The 15 Best Things to Do in Venice, Italy (and Top Things to Avoid)

“The drawing room of Europe” is what Napoleon (supposedly) called Piazza San Marco; today, it’s more like the world’s most beautiful lounge. This, along with the Rialto Bridge, is what everyone flocks to Venice for, but while most visitors snap a quick photo and then join the line for St. Mark’s Basilica or the Doge’s Palace, you should take your time—and take a seat outside one of the historic bars that line the enormous square. Florian and Quadri have both been going strong since the 18th century—Florian gets the sun in the morning, but my favorite, Quadri, soaks up the afternoon rays. They’re pricey (those live orchestras accompanying your spritz won’t pay for themselves) but worth it for their glittering history. If you’re on a budget, take a seat at one of the neighboring bars—they tend to be around half the price, and you can still hear the orchestras.

Is it a church or a glorious taste of Venice’s cosmopolitan history? St. Mark’s Basilica is both the city’s main church (which started out as the doge’s personal chapel) and a reminder of Venice’s seafaring past. This glittering church—every inch of the walls and ceilings drenched in mosaics made of real gold—takes its inspiration from ancient Byzantine art, but revs it up 500% in typical outré Venetian style, throwing in multicolored marble floors and items looted from Constantinople, including the four life-size bronze horses, originally Roman, that stand astride the outdoor terrace (these are copies; the originals are in the onsite museum). It’s beautiful always, but most atmospheric after dark, so if you’re visiting in winter, book a timed entry ticket for as late as possible. If you love art (or all things that glitter), consider paying extra to see the Pala d’Oro, a huge altarpiece made of solid gold and studded with hundreds of precious gems, which is only brought out on major religious holidays. The museum is also worth it, to see those whinnying Roman bronze horses alone.

For centuries, as foreign ambassadors and merchants sailed towards Venice, this would have been their first glimpse of the city: the pink and white patterned Palazzo Ducale, or Doge’s Palace–the heart of Venetian government, swaggering on the shoreline towards the Adriatic. It’s every bit as impressive today from the outside, but you need to venture inside to see its real glory–not the Bridge of Sighs (the covered bridge that took prisoners from the “court” rooms to the cells–although everyone comes for this, it’s better seen from outside), but the wealth of art on the walls. This is a gallery of Venice’s greatest Renaissance painters–everywhere you look, there are works by Veronese, Titian, and Tintoretto, whose mesmerizing Paradise in the Sala del Maggior Consiglio is thought to be the world’s largest canvas painting. Buy a timed entry ticket in advance, and if you enjoy art, consider paying the small extra fee to see the temporary exhibitions, which are usually held in the Doge’s apartments–they’re always niche but fascinating.

You’ll have heard Venice is expensive to eat in, and it is if you’re going to restaurants, which is why you should do as the Venetians do. For centuries, they’ve been grazing at bacari–taverns serving ombre (small glasses of wine) and cicchetti, Venice’s answer to tapas. Grab a platter of cicchetti–traditional snacks include hard-boiled egg with an anchovy on top, or a meatball, though today most bars layer slices of baguette with ever-inventive toppings, from honey-smeared cheese to baccalà mantecato (creamed cod). Cantina del vino già Schiavi in Dorsoduro is the best known these days, or for an evening out, try a bacaro-crawl along the Fondamenta della Misericordia, a wide canal side street in Cannaregio that’s lined with bars.

If there’s one museum you should see in Venice, it’s this–a vast gallery showcasing some of the finest works made in, and inspired by, the city on water. Much of the collection originated in Venetian churches, was looted by Napoleon after he conquered Venice in 1797, and was painstakingly reacquired for the museum. You’ll find huge altarpieces by the likes of Bellini and Titian, gold-tinted early Renaissance works by the Crivelli family of artists, and Renaissance propaganda paintings made for the state by the top artists of the time, like Tintoretto (my all-time favorite). If you love art, you’ll want to build a whole day around this–and look out for the temporary exhibitions which are always world-class (when the Bezos marriage took place in Venice, most of the celeb guests headed straight over to the Accademia to catch that season’s exhibition–perhaps the only tasteful thing they did all weekend).

