Are you planning a trip to Italy and looking for the best things to do in Venice?
Ah Venice. One of the most beautiful and unique cities in the world. Venice needs little introduction — a floating masterpiece of canals, bridges, and centuries‑old architecture. Yet despite its fame, nothing quite prepares you for that first glimpse of a gondola gliding silently along a canal or the magic of losing yourself in its maze of narrow alleyways.
We visited Venice in October 2025 as part of our European road trip. We have visited Venice dozens of times during our Contiki days, yet this trip felt different. By slowing down and spreading our visit over four days, we discovered hidden corners, new neighborhoods, and experiences we’d never had before. We gained a whole new perspective on a city we thought we already knew.
Whether you’re here for a whirlwind day trip or a more relaxed stay, here are the best things to see, do, and experience in this unique city on the water.
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Special Note: The Venice Access Fee
In 2024 Venice introduced an Access Fee for day visitors to the ancient city. The purpose of the fee is to discourage over-tourism, but it’s effectiveness is questionable. The Access Fee applies on certain days, throughout the busy spring/summer period.
The Venice Access Fee costs €5 if you book more than 3 days in advance, or €10 per day otherwise. If you have accommodation on the island you will be exempt.
For more information, to check dates for 2026, and book your Venice Access Fee, check out the city website.
Best things to do in Venice
For us, one of the best things to see in Venice is Venice itself. We absolutely LOVE just wandering the narrow streets, crossing bridges and seeing where we end up.
The city of Venice was built on over 100 man-made islands in the lagoon, for strategic reasons. There are over 400 bridges linking the islands. Canals serve as roads, there is no vehicular traffic here, only boats on the canals. Nowadays there are motorised boats of course, but the gondolas remain, and not just for the tourists.
Throughout the city you’ll see yellow signs pointing you to San Marco, Rialto or P.za Roma, so you can never get TOO lost. Of course wandering around Venice was more of an adventure before Google Maps!
Whether you’re staying on Venice island or the mainland, make your way to the main square and you’ll look around in awe.
St Mark’s Square (Piazza San Marco)
St Mark’s Square was known as “Europe’s Drawing Room” and this is the heart of Venice. At one end of the Square is St Mark’s Basilica (Cathedral) and the Doge’s Palace, and the other three sides are lined with historic cafe’s, elegant glassware shops and museums.
The square gets very crowded, you’ll need to arrive early or stay late to see it without the throngs of tourists, BUT, the crowds are kind of part of the charm.
St Mark’s Square is one of the lowest points on the island and during the winter high tides, platforms are put in place for people to walk along.
The square extends down to the Grand Canal, where you’ll see two columns, these were brought to Venice in the 12th century. One is topped with the winged lion of St Mark the Evangelist, patron saint of Venice.
This winged lion is the symbol of Venice, and you’ll see it everywhere throughout the city (and in other places that were ruled by the Venetian Republic). We saw one carved into the rock when we climbed to the top of the fortress in Kotor, Montenegro.
St Mark’s Cathedral (Basilica San Marco)
Probably Venice’s most iconic building, Saint Mark’s Cathedral dates back to the 11th century. Just looking at this thousand year old building is awe-inspiring.
But this Byzantine masterpiece is as stunning inside as it is from the square. The golden mosaics are breathtaking, depicting saints, prophets and biblical scenes.
You can also climb to the upper level to visit the museum featuring more mosaics and tapestries. After seeing mosaics and tapestries up close, you’ll see the original Quadriga (four horses). Then step out onto the terrace (loggia) for views over Piazza San Marco and out to the Grand Canal.
The Quadriga on the terrace is a copy, but this is where the original 4 horses once stood. The original sculpture is believed to date back to the 2nd or 3rd century.
They were brought back to Venice after the sack of Constantinople in the fourth crusade (1204). Napoleon took them to Paris in 1797 but they were returned to Venice after his defeat at Waterloo in 1815.
An additional fee is payable to see the Pala d’oro (Golden Altarpiece) which is adorned with pearls and gemstones. We chose just to visit the cathedral and the museum/loggia.
Entry to the cathedral was €3 – although you can pay more to “Skip the Line”. During high season the lines can be very long, and waiting in the heat isn’t our idea of fun! We would definitely pay the extra if we were visiting in summer.
We paid an additional €7 for the Museum.
St Mark’s Bell Tower (Campanile)
The Bell Tower of St Mark’s Cathedral is known as the Campanile. It was built in the 11th century as a watch tower and to guide boats into the harbour. The tower collapsed in 1902 and was rebuilt in 1912.
