Things to Do in Venice
50 curated spots from Venice itineraries
Activities & Attractions
30 curated experiences
Peggy Guggenheim Collection
Visit this modern art museum in a former palazzo right on the Grand Canal, featuring works by Picasso, Pollock, Dali, and more plus a sculpture garden.
1h 30m · $18
Doge's Palace
Tour grand halls, Bridge of Sighs, and armory exhibits.
2h · $30
Gallerie dell’Accademia
Explore Venice’s premier art museum with works by Bellini, Titian, Veronese, and Tintoretto; don’t miss the views from the nearby Accademia Bridge.
2h · $18-22
Murano Island
Vaporetto to glass factories, watch demos, shop studios (15-min ride from Fondamente Nove).
3h · $10 vaporetto + Free demos
Rialto Market
Browse the historic fish and produce market in the morning, watching restaurant buyers and locals shop among vivid displays.[4]
1h · Free
St. Mark’s Basilica
Enter the basilica to see golden mosaics and Byzantine domes; visit the museum and terrace for close‑up mosaics and panoramic photos over the square.[2][4]
1h 30m · $10-20
St. Mark's Basilica & Doge's Palace
Explore the 11th-century Basilica and adjacent Doge's Palace. Arrive 7:30–8 AM to avoid crowds. Climb the bell tower for panoramic photography.
2h 30m · $28 per person (Basilica free, Doge's Palace €25–28)
Accademia Bridge & Zattere
Start at Accademia Bridge for Grand Canal photos (best east view of palazzi/Salute dome); walk Zattere promenade to Punta della Dogana for Giudecca lagoon shots—golden hour sunset ideal, less crowded southern tip.
2h · Free
Bacari Bar Hop
Spritz and cicchetti crawl in cozy wine bars.
2h · $10-15
Burano Island
Continue by vaporetto to Burano to photograph its intensely colorful houses, canal reflections, and lace shops along the main streets.[4][6]
2h 30m · Included in vaporetto pass or ~$10-15
Burano Island Color Walk
Take Vaporetto Line 12 from Fondamente Nove to Burano and spend a relaxed few hours wandering its canals lined with brightly painted houses and small lace shops.
2h 30m · $8-20 (vaporetto passes)
Campo Santa Margherita & Social Wine Hour
Sit at a campo-side table, order spritz and cicchetti, people-watch locals, enjoy the rustic piazza energy. Most lively Friday–Sunday evenings.
1h 30m · $15-25 per person (drinks & snacks)
Cannaregio Evening Walk
After dinner, wander along Fondamenta della Misericordia and nearby canals, enjoying relaxed bars, reflections, and local life.
1h · Free
Cannaregio Jewish Ghetto & Streets
Explore world's first ghetto, quiet canals—free explore for serendipitous photos/nightlife bars.
2h · Free
Castello Backstreets and Arsenale Exterior
Wander the narrow canals and modest campi behind the Arsenale, photographing laundry lines, boats, and quiet corners; view the historic Arsenale gates from outside.
1h 30m · Free
Doge’s Palace
Tour the Gothic palace, grand chambers, Tintoretto ceilings, and cross the Bridge of Sighs into the old prisons; consider the Secret Itineraries tour for more depth.[2][4]
2h 30m · $30-40
Doge’s Palace (Palazzo Ducale)
Tour the former seat of Venetian power, including grand halls, Tintoretto ceilings, prisons, and the Bridge of Sighs; allow time to linger.
2h · $30-35
Doge’s Palace (Palazzo Ducale) & Bridge of Sighs
Tour the grand halls, council chambers, and prison cells connected by the famous Bridge of Sighs; consider an escorted or skip-the-line ticket.
2h · $30-40
Evening Gondola Ride with Serenading
Private or shared serenaded gondola ride at sunset. Glide under Bridge of Sighs, past centuries-old palaces, with gondolier songs. Book in advance.
45m · $90-120 per couple (serenaded private ride)
Fondamenta della Misericordia Stroll
Follow the canal‑side promenade lined with bars and moored boats; pause on bridges to photograph reflections and daily life.
45m · Free
Ghetto Ebraico (Jewish Ghetto)
Walk the historic Jewish quarter, with its tall houses and quiet campi; visit the small museums and synagogues with a guided tour if open.[2]
1h 30m · $15-25
Giardini della Biennale and Biennale Grounds (if open)
Explore the gardens and national pavilions area used for the Venice Biennale; when events are on, visit contemporary art or architecture shows.
2h 30m · $25-35 when exhibitions on; Free for gardens otherwise
Jewish Ghetto
Wander historic synagogues, squares, and photo-worthy bridges.
1h 30m · Free
Jewish Ghetto of Venice
Stroll the historic Ghetto area, visit the small square, and consider a guided visit to the synagogues and Jewish Museum for context.
2h · $15-20 with museum/synagogues, Free to walk
Palazzo Contarini del Bovolo
Climb the elegant external spiral staircase for unique rooftop views over Venice’s rooftops and bell towers.
