Last Updated on January 11, 2023
Venice is a city of pure magic – a city that brings together history, love, passion, and an aesthetic sense you can find nowhere else. To many people, Venice is more than just a place – it is an experience they simply cannot forget.
In fact, Venice is so unique that you’d better rush and book a plane ticket soon – studies show that the entire city will be sunk by 2100 if global climate change continues on the same path as until now.
What are some of the best things to do in Venice? We have gathered some tips for you – so read on and find out more.
#1. Piazza San Marco
Wondering what to do in Venice? Well, once here, you simply cannot miss out on Piazza San Marco – also known as the San Marco Square in English or, even better, La Piazza in Italian. This will most likely be your starting point for all the things to do in Venice.
Piazza San Marco has a very long history behind it. Although the specific beginnings of this marvelous spot in Venice are uncertain, it is estimated that the first establishments here were laid down in 800-1100 A.D.
To get to San Marco Square, you can use public transportation. Buses 5, 80, and 84 stop in the area, and so does Train R., and Ferries 15 and 2.
San Marco Square is open all day long, free of charge. You can just visit it and admire its beauty, and then move to the next point on our list…
#2. San Marco Basilica
Without doubt one of the single most impressive Catholic churches you will ever see, the San Marco Basilica is a work of art in the truest and deepest sense of the word. It rises at 43 meters above the ground in pure splendor, and it has been there since the 11th century.
You will find the San Marco Basilica in the Piazza San Marco (at Piazza San Marco, 328, 30100 Venezia VE, Italy, more specifically), guarding over the square with its superb architecture.
The Basilica is open for visiting from April to November, and you can book your tickets online as well (you can do this with up to 10 minutes before your visit, to avoid standing in line at the register).
The ticket costs a meager 3 Euros but prices might vary according to how many adults/ children visit it, the times of the day when it is visited, and whether or not you are visiting in an organized group. Either way, it will be money well spent!
#3. Rialto Bridge
One of the two very famous bridges in Venice, Rialto Bridge has been there since the middle of the 16th century. An architectural beauty in all respects, passing under (or over!) this bridge is a real must among the things to see in Venice.
You can get to the bridge by following Google Maps at Sestiere San Polo, 30125 Venezia VE, Italy. It is fairly easy to do so in a walk from San Marco Square, so we definitely encourage you to do it. If you want to use public transportation, keep in mind that buses 19, 5, 83, and 8E, train R, and ferries 2 and 4.2 will get you in the area.
Seeing the bridge doesn’t cost anything at all. However, if you want to take the scenic route and experience Venice in the most beautiful (and romantic!) way there is, we encourage you to book a gondola ride.
Prices vary, but they range around 80 Euros for a private, 30-minute ride during the day and approximately 120 Euros for a night tour.
#4. The Bridge of Sighs
Perhaps even more famous than the Rialto Bridge, the Bridge of Sighs was built in 1600. Its name comes from the fact that it used to connect the Doge’s Palace to the prison – so you can imagine that, aside from the stunning architecture of this bridge, there’s plenty of history behind it as well!
You can get to the Bridge of Sighs in a short walk from San Marco’s Square – the distance is about 8 kilometers and it will take under 10 minutes to do the whole walk. To find the actual bridge, you can just search its address in Google Maps: Piazza San Marco, 1, 30100 Venezia VE, Italy.
There are three main ways you can experience this attraction in Venice. You can admire it from afar, you can take a gondola ride (as indicated in the previous section of this article), or you can get a tour of the Doge’s Palace (which will include an actual walk over the bridge, and is the only way you can actually walk over the bridge).
#5. Doge’s Palace
Definitely one of the main attractions in Venice and something you should not miss out on! Built in 1340 in the Venetian Gothic style, this used to be the actual residence of the doge of Venice.
Its structure and architecture have been revamped a few times since its first beginnings, but even today, it stands tall as beautifully as ever.
To visit the Doge’s Palace, you can simply walk to the Piazza San Marco, 1, 30124 Venezia VE, Italy. If you are not starting your visit from Piazza San Marco, you can use one of the public transportation methods that lead to Piazza San Marco (see our first section in this article)
The visit will take approximately one-two hours, and the palace is open for visiting every day from 8:30 am to 9 pm (from Monday to Thursday and on Sundays), and from 8:30 am to 11 pm on Fridays and Saturdays. Ticket prices range between 13 Euros and 20 Euros, depending on the day, time of the day, and age.
#6. The Island of Murano
Although not technically in Venice, the Island of Murano is a true treasure trove of beauty and elegance. The island is located about 1.5 kilometers north of Venice and you can easily get there by taking the 4.1 local bus.
The Island of Murano is world-renowned for their glasswork – genuine beauties, some of which are integrated into actual jewelry as well. So, if you are looking for the perfect place for some souvenirs you can bring back home, this is it.
A tour to (and through) Murano will cost about 20 Euros for adults – but it’s truly the kind of experience you will always look back to and smile!
#7. The Lace Museum
There are 11 museums in Venice, and each of them is worth visiting! The Lace Museum used to be a famous lace school (The Burano Lace School) for nearly one hundred years between 1872 and 1970 – and these days, it exhibits some of the most beautiful pieces of lace ever seen.
You will find The Lace Museum at Piazza Baldassarre Galuppi, 187, 30142 Burano, Venezia VE, Italy. A tour of the museum costs 5 Euros (full price) and the place is open from 10:30 am to 4:30 pm during winter (from November until April) and from 10:30 am to 5:30 pm during summer (from April to November).
There is so much beauty and magic in Venice! Every street corner and every building hides and unveils generations of grace and love and beauty in so many ways! Definitely worth visiting soon!
