Things to do in Venice, Italy | Travel in city of Venice Italy.
Do you want to know the best things to do in Venice? Well, we’ve made it to Venice! Venice is one of the most beautiful cities in the world, but it’s no secret that it’s also one of the busiest tourist cities in the world. In this blog, we’ll discuss the top things to do in Venice, but not just the popular tourist attractions. We’re going to discuss a few off-the-beaten-path, lesser-known hidden gems in Venice. Let’s go!
St. Mark’s Square (Piazza San Marco):
Things to do:
- Explore the Square.
- Visit St. Mark’s Basilica.
- Climb the Campanile.
- Watch the Pigeons.
- Visit the Doge’s Palace.
- Shop for Souvenirs.
- Take a Gondola Ride.
- Enjoy the Street Performers.
- Explore the Archaeological Museum.
So, we’re standing in the middle of St. Mark’s Square. We couldn’t fly our drone in Venice, so this is an aerial flyover. St. Mark is the patron saint of Venice, and this is the main square of the city.
The square is named after the Cathedral at the end, St. Mark’s Cathedral, and that is its Bell Tower there, the Campanile. The square is lined with these beautiful buildings, most of which date from the 14th and 15th centuries. Here in the crystal-clear St. Mark’s Square, you’ll find lots of cafes with outdoor seating, complete with orchestras lining the square.
St. Mark’s Cathedral was always covered up, but it still has a bit of scaffolding over it. St. Mark’s Cathedral, or the Basilica di San Marco, dates from the 11th century. It was built on the site of an earlier church. This cathedral is dedicated to St. Mark the Evangelist and houses his relics. This was the private chapel of the Doge, the ruler of the Venetian Republic. The church is built in the Byzantine style with five domes on the roof.
St. Mark’s Basilica (Basilica di San Marco):
Things to do:
- Admire the Architecture.
- Climb the Bell Tower (Campanile).
- Visit the Treasury.
- St. Mark’s Square (Piazza San Marco).
- Learn About the History.
- Attend a Mass or Concert.
- Explore the Museum.
- Enjoy the Local Food.
- Shop for Souvenirs.
- Shop for Souvenirs.
- Take Photos.
Here we are, in line for the Basilica. I’ve never been inside, even though I’ve been to Venice many times. You get your ticket here; the entry ticket is €3. Immediately upon stepping inside, you can see the opulence of the gold inside this cathedral, from the floors to the artworks on the walls and ceilings.
The entire cathedral is decorated with tiny mosaic tiles, many of which have gold leaf. You can even touch the gold mosaics—it’s incredible! You’ll probably get a sore neck from looking up at the interior of the cathedral, but it’s so worth it.
For an additional €7, you can go upstairs to the loggia, where the museum and the quadriga, or the four horses, are located. All those mosaics are from the 13th and 14th centuries. You can get up close to see them, and from afar, you’ll see how beautifully realistic they look. These are the original four horses that were outside.
This quadriga was brought to Venice as part of the sack of Constantinople during the Fourth Crusade. They were placed outside, but in the 1980s, the horses were taken down and placed here inside to prevent weather damage. The replicas are now housed outside. From here, you can see some beautiful views over St. Mark’s Square. Nigel was determined to catch the ancient digital clock changing time from the loggia. You also get great views of the Doge’s Palace and out to the canal.
That was really good, wasn’t it? Yeah, totally, and well worth going up to the museum and seeing the horses.
The Bridge of Sighs:
Things to do:
- Take Photos.
- Walk Across the Bridge.
- Explore the Surrounding Area.
- Learn the History.
- Enjoy the Views.
- Boat Ride.
- Nearby Cafes and Restaurants.
- Shopping.
Now, we’ve made it to the famous Bridge of…you guessed it, the Bridge of Sighs! The Bridge of Sighs is one of the most famous and most photographed sites in all of Venice. It’s always busy here, but it’s especially beautiful with the gondolas going beneath it.
The bridge connects the Doge’s Palace to the prisons, and it was given its name because when prisoners would be led across the bridge, they would sigh, knowing their fate. But they would never see the beautiful city of Venice again. I think they’d give out more than a sigh—more like a whale or a cry!
The Doge’s Palace (Palazzo Ducale):
Things to do:
- Tour the Doge’s Palace.
- Admire the Art.
- Walk through the Bridge of Sighs.
- Visit the Prison Cells.
- Climb the Bell Tower.
- Photography.
- Attend Events and Exhibitions.
- Learn the History.
We got to the Doge’s Palace. The Doge’s Palace dates back to the 14th century and was the residence of the Doge, as well as the seat of all the financial, political, and judicial institutions of the Venetian Republic. Another first for me—Nigel’s been here before, but I don’t remember it at all. A €30 ticket gets you into this museum and also the Corer Museum, which is at the other end of the square.
