15 Most Popular Activities in Venice
Venice, Italy
Get the most from your trip to Venice with these 15 most popular activities to do
15 ideas for sights and places to see in Venice
1. See St Mark’s Square
The heart of Venice, St Mark’s Square is one sight that will not disappoint whatever the season or weather.
Seeing St Mark’s Square for the first time is always special with everything it offers including: St Mark’s Basilica, the Doge’s Palace, Piazzetta San Marco, St Mark’s Campanile (bell tower), the historic cafes and the atmosphere!
Skip-the-line Doge’s Palace & St. Mark’s Basilica Tour
St Mark’s Basilica skip-the-line tickets
St Mark’s, Doge’s Palace, Murano & Burano Day Tour
Vaporetto waterbus stop: S.M.Giardinetti/S.M.Valeresso/S.M.S.Zaccaria
Vaporetto Waterbus Tickets | Routes, Timetables and Maps
2. View St Mark’s Basilica
Dating back to the 11th century and covered in gold, St Mark’s Basilica is one sight you won’t forget.
The gold mosaics cover almost all the upper areas of the interior (covering an area of about 8000 sq m, that’s 861 thousand square feet), took centuries to complete.
Many of its rich artifacts and relics were plundered from Constantinople in the Fourth Crusade in 1204, including many artifacts from the Hagia Sophia. For the best views take a tour to uncover everything the Basilica has to offer.
View St Mark’s Basilica page ➤
St. Mark’s Basilica & Doge’s Palace Tour with Ticket
Skip the line: Doge’s Palace & St. Mark’s Basilica Tour
St Mark’s, Doge’s Palace, Murano & Burano Day Tour
Vaporetto waterbus stop: S.M.Giardinetti/S.M.Valeresso/S.M.S.Zaccaria
Vaporetto Waterbus Tickets | Routes, Timetables and Maps
3. Explore the Doge’s Palace
Residence of the rulers of Venice, the Doge’s Palace was the heart of authority, politics and government in Venice.
The Palace was built in 1340 and included the Stairs of Gold, the Bridge of Sighs and the magnificently decorated Cabinet Rooms.
Doge’s Palace, Bridge of Sighs & Prisons Guided Tour
Doge’s Palace Reserved Entry Ticket
Skip the Line: Doge’s Palace & St. Mark’s Basilica Tour
Vaporetto waterbus stop: S.M.Giardinetti/S.M.Valeresso/S.M.S.Zaccaria
Vaporetto Waterbus Tickets | Routes, Timetables and Maps
4. Take a Trip down the Grand Canal
The Grand Canal is the waterway that is the artery of Venice, winding its way from the train station to St Mark’s Square.
Either side of the Grand Canal are more than 170 buildings including palaces that date from the 13th to the 18th century.
Vaporetto line 1 will take you all the way down the Canal and you can also take a Gondola ride along part of the Grand Canal’s route (see 5).
Grand Canal Gondola Ride with App Commentary
Grand Canal by Boat with Expert Guide
Vaporetto waterbus: Line 1 travels down the length of the Grand Canal
Vaporetto Waterbus Tickets | Routes, Timetables and Maps
5. Take a ride in a gondola
Riding in Gondola is one of the joys of Venice, serenely gliding on the water past palaces that are centuries old.
Taking a relaxing gondola ride through Venice allows you to see the city from a different perspective. It’s also a very romantic one.
Gondola rides can be private or shared.
Grand Canal Gondola Ride with App Commentary
Traditional Shared Gondola Ride
6. Rialto Bridge
The Rialto Bridge is a popular must see while in Venice.
The bridge was design by Antonio da Ponte. He won a contest against the giants of art & design: Michelangelo and Palladio.
The bridge can get busy, so visit early or later for the best views.
While you’re here, don’t forget to visit the Rialto Markets!
Photoshoot at The Grand Canal & Rialto Bridge
Must-See Venice Attractions Walking Tour
City Highlights Tour with St Mark’s and Gondola Ride
Vaporetto waterbus stop: Rialto
Vaporetto Waterbus Tickets | Routes, Timetables and Maps
7. St Mark’s Campanile (Bell Tower)
One of the most dominant sights in St Mark’s Square. Mark’s bell tower is 323 ft (98.6 m) tall.
Take a lift (elevator) to the top and admire a 360 degree panorama of Venice and look down on St Mark’s Square.
From the top you can view where the Italian physicist and astronomer Galileo Galilei demonstrated the first telescope.
View St Mark’s bell tower page ➤
St. Mark’s Basilica, Procuratie, Bell Tower Tour
St. Mark’s Basilica with Audio and Campanile Options
Vaporetto waterbus stop: S.Marco Giardinetti/S. Marco Valeresso
Vaporetto Waterbus Tickets | Routes, Timetables and Maps
8. Visit the islands of Murano and Burano
The two most popular of Venice’s islands, Murano & Burano are an ideal day trip to see more of what the lagon islands have to offer.