The glass-blowing island just off the north coast of Venice, Murano, is today as over-touristed as the city center. It’s still worth a visit, though, plan rather than wandering aimlessly, as it can feel underwhelming unless you know what you’re coming for. The main attraction is, of course, glass – the demonstrations held in most factories are nice but short, and you can feel politely obliged to buy something afterwards. It’s more fun to take a glass-blowing class–I usually suggest those run by OMG, Original Murano Glass, which take 2-3 hours and end up with you creating a glass flower to take home. The Museo del Vetro, or Glass Museum, is a surprisingly fascinating history of glass, from its Middle Eastern origins to the 1960s ornaments Murano’s maestros were creating in Italy’s dolce vita period.

Sometimes the Biennale–which floods the city with contemporary art and architecture “pavilions” alternating every year–feels a bit too cool for school, but don’t write it off if you’re not an “art person.” For starters, the main exhibition is held in one of the most fascinating parts of the city–the Arsenale, the medieval shipyard that could churn out a galleon in three days and powered Venice’s dominance of the Adriatic and the eastern Mediterranean for centuries. Wandering through the hangar-like rope factories, construction rooms, and docks is fascinating, even if you ignore the art–but I find that the guided tours (for an extra fee) explain the exhibition beautifully even to non-art buffs. The other highlight are the national pavilions–not the major ones in the Giardini area but those in regular buildings around town. Have a wander and if you see a sign, follow it–they’re usually free, and allow you into Renaissance palazzos that are otherwise closed to the public.

As a trading port, La Serenissima was a multicultural society, but that didn’t mean that it was egalitarian. Venice was home to the world’s first Jewish ghetto–the word comes from the Venetian geto–established on a claustrophobic island in Cannaregio in 1516. Today, you can take audiotours through the area–you’ll see the Renaissance-era skyscrapers (since there was no room to expand, the Jews had to build upwards), the site of the gates that barricaded the community in every nightfall, and semi-hidden synagogues, richly decorated inside but deliberately nondescript and spartan from outside. Guided tours give more context–they’re available hourly. Pop into Panificio Volpe at the end–it’s a bakery that makes sweets from the Venetian Jewish tradition.

These days, Burano is a must-see: a heart-shaped island in the north lagoon, known for its multicolored houses that reflect prettily in the canals. And it’s true, it’s gorgeous–but to really do it justice, you should spend more time than doing the obligatory half-hour walk-around. Visit the Museo del Merletto, which tells the story of Burano’s tradition of lacemaking, see the lace shops (most of them have mini museums out the back with centuries-old stitched pictures of Burano or portraits of Jesus), and throw in a leisurely lunch at Trattoria al Gatto Nero, one of Venice’s best seafood restaurants. Then head over to Torcello, the island just across the water.

The Accademia may be grand, but this is my favorite museum in Venice: a jewel-like collection of art in a beautiful palazzo, with a running history of Venice as you go. The Querini Stampalia is a Venetian cultural institution–students come for the library, while visitors get to enjoy the wonderful collection of art upstairs, including Bellini’s exquisite Presentation at the Temple. That work is propped on an easel by Carlo Scarpa, Venice’s 20th-century architect, who was world-famous for his simple but intuitive designs. The ground floor of the building features a wing designed by Scarpa to work with, not against, acqua alta flooding–it’s a sinuous collection of rooms where the water flows in and then out, accompanied by a Japanese-inspired garden out back. Panels throughout the museum tell the hidden history of Venice, from the working conditions of servants to the treatment of LGBTQ+ citizens–and while that might sound preachy, it’s done brilliantly and is incredibly informative.

If you love history or atmosphere, this is your top spot in the north lagoon. Today, it’s a tiny island with fewer than a dozen inhabitants, but 1,500 years ago, Torcello was the first settlement in the lagoon and became a medieval boomtown that fell out of favor when the harbor silted up. Residents moved south to Riva Alto (which became Rialto), and the rest is history. Today, it remains home to the mesmerizing Basilica di Santa Maria Assunta, a vast church adorned with glittering gold Byzantine mosaics. The small Museo di Torcello nearby houses unusual Roman finds from around the lagoon, as well as traces of medieval Torcello. But mostly this is a place to wander round and soak up the atmosphere–it still oozes history in every ruined wall or overgrown field.

