Venice is one of my favorite places in Italy. Before I went there for the first time, I thought to myself: Well, this definitely isn't going to live up to the hype. I had seen Venice in movies, pictures, and heard it was gorgeous. So I thought I knew it just wasn't going to be as good as everyone said.
But then. I went.
But then. I went.
Venice not only met my already-high expectations — it surpassed them. I was floored with just how wonderful, old, beautiful, romantic, and incredible this city actually is.
The most recent time I went to Venice was with my husband in 2015 for our extended honeymoon. We actually went twice that summer — once just us and once with my sister-in-law and mother-in-law. For your convenience, here's a map of all the best stuff! It's color coded too 🤓
You can use the map to guide your trip. Or pick your favorite things from the list. For detailed explanations, keep reading. Here are all of my favorite things to do in Venice.
1. St. Mark's Basilica (and Square)
The most recent time I went to Venice was with my husband in 2015 for our extended honeymoon. We actually went twice that summer — once just us and once with my sister-in-law and mother-in-law. For your convenience, here's a map of all the best stuff! It's color coded too 🤓
✨ Best of Venice ✨
Yellow = To Do
Blue = Gelato
Red = Eats
Green = Museums
Purple = Extra Churches & Parks
(If clicking the map doesn't work, copy and paste this in your browser to see the full thing: https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/1/edit?mid=1DP8kWYBGIT9h-P3RMFVcocxNwQsKnyg&ll=41.7235840152629%2C12.884463749999995&z=6)
You can use the map to guide your trip. Or pick your favorite things from the list. For detailed explanations, keep reading. Here are all of my favorite things to do in Venice.
1. St. Mark's Basilica (and Square)
Named after St. Mark whose remains are believed to be buried inside, this basilica was built in 820. It has undergone renovations and restorations (including major ones after a fire in the early 1900s). It's a very well-known icon of Venice and definitely worth a visit!
I love the intricate mosaics of this basilica. It was fun to look at them closely while we waited in line.
St. Mark's square is a public place and therefore free :)
You can get tickets to the Basilica and surrounding sites (like the bell tower and museum) here.
or copy and paste this link in your browser: https://basilicasanmarco.skiperformance.com/en/store#/en/buy
2. Take a gondola ride
When I was in Venice for the first time, I was a young newlywed with not many dollars to my name. So when we were searching for a gondola ride, I thought I would shop around a bit and find the cheapest gondolier in Venice. I quickly learned this is set up as an oligarchy (jokes, jokes). But in all seriousness, the price is set to be the same throughout the city so don't feel like anyone is ripping you off.
Also, it was completely worth every euro. It was such a fun way to see the city and it was gorgeous.
You can pay your gondolier when you get there :) Plan on about €80 give or take. I have also seen some deals as low as €20 if you book ahead on specific sites (I have not tried this though). What's nice is that's per ride, not per person so you can split it up.
Seeing the city by gondola is pretty irreplaceable.
3. Get up early and eat pastries
This was one of my core memories of Venice. As you can probably guess, Venice is full of tourists (including you haha). Tourists are on vacation and are therefore not famous for getting up early. But YOU be different! Trust me, you'll thank me later.
Get up early one day and head to a pasticceria (bakery). Pick out some delicious pastries and then eat them on your Airbnb rooftop or on one of the hundreds of bridges. It's a gorgeous way to start your day in Venice.
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| Photo by Philipp Brügger on Unsplash |
4. Go to Burano Island
As I mentioned, when I was last in Venice with my husband, we were pretty poor. So we chose not to pay extra to see Burano Island. But when I ran my company Rome Abroad, I got to see many young people's photos from there! It looks beautiful and you can even watch glass blowers there too.
5. Walk Rialto Bridge
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| Photo by Claudio Schwarz on Unsplash |
5. Walk Rialto Bridge
This bridge is one of the iconic sites of Venice. You'll probably cross it at some point without even trying. It's really pretty and fun. Watch out for pickpockets the whole time you're in Venice and especially on this bridge.
6. Eat at Al Covo (or another fancy restaurant)
We did splurge on a fancy restaurant when we were in Venice and we ate at Al Covo. I wouldn't have loved to eat at a fancy place every single night, but it was definitely worth it for the experience once or twice during our trip!