You can take a lift to the top of the 99m tower for great views over the island and canals. This is the highest tower in Venice. The lift costs €10 per person.
We waited perhaps half an hour in line. Although it was late October when we visited, there is only one elevator that goes to the top, so there can be a significant wait. Many people book a combination ticket with the cathedral so you can skip the line here also.
Doge’s Palace (Palazzo Ducale)
The Doge’s Palace was once the seat of Venetian power. The Doge ruled the Venetian Republic. He lived here, and the council ruled from here. The Doge’s Palace is now a museum full of history, art, and opulence.
We were amazed by the artworks as we wandered through the Doge’s Apartments and the Government Rooms, especially all the gold work surrounding the paintings.
Your ticket to the Doge’s Palace also includes a visit to the Pozzi Prison so you’ll get to walk across the Bridge of Sighs, just like the prisoners of old. Make sure to sigh as you do!
Entry to the Doge’s Palace is €30 if you line up, or you can book online to “skip the line”.
NOTE: Large bags, tripods etc are not allowed in the Doge’s Palace, you will need to drop them off in the cloakroom.
Bridge of Sighs (Ponte dei Sospiri)
The Bridge of Sighs is one of the most romantic symbols of Venice, and one of the most photographed. It was built in 1600 to connect the Doge’s Palace to the prison on the other side of the canal.
The bridge is unique in that it is completely covered. It’s built of white stone, with small windows complete with iron bars, I guess to stop prisoners jumping in the canal and swimming to freedom?
Supposedly the Bridge of Sighs got it’s name as prisoners would look out the window and sigh as they took one last look at their beautiful city (and freedom).
You can walk across the bridge as part of your visit to the Doge’s Palace. The passage is narrow, and stopping isn’t officially allowed. Everyone walks slowly enough so you can sneak a quick look (and maybe a photo) out of the windows though.
The best photo opportunity for the Bridge of Sighs is from the Ponte della Paglia. From St Mark’s Square walk to the water and turn left. It’s the first bridge you cross over. Be warned – it’s always crowded here!
Splurge at Cafe Florian
Established in 1720, Caffè Florian is the oldest cafe in Venice and one of the oldest coffee houses in the world. While this definitely isn’t a “Must-Do” it’s one of those “once-in-a-lifetime” experiences.
Yes, it’s expensive (expect to pay €10–15 for a coffee or drink), but sitting in Piazza San Marco, sipping an espresso or Aperol Spritz while the live orchestra serenades you, feels like stepping into a different century.
We’re usually conscious of costs when we travel, but this felt like a special treat worth every cent. It was a magical moment to just sit, soak up the history, and enjoy being in Venice.
Take a waterbus down the Grand Canal
The Grand Canal snakes like a backwards S through the island. You can take a water bus (Vaporetto) along the Grand Canal. We took Line #2 from San Marco to Casino, the stop just after the Rialto Bridge.
Along the way you’ll see many of Venice’s iconic palaces and landmarks from the water. We really loved cruising under the Rialto Bridge, its so cool to see it from this perspective
Vaporetto tickets are €9.50 for a single journey which is valid for 75 minutes, or consider a day pass (€25 for 24 hours) if you’ll be using vaporettos often
Rialto Bridge
The Rialto Bridge is the city’s oldest bridge over the Grand Canal. It was built in the late 16th century to replace a series of wooden bridges which had collapsed into the canal.
The bridge is lined with small shops and partly covered over, but you can step to the sides for views along the canal.
Perhaps the best way to view the bridge is from the water, either by Vaporetto or Gondola. The Rialto Bridge is a Venice Icon, a must‑see, offering one of the most famous views in Venice.
Close by, the bustling Rialto Market is a great place to experience Venetian life, especially in the mornings when locals shop for fresh seafood, fruit and vegetables
Take a romantic Gondola Ride
More than anything, the Gondola is the symbol of Venice. The shiny black wooden boats with their gondoliers wearing striped shirts and straw hats are as much a part of the city as the winged lion.
Yes, it’s touristy (and expensive) but taking a gondola ride is one of those things you just have to do! We loved it.
For the best experience, bring a couple of plastic wine glasses (or “borrow” some from your accommodation), pick up a bottle of wine from one of Venice’s small markets, and toast your ride as you glide through the canals.
Several bars in the area sell “take away” aperol spritz, especially for people about to take a gondola ride.
