15 Best Things To Do in Venice

Venice is the capital of the Veneto region in the northeast of the country and one of its most beautiful and visited cities, with 50,000 inhabitants and a whopping 25 million tourists a year. If you want to enjoy the city without falling into the typical tourist traps or getting lost in the overcrowding, I leave you with this list of must-sees for a unique trip that will serve you whether you visit Venice in one day or spend a week in Venice.

Located in the great St. Mark's Square, the Doge's Palace is one of the most important monuments of Venice, symbol of its greatest era of power and splendor and residence of the powerful Doges for almost a century. More than 120 dukes decided the fate of the city inside the Doge's Palace in its majestic rooms and chambers decorated with works of art and paintings by Renaissance artists such as Titian, Veronese and Tintoretto, which you can admire today.

There are many ways to visit the Doge's Palace, but I recommend you to buy your ticket online in advance to avoid the long queues to access it, with a guided tour to also learn about its history from the hand of a professional guide or even with a convenient tourist pass that also includes access to other of the best museums in Venice. I leave you a post about the prices of the Doge's Palace of Venice that will solve any doubt.

The impressive St. Mark's Basilica is another must-see in Venice. Also located in St. Mark's Square, this one-of-a-kind Byzantine temple in Italy was erected in 828 to hold the relics of this saint. If it is impressive on the outside, wait until you see it on the inside, and above all, to see the views of the square from its belvedere.

I recommend you take a guided tour of St. Mark's Basilica to admire its greatest jewels: the Byzantine Treasury, the Golden Shovel, a Byzantine altarpiece full of precious stones and gems, and the Museum with the Horses of St. Mark, bronze statues looted from the hippodrome of Constantinople and from which you will access the terrace of the basilica, with magnificent views of St. Mark's Square.

And if you are looking for a place to eat after your visit, here are some restaurants near St. Mark's Basilica to enjoy Italian food as it deserves.

In addition to entering the Doge's Palace and St. Mark's Basilica, the imposing 9th century St. Mark's Square is home to some of the most important museums and buildings to see in Venice, such as the Clock Tower, the Campanile, the Correr Museum or the monumental halls of the Sansoviniana Bookshop.

Nicknamed 'The Most Beautiful Hall in Europe' by Napoleon himself when he burst into the city and was enraptured by its beauty, St. Mark's Square is a place to stroll around to see its lively day and night life and even enter one of its historic cafes, such as Café Florian or Café Quadri, to taste a cup of its delicious (but expensive) coffee among the most luxurious and typical Venetian décor.

The Acqua alta in St. Mark's Square

If you travel to Venice in winter, you may be surprised by the rain and with it the rise in the flow of the canals. This phenomenon is known as Acqua alta and lasts only a few hours, but if you witness it, don't hesitate and take out your camera. It is very likely that you will see it if you visit the city in November or December, practically impossible if you do it in August or September and unlikely but not impossible if you travel to Venice in October, January or February.

Personally I think it is quite an experience, but if you want to avoid it I leave you this post about the best time to travel to Venice.

Taking a gondola ride through the canals of Venice is a romantic activity, super nice and already iconic of Venice. I recommend you not to miss this once in a lifetime experience, but above all I advise you to book your gondola ride in Venice in advance and online to avoid wasting time there given its high demand and the difficulty to distinguish the 'official' gondoliers from the 'pirates', very common in the city.

Given the demand for this activity, there are different combinations with which you can hire, not only the gondola ride, but also a guided tour of the city or its most important buildings, which will mean a good saving on the trip. At special times like Christmas in Venice, the gondola ride usually goes up in price.

With over 400 bridges, it's impossible to walk around Venice without crossing many of them or even passing under if you book a Venice Grand Canal cruise, but there are some must-see bridges in Venice whose history you can learn about thanks to some of the guided walking tours of the city.

