
Venice is one of our favorite spots in Italy. With its winding canalsstunning architectureand rich historyVenice is one of the most enchanting cities in the world. It is also small and compactperfect to be explored with just a few days’ time. In this guidewe’ll take you through the absolute best things to do in Venicefrom iconic landmarks to hidden gemsso you can make the most of your visit.
So farwe have visited Venice three timesour most recent visit being in the summer of 2022. Every time we are herewe find new things to do and new areas to explore in this charming city.
Strolling the canalsphotographing Venice from its bridges and viewpointsvisiting St. Mark’s Basilica in the eveningand exploring its quieter neighborhoods are our favorite things to do in Venicebut this list goes deeper. There are museums to visitislands to day trip toand some fantastic restaurants to try.
Here’s what we will cover in this guide:
- The must-have experiences in Veniceplus a map that you can save to your Google account
- Important things to knowincluding the best time to visit Venice and how to get here
- Sample Venice itinerariesplus several Italy itineraries that include Venicethe perfect starting point for planning your dream trip to Italy
- The top tours in Venice
January 2026 Update: Added updated pricing.
Tourist Entry Fee in Venice: There is a fee for visitors to enter Veniceusually on FridaysSaturdaysand Sundays April through July (although there are few additional days during this time period). This fee will cost €5-10. If you have plans to spend the night in Veniceyou will be exempt from the fee. All visitorseven those with an overnight stay in Venicewill have to register their visit on an online website. Learn more here.
Best Things to Do in Venice
1. Just Wander…Get Lost in Venice
Put down your map and just wander. Forget the bigpopular sites (we will get to those soon). The smaller canals off of the main tourist trail are perfect for wandering.
The main city of Venice is small enough that you can walk it in several hours. Explore the canalssit and relax in the small squares that punctuate the citygo cafe-hopping for coffee or wineand just enjoy this city without feeling like you have to check a bunch of sites off of your to-do list.



DorsoduroVenice

Venice canal
2. St. Mark’s Square
St. Mark’s Square is the heart of Venice. From here you can easily visit most of the other main sites. The best things to do here? Take a 360° panorama photo and go people watching.

St. Mark’s Square from the terrace of St. Mark’s Basilica
3. Climb the Campanile di San Marco
The Campanile is the bell tower that dominates the skyline of Venice. The only way to the top is by elevator. From the topyour reward is one of the best views of Venice.

The Campanile

View from the Campanile

Another view from the Campanile
Website: Get updated hours and pricing on the official website.
Important: During adverse weather conditions (high windscold temperatures) the campanile will close.
PRO TRAVEL TIP: Lines can be long to enter the bell tower. Before your visit to Venicebook a time slot on the official St. Mark’s Basilica website. Only 30 tickets are available for each time slot so I recommend you make your reservation as soon as you know your dates of travel to Venice.
4. View Venice from the Rialto Bridge
Spanning the Grand Canalthe Ponte di Rialto is Venice’s most popular bridge. From the top of the bridgeenjoy another fantasticiconic view of this city. See it at sunrisesee it at sunsetjoin the crowds of tourists in the middle of the day. Watching the gondolasvaporettosand ferries travel up and down the Grand Canal from this spot is mesmerizing.
Expect to share this space with a lot of other travelers. Find a spottake lots of selfie photosand smile because you are in Venice!

Rialto Bridge

View from the Rialto Bridge
5. Cruise the Canals on a Gondola…and is It Worth It?
Yesit may be cliché and super-touristybut in our opiniona visit to Venice would not be complete without a gondola ride through the canals.