Prices for gondola rides are set by the city. Expect to pay €90 for 30–40 minutes (per boat, up to 5 people).
Peggy Guggenheim Collection (modern art museum)
Peggy Guggenheim was an American socialite and modern art lover who made Venice her home in 1949. She was a huge patron of the arts, and her personal art collection rivalled that of many modern art museums. Shortly after her death in 1979 her home was opened as an art museum.
The world-class museum features works by Picasso, Dalí, Pollock, and more. It’s a refreshing change of pace from Venice’s Renaissance overload.
To get to the Guggenheim museum, simply cross the Grand Canal via the Accademia Bridge (the wooden bridge closest to St Mark’s Square) and follow the signs. The museum is open daily from 10am to 6pm, closed Tuesdays. Entry costs €16 for adults, €14 for seniors over 70, €9 for students.
Libreria Acqua Alta
This quirky bookshop was once a hidden gem, but thanks to Instagram, it’s become rather popular. Here you’ll find lots of rare and old books, stacked strangely, even books in bathtubs and in the middle of the shop a gondola stacked with books!
There’s an outside terrace with a staircase made of books, that are rotting from water damage. Oh, and there’s cats. Lots of cats hanging around the store!
The shop was once known for it’s gondola parked up outside, that you could sit in for a photo, without having to pay the €90 for an actual Gondola Ride. However, when we visited the gondola was away for repairs.
The bookshop is tucked away at Calle Longa Santa Maria Formosa 5176b, a 10-15 minute walk from Piazza San Marco.
Wander the outer neighbourhoods
When you’ve had your fill of all the amazing art and culture around Piazza San Marco, head out to one of the quieter neighbourhoods like Dosoduro or Cannaregio.
Cannaregio was one of our favourite areas to explore. It’s a vibrant, less-touristy neighbourhood where locals actually live, work, and socialise.
Don’t miss the lively Rio della Misericordia strip — full of bacari (wine bars), cafés, and a laid-back, authentic vibe. We especially loved Bacaro ae Bricoe (more on that below!)
TRAVEL TIP: Don’t bother following the street signs too closely. Getting lost in Venice is part of the experience and it’s the surest way to stumble across your own hidden gems. We found some of our favourite spots simply by turning down quiet lanes and going with the flow. Venice rewards wandering.
Best Day Trips from Venice
Visit Murano and Burano
These two smaller islands are a short water bus (vaporetto) ride from Venice. We suggest visiting Murano first and then Burano before heading back to Venice. The waterbus can be a little confusing and we suggest buying a day ticket for €25. Alternatively, you can take a guided tour to visit both islands.
Murano
In the 13th century the Venetian Glass Blowers were moved over to the island of Murano, because of the fire danger of their furnaces. Being a glass maker was an esteemed profession. Often glass blowers daughters would be married into noble families.
For many centuries the craft of glass blowing was a closely guarded secret on Murano, but eventually the craft spread throughout Europe.
Today you can visit a glass-blowers workshop to see this intricate craft. However, we suggest you organise your visit in advance, we tried to walk into a couple of demonstrations and were turned away, one time a tour guide quite rudely told us “This is a private demonstration!”
Burano
From Murano you can take the waterbus directly to Burano, the journey takes about 30 minutes.
Burano is known for it’s colourful houses. Legend has it that fishermen painted their houses bright colours so they could find them from the foggy lagoon. Even today, the colours are controlled by the local council and home-owners must get approval before painting their house exteriors!
Burano is also known for the craft of lace-making, which was a communal effort between groups of women, each one specialising in a particular knot. Today you can sometimes see women working in the shops selling lace, but we often wonder if all the products on sale are hand-made here in Burano?
Venice Travel Guide – Essential Information
How to get to Venice
By Air
Venice’s Marco Polo Airport is around 13km from the city. You can take an airport bus (or a waterbus) from the airport. Check Skyscanner for flight availability and pricing from your city.
By Car
Cars can’t enter Venice, so if you’re travelling by car, you can park at Tronchetto or Piazzale Roma and continue by vaporetto (water bus), or on foot.
By Train/Bus
Venice Santa Lucia station connects to Italy’s major cities. Step out of the station and you’re right on the Grand Canal. We caught a local bus from the mainland across the bridge connecting Venice island, and from there it’s a 20 minute walk (if you don’t get lost!) to Piazza San Marco
Getting around Venice
Venice is a very walkable city, and it is well worth exploring on foot. We love just wandering down the small alleys, crossing bridges and checking out the quieter back streets.
