BEST THING TO DO IN VENICE. ITALY
Complete Guide 2022Venice is one of Italy’s most popular destinations, and for a good reason: it’s one of the most picturesque places I’ve ever been to, an enchanting city amazing in its uniqueness.
Although there are plenty of things to do and see in Venice, most tourists only dedicate a couple of hours to the city, without trying to REALLY get to know it.
But, as you all know, what I most love about travelling is immersing myself in the local culture and truly seeing the city as a native. I was able to do this, thanks to Kris. In fact, he was born and grew up there, and he guided me through the best spots in the city. Spots that I will be sharing with you, right here.
So, in this article, you will find a bit of both: the most common and crowded attractions, as well as the less touristy ones, to go off the grid and really discover one of the most beautiful cities in the world.
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Discover the Doge’s Palace
A masterpiece of the Venetian Gotic, the Palace hosts a huge quantity of original art pieces.
Built between the 10th and the 11th century, the Palace has been refurbished several times. It has been the residence of several doges, the authority of the Venetian Republic.
The Palace owes its political importance also to Napoleone Bonaparte, who, in 1797, after conquering the city, made it the centre of its administration.
→ Tickets – When visiting Venice it’s always better to buy a skip the line ticket despite the period. The city is overcrowded with tourists, and we couldn’t access many attractions during our holiday because of the infinite queues, often lasting several hours.
Visit the grandiose St. Mark Square
The iconic “Piazza San Marco” (St. Mark’s Square) is one of the most important Italian squares. Situated in the city’s heart, it’s the largest and the most famous Venetian square. Surrounded by landmarks, you can’t miss a visit to this fabulous Italian spot.
The square was previously a large garden, and only after the arrival of St. Mark’s relics the Basilica was built, and the square started to take its original form.
Besides the numerous and (very) expensive bars, the square is also surrounded by the fascinating Basilica, the Doge’s Palace, the famous clock tower, and the amazing Campanile, from where you can enjoy a breathtaking view of the city.
→ Tickets – Again, make sure you buy the tickets in advance for all the surrounding attractions and choose the skip-the-line option (this is just a few euros more) to avoid wasting hours of your holiday waiting to get in!
Editor’s note: Taking a guided tour would allow you to understand the wonders you see and actually understand the incredible Venetian cultural heritage.
Check out these guided tours with skip-the-line entry tickets (for any budget)!
Admire the Accademia Gallery
If you are an art lover, you definitely need to see the Galleria dell’Accademia. Unfortunately, this is often ignored by tourists, who usually only have a few hours to visit the city. However, this unique gallery is really worth a visit, as it hosts a wide collection of Venetian art; in fact, here you can find some of the most famous artists, like Tiziano, Tintoretto, Giorgione, and the “Vitruvian Man” by Leonardo Da Vinci (even though it is not always possible to admire the latter).
→ Tickets – Differently from the Doge’s Palace and St. Mark’s Basilica, the gallery is way less crowded and, although you can find some tours, I would suggest you visit it at your own pace. The ticket is €12 (€2 if between 18-25 years old). You can buy the tickets on the official website.
Visit the Casino Venier
Situated in the less touristy part of the city (thus, more authentic) is the Venier Casino, which has kept its original appearance, dating back to 1750. This hidden gem, with its 18th-century decor, will take you back in time.
You can visit it in 10 minutes (only three rooms), but its fragile beauty will not leave you disappointed.
Stop by the Ponte di Rialto and the Canal Grande
Let’s go back to the famous Venetian symbols: the “Ponte di Rialto” and the “Canal Grande”. Built in 1593, the iconic bridge is now one of the most famous photographic spots in the world! From here, you can enjoy a very romantic view of the canal (one of my favourite views at night, oh!). The canal is 4km long, and it divides the historical centre into two parts.
There are also some tours on the Canal Grande (on the traditional “gondola”!) that allow you to observe Venice from a different point of view, truly admiring its beauty. It’s not a surprise Venice is one of the most loved cities in the world!
Here are some of the best tours on the traditional gondola to admire the city from the Canal Grande!
Admire the Scuola Grande di San Rocco
The “Scuola Grande di San Rocco” is an amazing (really, it’s gorgeous) building commissioned by the wealthy lay confraternity of San Roch in the 15th century. Inside, you can admire the “Sala dell’Albergo”, with a breathtaking pictorial cycle by the famous artist Tintoretto; this is so incredible that it is often described as the Venetian Sistine Chapel (!!!).
If you are visiting Venice, make sure you don’t miss a visit to the Scuola Grande di San Rocco, and let your breath be taken away by the stunning rooms.