View from a gondola ride


How Much Does a Gondola ride cost? That’s a good question. The city of Venice sets the rate at €90 per 40 minutes (€110 after 7 pm) but that doesn’t mean that’s the rate you will get. You will have to negotiate with your gondolier before you ride. Make sure you agree on the price and the length of time you will ride before you get in the gondola. And if you would like him to singthat will cost extra. Here is a great article if you want to learn more.
6. Visit the Doges’ Palace
The Doges’ Palace (Palazzo Ducale) is a palace built in Venetian Gothic s. For centuriesthis building served as the residence for the Dogethe seat of the governmentand a palace of justice. Nowit is a museum. Without a doubta visit to the Doges’ Palace is a must-have experience in Venice. The history that took place here is incredible. Touring this palace is one of the best things to do in Venice.
You can tour the Palace on your own or book a guided tour. As you tour the Palaceyou will have more fantastic views of Venice. Yeswe love great views of the cities we visitespecially those that are unique or from a high vantage point. The Doges’ Palace has some great views of Venice.

View from the Doge’s Palace
One of the most unique views of Venice is from the Bridge of Sighs. From this windowprisoners on their way to execution would have this final view of the city.

View from the Bridge of Sighs
Website: Get updated pricinglearn about the Secret Itineraries tourand book your tickets in advance on the official website.
You can also join one of these highly rated skip-the-line tours of the Doges Palace and St. Mark’s Basilica.
Tours & Tickets
7. The Bridge of Sighs
Soyou walked across the Bridge of Sighs from the Doges’ Palace. Now it is time to view the Bridge of Sighs from outside the Doges’ Palace.
Go for a stroll along Riva degli Schiavoni, which is a wide promenade that runs along the Venetian Lagoon near Doge’s Palace. As you cross Ponte della Paglia look down the canal for the iconic view of the Bridge of Sighs.

Bridge of Sighs
8. Saint Mark’s Basilica
This is another landmark of Venice that is not to be missed.
St. Mark’s Basilica dates back to the 9th century AD. Over the course of eight centuriesmosaics were added to the interior of the cathedralas well as treasures from the Crusades. The Pala d’Oro is a Byzantine alter piece that is covered in gold and studded with almost 2,000 gems.

St. Mark’s Basilica

Inside St. Mark’s Basilicaduring a nighttime small group tour

The view of the Campanile from the terrace of St. Mark’s Basilica

On the terrace of St. Mark’s Basilica

Pala d’Oro
How to Visit St. Mark’s Basilica
This cathedral is one of Venice’s top attractions. Lines to get in are legendary but you can now book a ticket online in advance to skip the line.
On a visit to St. Mark’s Cathedralyou will pay €10 to enter the basilica. For an additional feeyou can add on the Pala d’Orothe Loggia dei Cavalliand look out over St. Mark’s Square from the terrace. We cover each of these sites and their cost in much more detail in our guide How to Visit St. Mark’s Basilica. This also includes tips to help you have the best experiencelots of photos both inside and outside of the basilicaand information on how to skip the line.
How to Visit St. Mark’s Basilica in 2026 & Skip the Line
Exactly how to visit St. Mark’s Basilicahow to skip the lineand is a night tour worth it?St. Mark’s Basilica opens at 9:30 am (on Sundaysit opens at 2 pm). I recommend getting in line at 9 amor even earlierto minimize your waitif you plan to purchase your ticket onsite. But for the best experiencebook your entrance ticket online for a 9:30 am entry.
Hours: 9:30 am to 5:15 pm Monday to Saturday; Sunday 2 pm to 5:15 pm; last admission at 4:45 pm
Cost: €10 online in advance; Pala d’Orothe Museumand Loggia dei Cavalli have additional fees which you can see here.
Website: Get updated hours and pricing on the official website
Skip-the-Line: This tour has skip-the-line access and includes a visit to the St. Mark’s terrace for great views of the city.
Nighttime Tour of St. Mark’s Basilica: If you like the idea of visiting the Basilica with low crowdsconsider taking a nighttime tour of St. Mark’s Basilica. Offered after closing timethis small group tour allows you to visit the Basilica without the crowds and you get to see the Basilica illuminated at night. We took this tour and it was amazing! To tour the Basilica without the crowds and see it illuminated was an incredible experience and much better than visiting it during the dayin my opinion (we have done both).
Skip-the-line at St. Mark’s Basilica plus Doge’s Palace: This 3-hour skip-the-line tour includes both St. Mark’s Basilica and the Doge’s Palace. This is a great tour to consider since it includes both of these sights and you get to tour them with a knowledgeable guide.
9. Venice’s Best Bargain: The Vaporetto
What is a vaporetto? Basicallyit is a water bus that takes passengers from point to point. Most people use the vaporetto as a way to travel between the main sites. For a cheap but fantastic way to tour the Grand Canalride the vaporetto from the lagoon through the Grand Canalpast the Rialto Bridgeall the way to the train station.
Take the No. 1 vaporetto (ACTV) Linea 1 from Piazzale Roma to Piazza San Marco (St. Mark’s Square). If you wantthis vaporetto travels all of the way to Lido Island. It also runs in both directionsso if you are coming from Lido Islandyou can ride the vaporetto across the lagoon and down the entire Grand Canal.
Avoid the Crowds: In the late afternoonstart at Piazzale Roma and journey down the Grand Canal towards St. Mark’s Square. At this time of daymost people will be traveling in the other direction.
Learn more about the vaporetto here.