We’ve just stepped out into the courtyard of the Doge’s Palace. Large bags are not allowed, so we dropped ours off at the cloakroom. If you thought St. Mark’s Cathedral was opulent, just wait until you walk through this palace. It’s been a museum since 1923 and contains artworks by some of the best Renaissance artists, including Paradiso by Tintoretto, which is the longest painting on canvas in the world.
It took the artist and his apprentices four years to finish. And how about all that gold? The Senate Room is just there, filled with an abundance of gold leaf. Well, there’s certainly no shortage of armaments here—several rooms full of swords, armor, spikes, knives, crossbows… you name it! Nigel might be a while.
There’s the winged lion, the symbol of Venice, and now we’re about to go down to the prisons and the Bridge of Sighs. What a contrast to the palace we just walked through. We walked through the prisons, and we even got to walk across the Bridge of Sighs to get there and back.
Those are the doors to the actual cells. You have to crouch down to get through. Pretty grim. The complete tour takes us further down into the nastiness. Luxury is gone, and there’s a bed… but no mattress! Andrea Vidali was here. Cova spent a bit of time here, but he got out on good behavior, it seems.
Good, cool, yeah, and you’re singing with relief because they’re letting you out. Farewell to the winged lion as you walk out the gate!
The Campanile (St. Mark’s Bell Tower):
Things to do:
- Climb the Bell Tower.
- Enjoy the Panoramic Views.
- Listen to the Bells.
- Take Photos.
- Visit the Gift Shop.
- Explore St. Mark’s Square.
- Learn the History.
Now, the Campanile is the bell tower of St. Mark’s Cathedral. We knew we had to save this one for a sunny day. The entrance to the Campanile is €1 per person, and you actually go up with an elevator. The line wasn’t very long, but it did take quite a while because there’s only a small lift that goes up in the center.
So, we had to wait until the next people came down. We’ve been in line for about half an hour, and now we’re inside the building, we’ve got our tickets, and we’re going through. The Campanile was built in the 11th century as a watchtower and to guide boats into the harbor. Next stop: the lift! The original tower collapsed in 1902 and was rebuilt in 1912.
Wow, it’s beautiful up here. The views from up here are absolutely fantastic. You get full 360° views over the island. You can see all the way over to Burano over there, Murano down into the square, and the Palace. Pretty cool, huh? It’s an amazing view. You can see down into the square—it’s just beautiful up here.
Before we leave St. Mark’s Square, we have one more must-do in Venice. Actually, this isn’t really a must-do, but it’s one of those YOLO moments—one of the most decadent and extravagant things we’ve ever done.
Clock Tower (Torre dell’Orologio):
Things to do:
- Admire the Architecture.
- Watch the Hour Strike.
- Take Photos.
- Visit the Museum.
- Climb the Tower (if open).
- Learn About Venice’s History.
The Clock Tower is an early Renaissance building. It was designed so that the clock would be visible from the lagoon, serving as a symbol of the wealth and glory of Venice. This monumental art piece also creates a grand entryway into the main street of the city. At the top of the tower, there are two great bronze figures striking the hour on a bell—one is old, and the other is young, symbolizing the passing of time.
Below them is the winged lion of St. Mark with an open book, and beneath that is a blue background adorned with golden stars. The blue and gold clock face features a fixed circle of marble engraved with the 24 hours. The Clock Tower was crafted with great ingenuity and remains a stunning piece of architecture to this day.
Café Florian:
List of food:
- Coffee.
- Pastries.
- Aperitifs.
- Afternoon Tea.
- Signature Drinks.
- Cakes and Sweets.
- Sandwiches.
Welcome to Café Florian! Café Florian is the oldest café in all of Venice and probably one of the most expensive. And yet, we still had to line up to get in.
Okay, we’ve been waiting a while to go in, but we’re next in line. We have our beautiful table, and they’ve just started playing the music again. [Music] Outside, all we need is for them to start playing “The Girl from Ipanema.” We ordered two coffees, a sandwich, and a selection of biscotti. Well, here’s to the most expensive coffees we’ve ever drunk! Don’t spill any! It’s like a couple of dollars per nice coffee, though.
That was our experience at Café Florian. Just unleashed the better part of almost $100 for coffee and nibbles, but oh well, one of those experiences has to be done, yeah, once in your life. It was kind of cool. There was a card they put on the table saying it was €6 per person for the orchestra; however, we didn’t get charged that, so that was a bonus.