45m · $10-12
Palazzo Contarini del Bovolo & Spiral Staircase
Climb the iconic Renaissance spiral staircase inside the hidden courtyard palace for 360-degree views of Venice's rooftops and canals. Intimate, lesser-known spot avoiding crowds. Allow 45 minutes.
45m · $6 per person
Peggy Guggenheim Collection & Dorsoduro Museum District
World-class modern art museum in a palazzo with sculpture garden overlooking Grand Canal. Then explore nearby Gallerie dell'Accademia (Venetian Renaissance masterpieces). Budget 3-4 hours total. Book Guggenheim tickets online (€18/person).
3h · $18-25 per person
Piazza San Marco
Linger in the main square, study the basilica’s facade, the Campanile, and the arcades; photograph the geometry of the paving and colonnades at different angles.[2][4]
1h · Free
Piazza San Marco & San Giorgio Maggiore
Early AM empty Piazza for basilica/clock tower photos (no flash inside); vaporetto to San Giorgio (€3 tower climb/lift €5) for panoramic Venice views—photography highlight, Palladio architecture.
2h 15m · $3-5
Private Grand Canal Gondola Ride
30-min romantic cruise past palazzos; best at golden hour sunset for photos from water level, quieter side canals.
45m · $120Restaurants & Food
20 local favorites
Osteria Enoteca San Marco
Stylish but comfortable wine-focused osteria just off Piazza San Marco; try the seafood risotto, tagliatelle with truffle, and a regional wine flight.
1h 30m · $35-50 per person
Al Timon
Popular canalside bacaro and osteria known for cicchetti, grilled meats, and lively yet relaxed atmosphere along a small canal.
1h 30m · $25-40 per person
All'Arco
Iconic cicchetti bar with fresh seafood small plates; order sarde in saor and prosecco.
1h · $40-60 per person
Osteria Al Squero
Tiny bacaro opposite a traditional gondola workshop; order a plate of cicchetti (tuna, baccalà, prosciutto) and a spritz or ombra (small glass of wine).
1h · $12-20 per person
Osteria Enoteca Ai Artisti
Try **bigoli in salsa** (thick pasta with anchovy sauce) and seasonal veggies—cozy post-sightseeing spot.
1h 30m · $18-25 per person
Pasticceria Tonolo
Beloved pastry shop near Campo Santa Margherita; grab krapfen or cream‑filled pastries and coffee at the bar.
30m · $5-8 per person
Susanna
Hidden cooking class spot: hands-on **cicheti-making** and fresh cornetti with lagoon coffee.
2h · $20-25 per person
Trattoria al Gatto Nero
Classic Burano trattoria with a terrace right on the canal; order the risotto di gò (lagoon fish risotto) or mixed grilled seafood with a crisp white wine.
1h 30m · $35-50 per person
Al Covo
Elegant restaurant focusing on market-fresh ingredients. Menu rotates daily; request vegetable courses and pasta dishes without shellfish when booking. Reservations essential.
2h · $45-70 per person
All’Arco
Tiny, always‑busy bacaro famed for cicchetti topped with seasonal seafood and spreads; expect to stand at the counter or outside.
45m · $10-20 per person
Alle Testiere
Intimate, reservation-only seafood restaurant with only 9 tables. Prepare with shellfish allergy warning in advance. Menu changes daily; chef can prepare pasta with fresh fish (not shellfish), vegetable courses, and meat options.
2h 30m · $60-90 per person
Antiche Carampane
Tucked‑away seafood restaurant in a quiet corner; order the mixed fried seafood and whatever fish is recommended that day.
1h 30m · $35-50 per person
Antico Forno
Pizza al taglio and fritole pastries from historic bakery.
30m · $8-12 per person
Bacaro Rioba
Standing-room bacaro with 20+ cicchetti options. Request items without shellfish: marinated mushrooms, polenta with gorgonzola, crostini with chicken liver, grilled vegetables, cured meats. Pair with Venetian wine.
45m · $12-18 per person
Bar Al Vecio Penasa
Simple local bar near the waterfront vaporetto stops; have coffee and a pastry among commuters.
20m · $4-8 per person
Caffè Florian
Historic café on St. Mark's Square (1720) with elegant interior frescoes. Order espresso and a pastry at the counter (much cheaper than table service). No shellfish exposure.
30m · $6-10 per person (counter); $25-35 (table service)
Caffè Florian (Bar Service)
Historic café on Piazza San Marco; opt for a simple coffee at the bar or an early table for the atmosphere before crowds.[6]
45m · $10-20 per person
Caffè La Serra
Glass‑walled café and greenhouse near the Giardini, offering coffee, light pastries, and a leafy, airy setting.
40m · $6-10 per person
Cantina Do Mori
Historic bacaro (1462) serving traditional cicchetti and local wine. Focus on polenta, cured meats, grilled vegetables, and cheese platters (all shellfish-free). Standing room only with high energy.
50m · $10-16 per person
Farini San Lio
Casual bakery-pizzeria with great focaccia, slices of pizza, and pastries; order at the counter and grab a simple coffee for a light, flexible late breakfast.
45m · $10-18 per person