10. Take a Walking Tour of Venice
If you prefer to walk the canals with a guidehere a few great options to consider.
The walking tour with a local guide can be customized for how much time you have and what you want to see and do in Venice.
This street food tour combines a guided walk through the city center with a visit to a local market and cicchetti tastings.
This 2 hour walking tour takes you to the must-see sights in Venice.
11. Enjoy the View from Ponte dell’Accademia
From Ponte dell’Accademiayou have one of the best views of the Grand Canal. This oldwooden bridge is not one of prettier bridges in town but the view from here is stunning.
Look east along the Grand Canal. You will be able to see the Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute, a 400-year-old church that is a famous Venetian landmark. This bridge also a great spot to watch as gondolaswater busesand taxis drift up and down the Grand Canal.

View from Ponte dell’Accademia
12. Visit the Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute
This Basilica was completed in 1687 and it was built to celebrate the end of the plague. It is dedicated to Our Lady of Health (Salute in Italian).
There are two reasons why visiting the Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute is one of the best things to do in Venice: it is a beautiful basilicaboth inside and outand the views from the cupola are one of the best in the city.

Inside Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute
The Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute is located on the Grand Canal. From Ponte dell’Accademiathis baroque cathedral is one of the main focal points.
Visiting the Basilica is free.
Get updated hours here before your visit.
Visiting the Cupola
We didn’t know that this was a thing you could do. We just happened to notice the sign to climb to the cupola while visiting the inside of the basilica. And of course we wanted to climb the cupola (and I am so glad we did!).
There is an 8€ fee per person to climb the steps to the cupola (the dome). We purchased our tickets from the attendant but here is a link to purchase them online.
You can visit the cupola on the hour and the half hour. Your visit lasts 30 minutes. Note: the cupola is not open on Monday or Tuesday.
When you enter the Basilicafollow the signs to the cupola. Wait here on the hour or half hour for the attendant to appearpay your ticketand then climb the steps. The attendant accompanied us to the cupola and when we did thisit was just Tim and I with one other couple.
Alsowhen we did thisthe attendant was about 5 minutes lateso if he/she doesn’t appear right on timeit’s worth waiting a few extra minutes.
There are 150 steps to the cupola. This is on a spiral staircase and it is very narrow at times. If you suffer from claustrophobiaor don’t think you can climb a tighttwisting staircaseskip this activity.
Here is the view from the cupola:

View from the cupola

13. Try Cicchetti
Cicchetti are small plates of foodsimilar to tapasthat are eaten as a snack or a small meal. They can be found throughout Venice. Usuallycicchetti are small sandwichesmeats or cheeses arranged on top of breador vegetables served on top of polenta.
14. Climb the Steps at Scala Contarini del Bovolo
The Palazzo Contarini del Bovolo is a small palazzoor palacein Venice. This palazzo is famous for its spiral staircase that leads to an observation terrace. The staircase is featured in Orson Welles film adaptation of Shakespeare’s Othello.
Tickets cost €9. We purchased our tickets onsite and did not have to wait in line when we did this.


