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

Visiting Venice is a dream shared by millions of travelers around the world. Famous for its millennial history, for the art and culture that permeate every corner, for the Carnival most famous in Italy and the glassmaking tradition of Murano, Venice is simply unique. A weave of canals, bridges, and poetic views that stay in the heart. In this guide you will find what to see in Venice, the main places of interest, and plenty of ideas on what to do during your stay.
You will discover the most charming places in the city and what makes Venice so unforgettable.

Discover Venice on video

An exciting journey through alleys, canals, and legendary squares: see Venice like you never have before.

What to visit in Venice: places of interest
There are many extraordinary places to see in Venice, but you don’t need a full week to enjoy it. In this guide, we help you understand what to see in Venice in one day, or to build a longer itinerary with all the must-see attractions.

The 12 Most Famous Attractions in Venice

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

1 St. Mark’s Square

St. Mark’s Square is the symbol of the city and the heart of Venice. At the center stands the majestic St. Mark’s Campanile, famous worldwide. A gathering place for tourists and Venetian citizens, it is bustling with bars and venues. It is 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 encompasses the entire history of Venice and its inhabitants are very attached to its figure. 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 the over 150 canals in Venice; taking a vaporetto ride will allow you to see some of the city’s most beautiful monuments. Alternatively, you can cross the Grand Canal and the other Venetian canals by gondola. A choice that might not be very economical, but certainly full of charm! Definitely worth adding to the ” Things to do in Venice” list. A gondola ride is a unique experience to admire the city from a different perspective.

4 Gallery of the Academy

Visiting the Gallery of the Academy of Venice you will be able to observe a unique collection of works from the period ranging from the 1300s to the 1700s. It is the largest collection related to Venetian painting. The Galleries of the Academy are 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, along with the bell tower of St. Mark’s Square, is recognizable worldwide. It is one of the most photographed places to visit in Venice.

6 Basilica di Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari

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

7 Church of Santa Maria Maggiore in Venice

The sixteenth-century church of Santa Maria Maggiore was used for many different purposes until, at the end of the nineteenth century, it was abandoned and handed over to the State Monopolies Administration, which used it as a tobacco warehouse. At that time, modifications were made to the internal layout of the building. These nineteenth-century superstructures were later removed during a restoration carried out at the end of the sixties by the Superintendent. The central nave was decorated with a cycle of frescoes depicting ‘The Exaltation of the Cross’, ‘The Souls in Purgatory’, ‘The Madonna in Glory with St. Francis’. The fresco, dated 1700, was detached during the aforementioned intervention to allow the restoration of the degraded support.

8 Prison Palace

Building designed since 1563 by G.A. Rusconi to partly replace the prisons of the Ducal Palace, it housed, in the three rooms facing Riva degli Schiavoni, the ‘Lords of the Night for Criminals’, a magistracy responsible for overseeing citizens’ behavior, especially during nightlife. The construction, resumed in 1589 by Antonio da Ponte, was completed by Antonio and Tomaso Contino in 1614.

9 Palazzo Mocenigo, Venice

Noble residence in San Stae, it preserves precious eighteenth-century furniture and paintings. It is the headquarters of the Center for the Study of Textile and Costume History, which consists of rich and complex collections from various sources. The museum exhibits a selection of rare pieces – fabrics and costumes – of particular value. The core of the heritage is kept in the imposing textile library. It also offers researchers a remarkable specialized library in the field and is one of the most interesting museums in Venice.

10 House of Carlo Goldoni

Birthplace of the famous playwright, it is located in Palazzo Centanni, in San Polo. It houses a small Goldoni museum rich in modern educational suggestions as well as the famous puppet theater coming from Ca’ Grimani ai Servi and already included in the collections of Ca’ Rezzonico. Very important are the archive and the library (over 30,000 works) of theatrical texts and studies with original manuscripts.

