Things to do in Venice

Venice is known worldwide as the city of canals, but above all, as the city of the carnival. It is the capital of the Veneto region and encompasses more than 100 small islands in a lagoon in the Adriatic Sea. Dominated by its picturesque canals, Venice is a unique place in the world that you can’t miss. From wandering its canals, browsing its Venetian mask shops, strolling through its stately homes, to wandering through its iconic palaces. Venice is a city full of charm, and things to do. Don’t miss the opportunity to discover this unique city if you travel to northern Italy. It is a destination that will not only surprise you but also captivate you.

Things to do in Venice

St. Mark’s Square

Located in the historic centre of Venice, St. Mark’s Square is the heart of Venice and is home to the city’s most representative buildings. The square is 180 metres long and 70 metres wide. Also, it is the only square in Venice, which is why it is so important. The square is the lowest place in Venice, so when there is “acqua alta” it is the first place to be flooded.

The most important buildings in the square are St. Mark’s Basilica, the Basilica’s bell tower, the Doge’s Palace and the Torre dell’Orologio.

St. Mark’s Basilica

St Mark’s Basilica, located in the square that bears his name, is the centre of Venetian religious life. It is the most important and representative monument of the city, and St. Mark’s Basilica is the most important religious temple in Venice. Inside, the interior is dominated by gold, which is the predominant colour in all the mosaics of the dome, dating from the early 13th century. The mosaics in the atrium, on the other hand, are made of gold leaf and glass tesserae, a very popular practice in Venice. Admission to St Mark’s Basilica is free. But, there are some paying rooms such as the Museum, the Treasury and the Golden Shovel.

St. Mark’s Basilica Bell Tower

This is the bell tower of St. Mark’s Basilica, which is 98.5 metres high, making it the tallest building in Venice. It is a point where it is worth stopping and taking the time, as climbing the bell tower you will have a panoramic view of the city. In addition, you will be able to take some incredible photos of Venice. Five bells can be distinguished in this bell tower, each one created with a different functionality; the “Marangona”, the largest, was rung to mark the beginning and end of the working day. The “Malefico”, the smallest, announced death sentences, and the “Nona” rang at nine o’clock. The “Trottiera” was used to call the members of the “Maggior Consiglio” to go to the Council Chamber. And the “Mezza terza” announced a session of the Senate.

Torre dell’Orologio

The clock tower (Torre dell’orologio in Italian) is the tower located on the north side of the square. It is another symbolic monument to see in Venice. Also, It is one of the most original buildings of Venetian Renaissance architecture. Torre dell’orologio was built between 1496 and 1506 by Codussi. It is dominated by the great astronomical clock, considered a masterpiece of technology and engineering. This tower is open to the public and can be visited. You will not be indifferent to the complex mechanisms of the clock. Moreover, in the outside terraces, you can contemplate another beautiful view of the city and Piazza San Marco.

Doge’s Palace

The Doge’s Palace is one of the main symbols of Venice. Throughout its history, this palace has had different functions, from the residence of the Doges to the prison of the Republic of Venice. Inside are paintings by Titian, Tintoretto and Bellini. Also, this palace began as a fortified castle in the 9th century, but after its reconstruction, it was used as a fortress and as a prison. It has several architectural elements of Byzantine, Gothic and Renaissance styles.

Bridge of Sighs

During the visit to the Doge’s Palace, you will cross the famous Bridge of Sighs. This bridge was built in the 17th century in baroque style. It gives access to the dungeons of the palace, hence the name of the bridge. This was the path followed by those condemned to death. Moreover, this was the last image they saw before they died.

The Grand Canal

Venice is world-famous for its canals, the most representative and characteristic feature of this unique city. The canals of Venice run through every corner of this flooded city, and the largest and most important of them all is the Grand Canal, the Grand Canal. In addition, it is a four-kilometre-long canal that runs through the city of Venice, separating it into two parts.

Rialto Bridge

The Rialto Bridge is the oldest of the four bridges that cross the Grand Canal in Venice. The bridge is renowned both for its design and its history, as for years it was the most important economic centre of Venice. The Rialto Bridge was built between 1588 and 1591 with a design by architect Antonio da Ponte to replace the previous wooden bridge. It’s another of the city’s must-see, and must-cross stops.

Rialto Market

Crossing the Rialto Bridge from St Mark’s, you come to the Rialto Market. This is a particularly colourful place where fruit and vegetables predominate.

Things to do in Burano, Venice

Burano is one of the islands of the Venetian Lagoon archipelago and a place that if you get the chance, you should see. Burano, situated to the north of Venice, very close to Torcello, is known for the production of thread lace. The island, with more than 4,000 inhabitants, has a leaning bell tower that can be seen from afar.

The most characteristic feature of Burano is its famous coloured houses. In fact, the locals are obliged to paint their façades every few years. Also, there is a legend that the houses are coloured because sailors used to paint them that way in order to reach them on foggy days.