Scala Contarini del Bovolo

15. Church of San Giorgio Maggiore
San Giorgio Maggiore is a small island that sits just to the east of Giudecca. This islandand the church that is located herethe Church of San Giorgio Maggioreis a focal point when looking across the lagoon from Riva degli Schiavoni.
The first church that was built on this island dates back to 790. The present day church was completed in 1610. The bell tower that sits beside the church was completed in 1791.
The views from the island and the bell tower are wonderful. From hereyou look across the lagoon to the Doge’s Palacethe St. Mark CampanileSt. Mark’s Basilicaand Riva degli Schiavoni.
Not many people venture out this wayso this is a great activity to do if you want to escape the crowds and get an amazing view of Venice.

Church of San Giorgio Maggiore

View from the terrace in front of San Giorgio Maggiore

View from the bell tower

Another view from the bell tower
How to Visit the Church of San Giorgio Maggiore
It is free to visit the church but you will pay €8 per person to visit the bell tower. When we did thispayment was by cash only.
To get to the top of the bell towerno steps are required. An elevator zips you to the top in just a matter of seconds. And once at the topyou get 360° views of the area.
Getting Here: Take the water bus (vaporetto lines 2 and N). It’s best to purchase a daily passsince your total visit could be longer than 75 minutes. There is no ticket machine for the vaporetto on San Giorgio Maggiore island. You can also take a water taxibut getting back will be more challengingsince water taxis don’t regularly visit this island.
16. Day trip to MuranoBuranoand Lido
MuranoBuranoand Lido are a series of islands that sit in the Venetian Lagoon and make a great day trip from Venice.
Burano is famous for its colorful buildings and lacemaking. Murano is famous for its glass making. And Lido is a longthin island with a beach. One of our favorite memories in Venice was day tripping to Lido and cycling around the island on a 4-person surrey.
Tours & Tickets
17. Teatro La Fenice
This opera house is one of the most famous and historic opera houses in the world. The theater was destroyed by a fire three timesthe most recent being in 1996. It reopened in December 2003truly earning its name “the Phoenix,” as it continually rises from the ashes.
The theater is open for tours on a daily basis. Your admission fee includes the audio guide tour.

Teatro La Fenice
Website: Get updated hours and pricing here.
Other Ticket Sellers: We purchased our ticket in advance through GetYourGuidewhich allowed us to select a morning ticket or an afternoon ticketso we were not locked into one set time.
18. Peggy Guggenheim Collection
This modern art museum is located in the Palazzo Venier dei Leonian 18th century palace. It contains modern art by PicassoDalíMiróand Kandinsky that was collected by American heiress Peggy Guggenheim.
One of our favorite parts of this museum is the terrace on the Grand Canal. From hereyou have a nice view of Ponte dell’Accademia.

Peggy Guggenheim Museum
Website: Get updated hours and pricing on the official website. Purchase your ticket online in advance to avoid waiting in line.
19. Libreria Acqua Alta
The Libreria Acqua Alta is a bookshop in Venice. Books are stored in bathtubs and even a gondolato protect them from the flooding that occurs annually in Venice.
With colorful books stacked against the walls and a gondola running down the center of the storeLibreria Acqua Alta has become a very popular Instagram spot in recent years.
In my opinionthis bookshop is an overrated attraction in Venice. The shop is smallcrowdedand not nearly as photogenic as it appears in some photos.

At the back of the storeyou can exit out onto a small terrace and climb the stacks of books for a view of a canalbut it’s not any more scenic than other canals you will see in Venice.


View from Libreria Acqua Alta
And there is a small patio with colorful books piled up against the wallswhich makes a nice spot to take a photo.