Didn’t appear to be, but that was a bonus. Yeah, that would have been well over €100 then, in that case. So, you can either sit inside or outside, and the prices are the same no matter where you sit, I guess. It’s just if you want the atmosphere of sitting outside, people-watching, or smoking a cigarette. But if you’re a cigarette smoker, you might want to be outside. Inside, though, I think in that beautiful 1720 Café with a 300-year-old coffee shop, yeah, it’s pretty crazy. That was great. It’s good to do it for that, even just for that.
Grand Canal and Rialto Bridge (Ponte di Rialto):
Things To Do:
- Take a private water taxi for a more intimate and scenic experience.
- Enjoy a meal at one of the canal-side restaurants or cafés with views of the Grand Canal.
- Visit the Rialto Market for fresh produce, seafood, and local specialties.
- Take a walking tour of the Rialto area to learn about its history and the significance of the Grand Canal.
- Explore the shops around Rialto Bridge for Venetian souvenirs, jewelry, and crafts.
The most famous canal in Venice is the Grand Canal, which snakes like a backwards S through the center of the island. One of our favorite things to do in Venice is to take a water bus along the Grand Canal, where you can marvel at the beautiful but decaying palaces lining the waterway. Tickets cost €9.50 and last for 75 minutes.
We caught the water bus from Piazza San Marco and got off at the casino stop, the first stop after the Rialto Bridge. Here’s a tip: make sure you get on the right water bus. We caught line number two the very first time I came to Venice. I got on a water bus expecting to go up the Grand Canal, but it went around the outside of the island, quicker but nowhere near as scenic. And we’re off!
So, we’ve made it to the Rialto Bridge there. The area around the Rialto Bridge is very touristy, and you’ll find lots of souvenir shops. Doesn’t get much more Venetian than this. Taking a water bus is a quick way to get around, but Venice is a perfect city for walking.
Remember, there are no cars on the island. From broad streets to tiny alleys, bridges and canals—take your time and just get lost here. Before mobile phones and Google Maps, it was a really fun challenge getting anywhere in the city, and you’ll still find yellow signs pointing you in the direction of the major landmarks.
We’ve got a written sign there, so we can go right or left. What do you reckon? Left for adventure? Alright, let’s do it. Kind of a cool street, right? We finally found some yellow signs. This happens all the time here in Venice—you can go that way to San Marco, or you can go that way to San Marco. You go for adventure!
Local Food & Dining:
Food list:
- Cicchetti
- Crostini with liver pâté (Crostini di Fegato).
- Fried seafood.
- Marinated anchovies.
- Risotto al Nero di Seppia.
- Sarde in saor.
- Fritto Misto.
- Baccalà Mantecato.
- Bigoli in salsa.
- Tiramisù.
- Polenta e Schie.
- Venetian Spritz (Aperol or Campari Spritz).
- Pane di Grano.
- Venetian Gelato.
- Castagnole.
- Marzipan treats.
- Prosecco.
Of course, it wouldn’t be Italy without the great food, and Venice is no exception. From aperitivo with little snacks on bread to pasta, pizza, and gelato, the food in Venice is fantastic. Our tip: head away from the touristy areas like St. Mark’s Square for more authentic Italian food. We loved this area in the north of the island, especially this bar.
We found a little bar to stop off and have an aperol right on the canal. Kind of a nice area. Yeah, it’s nice and quiet here, a bit of a hidden gem, and a new favorite spot in Venice because we’ve never been here before. So, we’re in the area called Cannaregio. There you go, there’s the sign right there. It’s to the north, and it’s far from the busy areas. It’s probably by chance that we got dropped off here by the boat.
The boat said, “Oh, well, check this area out,” and we love it. We’ve just been hanging out for a good spaghetti alla bolognese. What do you got? The Susie a pizza, a pizza, and a pizza! Good pizza!
As we’re traveling in our camper van, we stayed on the mainland at the San Giuliano Camper Park, which is just across the lagoon from Venice. We are parked up in another car park, so yeah, this is where we’re staying. It’s right on the edge of the mainland. €8 per night. Supposedly, you can stay for 48 hours. You can catch a private water bus here for €10 return. So, this is the spot that the main ferry comes in from the parking place—the campsite.
The water bus drops you off on the north side of Venice island, and it’s a 15-minute walk from there to San Marco. From this dock, you’re only 200 meters from the dock for the boats to Murano and Burano. If you’re spending more than a couple of days in Venice, we highly recommend taking a day trip out to the islands of Murano and Burano.
lunch:
This is where we had lunch: Ristorante Pizzeria Principe. So good. Five stars. We had a great lunch there, in a great location. So after a wonderful day in Venice, there’s really only one thing left to do, and this is probably the number one thing to do in Venice. We’re going to get romantic.
