Things to Do in Venice – The Ultimate Travel Guide
Are you looking for things to do in Venice but unsure where to start? Then you’re in luck. Venice is packed with adventures, sights, and flavours waiting for you to indulge.
Commonly known as The Floating City, Venice has 118 islands connected by over 400 bridges. Turquoise canals flow serenely between each, with gondolas taking couples on romantic rides into the sunset.
It’s a city you can get lost in (and you’ll want to). It’s a top destination for lovers looking for things to do in Italy (art, history, architecture, and food lovers included).
In this article, we’ll share our ultimate Venice travel guide and divulge how Exoticca makes exploring Venice effortless and memorable.
Things to do in Venice: unmissable attractions
If you’re creating a Venice itinerary, you can’t ignore its main attractions. These are the places most tourists flock to, the spots that keep them coming back.
St. Mark’s Basilica & Square
If you’re looking for things to do in Venice, a must-see attraction is St. Mark’s Basilica and Square. This church holds historic significance and is home to over 43,000 square feet of stunning mosaics.
It’s also Venice’s most important religious temple and one of the most beautiful cathedrals in the world.
St. Mark’s Square, or Piazza San Marco, is the principal public square of Venice. Four horses, symbolizing pride and power, overlook this social, political, and religious centre.
Doge’s Palace
If you’re looking for top attractions in Venice, the Doge’s Palace is a must-see. This pink-tinged building was Venice’s political heart for over 1,000 years.
Doge’s Palace is a Gothic masterpiece that’s been preserved as an art museum and historic site. Within its walls are paintings by Civetta, Tintoretto, and Tiziano Vecellio.
Frescoes line the ceilings, and valuable weapons fill its armoury. You can even see where they imprisoned Casanova or take a special tour of its hidden treasures.
Rialto Bridge & Market
The Rialto Bridge and Market are a must-see in Venice for food and architecture lovers. Built with marble and stone, the Rialto Bridge is a testament to Venetian engineering and offers panoramic and romantic views of the Grand Canal.
Markets line the bridge (though they’re mostly tourist traps), and at the foot of it lies the real Rialto Market. While fish, fruit, and veg aren’t very exciting, the bars that fuel the workers are worth visiting.
Grand Canal & Vaporetto ride
Bridge Rialto on Grand canal famous landmark panoramic view Venice Italy with blue sky white cloud and gondola boat water.
Are you curious about what to see in Venice? Then, you can’t miss the Grand Canal and its nearly 2.5-mile waters that stretch through every corner of the city.
The vaporetto rides are the best way to see all of Venice’s glory. They take you past iconic churches, fancy hotels, and the infamous Venetian Gothic Ca ‘d’Oro, Franchetti Gallery.
Take the eternal cities, Milan & Lake Como tour with Exoticca for an unforgettable gondola ride through its romantic waterways.
Bridge of Sighs
The Bridge of Sighs earns its name from the unfortunate sighs of prisoners as they were led to their cells, witnessing their final view of Venice.
Its fame (and what landed it on our Venice travel guide) comes from its spectacular views. Legends have also named it the Lovers’ Bridge, promising eternal love if you share a kiss on a gondola beneath it as St Mark’s bell tower tolls.
Peggy Guggenheim Collection
For history buffs and art lovers looking for things to do in Venice, the Peggy Guggenheim Collection is an unmissable attraction.
Peggy Guggenheim bought the Venier Palace in 1948. She populated it with her significant collection of paintings, pictures, drawings, mixed media, and sculptures from around the world.
Paintings from famous artists like Picasso, Pollock, and Salvador Dali reside here along with other modern and non-western pieces.
******
Discover Italy’s greatest masterpieces with the Escorted Eternal Cities tour
End your joruney drifting through Venice’s fascinating canals, where history glides on water.
******
There are so many hidden gems in Venice waiting to be uncovered, from local bars to whimsical, water-friendly bookshops.
Jewish Ghetto
The ancient Jewish quarter in Venice is Europe’s first and oldest ghetto. But don’t let the name discourage you. It’s become a glamorous and colorful space with all its historical events.
It stands out as a must-see in Venice for its five synagogues, two of which allow private and public tours.
Today, this ghetto is no longer a segregated community, but home to a beautiful museum and a rich historical tapestry of cultural development.
Libreria Acqua Alta
Bookworms and lovers of ingenuity alike can appreciate this beautiful hidden gem in Venice. Owner Luigi Frizzo named the bookshop after the area’s potential for flooding.
But that’s not all, he also made efforts to protect his over 400,000-strong collection. How? By storing them in bathtubs and gondolas and raising them above water levels.
These upgrades add to the whimsy that gave the shop its social media title: the most beautiful bookshop in the world.
San Giorgio Maggiore
Offering spectacular views and a stunning marble facade, it’s no surprise that the San Giorgio Maggiore is one of Venice’s most photographed basilicas. It stuns travellers looking over the canal from the Piazza San Marco.
You can see its best views of Venice by climbing atop the Basilica’s Campanile. However, stunning sights lie within as well. There are paintings by great artists like Tintoretto and Sebastiano Ricci.
Cannaregio & Dorsoduro
Out of all the things to do in Venice, rubbing shoulders with the locals is top of the list.
Cannaregio is home to the Jewish Ghetto and Strada Nuova, a busy shopping street. Down-to-earth locals, stunning churches, and fantastic bars are plentiful here.
Dorsoduro is a student and cultural district housing famous museums, two universities, and various cultural spaces. You can also find affordable and trendy cafes, snack bars, and cozy lunch spots.
