What to do in Venice, Italy

Venice, Italy (Venezia)

Venice is arguably a bucket list destination, and I wholeheartedly agree. With so much of Europe losing its culture, Venice still holds on to it tightly, and it did not disappoint. Venice still feels, sounds, and looks very much Italian, where every turn down a compact little street or climb over a delightful little bridge greets you with extraordinary glimpses of its rich history and charm. You cannot help but feel romantic and captivated by Venice; it makes you want to slow down time, soak it all in: marinate in its soul. Venice will definitely have you feeling some kind of way; there is a reason they say “Venice is for lovers”.

I find it surprising how many people don’t realize that Venice is actually made up of over 100 islands with 150 canals and about 400 bridges. Venice is car-free and is easily walkable as it is flat with the exception of scaling up and down the stairs of all the bridges. That being said, if you struggle with stairs, Venice might not be the place for you. Granted there are water taxis and water buses, but again, stepping up and down is involved so if mobility is an issue for you, plan accordingly. Also, if you plan on staying in a hotel in Venice, keep in mind you will more than likely have to haul your luggage up and over all these bridges. Do your research, I booked a hotel steps from the Venezia Santa Lucia train station with zero bridges between the two. Please note, ‘Venice’ has 2 train stations: Venezia Santa Lucia, which is actually in Venice and Venezia Mestre which is on the ‘mainland’ and where most trains depart to other parts of Italy. Venezia Marco Polo (VCE) is the international airport, located about 8km north of Venice and offers water busses/taxis to Venice proper.

Pro tip: Walking around Venice is the best way to experience the city. Venice is compact, car-free, and easily walkable with a safe and friendly feel. I highly recommend exploring backstreets and finding hidden gems. I also recommend staying in a hotel in the Historic District; 90% of the tourists leave the city, and it is much more pleasant to walk around in the early evenings and mornings. That being said, even though your GPS will tell you it is a 15-minute walk from one side to the other, expect it to take more like an hour during the middle of the day. The streets get clogged with so many people that you get stuck unable to pass slow walkers. Many of the streets are no wider than two people shoulder to shoulder. I am a fast walker, and getting stuck behind hand-holding couples with zero self-awareness was a major test of my patience. In short, give yourself plenty of time to walk from place to place.

Now let’s get down to the nitty-gritty: what to do and see while you are in Venice. 

Gondola Ride: If you don’t include a gondola ride through the narrow canals while you are in Venice, why are you even going? This is such an iconic, classic, and in my opinion essential experience. I consider the gondola rides in Venice a worthwhile splurge rather than a tourist trap. When you have the opportunity to treat yourself to a pinch-me moment, you do it. You can book rides off apps like GetYourGuide and TravelAdvisor or you can book one from the stands just off St. Mark’s Square. For a less crowded experience, I recommend taking your ride as early in the day as possible. During the high season, gondolas will be jammed in the canals nose to tail and wait times can get excessive. At the time of my visit in the summer of 2024, a 30-minute ride cost around €80.

St. Mark’s Square (Piazza San Marco): I call it Venice’s living room, it is famous for being Venice’s main public space. As the only true piazza in Venice (other squares are campi or piazzale), it feels expansive and wide open. St. Mark’s Square is clearly the heart of the city making it a destination in and of itself. Along with being home to Venice’s most famous buildings, including St. Mark’s Basilica, the opulent Doge’s Palace, and the tall Campanile (bell tower). It is lined with historic cafes and shops renowned for their architecture with grand facades, and rich history. The square is a lively gathering spot, often crowded with tourists, the people watching is top notch. Although the cafe’s are famous, they are very pricey and in my opinion, over rated. They do however offer a convenient waiting place if you’ve booked tours in the area. The square is also the lowest point in Venice and often experiences seasonal flooding.

St. Mark’s Basilica is an absolutely breathtaking building. You could get lost in the beauty of its facade for hours. It’s famous for its stunning golden mosaics (you’ll be constantly saying ‘wow’), and the relics of St. Mark. The Basilica is a living testament to centuries of history, devotion, and magnificence, filled with gold tiles and relics. It’s a must-visit for anyone traveling to Venice.

The Basilica is usually open from 9:30 a.m. to 5:15 p.m., but if you want to avoid the crowds, it’s best to go early in the morning. However, in the summer, lines and crowds are a given. To get your desired time slot, try booking tickets online well in advance. If online slots say ‘sold out,’ don’t worry – there are usually still walk-up options, but you’ll be stuck with what’s available. The earlier you go, the more options you’ll have. Oh, and it’s important to know that St. Mark’s Basilica has a dress code. No very short shorts or bare shoulders (including sleeveless tops). There will be someone there to judge if what you’re wearing is appropriate. But don’t worry if you forget, there are plenty of vendors near the lines selling shawls (around €10) for the inappropriately dressed.