Libreria Acqua Alta
If you have limited time in Venice (a day or two)I think your time is better spent in other places in the city. But if you are curious and want to check this place outit is free and quick to visit (it just takes some time to walk here).
20. T Fondaco Rooftop Terrace
This unfortunately closed in May 2025but we are leaving it on this listin the hopes that it reopens once the building is under new management.
The T Fondaco Terrace was one of the best free things to do in Venice.
The Fondaco Dei Tedeschi building sits next to the Rialto Bridge on the Grand Canal. It was originally built 800 years ago by Germans for trade and lodging. In 1925 it was the headquarters of the Central Post Office in Venice. And in 2016the building opened to the public as the first DFS store in Europe. It closed in 2025 because it was not generating enough revenue.
Sitting on top of the building is a rooftop terrace that overlooks the Grand Canal. From hereyou look out over the Rialto Bridge and can watch as gondolaswater taxisthe vaporettoand other boats zip back and forth along the Grand Canal.
Soif you have plans to visit Venice in 2026 or laterit’s worth doing a quick search to see if this viewpoint will reopen (we’ll also update this article as soon as we learn something new).

View from the T Fondaco Terrace

The Grand Canal and the Rialto Bridge
Free Things to Do
- Wander the canals of Venice
- Visit St. Mark’s Square
- Take a stroll across the Rialto Bridge
- Photograph the Bridge of Sighs from Ponte della Paglia
- Take a stroll along Riva degli Schiavoni
- Photograph the Grand Canal from Ponte dell’Accademia
- Visit the Libreria Acqua Alta
Venice Bucket List Map
How to Use This Map: Click the icons on the map to get more information about each point of interest. To take this map with youclick the star next to the title of the map which adds it to your Google account. Nextwithin your Google Maps appselect ‘Saved’ and then select ‘Maps’. This map title will now appear in your list.
Tours of Venice
Joining a tour can help save you time waiting in lineallow you to learn more about Venice from a knowledgeable guideand introduce you to sights that you may not be able to do on your own. Here are some of the best tours in Venice.
For one of the best experiences in Venicevisit St. Mark’s Basilica after hours. You get to tour the Basilica with an expert guide and visit it without the crowds. We are taking this tour on our upcoming visit to Venice.
This combination tour includes both St. Mark’s Basilica and a tour of Doge’s Palace. The tour lasts 2.5 to 3 hours and is one of the best things to do if this is your first visit to Venice.
Take a private evening tour of Cannaregio. With a guideyou will explore Cannaregiodine on local foodand enjoy winebeerand cocktails.
On this 2.5 hour food tour, explore the Rialto Market with a guide and sample local foods.
For something uniquecreate your own glass artwork with famous craftsman or create your own Venetian mask in this workshop.
Finallygo on a candlelight dinner cruise on the Venetian Lagoon.
Tours of Venice
How Many Days Should You Spend in Venice?
Ideallyplan on spending two or more days in Venice.
With 2 days in Venice, you have just enough time to visit the highlights of Venice and stroll the canals. It will be a busy but wonderful 2 days in Venice.
With 3 days in Venice, spend two days visiting the highlights in Venice and on the third dayday trip to Murano and Burano and/or Lido. Even more time allows you to slow down and explore the quieter neighborhoods of Venice.
If you only have one day in Venice, it will be a whirlwindbut you can visit a few of the more popular sites in the morning (such as Doge’s Palace and St. Mark’s Basilica) and explore the canals in the afternoon.
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If you are planning your first trip to Venicethis Venice itinerary is perfect for you. With 2 days in Veniceyou have just enough time to visit the highlights of this beautiful city and stroll the canals. Tour Doges Palacevisit St. Mark’s Basilicadrift through the canals on a gondolaand explore the […]