Be aware! The reservations for a nice restaurant in Venice like Al Covo fill up fast. I recommend making it at least two weeks in advance if you can.
You can make a reservation at the restaurant here
or copy and paste this link in your browser: https://ristorantealcovo.com/reservations/
or copy and paste this link in your browser: https://ristorantealcovo.com/reservations/
Other fun things to do when you go to Venice:
Eat Gelato
Seriously. At least once a day (if not more!), get some authentic (artiginale) gelato. It's true Italian, absolutely delicious and you're going to walk off the calories anyway.
Get a Good Map
Eat Gelato
Seriously. At least once a day (if not more!), get some authentic (artiginale) gelato. It's true Italian, absolutely delicious and you're going to walk off the calories anyway.
Get a Good Map
So many of the little alleyways and routes in Venice actually lead to dead ends, or just canals. I highly recommend having a good map, either on your phone or a paper version.
Buy a Mask (or other souvenir)
Venice is known for its masks and there are so many cool ones to choose from! There are also fun souvenirs like glass from Burano island, and other things too. I bought a purse that I used for years and years after the trip. My only recommendation here is to buy souvenirs that are actually made in Italy/Venice and not imported from another country.
Shop at local street markets
When we were in Venice, we bought all of our produce from street vendors like these. First of all, it's delicious. Second of all, it's supporting the local economy. Talk about a win-win.
Eat Delicious Local Food
And this doesn't just mean at restaurants! Even just the fresh fruit and bread at the grocery stores is amazing. (There are a lot of good restaurants and cafes on the map too.)
Well, that's a wrap! Hope you enjoy your exciting trip in Venice. Did I miss something? What was your favorite thing to do in Italy? Leave me a comment!
Watch these movies:
✨ Summertime
✨Casino Royale
✨ The Tourist
✨ The Italian Job
✨ Only You
✨Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
✨ Spider-Man: Far From Home
✨A Room With A View
Get this gear:
✨ Really good walking shoes (you'll walk a lot!)
✨ Clothes that support a good appetite :D
✨ A little fan (if you're going between May-October)
General tips about traveling in Italy:
Plan Out Your Trip
Other fun things to do before you go to Venice:
Watch these movies:
✨ Summertime
✨Casino Royale
✨ The Tourist
✨ The Italian Job
✨ Only You
✨Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
✨ Spider-Man: Far From Home
✨A Room With A View
Get this gear:
✨ Really good walking shoes (you'll walk a lot!)
✨ Clothes that support a good appetite :D
✨ A little fan (if you're going between May-October)
General tips about traveling in Italy:
Plan Out Your Trip
- Always buy tickets directly with the official sites (not third-party websites). Not only will you save money, but you'll also avoid scams.
- When you're there, you may want to check the metro/train/bus times the day before you plan to take that route.
- Consider seeing two places around the same time — for example, you can walk down La Rambla on your way to shop in Mercado de La Boqueria.
Transportation Methods
✈️ Cheap Little Flights
- You can find excellent deals with Ryanair (watch how much baggage you can bring!) or Google Flights
- Often they're just as cheap (or cheaper) than the train and can save you loads of travel time
- These are a great way to get from A to B quickly
- Also a great alternative if you don't want to go into the hot metro
- They are cheap and you can find them with app locators — we have used Lime, Bird, Dott and some others
🚇 The Metro / Tram
- Metros/trams are cheap and fast
- They connect the city really well
- They come very often (not long to wait!)
- They are easy to navigate if you pay attention well
🚶Walking
- Italians (and Europeans in general) walk everywhere!
- Bring good walking shoes!
- It’s a wonderful way to get around and get a feel for the city
- Also a handy way to travel
🚌 Buses
- Buses are another great way to get around town
- If you're lucky and going in the off-season (September - May), they shouldn't be too crowded
- Be aware that around rush hour (5-6 pm), they can get quite busy
Other transportation helps
Google maps is accurate and helpful
If you're going to other cities, Rome 2 Rio is helpful to see ways to get from A to B, but be sure to double-check the bus and train schedules before you plan. It’s a good way to see multiple methods of travel and compare cost, times, etc
Great Resources
Rick Steves — He has some great resources like free audio tours and other tips for exploring Italy!
Here is his recommended itinerary for time in Venice.
Italy’s Official Tourism Website - Places to see, things to do, etc.