Your Venice Bucket List: 15 Unmissable Highlights

15 Best Things to Do in Venice

1. Admire the Beauty of St. Mark's Square

St. Mark's Square is probably where you will want to start your journey in Venice. The square is located in the heart of the city and is surrounded by some of Venice's most important landmarks as well as museums which make for a great center point to begin our journey.

The square has a long and rich history as being one of the most important social hubs in the city. It is a place where people have been gathering, meeting, and hanging out with one another for centuries.

In fact, one of the most incredible festivals in Italy, the famous Carnival of Venice that is often held right at St. Mark's Square for several days in February and so if you are interested to attend the festival, be sure to align your trip accordingly.

The square is a vast open space surrounded by some of the most iconic and historically significant buildings in Italy. Despite the suffocating crowds in Venice, when you are in the middle of St. Mark's Square, it felt nothing but the opposite.

There are several unique features at the square that you should definitely check out while you are here from the Clock Tower, an astronomical clock adorned with gold leaf and intricate carvings, and the 12th Century granite columns of Saint Theodore and Saint Mark standing at the entrance of the piazza.

Whatever you do, do not sit anywhere under the cloisters of Palazzo Ducale and Campanile surrounding the square, or a person working for the city will come and tell you off. I did that by mistake and I kinda feel back for the guy as there are hundreds of tourists unawaringly doing it 😅.

From the square, you can also launch yourself into a full exploration mode and start exploring all that Venice has to offer, starting from St Mark's Campanile and the view from its observation deck which is what we will discuss next.

Be sure to get the St. Mark's Square Pass if you plan to visit the basilica as well as the Campanile, etc. to get your money's worth. Even better, if you wish to visit all the tourist attractions I recommended in this travel guide, Venice Pass is going to save you more than buying tickets individually.

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2. Check Out the View from the Top of St Mark's Campanile ❤️ Must Visit

For the best viewpoint in Venice, the reward goes to.. the observation deck atop St. Mark's Campanile, a 98.6-meter-tall bell tower built in the 11th Century, right in the heart of Venice, next to St. Mark Square.

The tower is made of Istrian stone and it is decorated with marble, sculptures and ornate decoration. There are five bells in the tower and the four upper ones were cast in 1775 and the last one in 1902. Despite its early construction, it has collapsed many times and what you see today is the third reconstruction of the bell tower.

You can climb the spiral staircase or take the lift to the top of the bell tower and you will be rewarded with an incredible view over Venice and the surrounding Venetian Lagoon.

I took the elevator up and I was there in less than 5 minutes, although I was waiting in the queue for the ticket for at least 15 minutes in the sun which was not ideal.

There will always be a long queue waiting to get up to the top, which is very typical of most places in Venice. You can either wait in the sun and follow the queue as I did or you can get a ticket online from here which will allow you to skip the line without having to queue up.

Once you are at the top, you will have sweeping panoramic views of the entirety of St. Marks Square on one side and the Venetian lagoon and all its islands on the other. It sure was quite a sight to behold.

Once you are done, you can get down the elevator and continue to explore other St. Mark Square attractions. The bell tower is open from 9:45 AM to 9:15 PM every day and it costs around 15 EUR to enter. You can get the online ticket from here.

3. Admire the Stunning Details of Saint Mark's Basilica

Not too far from St. Mark's Campanile, you will another important landmark of Venice, Saint Mark's Basilica, a grand cathedral that is considered to be one of the most important examples of Byzantine architecture in the world.

The basilica was originally built in the 9th century to house the remains of Saint Mark, the patron saint of Venice and it is known for its opulent decoration, sculptures, and mosaics that reflect the growing wealth, prosperity, and power of Venice as a city to be reckoned with.

One of the most iconic and stunning features of the Basilica is the golden mosaics that adorn the facade and the interior, which depict scenes from the New Testament, including the life of Christ and the saints. The mosaics were added between the 12th and 15th centuries and are considered a masterwork of medieval art, something you definitely want to see when traveling in Venice.

Other important works of art that are housed in the basilica include the Pala d'Oro, a gold altarpiece that is encrusted with precious stones, as well as several notable chapels, richly decorated with mosaics and marble, etc.