Gondolas on the lagoon
Best Time to Visit Venice
In generalspring and fall are the best times of the year to visit Venice. During this timethe weather is great for sightseeing and crowds tend to be lower than the busy summer months. But here is a breakdown by season of what you can expect in Venice:
WINTER: It’s cold in Venice during the winter months. Daytime high’s average around 7°C (in the mid-40’s) and it can get down to freezing at night. Howeverthis is the driest time of the year. Crowds are also at their lowestso if you want to visit Venice without the crowdsthis is the time to go…just pack your winter coat. Carnavale is one of Venice’s biggest festivals and takes place at the end of Februaryending on Mardi Gras.
SPRING: As the weather warms up in the springrain chances also go up. Spring is one of the wettest seasons to visit Venicebut not quite as rainy as the fall months. In early springthe high temperature is 13°C (55°F) and it continues to get warmer week by weekreaching an average high of 27°C (80°F) by June.
SUMMER: Expect big crowds and hot weather during the summer months. Daily high temperatures average 29°C (84°F) but can get up much higher than this (sometimes getting over 35°C/95°F). Howeverrainfall is low. Summer is the most popular time to visit Veniceso crowds will be at their highest. If you plan to visit in the summer monthsmake your hotel reservations far in advance and purchase skip-the-line tickets if possible. And book a hotel with air conditioningjust in case you are here during a heat wave.
FALL: In early fallcrowds can still be highnot really quieting down until the end of October. Daytime high’s range from 21°C (70°F) in early fall and cooling off to 13°C (55°F) by late fall. Autumn is the wettest time to visit Venice (late September through early November)so bring an umbrella if you plan to be here at this time.
VERDICT: I think the best time to visit Venice is from late-April through May. The weather is nicespring break is overand crowds are manageable. If you don’t mind chilly weatherMarch into April would also be a nice time to visit Venicejust try to avoid the Easter holiday.
We have visited Venice twice: in mid-July and mid-September. Crowd levels were about the same for both visits and may have actually been a little bit higher on our September visit.
VENICE FLOODS: Between the months of October and Januarywater levels in the Venetian Lagoon can riseflooding St. Mark’s Square. This is called acqua altaor “high water” and typically lasts a few days each year.
How to Get to Venice
Venice is a cluster of small islands located just off of the mainland. To get from the airport or the Venezia-Mestre train stationyou can either take the busthe trainor a water taxi. If you have a caryou can drive onto the island and park at one of several parking lots and parking garages near Piazzale Roma.
If you are arriving into Marco Polo Airporthere are bus and water taxi options for getting to Venice.
Airport Transfers
Where to Stay in Venice
Staying in the heart of Venicein San Marco and around the Grand Canalcan cost a small fortune for a decent place. Consider staying just outside of the center of Venice to save money.
When picking your accommodationalso consider how you are going to get to your hotel. From the airportyou will have to take a taxi (usually a water taxi) to get into Venice. Staying right on the Grand Canal is very convenientbut you will pay more for this convenience. Think about what it will be like to carry your luggage from the canal to your hotel when making your booking.
We have an entire guide about the different neighborhoods in Venicehow to choose which one fits your traveling and many more hotel recommendations based on your budget. Read it here:
Where to Stay in Venice 2026: Best Hotels and Neighborhoods
Best places to stay in Veniceorganized by location and budget.Planning Your Italy Itinerary
If you are still planning your Italy Itinerarywe have several great itineraries to share with you. All of these include Venice.
Our article 10 Days in Italy 5 Sample Itineraries has an overview of five different ways to plan a 10-day trip to Italy.
If you have 10 days in Italy and want to visit the top locations such as RomeFlorenceVenice and the Cinque Terreyou’ll love this 10 day Italy Itinerary.
If you have more time (lucky you!)check out our 14 Day Italy itinerary, which includes RomeFlorenceVenicethe Cinque Terreand the Amalfi Coast.
Finallythis 10 day Northern Italy Itinerary starts in Venicespends a nice chunk of time in the Dolomitesand ends with VeronaMilanand Lake Como.
If you have any questions about the best things to do in Venicelet us know in the comment section below.
Plan Your Trip to Italy
We have TONS more information about Italy in our Italy Travel Guide, including RomeFlorenceVeniceTuscanythe Dolomitesthe Amalfi Coastthe Cinque TerreSicilyand Puglia.


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