Visitors flock to Venice year-round, and who can blame them?
Some 118 islands float on this fairy-tale lagoon, linked by 400 bridges. Each is crammed with dazzling palazzos and heart-stopping art – Venice really is a place unlike any other.
All the famous stereotypes about Venice are true, to an extent. It’s spectacular and it resembles the photos, but, thanks to mass tourism, Venice’s world-famous sights are often overcrowded and in precarious health, even during the quieter months.
It is worth remembering that even in the busiest areas, stepping just one or two blocks away from the fray will reveal empty streets and local voices in the neighborhoods beyond. Spending more time here – five days is a decent starter – will help you discover that the true beauty of Venice lies not only in its blockbuster sights but also in its quieter spaces, where life continues as it has for centuries. Once you glimpse that life, you’ll want to protect it.
To help counter the overtourism that is exploiting the city, consider staying overnight in a hotel or B&B, eating at family-owned restaurants, and purchasing souvenirs from Venice’s artisans who engage in centuries-old trades. This way, you’re not only helping the city remain vibrant, but you’re also ensuring a more memorable experience – Venice done well is unforgettable.
1. Take in the Piazza San Marco
For many people, this waterfront square is synonymous with Venice: the rolling domes of the basilica, the centuries-old cafes beneath the stately porticoes, and the vast Campanile (belltower) throwing its shadow around the square, while the high tide occasionally splashes at your feet. There’s so much to see at Piazza San Marco (St Mark’s Square) that you could easily spend a day here.
Start at the Basilica di San Marco, the Byzantine basilica that glitters with golden mosaics inside. Then move on to the Campanile, where elevators whisk you up 98.6m (323ft) for breathtaking views of Venice and the lagoon. Make sure to visit the Museo Correr, located at the opposite end of the square from the basilica, which shares the city’s history through its objects. Need a break? Stop for a coffee or a spritz at Quadri, one of the charming 18th-century cafes in the square.
2. Enter the Seat of Power at the Palazzo Ducale
If you only visit one museum in Venice, it must be the vast Palazzo Ducale (Doge’s Palace), the Republic of Venice’s seat of power for around 900 years. With its pink and white facade facing the lagoon, it offers mind-blowing art and architecture coupled with a rich atmosphere.
Every room is adorned with works by some of history’s greatest artists, which makes it essential to dedicate time to the art rather than rushing through the famous Bridge of Sighs and the grim prisons—though the latter can be engaging for children.
3. Sail Down the Grand Canal
While Venice is ideal for wandering, its majestic palazzos were built to be admired from the water. Take the number 1 Vaporetto (waterbus) that plies the Grand Canal and experience one of the world’s greatest public transport routes.
Beauty is everywhere; however, as you head south, don’t miss the Fondaco dei Turchi, once the headquarters for Arab and Muslim merchants, now a natural history museum. Also keep an eye out for the beautiful Ca’ d’Oro, the city’s splendid university, and the remarkable Salute church, just before the Grand Canal meets the lagoon.
4. Venture Over the Rialto
Everyone who visits Venice seeks to see the Rialto Bridge, the iconic white crossing over the Grand Canal made of gleaming Istrian stone. Yet what the bridge leads to is just as captivating. A market has existed on the western side for over a millennium – while it may not be the bustling trading hub it once was, a lively fish market still thrives.
When exploring the stalls, remember to buy something, and don’t block the passage of other shoppers; this remains a functioning market, even if many treat it as an Instagram hotspot. Enjoy a drink beside the Grand Canal on Campo Erbaria, where Bancogiro is renowned for its cicchetti (small snacks). Afterward, immerse yourself in the surrounding alleyways filled with food stores.
5. Be Immersed in World-Class Art at the Accademia
In Dorsoduro, seated at the end of the famous wooden Accademia Bridge, lies the Gallerie dell’Accademia, one of Italy’s finest art museums. The collection showcases works that once adorned the walls of Venice’s churches, narrating the journey of Venetian art. Spanning from Paolo Veneziano to Tintoretto, Titian, and Veronese, it offers a treasure trove of artistic history.
6. Eat Cicchetti in a Bacaro
Three essential words for your Venetian adventure: ombra, cicchetti, and bacaro. Ombra refers to a small glass of wine served in a bacaro – a traditional wine bar. This small glass should be accompanied by cicchetti – finger food-style bar snacks similar to Spanish tapas. Bacari are found throughout the city; when you find one that appeals, be sure to stop in.
While modern cicchetti often consist of slices of baguette topped with various ingredients, don’t overlook traditional options like hard-boiled eggs with anchovies, or sarde in saor – sardines in a sweet-sour marinade.
7. Seek Out Local Traditions in Burano
Most visitors flock to Burano to capture photographs of its candy-colored cottages. However, doing just that misses out on one of the most unique locations in the lagoon. Burano has been a fishing community since medieval times, and despite mass tourism, it retains much of its culture.
To practice sustainable tourism, explore the Museo del Merletto to learn about the island’s lace-making tradition and consider taking a tranquil lagoon tour with local fisherman Andrea Rossi. This experience can radically shift your perception of the city.
8. Acknowledge the Painful History Behind the Jewish Ghetto
The word ghetto originates from the Venetian geto, meaning foundry. This area was abandoned when the Jewish community was forcibly settled here in 1516. Initially, it was a single tiny island that expanded in size, with residents gated in each night, living in tall buildings.
Despite appalling conditions, the Jewish community thrived, building five synagogues that rivaled Venice’s churches. Guided tours offer access to some of these synagogues, including Scola Levantina, a stunning example redesigned by Venice’s architect, Baldassare Longhena.
9. Gaze Upon the Artworks in Scuola Grande di San Rocco
For many, Tintoretto is Venice’s greatest artist. His masterpieces fill the Scuola Grande di San Rocco, a site where lay confraternities engaged in charitable work. The space features an extensive collection of his art, including stunning ceiling paintings celebrating the end of the 1576 plague.
10. View the Grand Canal from Ca’ d’Oro
Nobody cherished Venice like Baron Giorgio Franchetti. In 1894, he purchased Ca’ d’Oro, a Gothic palazzo on the Grand Canal renowned for its beauty. Although it was in disrepair upon his acquisition, Franchetti dedicated his life to its restoration, filling it with remarkable art. Although currently undergoing restoration, the gallery remains open for visitors.
11. Get to Know Glass on Murano
Located a ten-minute Vaporetto ride from the main island, Murano boasts elegant waterfront palazzos and is famous for its glass blowing. Begin at the Museo del Vetro to learn about the history and art of glass-making, and appreciate the technique that reached new heights in Venice.
12. Take in the Modern Querini Stampalia Museum
Fondazione Querini Stampalia, housed in a stunning 16th-century palazzo, combines a museum, a gallery, and a modernist wing by architect Carlo Scarpa. The main gallery features works by renowned artists while also offering insights into Venetian life.
13. Explore the City’s Finest Churches
Some of Venice’s best art resides within its churches. With a church reportedly for every day of the year, navigating where to visit can be daunting. A Chorus pass grants access to a selection of the loveliest churches across the city.
14. See Venice’s Birthplace on Torcello
Torcello, the first settled island of the lagoon, was once a bustling center of commerce. Today, it hosts only a handful of inhabitants, with the stunning Basilica di Santa Maria Assunta being the highlight. Its interior, adorned with Byzantine-style mosaics, showcases the island’s ancient grandeur.
15. Pay Your Respects to Tintoretto
Calm Cannaregio is lovely for a stroll along its serene canals and houses the church of Madonna dell’Orto, Tintoretto’s neighborhood church. Murals line its walls, along with works by other notable artists.