Again, the queue can be extremely long to get in and if you want to see the inside of the basilica, I highly recommend you get the ticket online, prior to your arrival so you can skip the queue and be inside without wasting much time.

The basilica is open from 9:30 AM to 5:15 PM with the last admission around 30 minutes before closing time and the ticket should cost around 3 EUR with an option to go up the second level for an extra 5 EUR if you do not mind queuing to get in. If you want to skip the line, you can check out some other online tickets here.

4. Visit Doge's Palace

Nestled among all the other attractions in St. Mark Square, you will find Doge's Palace, a magnificent palace and the residence of the Doge, the elected leader of the Republic of Venice and served as the city's government headquarters, as well as a symbol of the Republic's independent, power, and prestige.

The palace was built in the 14th century in the beautiful Gothic architectural style and is lavishly decorated with intricate carvings, frescoes, and sculptures, including works by some of the most famous artists of the time such as Tintoretto, Veronese, and Tiziano.

Inside the palace, you can explore a number of interesting rooms, such as the Grand Council Chamber, the Doge's Apartment, and the Great Hall, which is adorned with Tintoretto's famous painting, 'Paradise'.

The palace also features several museums, such as the Museo dell'Opera and the Prisons located in the palace's basement, where you can learn about the palace's role in the city's justice system.

All in all, it is a great place to visit if you wish to learn more about Venice and its rich history. The palace is open from 9 AM to 6 PM every day, and the ticket to the palace as well as all the museums inside is around 30 EUR per person. You can get the online ticket from here to avoid queuing.

5. Stare in Wonder at the Bridge of Sighs

Located on the eastern side of the palace, you will find the Bridge of Sighs, a famous covered bridge connecting the palace to the New Prison (Prigioni Nuove) across the Rio di Palazzo, which shows what the justice system of Venice was like back then.

The bridge was built in the early 17th century and is made of white limestone. It is decorated with bars on the windows and has small slits for ventilation. The bridge has a unique structure of two corridors, one for the prisoners and the other for the guards.

How the bridge got its name is quite interesting. It was believed that prisoners, as they crossed the bridge, would sigh at their final view of beautiful Venice before being taken to their cells, hence the name, the Bridge of Sighs. Pretty cool, right?

The best view of the bridge is from Ponte della Paglia and it can get extremely crowded at times. If you wish to see the bridge in style, you can also go on a gondola ride private tour which will take you under the bridge and allow you to see it in its entirety.

All in all, the bridge is a must-visit especially if you are already at St. Mark Square since it is not too far from the square. You will also get a glimpse of what life must have been like back when Venice was a city-state, governing independently from any other powerful neighbors around at the time.

6. Walk Around the Libreria Acqua Alta

One of my favorite places in Venice is Libreria Acqua Alta, a beautiful vintage bookstore built around a small courtyard that features a canal running through it.

The books in the store are arranged in a variety of ways, including on boats, in gondolas, and in stacks on the ground, giving the store a unique and quirky atmosphere I really like.

The bookstore sells all kinds of books from vintage to modern mostly in Italian but I saw there were some corners of the store with a couple of books in English so be sure to browse around a little while you are here.

Due to how crowded it can get, the bookstore is designed to create a one-way flow as people walk through its beautifully decorated rooms so be sure to stick to the path and walk in one direction as per the signs put up everywhere in the bookstore.

Libreria Acqua Alta is open from 9 AM to 7:30 PM every day and there is no entrance fee which is awesome. If you are in Venice and are looking for some cool things to do here, be sure to drop by this bookstore.

7. Visit Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute

Towering most of the low-rise buildings of Venice, you will find Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute, a 14th Century basilica considered to be the finest example of Baroque architecture in Venice.

It's a large, domed structure, the exterior is characterized by its distinctive bell tower, grand staircase leading to the main entrance, and a large dome, topped by a lantern. The interior is richly decorated with frescoes, sculptures, and paintings by many famous artists of that time. The high altar is adorned with sculptures of the four evangelists and a painting of the Virgin and Child.