In addition to the majestic St. Mark's Basilica, Venice has other relevant temples, which you can visit through some of the tickets that include guided tours of Venice, and which stand out for their architecture and the artistic treasures hidden in their interiors, such as:

If you spend at least two days in Venice, I recommend you save half a day for an excursion to the islands of Murano, Burano and Torcello. Visit one of the many factories of the precious and famous Murano glass and learn how it is worked at the hands of a master glassmaker (something especially curious for the little ones so take note if you travel with children to Venice), get lost in the colorful fishermen's houses and stalls of exquisite handmade lace in Burano and discover the architectural and historical heritage of Torcello, are unforgettable experiences that you should do on your trip to Venice.

Getting to the islands of Murano and Burano from Venice is easy, although if you want to make the most of your time and see all the tourist attractions of Murano and enjoy everything there is to do in Burano I recommend an organized excursion.

Excursions from Venice

These islands are just two of the must-do getaways from Venice whenever there is an opportunity.

If you are wondering how many days is recommended to spend in Venice I will tell you that the city can be seen in a couple of days, at most you can travel three days to Venice if you want to see it very thoroughly. From a four-day trip to Venice do not hesitate and book excursions to nearby cities.

One of the most rewarding experiences to do in Venice is to ascend to its spectacular viewpoints, located on terraces or ancient towers, to get wonderful photographs of the panoramic view of this beautiful city. I especially recommend:

Walking around Venice can be exhausting, but fortunately, the Venetian Vaporetto is at the service of citizens and tourists to take you from one side of the city to the other in comfort while enjoying the views of the majestic palaces that surround its canals. A tip when visiting Venice? Take an entire route along the Grand Canal. It is certainly the cheapest way to cross it by water and although the experience is not as exclusive as the gondola, the views are the same and it is one of the main ways to get around Venice.

Venice's Lido is an area unknown to tourists and loved by the citizens of Venice, for being the beach where they escape to on weekends (especially in good weather) to disconnect from the hustle and bustle of the city center. If you are in Venice on one of those hot summer days in Venice and you feel like getting to know a much more "local" corner, you can reach it by Vaporetto and take a swim like a Venetian. There you will also find a residential area with bars and restaurants where you can spend a relaxing afternoon.

The Bridge of Sighs deserves a special mention, not only for its beauty but also for the history behind it, as it was the bridge that led to the dungeons of the prison of the Doge's Palace. You will find it very close to St. Mark's Square and I recommend that you see it both day and night. You will recognize it immediately, as it is the target of the flashes of tourists strolling through the area.

Often overlooked by visitors to the city, this Jewish quarter is one of the best preserved ghettos in Europe today. Its streets are, if possible, more delicate and narrow than those of the rest of the city and the history that is breathed within its walls is worth to be known. For this, I recommend that you look for a guided tour of the area, you will not regret it!

Canareggio is one of the most authentic areas of Venice: walking through its streets you can see how Venetians really live, how their houses are or even the workshops where they repair their boats. In the Venetian night, the streets always have a festive atmosphere, with lots of terraces on the street and groups of young people having an aperitif or a good pizza. Believe me, you don't want to miss this part of the city. Here is a list of cheap restaurants to eat in Venice.

Here comes the treat of the day: if after hours of intense sightseeing you need to rest but are reluctant to go to your hotel, I recommend that you treat yourself to a cocktail (or a coffee) on the terrace of one of the luxurious hotels at the end of the Grand Canal that offer wonderful views of Santa Maria della Salute.

The Palazzo Gritti (which, as a building in itself, is worth seeing) or the St. Regis are my favorites. If you prefer to have the view from the opposite side, you will love the terrace of the Sina Centurion Palace. The terrace has incredible views and is right on top of the water.

The city of Venice will probably grab you so much that you're not going to want to leave it, but as unfortunately all good things come to an end you have to go to the airport. Transfers from Venice airport to the center and vice versa can be just another formality or can leave you with a bad taste in your mouth. Venice is an expensive and very touristy city so it will not be uncommon for them to try to rip you off to get to and from the airport. To avoid this and, of course, to make the most of your time in the city, my advice is to book your transfer in advance.