When I visited, I opted for a self-guided tour. I wanted to explore the Basilica on my own terms, skirting the large group tours, but I also felt like I was missing out on some hidden gems and fascinating stories. It’s all about what’s most important to you and how much time you have. If you’re in a hurry, you can spend an hour exploring the Basilica on your own. If you prefer a guided tour, you can spend 2-3 hours. There’s also a museum (check out the fabulous original bronze four horses statue, ‘The Horses of Saint Mark’) and a rooftop terrace that I highly recommend. The views from the terrace are absolutely iconic and perfect for taking a memorable selfie. Just a heads up, photography inside the Basilica is not allowed.

The Campanile di San Marco (bell tower): This 323-foot-tall bell tower is a worthwhile stop in Venice; it’s the tallest structure in the city. Don’t worry, there’s an elevator that takes you to the top for remarkable views of the city and the lagoon. As with the Basilica, I wasn’t able to buy a ticket online. I was, however,  able to purchase a ticket on site; but, I had to wait for the next available time. The views from up top were incredible! There’s no time limit, so you can stay as long as you want. The views are totally worth the €10 ticket price. Also, the bell tower is open later than the Basilica, so make sure to check out the Basilica first and then the tower.

Doge’s Palace (Palazzo Ducale): Right next to St. Mark’s Basilica is this impressive palace complex. A Doge was the elected, lifelong head of state and chief magistrate for the Republic of Venice for over 1,000 years, and this palace served as the residence of the Doge. The palace contains opulent grand halls, luxurious chambers, and lush rooms decorated with artwork, frescoes, and sculptures. Ceilings and stucco work are covered with 24-karat gold leaf and are truly impressive. The palace showcases the wealth, power, and dominance of the Venetian Republic and is indeed stunning. The opulence is over the top! Prisons are next to the Palace and are connected by the famous Bridge of Sighs. I highly recommend checking this place out; you can book a tour on sites like TripAdvisor, GetYourGuide, and Viator. 

Grand Canal: The Grand Canal is the 2.4-mile-long, reverse S-shaped main waterway in Venice, acting as the city’s central, car-free traffic artery from Santa Lucia train station to St. Mark’s Basin. The canal essentially divides Venice into two nearly equal parts. The Canal is lined with over 170 historic palaces and homes showcasing centuries of Venetian architecture. It is a bustling, fairly shallow but wide, scenic route. Only 4 bridges cross the Grand Canal, and your best views of the Grand Canal will be from these bridges.

Rialto Bridge (Ponte di Rialto): The most famous bridge in Venice is located at the narrowest point of the Grand Canal. This bridge has shops on either side of it and a banister you will be forced to jockey for a space to belly up to it for views of the canal. The bridge is extremely crowded; it is a major tourist magnet. Food, drinks, souvenirs, everything, in and around the bridge is overpriced. I consider the shops on the bridge itself skip-worthy and give major tourist-trap vibes. While some still consider it a “must-see” historic and iconic landmark, I feel you are better off walking down the east side of the canal and taking a selfie of yourself with the Rialto Bridge behind you. This area is also very crowded, so the earlier in the day you go, the better.

Food & Drink in Venice: If you do a quick search, the internet will tell you the best place for an authentic taste of history is the Café Florian in St. Mark’s Square. It is an extremely overpriced coffee shop, and in my opinion, overrated. This is one of those places the internet has hyped up, and although it has a pretty interior, it is not worth the hype. You can get a great cappuccino just about everywhere, but like the rest of Italy, meals are meant to be enjoyed, not rushed, and service time will feel slow compared to that in the United States. Venetian restaurants will offer amazing seafood and pasta dishes; don’t be afraid to try the classic Venetian dish: spaghetti al nero di seppia. This is a briny black squid ink pasta, weird to look at but pretty tasty.  I recommend to anyone going to Italy, always go with the house wine. It’s affordable and always good. Buon appetito!

How many days is enough in Venice? With a little pre-planning, two full days should be more than enough to see all the major sites in Venice. If you want to go beyond Venice and see the islands of Murano and Burano, for example, give yourself another day. I cannot stress this enough: slow down, aim for a gentle pace in Venice, taste the food, smell the espresso, wander and explore. Balance sightseeing with a relaxing meal at a café.  Partake in the Italian practice of Aperitivo, sink into the culture. Trust me, it is one of the few places in Europe that still holds on to it. If Venice is a once-in-a-lifetime location for you, it demands bold decision-making. This is a place where you need to choose to slow down and actually do it. Take your time here, Venice is a place where the less you do, the more you see.