Murano is where you can view the art of hand made glass making. There’s also the Museo del Vetro glass museum and rare mosaics.
Burano is known for its brightly coloured houses and for the art of lace making.
View Murano Page ➤ / View Burano Page ➤
Murano & Burano: Boat Tour with Guide & Glass Factory Visit
Murano & Burano Guided Tour by Private Boat with Glassmaking
Burano, Torcello & Murano Boat Tour w/Glassblowing
Vaporetto waterbus stop: Murano Faro, Colonna, Museo/Burano
Vaporetto Waterbus Tickets | Routes, Timetables and Maps
9. Guggenheim & Accademia Galleries
For people that love modern art, the Peggy Guggenheim Collection has to be on the list of things to see in Venice. Peggy Guggenheim, an American heiress, came to Venice in the 1940s where she created this world class art collection.
The Gallerie dell Accademia is known as one of the great galleries of the world with many famous artists’ work including many Venetian favourites and Leonardo da Vinci.
View Guggenheim page ➤ / View Accademia Page ➤
Peggy Guggenheim Collection + Venice: Vivaldi “Four Seasons” Concert
Private Accademia Gallery and Dorsoduro Guided Tour
Vaporetto waterbus stop: Accademia or Salute
Vaporetto Waterbus Tickets | Routes, Timetables and Maps
10. Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute
Created to thank God for Venice’s deliverance from the Black Death plague, Santa Maria della Salute is one of Venice’s classic sights, domineering the skyline as you travel down the Grand Canal.
Salute has art including Titian and Tintoretto and you can go up the dome to view Venice from the top.
Private Art & Culture Tour in Dorsoduro and Academia, Venice
Sunset Serenity Cruise in the Venice Lagoon
Vaporetto waterbus stop: Salute
Vaporetto Waterbus Tickets | Routes, Timetables and Maps
11. Enjoy Venetian cuisine & Italian food experiences
Taste wonderful Venetian Italian food, learn how to make classic Italian dishes, take a guided food tour.
What better way to experience Venice than through the delightful food on offer? There are a number of guided tours on offer along with a chance for you to taste cicchetti and order a glass of the local wine.
Rialto Market Food and Wine Lunchtime Tour / Street Food Tour with a Local Guide and Tastings
Venetian Lagoon Tour and Galleon Dinner / Eat Like a Local Food Tour with Wine & Spritz
12. Shopping for Murano glass, Venetian masks, artisan crafts
The best place to get Murano Glass, Lace from Burano or genuine face masks is to support local artists and enterprises. This way you can ensure that the item is genuine and that it comes from Venice (a number of stores items are made in China).
Visits to glass factories allow you to buy direct from the craftsmen: Murano: Glass Factory Experience with Tour and Demonstration
Or make your very own Murano Glass with a lesson from an expert glass maker. Private glassmaking class
Learn from a Venetian printer how to make a screen print – and make your own to take home! Screen Printing in Venice
Take a workshop in creating your very own Venice Carnival mask. Carnival Mask Workshop
13. Take Time to Enjoy the Beauty of Venice
You can rush all over Venice, seeing the sights and filling every minute. It’s also worthwhile to “power down” for a while.
Take a sunset walk along the Fondamenta delle Zattere while enjoying a genuine Italian gelato and watching the boats in the lagoon.
Or enjoy a Spritz and some aperitivo snacks while sat outside a bar and do some people watching and watch the rhythm of Venice.
Have a special meal at one of the highly recommended restaurants and enjoy a coffee at the famous cafes of St Mark’s Square.
14. Watch an opera or Venice Music Concert
Make music part of your Venice experience. Watch an opera in the heart of Venice. The stunning La Fenice opera house is where A famous and beautiful Italian opera house where major composers, Rossini, Bellini, Donizetti and Verdi premiered their works.
Or how about watching a travelling opera show, or Vivaldi’s four seasons, three tenors in concert or Baroque music? All are available in Venice.
Vivaldi’s Four Seasons Live Classical Music Concert
Interpreti Veneziani Concert at Church of San Vidal
The Three Tenors Concert Ticket
15. Take Part in a Venice Festival
Venice has a number of festivals throughout the year from the huge Venice Carnival, to the the Historic Regatta (Regata Storica) – the main event in the annual “Voga alla Veneta” rowing calendar and more.
You are always welcome to view these festivals and, with some, you can take part.
The Venice Carnivale welcomes participants to dress up in St Mark’s Square on the Saturday before Shrove Tuesday. You can also take part anytime with the 17-18th Century Dress-Up Experience. There’s also an option to take part in a Carnival Gala Dinner each year with entertainment or go on Carnival Party Cruise with buffet.
Other events include Su e Zo per i Ponti (up and down the bridges). It’s a walking event around Venice in aid of charitable causes. Like many events, the number of people wanting to take part exceeds the number of places, so sign-up early.
You can view our Venice Festivals Calendar on this page.