The church is open thrice a day from 10 AM to 12.30 PM, 3 PM to 3:30 PM, and again from 4:40 PM to 5:30 PM on weekdays whereas on Saturdays, it is open twice from 10 AM to 12:30 PM and 2 PM to 5:30 PM, and on Sundays, from 10 AM to 10:30 PM and 2 PM to 5:30 PM. Yes, very confusing indeed, so be sure to plan your visit carefully. The entrance is free.

8. Stroll Along the Rialto Bridge

One of the most iconic bridges in Venice is the Rialto Bridge, one of the 4 bridges that cross the grand canal and the oldest out of all. The bridge has been connecting 2 sides of the city together since the 12th Century when it was constructed with wood and rebuilt again with stone in the 16th Century, and to what you see today.

The bridge is a popular place to visit and it can get extremely crowded at times but the view it offers over the grand canal as well as the restaurants and cafes you can indulge yourself in near the bridge is hard to pass up.

There are many cafes where you can sit, relax, and enjoy the view of this iconic bridge while gondolas and boats pass under it as it travels along the grand canal. There's nothing more Venice than that!

9. Check Out the view from Ponte dell'Accademia

For the bridge that offers the very best view of Venice, I have to give it to Ponte dell'Accademia, another grand-canal-crossing bridge, this time, made out of wood located near Gallerie dell'Accademia art museum, hence the name "Ponte dell'Accademia", or Academy Bridge.

Due to its location facing the mouth of the grand canal as it empties into the Venetian Lagoon, the view from the bridge will allow you to see the beautiful Venetian Lagoon as well as the iconic Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute and the colorful medieval buildings lining both sides of the canal.

It is a popular spot for photographers to capture the beauty of Venice in one shot without much of the crowds getting in the way. If you are looking for a perfect shot to take of Venice, be sure to check out the Ponte dell'Accademia bridge.

10. See How They Make the Venetian Gondolas at Squero di San Trovaso

Not too far from Ponte dell'Accademia bridge, you will also find Squero di San Trovaso, a traditional Venetian boatyard where gondolas and other types of boats were built and repaired and the boatyard is still in use even today.

The place is considered one of the last remaining active Squero in Venice and one of the few remaining traditional gondola-making workshops in the entire world.

The boatyard is a family-run business and has been in operation for hundreds of years. Visitors can watch the artisans at work, shaping and carving the wooden boats by hand, using traditional techniques passed down from generation to generation.

You can also visit the boatyard to see the craftsmen working on gondolas and other boats, as well as to visit the small museum inside the boatyard, and learn more about the history of the boatyard and the gondola-making tradition but you will have to email them an make an appointment. If you want to learn more about the gondola-making process, be sure to plan ahead.

11. Be Amazed by Palazzo Contarini del Bovolo

If you have been to Barcelona and are familiar with Gaudi's work, you are going to love Palazzo Contarini del Bovolo, a palace in Venice, known for its unique design, unlike anything you've seen before.

The palace was built in the 15th century by the Contarini family, and it is considered to be one of the finest examples of Renaissance architecture in Venice. The building features a mix of Gothic and Renaissance styles, with pointed arches, decorated facades, and a spiral staircase, which is the main attraction of the palace.

The palace's main feature is the unique-looking spiral staircase known as the "Bovolo staircase", one of a kind in Venice. The museum is open from 10 AM to 5:30 PM every day and the entrance fee is around 8 EUR per person. You can buy the online ticket from here.

12. Check Out all the Museums in Venice 🏛️ Best Museum

There are so many awesome museums in Venice that it is to recommend just one in this travel guide. I mean, Venice is the birthplace of the Renaissance after all, right? If you have time and would like to learn a bit more about Venice and its accomplishment, be sure to drop by Gallerie dell'Accademia, which is a museum you should check out.

The museum is dedicated to the collection and display of Venetian art from the 14th to the 18th century featuring the works of famous artists such as Tintoretto, Titian, and Veronese, as well as a variety of other artists and artisans who worked in Venice during this period.

For a history lesson about Venice, you can't go wrong with Museo Correr, a museum that will offer a comprehensive overview of the history of Venice and its art, from the early middle ages to the 19th century. It is located right by St. Mark Square so you should be able to easily drop by there as you explore the area.

