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Venice travel guide
Guide me through Venice
Considered one of the world’s most romantic cities, Venice awaits you with its signature S-shaped waterway, the Grand Canal, its iconic gondolas and narrow backstreets and regional seafood one can only dream of. Because Venice is truly beautiful, overtourism and cruises have forced up prices and prolonged waiting lines. But there’s no need to skip the visit and miss out on savoring gelato on one of Venice’s many town squares or exploring its surrounding islands!
Not yet sure where to travel after Venice?
Venice Top 5
See the sunrise at Rialto Bridge
Wander the canals
Visit the islands
Climb up Campanile di San Marco
Indulge in Venetian tapas during happy hour
Best things to do in Venice
The Highlights
Top 5 • Museums • Delicacies • Travel Tips • On a Budget • Transportation
The undisputed highlight of any visit to Venice is strolling through the narrow streets to see its charming canals, lively piazzas (squares), and enchanting campos (courtyards).
Don’t forget to pop into some of the extraordinary churches scattered throughout the city on your way to admire stunning buildings full of artwork and history for free.
Cross the famous Rialto Bridge. Created by Michelangelo’s rival Antonio da Ponte, Rialto Bridge is one of Venice’s top sights to visit, best enjoyed at sunrise to beat the crowds.
Visit Basilica and Piazza San Marco. The marble-covered temple is just one of the many sights located in the town square of the same name.
Pay a visit to Doge’s Palace, also called Pallazo Ducale. Filled with artwork, this impressive building was the former residence of the Doge of Venice, the supreme authority of the erstwhile republic.
To experience Venice from the bird’s eye perspective, climb up Campanile di San Marco, a replica of the original San Marco bell tower offering a great panorama.
Known as the world’s first ghetto with a rather serious history, the Jewish Ghetto nowadays boasts restaurants, museums, synagogues, and neat shops.
Shop at Rialto Market. There is no better way to get to know the local side of a city than visiting its market. Get some fruit, fish, or other delicacies for a self-cooked meal or picnic and soak in the liveliness of the place.
Visit the islands. Burano, Murano, Torcello and Lido are islands that are just a motonave away. While Burano, Murano, and Torcello are known for their colorful buildings and glassblowing, Lido is a popular island to escape the city and relax on the beach.
Best museums to visit in Venice
Museums
No matter if you are a fan of art, history, or architecture, there will be something for everyone in Venice’s many museums. Check out the National Archaeological Museum for a collection of sculptures, Correr Civic Museum for Venetian artwork and history, the Peggy Guggenheim Collection for modern and abstract art, and Galleria dell’Accademia for 14th-18th centuries art Alla Bellini or Leonardo da Vinci.
Best food to try in Venice
Local Delicacies
Top 5 • Highlights • Museums • Travel Tips • On a Budget • Transportation
If you’re not on a budget, don’t miss out on a proper sit-down Venetian meal including local seafood, canal views, and Veneto’s typical prosecco.
For those who are in search of a more affordable food experience, visit one of Venice’s bars during happy hour, when they dish up generous spreads of Venetian tapas called Cicheti. A food lover? Try Bigoli in salsa (pasta in anchovy sauce), fried sardines, and Risotto al nero di seppia (risotto with cuttlefish ink).
Since eating out in Venice is quite expensive, try to get a lunch menu that is often offered at a more reasonable price.
Best travel tips for Venice
Useful travel tips
Top 5 • Highlights • Museums • Delicacies • On a Budget • Transportation
The boldness of constructing a city made of marble palaces on a lagoon certainly led to today’s richness in museums, historic town squares, and emblematic waterways in Venice.
To learn more about its history and how locals spend their time around the city and surrounding islands, go and take a free walking tour. Those tours are a great way to get to know the city’s highlights through a local guide, but be sure to leave a tip at the end.
Another fantastic way to enjoy some of Venice’s cultural sights is to get a combi ticket which includes the entrance of Doge’s Palace, Correr Civic Museum, the National Archaeological Museum, and the monumental rooms of the Marciana National Library.
Best budget travel advice for Venice
Venice On a budget
Top 5 • Highlights • Museums • Delicacies • Travel Tips • Transportation
To feel the magic of a place, not always money is what matters. A gondolier’s wake-up call, a fairy-tale sunset, strolling Venice’s alleys, or enjoying la bea vita in the town squares are free of charge but unforgettable.
Here are some tips to save some of your pocket money while exploring Venice:
Accommodation is quite pricy around Venice. Book a hostel or Airbnb instead of a hotel to save some money and use its kitchen to prepare your meals.
Do free activities such as moseying the picturesque backstreets, admiring decorative buildings and little churches, watching people and artists, and wandering the market.
Take a free walking tour to get some history in and decide how much you can tip your guide at the end of the tour.
Avoid restaurants, cafes, and shops close to touristy hotspots.
Have a snack, a picnic, a coffee, or a bottle of wine while sitting on the city’s town squares instead of a meal or a drink in a restaurant.
Walk the city. Using public transportation can sum up in the end. If you are planning on using public transportation frequently, check for discounts or multi tickets.
Bring a water bottle and refill it. Water in Venice is potable.
Transportation tips for Venice
Transportation
Top 5 • Highlights • Museums • Delicacies • Travel Tips • On a budget
Venice is a walkable city. If you need to use public transportation, avoid taking (private) water taxis. Venice’s public transportation around the canals is based on floating buses called vaporettos, while larger boats known as motonaves will bring you to the surrounding islands. Venice’s airport is connected to the city center via bus.