You can also take a vaporetto water bus along the Grand Canal, or between the islands. The water bus costs €9.50 for single ride, or €25 for a one day ticket
Where to stay in Venice
As we are travelling with our campervan, we stayed on the mainland, just outside Venice near Mestre at Porta Gialla San Giuliano. This is a glorified parking lot with direct transport links into Venice. It’s basic (don’t expect luxury), but it’s one of the most convenient and affordable options for campervans visiting the city.
The facilities are minimal: one washing machine and dryer, cold showers, and hygiene isn’t the best but it worked for us. You can get a waterbus directly to the north of Venice island for €10 return. Overnight parking here was €18.
Accommodation in Venice
Venice offers everything from luxury hotels along the Grand Canal to cozy B&Bs in quieter districts like Cannaregio. But be aware: accommodation is very expensive, especially during peak seasons and festivals. Booking early is essential.
You can search availability and pricing for different levels of accommodation on booking.com.
Where to eat and drink in Venice
You’ll find plenty of restaurants located in the small streets between Piazza San Marco and the Rialto Bridge. These restaurants definitely cater for the tourists – with standard pizza and pasta dishes on the menu. The quality at most is average at best.
Check the menus carefully – look for “Coperto” which is a cover charge, and “Servizio” a service charge. These extra charges can make a meal that seems reasonably priced quite a bit more expensive.
For an authentic Venetian experience, visit a Bacaro – a small bar that serves aperitivos, a cocktail or glass of wine with cichetti – small snacks on slices of bread, prepared lovingly by hand. Late afternoon is the traditional time for an aperitivo, and they are meant to be enjoyed slowly, with conversation and laughter.
We tried several bars throughout Venice, and particularly fell in love with Bacaro ae Bricoe in the Cannaregio district – the cichetti here were delicious, and we tried a variety of Spritz, not just the standard Aperol, don’t miss their Select Spritz.
But don’t worry, we ate our share of pasta and pizza too! We tried several of the restaurants along the Rio della Misericordia in Cannaregio – and they were all delicious!
FAQs
Is Venice worth visiting?
Maybe you’ve heard that Venice is super crowded, it’s smelly and over-rated. Don’t listen! Venice is a magical place, that everyone should visit once in their lifetime. Sure, it gets hot and busy during the summer time, but go early or late in the day, or in the spring or autumn, and Venice is beautiful.
Venice is a unique, beautiful, decaying, crumbling masterpiece of a city – there really is nowhere else like it. Yes it is worth it. Just go!
When is the best time to visit Venice?
The busiest months are May to July. August is a strange month in Italy as many Italians take the entire month off and leave the cities to go on holiday. It’s also ridiculously hot. We’ve visited Venice many times, probably every month of the year. If you catch a nice sunny day in April or October, Venice is just magical!
During the winter, Venice often experiences the “Acqua Alta” or high water, where the city floods in places. We’ve visited the city when there are raised platforms throughout many of the streets and even in St Mark’s Square so you can walk from one side to the other without getting wet feet!
Whenever you visit, try to stay into the evening after the crowds have thinned. Walking through the alleyways when things quiet down is really atmospheric.
How many days do you need in Venice?
Many coach tour companies will have their clients spend just one day in Venice – we know, we worked for one! One day in Venice really isn’t enough – sure you can rush around and see the main sights, but Venice deserves more. Venice deserves to be enjoyed at a slower pace.
Spend three or four days here, see the main sights, take a trip our to Murano and Burano, but most importantly, take the time to just sit, at a bar or cafe, by a canal and soak in all that is Venice.
Does Venice smell?
At times, yes, certain canals can smell. Depending on the water levels in the lagoon, during summer, some of the canals can get a little smelly. But as a whole the city doesn’t smell any more than any other European city.
Is Venice safe for tourists?
Venice relies on tourism and as such, is generally a very safe place for tourists. However, as always exercise common sense, and beware of pick-pockets or petty theft in crowded areas.
Is Venice cheap or expensive?
If you sit down at one of the cafes on St Marks Square, you’ll probably pay more for a coffee than anywhere else you’ve ever been! But, if you head away from St Marks Square, you’ll find plenty of reasonably priced cafes and bars.
The museums and sights can be a little pricey in Venice (Doge’s Palace is €30), ad the water bus is €9.50 for a single ride, so, yes, Venice is definitely one of the more expensive places we’ve visited on our European Road Trip.
Watch our Travel Film
If you’re looking for some visual inspiration, check out our Venice travel film on our YouTube channel.