Other notable museums in Venice include Museo Archeologico Nazionale, an archeological museum housing ancient Egyptian, Greek, Roman, and Babylonian antiquities, as well as more than 40 museums in the city.

If you love to visit museums and are looking to learn more about Venice, be sure to get the Venice Museum Pass and check out all the 40 museums located around the city.

13. Shop for Venetian Masks

One of the greatest festivals that often take place in Venice annually is the Carnival Festival, a festival in which participants wear elaborate costumes and masks, and parade around St. Mark Square as well as other parts of Venice.

The origins of the festival can be traced back to the 12th century, and it has been held almost every year since then, with the exception of a few interruptions. Today, the festival typically takes place in the weeks leading up to Lent on Ash Wednesday, a holy day of prayer and fasting in Italy and other western countries.

Of course, in order to witness the event, you are going to have to plan your trip carefully and align it to the date of the festival which often takes place somewhere in February.

Even if you are visiting Venice outside of the period, you will be able to find many shops here selling these elaborate masks which make for great souvenirs for your friends and families.

If you want to learn how they make these elaborate masks, I highly recommend you join an organized tour that will take you to the mask workshop, learn from the master themselves, and make one of your own. A fun activity for everyone of all ages.

14. Explore the Narrow Streets and Small Canals

One of the things I love most about Venice is its confusing network of crisscrossing streets that will confuse even the most seasoned travelers out there, but that's what makes Venice so awesome, in my opinion.

Whenever you find the overcrowdedness of Venice overwhelming and suffocating, all you have to do is let yourself go, and get lost in these beautiful streets, and you will find yourself alone and at peace in no time.

Once you are done with all the tourist attractions in St. Mark Square and other touristic areas, just wander around aimlessly, and you will find the true beauty of Venice, the fact that no matter where you look, you will find every corner of this city extremely photogenic.

I think that is what lies beneath all the crazy touristy traps that sprung up in most touristy areas in Venice, the truly fascinating beauty of a once prosperous city, so full of history and creativity, there is just no other city to match. If you really want to enjoy Venice, be sure to give it some time and lose yourself in the maze that is the streets of Venice.

15. Ride the Gondola

Last but not least, of course, one of the most iconic things to do in Venice is to ride the Gondola along its narrow canals and see Venice from a different perspective.

Although the gondola ride can be extremely expensive, starting at around 80 EUR per boat for a 30 minutes ride, you can also go with an organized tour that will pool people in for the boat ride which will cost around 33 EUR per person.

That's a pretty good deal for those who are traveling alone or traveling as a couple and do not want to shell out 80 EUR for a 30-minute boat ride.

There are several other available options with varying price points depending on what type of Gondola rides you are looking for. To find the best gondola ride tours, be sure to check them out here.

Venice New 2024 Access Fee

As of 2024, you are now required to pay a city access fee of 5 EUR to visit Venice as a day trip. The rule applies to those who are over 14 years old and visit the city between 8:30 AM and 4:00 PM, as well as during the peak months from April 25 to May 5, every weekend in May and June, and the first two weekends of July.

If you are visiting Venice outside of peak hours, or not on the days mentioned above, such as weekdays in June, you will be exempt from the access fee. You will be completely exempted from this if you are staying overnight in Venice also.

The reason behind this rule is simply to manage the overtourism that has been plaguing the city for decades. The fee will also go towards the maintenance of the city which I think is reasonable, but I doubt it will have much impact on overtourism, I'm afraid.

Hopefully, it won't turn the city into a theme park, stripping away its authenticity and offering little to no benefit to the locals. Nonetheless, I wanted to inform you about the new rules before you plan your trip to Venice.

Now that we have all the information we need, it's time to start planning your trip! Here are some resources to help you get going:

Flights: Skyscanner and Expedia are the best places to start looking for cheap flights and great deals from your home country.

Accommodation: Hostelworld, Booking.com, and Agoda.com are the ultimate go-to platforms to search for amazing hostels and hotels at affordable prices.

