What to See in Venice: Between Alleys, Canals and Timeless Wonders

Visiting Venice is a dream shared by millions of travelers worldwide. Famous for its millennia-long history, the art and culture permeating every corner, the most famous Carnival in Italy, and the glassmaking tradition of Murano, Venice is simply unique. A network of canals, bridges, and poetic views that remain in the heart. In this guide, you’ll find what to see in Venice, the main points of interest, and plenty of ideas on what to do during your stay.
Discover the city’s most fascinating spots and what makes Venice so unforgettable.

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An exciting journey through alleys, canals, and legendary squares: watch Venice like you’ve never seen it before.

What to Visit in Venice: Places of Interest
There are countless extraordinary places to see in Venice, but you don’t need a whole week to enjoy them. This guide helps you understand what to see in Venice in one day or how to build a longer itinerary including all the must-see attractions.

The 12 Most Famous Attractions in Venice

Venice is an open-air museum city where every bridge and square tells centuries of history. Here are the 12 unmissable attractions to start exploring the lagoon city.

1 St. Mark’s Square

St. Mark’s Square is the city’s symbolic place and the heart of Venice. At its center stands the majestic St. Mark’s Campanile, famous worldwide. A meeting point for tourists and locals alike, it’s full of bars and venues. It’s one of the first places to visit in Venice to immerse yourself in the city’s atmosphere.

2 Doge’s Palace

The Doge’s Palace holds all of Venice’s history and its inhabitants feel deeply connected to it. The interiors house paintings, sculptures, and frescoed ceilings. Crossing the famous Bridge of Sighs, you can reach the New Prisons where you will also find Casanova. The Doge’s Palace is one of Venice’s main attractions not to be missed.

3 Grand Canal

The Grand Canal is the most famous of Venice’s more than 150 canals; taking a vaporetto ride gives you the chance to see some of the city’s most beautiful monuments. Alternatively, you can navigate the Grand Canal and other Venetian canals by gondola. It may not be the cheapest choice but is definitely full of charm! It should definitely be on your list of “What to do in Venice“. A gondola ride is a unique experience to admire the city from a different perspective.

4 Gallerie dell’Accademia

Visiting the Gallerie dell’Accademia of Venice allows you to see a unique collection of works spanning from the 14th to 18th centuries. It is the largest collection related to Venetian painting. The Gallerie dell’Accademia is a must for art lovers.

5 Rialto Bridge

The Rialto Bridge is one of the main things to see in Venice. It represents one of the city’s icons, and together with the campanile of St. Mark’s Square, is recognizable worldwide. It’s one of the most photographed sites in Venice.

6 Basilica di Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari

The Basilica of Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari is the largest church in Venice dedicated to the Assumption of Mary. Architecturally very distinctive, it is an extraordinary example of Venetian Gothic art.

7 Church of Santa Maria Maggiore in Venice

The 16th-century Church of Santa Maria Maggiore was used for many different purposes until the late 19th century, when it was abandoned and given to the State Monopolies Administration, who converted it into tobacco warehouses. At that time, internal modifications were made to the building. These 19th-century structures were later removed in a restoration carried out in the late 1960s by the Superintendence. The central nave was decorated with a fresco cycle representing ‘The Exaltation of the Cross’, ‘Souls in Purgatory’, and ‘The Madonna in Glory with St. Francis’. The fresco, dated 1700, was detached during the restoration to allow support restoration.

8 Prison Palace

A building designed from 1563 by G.A. Rusconi to partly substitute the prisons in the Doge’s Palace, it housed, in three rooms facing Riva degli Schiavoni, the ‘Night Lords in Charge of Criminals’, magistrates assigned to monitor citizens’ behavior, especially at night. The construction was resumed in 1589 by Antonio da Ponte and completed by Antonio and Tomaso Contino in 1614.

9 Mocenigo Palace, Venice

A noble residence in San Stae, it preserves precious 18th-century furnishings and paintings. It houses the Center for the Study of Textile and Costume History, composed of rich, extensive collections from various sources. The museum exhibits a selection of rare and valuable pieces – textiles and costumes. The collection is stored in a large textile archive. It also offers scholars a notable specialized library and is one of the most interesting museums in Venice.

10 Carlo Goldoni’s House

Birthplace of the famous playwright, located in Palazzo Centanni, in San Polo. It houses a small Goldoni museum rich in modern educational exhibits, along with the famous puppet theater from Ca’ Grimani ai Servi, already part of the Ca’ Rezzonico collections. The archive and library (over 30,000 theatrical texts and studies with original manuscripts) are also very important.

11 Ca’ Rezzonico

One of the most famous and characteristic palaces in Venice, located near Dorsoduro. The seat is at Palazzo Rezzonico, a work by Longhena and Massari. It houses important 18th-century Venetian paintings, from Tiepolo to Rosalba Carriera, from Longhi to Guardi and Canaletto, set among precious period furnishings and items. Significant donations, including one from Egidio Martini, recently enriched the museum with another three hundred works by artists such as Cima da Conegliano, Alvise Vivarini, Bonifacio de’ Pitati, Tintoretto, Sebastiano and Marco Ricci, as well as Tiepolo, Longhi, Rosalba, Francesco Guardi. It deserves to be on the list of “Venice: things to see.”

