The Top 10 things do not miss in Venice

What to do in Venice

When asked what to do and see in Venice, the answer could be a very long list of attractions and MUST-SEEs. If you ask a Venetian, if you ask me, I could probably tell you right away 10 unmissable things to see and do in Venice without falling into the same-old tourist traps.

Here are my Top-10 Things to do in Venice

The first three are maybe the more traditional ones, but you really shouldn’t miss them, especially if your vacation is short, do them first and to save time you might want to consider doing them as part of the activities that include the preferred, skip-the-line, admission …. This way you will avoid the long lines and you will have more time to enjoy the places!
 

1. Get to the top of the Saint Mark’s Bell Tower at sunset... or >>>

   The Bell Tower in Saint Mark’s Square is the highest point from where to admire all Venice and the Basin of San Marco. On clear-sky days, you can even see the Dolomites.
   
   The downside are the long lines - ticket cost: € 10.00 (only available on site).  If the line is to long... try the Bell Tower in San Giorgio's Island... from there you can have one of the best view over Venice, its lagoon and San Mark's Square. Have a look at the video below. Ticket cost: € 3.00

    

2. Visit the Basilica of Saint Mark’s

   Visiting Venice without entering the Basilica of St. Mark’s is unthinkable. The treasures this sacred place holds are of inestimable value and beauty.

    

3. Visit the iconic Doge’s Palace, Palazzo Ducale.

   If you want to know the history of the Serenissima Republic, you must enter and visit the Palazzo Ducale, the Council Hall, the Prisons of Giacomo Casanova and look out over the Loggia to admire the Basin with the island of San Giorgio.

    

4. Get lost in Venice

   That's what you have to do, leaving the San Marco area, go through the little narrow streets and let yourself be guided by your curiosity. A pocket-map might be just what you need in this case … you don’t want to get too lost ... and asking a Venetian for information does not really help, they have just one answer for you: "keep going straight ...."

    

5. Choose the right place for a Spritz

   It's a typical Venetian Cocktail made with Aperol, a typical glass of wine called Ombra, the literal translation for shadow, and a Cicchetto, typical Venetian nibbles. 

   Maybe it is true that in Venice there are more Osterie and Baccari (the local Wine Bars) than Churches! Some of these places are historical too. Visit our Baccari and Cicchetti page for a selection of the best spots.

    

    

6. Walk to the Zattere

   I was born in this neighborhood and it remains the area I prefer in Venice. Start your walk from San Basilio's Venice harbor and walk along the Giudecca Canal towards Punta della Dogana.
   
   But you can walk vive-versa, from Punta della Dogana, and when you are in San Basilio take on your right and get to the area of Santa Margherita.

    

7. Reach the Rooftop of the new Fondaco dei Tedeschi

   They were the former Central Post Office in Venice, now a gigantic and upscale mall, the palace has been completely restored, but the Crème de la Crème -le Piece of Resistance is the terrace overlooking the grand canal right over the Rialto Bridge. The Fondaco dei Tedeschi, a luxury shopping center and cultural hub near the Rialto Bridge, is set to close its doors in 2025.

    

8. Visit the Guggenheim Museum

   Why the Guggenheim, you may ask, among all the museums that are found in Venice? Because it houses remarkable works, masterpieces of the Masters of the Cubism, Futurism, Metaphysical Painting movements; among these artists we find Picasso, Braque, Duchamp, Léger, Brancusi, Severini, Chirico, Mondrian, Kandinsky, Miró, Giacometti, Klee, Ernst, Magritte, Calder and Marines. And because the museum venue, Palazzo Venier dei Leoni, overlooks the Grand Canal and offers some beautiful views, go out to the terrace, and relax, walk in the garden, and if available, take part in one of HappySpritz@Guggenheim's Evenings.

    

9. The Murano hand-blown Glass

   GO SEE ONE OF THE OLDEST FORM OF ARTS IN VENICE - Be careful and beware of tourist traps, there are very few souvenir shops selling true and authentic Venetian glass .... If you want to watch one of the artist hand-blowing the glass, you may do so but you have to visit the Island of Murano where there are still great masters of this ancient art. It's best if you schedule your visit.

    

10. Visit the Arsenal

    We do not know the exact year when it was built, but the Arsenal dates back to the 1150s-1200s. If you want to deepen your knowledge on the history of the Maritime Republic of Venice and understand the reasons for its strength you must visit the Arsenal and the Naval History Museum and the Nautical Pavilion that is located in Riva S. Biasio Castello, 2148.

     

Recommendations for Venice:

Venice is a unique and particularly fragile city. To help preserving its history and beauty, even visitors can take simple steps during their stay. One of the many problems the city experiences daily is the waste accumulation. The city is visited by thousands of people every day, and maybe it is true there aren’t nearly enough trash receptacles, and also true those that are fund are usually already filled with trash.  But having a plastic bag with you to store your waste could be a solution, sooner or later, you will find a somewhat empty trash-can where you can dispose of your bag. Please help Venetians keeping Venice beautiful.

It's nice to walk in a clean city, don’t you think? 

Video: The Bell Tower in San Giorgio's Island