11 Ca’ Rezzonico

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

12 New Procuracies, former Royal Palace

Consisting of multiple buildings including the New Procuracies, ancient residences of the Procurators, the Palace became, with Napoleon I, an imperial seat. Then, with the city’s transition to Austria and Italy, it became the imperial-royal house and Savoyard residence. In 1919, it was ceded to the Italian state by Vittorio Emanuele III. It is currently occupied by various offices.

13 Venetian Arsenal

Architectural complex originating in the early 13th century, later expanded and enriched with additional buildings inside continuously until the early decades of the 20th century. It consists of water basins, open spaces, structures, architectures, furnishings of significant historical-artistic, environmental, and documentary value. All the elements present are strongly linked to the Venetian construction tradition and configure an organic and unitary environment to be considered in an integral and inseparable way. In particular, the following stand out for their fundamental value: the Corderie della Tana; the Gaggiandre; the Officine delle Artiglierie; the building of the Squadratori; the Ricovero Bucintoro; the portals of the Artilleries and Armories; the Darsene; 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 own workshop for photography, scenography and stage design, textile creation, painting: the building has preserved rooms and structures, wallpapers, collections from all these functions. It also boasts remarkable photographic collections and traditionally hosts activities related to visual communication. Open to the public and visitable across three floors, the Palace hosts rotating temporary exhibitions.

15 Venice Glass Museum

The Glass Museum is located on the island of Murano, at Palazzo Giustiniani. The collections are arranged chronologically: besides the archaeological section, which includes remarkable Roman artifacts from the 1st to the 3rd century AD, it houses the largest historical exhibition of Murano glass with important pieces produced between the 15th and the 20th centuries, including masterpieces of worldwide renown. Murano is famous worldwide for its glassmaking tradition and definitely deserves 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. Be careful with the prices though! It is a perfect place for a Venetian aperitif and to taste the famous cicchetti, small snacks typical of the local tradition.

Hidden Venice: what to see away from the crowds

Even outside the classic routes, Venice surprises with authentic and quiet corners. If you want to discover its more reserved soul, we recommend a walk in the Castello district, among gardens, churches, and silent courtyards. The Scala Contarini del Bovolo, often not crowded, offers an unexpected view over the Venetian rooftops. Another fascinating place is the island of Giudecca, where you can observe Venice from an unusual perspective, immersed in an almost surreal quiet. For those looking for something unusual to see in Venice, the Jewish Ghetto offers a unique perspective on the city’s history.

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

• “Sant’Apollonia” Sacred Art Museum, inside the Benedictine monastery.
• Pescaria, picturesque fish market
• Le Zattere, the southernmost area of Venice, overlooking the Giudecca Canal. An ideal place for a romantic walk
• Cannaregio, one of the oldest and most evocative areas of Venice
• Venice Lido, lagoon island to reach for a relaxing day

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

Quick info 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 around by ferry. If you prefer the train, the stations closest to Venice are: Venezia Mestre and Venezia Santa Lucia. The Venice airport is instead the Marco Polo Venezia Airport.

18 Where to eat in Venice

Where to eat in Venice: we recommend moving slightly away from Piazza San Marco to find traditional cuisine restaurants and not spend a fortune. Once you have made your choice, here is what to eat in Venice: risi e bisi, a typical Venetian dish; fegato alla veneziana and fritole, a typical sweet of the Venice Carnival.
If you are in Venice, you must absolutely stop by 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, Acciughe, and Baccalà fritto. The Venetian aperitif in the bacari is a culinary experience not to be missed.

19 Where to sleep 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 them is Dorsoduro: quieter, authentic, and well connected to the points of interest.

B&B in Venice are a valid solution to experience the lagoon atmosphere while saving some money. Also, Santa Croce and Castello are areas to consider, ideal for those who want a more genuine Venice without giving up convenience.

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

💡 Or search for deals on: Booking.com

Frequently Asked Questions about What to See in Venice