12 New Procuracies, former Royal Palace

Composed of several buildings including the New Procuracies, ancient residences of the Procurators, the Palace became the imperial seat with Napoleon I. Later, with the city’s transfer to Austria and Italy, it became an imperial-royal residence and Sabaudian home. In 1919, it was ceded to the Italian state by Victor Emmanuel III. It is currently occupied by various offices.

13 Venice Arsenal

An architectural complex originating in the early 13th century, then expanded and enriched continuously with further buildings until the early 20th century. It consists of water basins, open spaces, structures, architectures, and furnishing elements of significant historic-artistic, environmental, and documentary value. All elements strongly reflect Venetian construction tradition, forming an organic and unified environment to be considered integral and indivisible. Particularly noteworthy are: the Corderie della Tana; the Gaggiandre; the Artillery Workshops; the Squadratori building; the Bucintoro Shelter; the Artillery and Armory Gates; the Dockyards; and the monumental entrance in Campo dell’Arsenale.

14 Fortuny Museum

The Fortuny Museum is housed in the eponymous palace in Campo San Beneto, transformed by Mariano Fortuny into his photography, scenography, and stagecraft studio, textile creation, and painting workshop: the building has retained rooms, structures, tapestries, and collections relating to all these functions. It also features remarkable photographic collections and traditionally hosts activities connected to visual communication. Open to the public and spread over three floors, the palace hosts rotating temporary exhibitions.

15 Venice Glass Museum

The Glass Museum is located on the Murano island, at Palazzo Giustiniani. The collections are chronologically arranged: besides an archaeological section including notable Roman finds from the 1st to 3rd centuries AD, it houses the largest historical exhibition of Murano glass with important pieces produced between the 15th and 20th centuries, including world-renowned masterpieces. Murano is famous worldwide for its glassmaking tradition and definitely worth a visit during your stay in Venice.

16 Caffè Florian

Among the things to do during your stay in Venice, we recommend visiting this café, the oldest Italian café. Watch the prices though! It’s a perfect spot for a Venetian aperitif and to try the famous cicchetti, small typical local snacks.

Hidden Venice: What to See Away from the Crowds

Even beyond the classic routes, Venice surprises with authentic and quiet corners. If you want to discover its more reserved soul, we suggest a walk in the Castello district, through gardens, churches, and silent courtyards. The Scala Contarini del Bovolo, often less crowded, offers an unexpected view over Venetian rooftops. Another fascinating place is the island of Giudecca, where you can observe Venice from an unusual perspective, immersed in an almost surreal calm. For those looking for unusual sights in Venice, the Jewish Ghetto offers a unique perspective on the city’s history.

If you have extra time to dedicate to visiting Venice, we recommend the following places of interest:

• Sacred Art Museum “Sant’Apollonia”, inside the Benedictine monastery.
• Pescaria, a picturesque fish market.
• Le Zattere, the southernmost area of Venice facing the Giudecca Canal. Ideal for a romantic stroll.
• Cannaregio, one of the oldest and most evocative areas of Venice.
• Venice Lido, a lagoon island reached for a day of relaxation.

Among the things to see in Venice, we recommend a visit to Murano island to observe the world-famous glassmaking and a quick trip to Chioggia. Don’t forget to explore the other lagoon islands such as Burano, famous for its lace and colorful houses, and Torcello, with its evocative atmosphere and the Basilica of Santa Maria Assunta.

Quick Information about Venice: How to Get There, Where to Stay, What to Eat

17 How to Get to Venice

You can reach Venice by car, parking at Venezia Tronchetto, a parking area, and then moving by ferry. If you prefer the train, the closest stations to Venice are: Venezia Mestre and Venezia Santa Lucia. The Venice airport is Marco Polo Venice Airport.

18 Where to Eat in Venice

Where to eat in Venice: we recommend venturing slightly away from St. Mark’s Square to find traditional cuisine restaurants without overspending. Once you’ve made your choice, here is what to eat in Venice: risi e bisi, a typical Venetian dish; fegato alla veneziana and fritole, a traditional sweet for the Venice Carnival.
If you find yourself in Venice, you must absolutely stop at the Bacari, typical Venetian taverns where you can drink a glass of excellent wine accompanied by cicheti, small portions of typical dishes such as Sarde in Saor, Trippa, Anchovies, and Fried Baccalà. The Venetian aperitif in the bacari is a culinary experience not to be missed.

19 Where to Stay in Venice: Strategic Solutions and Recommended Areas

Finding accommodation in Venice can be complicated, especially due to the high prices in the historic center. However, there are excellent alternatives in less touristy but still charming neighborhoods. One of these is Dorsoduro: quieter, authentic, and well-connected to points of interest.

B&Bs in Venice are a valid solution to experience lagoon life while saving some money. Santa Croce and Castello are also areas to consider, ideal for those wanting a more authentic Venice without giving up convenience.

🛏️ Tip: check our selection of hotels and accommodations in Venice on FullTravel or our guide on how to stay in Venice for less.

💡 Or look for deals on: Booking.com

Frequently Asked Questions about What to See in Venice