Local bacari (wine bars)
When creating your Venice itinerary, always include at least one bacaro. It’s an ancient tavern or traditional bar where gondoliers and noblemen once gathered to drink wine, chat, and play cards.
Today, a self-guided train tour could take you to one of these charming haunts, where you can enjoy a tasty ombra and bite-sized cicchetto.
These bacari may be small and jam-packed, but they’re cultural encounters you’ll never forget, a must-see in Venice.
Food & wine experiences you can’t miss
Some of the best things to do in Venice are eat and drink. Cuisine is abundant, ranging from seafood dishes to hearty, meaty meals.
Here are some dishes you need to try while in Venice:
- Venetian specialties: If you want an authentic taste of Venice, you can’t leave without trying specialty dishes like bigoli in salsa, sarde in saor, and risotto al nero di seppia. These fishy dishes are deceptively full of depth: sweet, salty, savoury, rich, and creamy.
- Cicchetti crawl: Cicchetti are a Venetian take on tapas (small, appetizer-sized snacks or dishes), and they’re delectable. Go on a cicchetti crawl by adding stops like Vineria all’Amarone, All’Arco and Osteria Alla Ciurma to your Venice itinerary.
- Seafood dining: One of the things to do in Venice you can’t pass up is trying its seafood. With easy access to the Venetian Lagoon, spots like Rio Novo, Al Conte Pescasor, and Poste Vecie deliver exceptional dishes and fine dining experiences.
- Wine pairings: If you’re a wine lover, Venice and its pedigree of wines are the perfect pairing. Head to Valdobbiadene and Conegliano for some of the best Proseccos. For top Veneto reds, try Valpolicella and the various Amarone.
See Venice come alive through the lens of National Geographic’s stunning storytelling.
Things to do in Venice for art & history lovers
For art and history lovers looking for things to do in Venice, the options are vast, with equally abundant Italy cultural tours. This maritime powerhouse amassed a trove of Venetian, modern, and contemporary art, showcasing the masterpieces in churches, palaces, and museums across the city.
On top of its lavish art and architecture, there are places teeming with historical significance. Here are our top three spots you must see in Venice:
- Scuola Grande di San Rocco: Visit this Venetian school, renowned for incorporating exuberant colours and sumptuous compositions into Renaissance art. You can find masterpieces by famous Venetian artists Tiepolo, Titian, and Tintoretto.
- Ca’ Rezzonico: Once the home of Venetian nobles and English poet Robert Browning, this 18th-century palazzo now stands as a museum highlighting 18th-century Venice. Explore its rooms adorned with lush decor, fine paintings, and a rich history.
- Teatro La Fenice: Burnt down and reborn twice, the Teatro La Fenice remains the most important theatre in Venice. It’s one of the top classical music and opera show destinations in the world, hosting some of the best musicians in history.
Day trips from Venice
If you’re looking for unique things to do in Venice, we highly recommend some day trips to its surrounding islands.
Here are some hidden gems in Venice with unique and fascinating activities and excursions:
- Murano: One of the most interesting things to do in Venice may be to visit Murano and try your hand at glass-blowing. This island is famous for its techniques. You can also learn how they do it by visiting their glass factories and museums.
- Burano: This island is famous for fishermen’s cottages, colourful houses, and elegant lace-making. Burano women have kept the lace-making tradition alive since the 16th century, exporting across Europe and spurring tourism.
- Torcello: Home to early Christian ruins, this island town was once Venice’s most important and populated. See Attila the Hun’s throne or visit the oldest building in the Venetian Lagoon, the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta, and see its Byzantine mosaics.
- Lido di Venezia: This long, narrow island features lovely beaches along both its coasts. Once a fashionable seaside resort, Lido has become famous for its grand, celebrity-attracting hotels and for hosting the Venice Film Festival.
Practical travel tips for Venice
With so many things to do in Venice, it’s essential to plan when to visit, how to get around, and, most importantly, what to wear.
Here are some helpful answers to commonly asked questions to make your trip to Venice smoother:
- When’s the best time to visit Venice? Spring or fall are the best times to visit Venice. Humidity is lower, and crowds are fewer. In the fall, you can experience atmospheric mists. In spring, you’ll find cooler weather ideal for gallery and museum exploration.
- What’s the main way to get around Venice? Travelling on foot or by boat is the best way to explore Venice. Consider ACTV passes for up to seven days of unlimited access to buses and vaporettos (water buses) to better explore the city’s highlights.
- How much are tourist taxes & entry tickets in Venice? Tourists over 14 must pay €5 daily by the fourth last day before access day to access Venice during the day. If you’re staying the night, expect between €1 and €5 in nightly taxes.
- What should I pack and wear in Venice? You should pack according to the season when you’re visiting. Bring warm clothes for winter, waterproof items in the shoulder seasons, and lighter clothing during summer. Comfortable walking shoes are a must.
Discover things to do in Venice with Exoticca
Venice is a city adorned by glistening canals, stunning architecture, and beautiful art. When you’re looking for things to do in Venice, there’s something for every interest.
Art and history lovers can visit stunning museums and art collections. Foodies can find delicious cicchetti, Prosecco, and Veneto at various hidden gems in Venice.
For seamless and immersive tours through Venice and its many spectacular islands, choose Exoticca. We offer unbeatable prices and simplify your travel experience.
Browse our selection of Italy tour packages today and make the most of all the things to do in Venice on your trip.