Not many visitors take the vaporetto over to the island of San Giorgio Maggiore–all the better for me, as it’s one of my favorite places in the city. A monastic complex that now houses a cultural foundation as well as the monks, there’s a huge church designed by Renaissance ‘starchitect’ Andrea Palladio, filled with works by Tintoretto, plus a soaring campanile (belltower) – take the elevator up for incredible views of the city, the lagoon, and the white-tipped Dolomites beyond. Behind the church are the grounds of the Fondazione Giorgio Cini–you can tour the monastic complex, get lost in a labyrinth, or (my favorite) see the Vatican Chapels: 10 mini meditative chapels built for the 2018 Architecture Biennale, set in contemplative woodland, the lagoon sloshing against the shore. Stop for lunch at San Giorgio Café, the island’s fantastic restaurant.

Now, this is only if you need a break from all the culture, because in my opinion, no beach is worth missing an afternoon in Venice for. But if you really want that break, and it’s sizzling summertime, then hop on a vaporetto (waterbus) to the Lido island, where you’ll find around seven miles of sandy beaches shelving gently into the Adriatic. In Italy, beaches are mostly privatized, so you can either rent a sun-lounger or cabana for the day at a beach club (take your pick–they all have changing rooms, restaurants, bars and bathrooms) or head to the far left (north) of the island to the “free” public beach–less glam but great if you only want a couple of hours in the sun.

First things first–like most residents, I’m not a huge fan of Carnevale, which sees the city taken over by particularly conspicuous tourism–visitors tossing confetti in the streets (which refuse workers have to sweep up by hand) and spending exorbitant amounts of money going to masked balls, which haven’t been a genuine thing here since the days of Casanova. But taking my own Grinch mask off, it’s a spectacular time to see the city, with free events taking place in the streets and a fun atmosphere for visitors. You don’t have to visit during Carnevale to experience it, though; the spirit of carnival lives year-round in Venice thanks to the artisan mask-makers, where you can buy traditional Venetian masks or even make them yourselves. Take a class with Hamid Seddighi of Ca’ del Sol, a true artisan who’s been crafting traditional Venetian masks since 1979 (he also rents costumes, if you want to dress up).

Speaking of Hamid, he’s one of dozens of artisans still continuing Venice’s centuries-old traditions of all things handmade. Supporting them helps the history survive, practices sustainable tourism in this most fragile of cities… and also gives you something to take home that you’ll remember forever. There are artisans making everything here, from gondola oars to mosaic tesserae. My go-tos, if I need to buy gifts, revolve around stationery–I love Paolo Olbi’s diaries, handbound and printed with traditional Venetian motifs, and I adore Paolo Pelosin’s marbled paper, which he uses to cover everything from recipe books to pens and trash cans (he doesn’t have a website; his shop, Il Pavone, is in Campiello dei Meloni in San Polo–don’t confuse it with another of the same name in Dorsoduro).

After Piazza San Marco, the area around Rialto–the famous, frilly white-stone bridge across the Grand Canal, and the market at its feet in the district of San Polo–is where visitors flock. Controversial opinion: don’t join them. Yes, the Rialto bridge is gorgeous–built in the 16th century out of gleaming white Istrian stone–but it’s best seen from the water, either from a vaporetto (the number 1 goes under it) or from a gondola, where you can bob beneath it to your heart’s content. That’s better than crossing (or attempting to cross) the bridge, which is always heaving with tourists, and whose famous water-hanging shops are now tourist traps. The same goes for the market, which has been at its feet since medieval times. Sadly, the rise of tourism and associated exodus means it’s a fraction of what it once was. Leave what’s left–the fruit and veg stands, and the rowdy fish market–to what’s left of the Venetians. The last thing they need as they go about their daily business is to be dodging cameras. Visiting sustainably means staying away.

Living under a rock is your only excuse for not knowing about Monica Poli, a.k.a. the viral “attenzione pickpocket lady,” who does the lord’s work by outing the mushrooming number of petty thieves roaming Venice. Unfortunately, this isn’t a social media trend–pickpockets are a real issue (thanks to a 2022 law change that makes prosecution unlikely). As Monica always reiterates, you won’t notice pickpockets because they look and dress just like you. So avoid backpacks or putting anything in your pockets and use zippable crossbody bags–and keep your hand on the zipper while you’re anywhere crowded, like lining up for a vaporetto or crossing the Rialto Bridge (which, if you’ve followed my advice, you won’t be doing anyway).