Oh my gosh, are we? Have a guess what we’re going to do. You guessed it! It’s time to go for a gondola ride. Found a wine shop on the way, and we’ve got our wine and our big plastic cups. 50 of them, count them, 50. There’s people getting off the gondola, which could bode well for us. We might be able to jump straight on.
We have found somewhere for lunch right on the main canal. Look at my pizza! I mean, apart from the fact that it has disgusting mushrooms on it, that’s good for me. That’s good for N. It’s even got corn. Nigel’s spaghetti bolognese has come out. Yeah, it was so good. Well, you know it’s a good restaurant when people are lining up to dine here. I’ve got to say, this is one of the best pizzas I’ve had in all of Italy.
Islands of Murano and Burano:
Best Things to Do:
Murano:
- Visit the Glass Museum (Museo del Vetro).
- Explore the Church of Santa Maria e San Donato.
- Take a scenic walk along the canals.
- Enjoy traditional seafood dishes at local restaurants.
Burano:
- Admire the colorful houses lining the canals.
- Visit the Lace Museum (Museo del Merletto).
- Try the local specialty, Bussolà, a buttery Venetian cookie.
- Enjoy seafood risotto at a canal-side eatery.
To get to Murano, we’re just going to walk up about 180 meters. Here’s this one, the blue one there. So, we’re on the blue line. The ferry to Murano takes about 10 minutes. Got it. We made it. Welcome to Murano! This island is really well-known for glassmaking. Way back when, in the 13th century, the glassmakers were moved from the main island over to this island because of the danger of their furnaces setting fire to places.
Being a glassmaker or glassblower was a very esteemed profession, even to the point that they got to marry their daughters into noble and royal families. It was a closely guarded secret here in Murano for many centuries. The glassmakers were not supposed to take the secret away, but eventually, they did, and it spread throughout Europe.
Now, the water level is really high today. You might have heard stories about Venice sinking, and some people predict that the waves will overtake the city by the end of this century. While the islands are sinking at the rate of about 1 mm per year, rising sea levels and high tides mean that at times in the winter, some parts of the city are already underwater. They’ve already got these temporary pavements out because the water’s starting to come up.
I wouldn’t mind seeing an actual glass-blowing demonstration. I don’t know if we’re going to get to see that. It’s just nice over here because it’s not nearly as hectic. Much quieter. Yeah, way more relaxed.
I was reading that the industry is quite protected here, so it’s pretty much guaranteed that the glass you get here is made in Venice and Murano, and not made in China.
We turned off the main drag, walking down to a glass-blowing furnace where we’re hoping to catch a demonstration. Sure if we’re going to get in here, but this is where it’s all happening. We were unceremoniously ejected. Private glass-blowing demonstration only, so we won’t shop in this shop.
Okay, so we’ve got our tickets for Burano: €9.50 each way. It’s quite expensive, given that we’ve already paid €16 return to Murano. If you’re coming from the main Venice island, you can buy a day ticket for the water buses for €25. After around a 30-minute boat journey, we arrived at Burano.
Burano is a small island, and this was originally where all of the Venetian lace was created. This craft was done by the women, and each woman would specialize in one stitch, and there were around seven stitches to create the perfect piece of lace. So, they had to work together, and obviously, it would take a very long time. Nowadays, most of the lace is made by machines.
What Burano is most well-known for is the beautiful colorful houses, and we’re really lucky that we’ve got such a beautiful sunny day today. It’s kind of pretty along here, isn’t it? Yeah, it’s beautiful.
Gondola Rides:
Things to Do:
- Take a gondola ride through the Grand Canal for iconic views of Venice.
- Enjoy live serenades on some gondola rides.
- Pair your gondola experience with a sip of local wine.
- Pass beneath the famous Bridge of Sighs during your ride.
So here we are, the number one thing to do in Venice: take a gondola ride. Kind of said drink wine? Well, that too. This is the real look. Oh my God, this is amazing. This is cool, right? We’re going down the Grand Canal. We’re going to—oh God, we’re tipping, leaning. I suppose he’s trying not to hit the thing. Pretty clever, actually. Driving, chillin’, yeah. Timing’s perfect!
Cheers, friends! We hope you’ve enjoyed this blog and our best things to do in Venice. For another best-of city guide, check out this blog, and don’t forget to follow my instagram when i another blog of course i will post instagram releases. Thanks so much for reading my blog, and we’ll see you next time.
Thank you, and that wraps up our Things to do in Venice, Italy | Travel in city of Venice Italy. Do you agree with the places we chose, or is there somewhere you visited that you feel should be on the list? leave us a comment.
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