Things to do in Murano, Venice

Murano is the closest island to Venice and is renowned for its annual glasswork. It is a good choice of things to see in Venice if you have time to wander around at your leisure. Murano is the largest island in the Venetian Lagoon, after Venice, and is world-famous for its glass. But Murano is not only the island of glass, it is also home to one of the oldest churches in the lagoon: the Basilica of Santa Maria and San Donato.

Stately homes and palaces in Venice

Every house in Venice is unique and undeniably beautiful, but the most remarkable is the symbolic Venetian palaces. With influences from the Gothic and Byzantine styles, these authentic architectural masterpieces are another of the things to see in Venice, for example; Ca’ d’Oro, Ca’ Rezzonico, or the house of Goldoni.

Ca’ d’Oro

This is one of the most beautiful palaces in Venice that we can see on the banks of the Grand Canal. Its most remarkable and attractive features are the large windows and arched galleries of its pink façade. But it is also renowned for its interior, as this palace houses a large collection of paintings and sculpture by Giorgio Franchetti, a musician from the early 20th century, who donated it to the Italian state.

Ca’ Rezzonico

A beautiful baroque palace on the Grand Canal, that is open for tourists. The most interesting thing to see in this palace, apart from its ornate architecture, is the 18th century Venetian Museum. In addition, this museum houses important architectural and pictorial works of art.

Goldoni’s House

This is an interesting house that was built in the 15th century and has a beautiful Gothic façade. This house is also known because Goldoni was born here in 1707. He was a very important figure in Venetian art.

Artisan mask shops

One of the different things to do in the city is to visit the typical handicraft shops of Venetian carnival masks. It is difficult to leave Venice without buying a Venetian mask, they are handmade and beautifully decorated. La Bottega dei mascareri, a shop owned by two twin brothers who try to maintain the mascareri profession that was started on April 10th 1436. Moreover, this shop has made the masks for the film Eyes Wide Shut and is very well known in the city. There is also the La Bauta shop, which is also a costume shop.

Acqua Alta Bookshop

This is a very special bookshop in the heart of Venice. Conveniently located in the heart of the Castello district, the Acqua Alta bookshop is relatively easy to locate in the maze of narrow streets and canals that shape Venice. Its main entrance is on Calle Longa Santa Maria Formosa, in a small square called Campiello del Tintor. What impresses as soon as you enter, but what distinguishes Acqua Alta from other bookshops, is the gondola full of books, boats and even bathtubs in the centre of the shop.

Travel Tip: To organize your trip we recommend using Passporter totally free. You can be inspired by the experiences of other travelers, choose the places that interest you most, create the travel route with a geolocated map, upload all important documents such as reservations and invite your friends so that everyone can participate in the organization of the trip.

What to do in Venice in a day?

Venice is a city where you can see the essentials in a day. But, it’s also true that you’ll have to come back to get the essence of the city. First of all, visit St. Mark’s Piazza, then go inside St. Mark’s Basilica, the Doge’s Palace and the famous Bridge of Sighs, and the Basilica’s Bell Tower for panoramic views of the city. Afterwards, discover the Grand Canal, and the iconic Rialto Bridge until you reach the Rialto Market.

What to do in Venice in 2 days?

Venice is a city where you can recreate and explore many of its most charming and picturesque islands. That is why the more days you stay in this city, the more corners you will be able to discover outside the typical tourist framework. Also, two days will allow you to visit the islands of Burano and Murano and fall even more in love with the city.

Day 1: First of all, visit St. Mark’s Piazza, then visit St. Mark’s Basilica, the Doge’s Palace and the famous Bridge of Sighs, and the Basilica’s Bell Tower for panoramic views of the city. Afterwards, discover the Grand Canal, and the iconic Rialto Bridge until you reach the Rialto Market.

Day 2: This is the day for a change of scenery and to get into the lesser-known essence of the city. First, you can spend the morning touring the colourful houses of Burano, which is the furthest island. Then, you can start the afternoon on the island of Murano. Finally, end the day visiting some of the most beautiful palaces of the city; Ca’ d’Oro, and Ca’ Rezzonico. Also, you can take the opportunity to buy a beautiful Venetian mask for a souvenir at La Bottega dei mascareri, or a book at Libreria Acqua Alta.

How to organise what to do in Venice?

If you don’t know how to organise your trip, or where to start to visit all the points of interest in Venice, download the Passporter App and we will help you.

• First, inspired yourself by the experiences of other travellers.
• Then, create your own itinerary and add the suggestions of the app to it.
• Also, add the stops that interest you most, as well as the restaurants and bars where you want to eat (you can use the points of interest that we indicate in this post as a reference).
• Later, organise your itinerary by days of the route according to its location on the map. (Also, you can get inspiration on the routes we present in the post).
• Check the travel budget that the app calculates according to your travel stops, restaurants and leisure activities.
• In addition, make the modifications you need and you’ll be all set for your trip.
• Finally, share your experience. Upload photos of each of the places you have visited on your trip to the app to inspire other users.
• However, if you have any doubts about how to do it, you can check our post: How to create a travel itinerary in Passporter.

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