Venice that we recommend. We're probably forgetting a lot of things, but if you have more tips or advice, don't be lazy and leave us a comment!

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