Travel Insurance: Heymondo covers theft, medical emergencies, cancellations, and more during your travels. Get a 5% discount if you sign up today.

Transportation: For buses, I always go with Omio when traveling in Venice, Italy while for trains, Omio is my go-to place to book all my train travels in advance.

Car Rental: DiscoverCars.com is a great and reliable platform to find rental cars.

Internet: Airalo is the best way to get a sim card and has reliable internet access for your trip. All you need is an esim compatible smartphone, install it on your phone prior to your trip, and you are all set.

VPN: To stay connected with people at home, I always make sure to have ProtonVPN, installed before traveling. It's FREE, and I can gain access to services that may be blocked in certain countries.

Day Trips & Tours: Viator, GetYourGuide and TripAdvisor are great platforms to search for trips and tours to join.

Tickets & Deals: Tiqets is always my go-to website when I want to find cheaper deals for entrance tickets to tourist attractions.

Are you planning to travel independently? Be sure to check out my guide on How To Plan A Backpacking Trip here.

Further Reading for Northern Italy

I hope you found this Italian travel guide useful. If you want to read more about Italy, here is a selection of articles you might like:

• First time visiting Italy? Here are the 15 Best Places to Visit in Italy.
• Want to see the highlights of Italy in 2 weeks? Be sure to check out our 2-Weeks Backpacking Italy Itinerary.
• Want to travel around Italy for one month, from the Dolomites in the north to Sicily in the south? You are going to love this backpacking itinerary packed with information: One Month Backpacking Italy Itinerary
• Looking for a complete itinerary for Northern Italy? Check out: 2 Weeks Backpacking Northern Italy Itinerary.
• Every trip to Northern Italy starts in Milan. If you are a first-timer, here are the 16 best things to do in Milan.
• Want to make the most out of 3 days in Milan? Check out: 3 Days In Milan: An Itinerary For First Timers.
• Have a day to spare in Milan? Why not spend it in the hilltop fortress of Bergamo. Here are the 11 best things to do in Bergamo.
• Planning a trip to Lake Como but not sure where to begin? Check out: the 10 Best Places to Visit in Lake Como.
• For a complete backpacking guide to Lake Como, check out: The 3-Day Lake Como Itinerary For Those Without A Car.
• Want to visit Lake Como as a day trip from Milan? Check out: One-Day Lake Como Itinerary from Milan.
• For an off-the-beaten-path place to visit in Northern Italy, you can't go wrong with Bologna. For a complete travel guide, check out the 10 Best Things to Do in Bologna.
• Want to explore the Dolomites but not sure where to begin? Check out the 10 Best Places to Visit in the Dolomites.
• For a complete backpacking itinerary for the Dolomites, check out: the 7 Days Dolomites Itinerary For Those Without A Car.
• At the heart of sunny Tuscany lies Florence, one of the most beautiful cities to visit in Italy. If you are planning to visit Florence, check out: 16 Best Things to Do in Florence.
• Cinque Terre, known for its picturesque stacked houses on cliffs and coastlines, is the perfect destination for those looking to escape the bustling city life in Northern Italy. To start planning, be sure to check out: A Complete Guide to Backpacking Cinque Terre.
• Planning to visit Pisa and the Leaning Tower? Check out: 10 Best Things to do in Pisa.
• Siena, a medieval town in Tuscany, will transport you back to the Middle Ages the moment you step in it. If you want to visit Siena, here are the 10 Best Things to do in Siena.
• For a complete 7-day backpacking itinerary in Central Italy that will take you from Rome to Pompeii to the Amalfi Coast, be sure to check out: 7 Days Backpacking Italy Itinerary.
• Not convinced by my words? Here are 125 photos that will inspire you to visit Europe.
• To see all the articles about Italy, visit the Italy Travel Guide page.
• Traveling in Europe can be cheap, really cheap. These are the 12 Cheap European Countries to Visit.
• Looking for more travel guides for Europe? You can find more on my Europe Travel Guide page.
• Or if you want something more specific to the region, visit our Southern Europe Travel Guide, Western Europe Travel Guide, or Central Europe Travel Guide pages.
• For more travel guides like this, visit my Destinations page.