→ Tickets – the ticket is €10 (€8 for under 26 years old).
Walk the Jewish ghetto
Although the Jewish Ghetto is completely different from the wide-known touristic attractions in Venice, it’s definitely worth a visit. This is the oldest ghetto in the world, in which the Venetian Jewish have lived for almost three centuries. In fact, it dates back to the 16th century, and here you can find the museum, five synagogues and a lot of history. Moreover, the ghetto is surrounded by amazing shops in which you can taste authentic Venetian food.
This place has a very interesting history, so it would be worth spending some time of your holiday visiting it!
→ Tickets – The ticket for the museum is €10 (€8 for students under 26 years old). You can buy the tickets here.
Editor’s note: Although you can visit the Jewish ghetto by yourself, without a guide, you wouldn’t probably be able to truly understand the Jewish history in Venice and soak up the unique atmosphere.
Even though some tours may look a bit expensive, there are always reduced prices if you are in a group (you could also try and find one to take the tour together!)
Check out these tours of the Jewish ghetto, with a local guide!
Visit the Peggy Guggenheim Museum
The Peggy Guggenheim Museum is one of the most important in the world for its collection of European and American art. Here, you will find some of the most famous artists, like Magritte, Duchamp, Picasso, Dali‘, Kandinsky, and De Chirico.
Penny Guggenheim was an American woman (now buried in the museum’s garden) who dedicated her life to the realization of a museum that would value modern art.
→ Tickets – The skip-the-line ticket (again, I suggest you buy this as the queues can last for hours) is €17. You can buy the fast track tickets here.
Some combined tours are worth having a look at if you are low on a budget. I always choose combined options when travelling because they are often cheaper and allow you to visit more attractions with just a few euros more!
Have a look at these combined tours to explore Venice and save up some money!
Explore Murano and Burano
During your Venetian holidays, you can’t miss a trip to the small characteristic islands of Murano and Burano.
Fixed stop for tourists from all over the world, these islands, with their vibrant colours, are among the most known Venetian attractions.
Murano is particularly famous for its Glass Museum, definitely worth a visit to admire this antique art.
To reach the islands, you can catch the ferry (at “Fondamenta Nove“, from the northern part of the city). The price for a single way ticket is €7.50. However, you need to take the ferry at least 3 times, so it’s worth buying the day ticket for €20.
Tickets – The ticket for the museum is about €11, and you can book it from here.
Editor’s note: The ferry and the museum can be pretty expensive, and it would actually be cheaper to buy a guided tour. In fact, some half-day guided tours of the islands include a glass blowing demonstration (I’ve seen it, and it’s pretty cool!) for less than what you would spend by going there by yourself.
Check out these day trips from Venice to the islands of Murano and Burano!
Day trip to Verona
If you have time during your holiday, make sure to take a day to visit Verona! I was there last summer, and I enjoyed it so much!
It’s a really charming city, but it’s even more stunning at night. So if you have the chance, spend a night there, and you will not regret it.
You can take the train from Venice to go straight to Verona, it’s really easy and convenient!
Some of the attractions you absolutely can’t miss in Verona are:
→ The Arena, a fascinating Roman amphitheatre very well preserved.
→ The Torre dei Lamberti, an 84 meters high tower in the historical centre, from where you can admire a breathtaking panoramic view of the city.
→ The Castelvecchio Museum, located in the medieval castle in the city centre, which hosts many important art pieces.
→ Juliet’s house. The tradition says that Juliet Capulet, protagonist of Shakespeare’s tragedy “Romeo and Juliet”, lived there. A must-see in Verona!
Editor’s note: Just as in Venice, in Verona the long queues can be extenuating. We could not visit Juliet’s house during our holiday because the queue lasted for over three hours and until closure time. I still regret it!
Make sure to book in advance, or choose a tour to avoid wasting the time of your holiday!
Check out these Verona’s guided tours to discover the city!
Other Venetian gems
Venice is such a beautiful city that it is worth just walking around and admiring its stunning views.
So, get lost in the “calli” (the Venetian streets), full of shops and restaurants, and immerse yourself in the local culture, feeling the city’s huge historical and artistic heritage. The markets are vast and impressive, some of them have been taking place for centuries (like the fresh seafood market, close to the Rialto bridge), and they are worth a visit!
In Venice, even the smaller churches far from the crowded streets are full of authentic and incredible art pieces. So, take your time to explore the city and adventure yourself!
If you have limited time in Venice, have a look at these one-day tours!
An amazing experience, to admire this stunning city from a different point of view, is the gondola ride. It’s very romantic and a unique opportunity to create unforgettable memories!
Kikka
EDITOR IN CHIEF