Yes, booking an Airbnb or short-term rental seems like a great way to keep costs down in Venice and get off the tourist trail. There’s just one problem: This is one of the most overtouristed places on the planet, a city hemorrhaging locals, and one of the main reasons for the exodus is the lack of housing, as residential homes are being turned into Airbnbs (six out of eight apartments in my block are short-term rentals). This has a real impact on the fabric of the city, and the most sustainable thing you can do when visiting Venice is to stay in a hotel, even better if it’s locally owned. If cost is an issue, try a bacaro instead of a restaurant for dinner–a platter of cicchetti and a couple of ombre is one of my favorite nights out.

Seafood restaurants are two-a-penny in Venice, but this is in a league of its own–a family-run trattoria since 1965, with husband-and-wife Ruggero and Lucia Bovo in the kitchen, and son Massimiliano out front. They’re known for their obsessively local approach to food, so you’ll find catches of the day from the lagoon, plus classics like spider crab pasta and Burano’s traditional risotto di gò, made with lagoon-netted goby fish. There’s a lovely mix of locals and tourists here, which is unusual for Venice. Most of the tables are inside in a bright room covered in artworks, but try asking for one outside–either on the canal or out back in the pretty courtyard.

La Zucca appears on pretty much every Venice restaurant list, which isn’t ideal because it’s pretty small, but there’s a reason it’s universally loved: it has delicious food and caters for non-fish lovers. In particular, it’s vegetarian-friendly, with inventive dishes conjured up out of fresh veggies every day, but also serves great meat dishes, so it’s one for everyone. Book ahead of time and try to reserve an outdoor table on the cute canal side. Be aware that there are two nightly seatings, so don’t be late, and don’t expect to linger (although let’s be honest, with so much to do in Venice, the last thing you want to do is linger in a restaurant).

Budget doesn’t have to mean cheap in Venice; here, a few seconds’ walk from the Grand Canal, in an equally fancy 17th-century palazzo, you’ll find all the fabric wall coverings, gilded furniture, and Murano chandeliers you like–but at a price you can afford. Owners Valter and Sandro, both “veneziano DOC” (as locals call born-and-bred Venetians), have a mission: to make you love Venice (almost) as much as they do. That means they and their staff are always happy to suggest loved-by-local places, and ways to sightsee sustainably. It’s a cozy place, with just 15 rooms and a quiet, plant-fringed courtyard, yet Piazza San Marco is only a 15-minute walk away.

Hovering over the Grand Canal at arguably its most beautiful point, with views of the Salute church, the mouth of the Grand Canal, and the lagoon beyond, the Gritti already has everything going in its favor. Add in that this is a historic palazzo, built for the noble Gritti family (there’s a portrait of 16th-century doge Andrea Gritti by Titian’s workshop over the fireplace), and it only gets better. Step inside the rooms to find them renovated to five-star standards but still groaning in antiques, walls covered with artworks, drapes heavy as humans, and bathrooms covered in marble? Even better. And the icing on the cake – the views of the Grand Canal from the front-facing rooms. It’s eye-wateringly pricey but is worth the hype (and shh, but I prefer it to the equally expensive Aman, near the Rialto).

Your best visit to Venice will be outside of the high season. The reasons for that are twofold: First, like everywhere, the city is vastly overcrowded in summer. Second, being out in the water, Venice has island-levels of humidity (not to mention mosquitoes). Add that to the searing heat (and lack of air conditioning at the main sights), and it can be suffocating. Throw in the difficulty of getting around – ludicrously expensive taxis, ever-more crowded vaporetti, or walking in the heat, and a summer visit can genuinely feel grueling.

If you’re like me and love the romance of fog rolling in across the lagoon and carpeting the canals, you’ll want to visit in winter. The advantage: it’s much quieter, and more ‘Venetian.’ The drawback: the damp can make it bone-chillingly cold. So, if that feels too extreme, go for the shoulder season – though try to avoid Italian public holidays, when the city is crowded with day-trippers.

As for getting around, this is a rare city where it’s a joy to walk. You can comfortably cross the center in its entirety in about 45 minutes, although you should leave extra time to explore. Vaporetto lines run up and down the Grand Canal and loop the city, as well as going out to the islands – if you’re not a major walker, invest in a timed ticket so you can hop on and off. Taxis are a sublime experience, but are extremely expensive, and usually unnecessary unless you have a lot of luggage. For getting in from the airport, you’re best off with the Alilaguna waterbus, which has three routes around the city and can get you near where you need to go.