The best things to do in Venice

With its maze of canals and bridges, the dreamy vibe and the magical scenery, Venice is just one of those places everyone should see at least once in their life – so making sure you have a tried-and-tested list of the best things to do in Venice is essential for making the most out of your trip. First-time visitors, struck by the beauty of the lavish palazzos that reflect in the lagoon, stare in wonder at the miracle of a city that has been built on water and still stands after centuries. It may look like a floating world, but it is well-anchored to the seabed through strong stilt-supported houses that weather high tides and storms. Venice has a lot to offer in terms of highlights and things to do, though its real soul lies in the unique experiences and emotions it gives travellers. To ensure you have a bucket list worthy of such a destination – these are the best things to do in Venice.

Best things to do in Venice

1. Daydream on a gondola

It may be a bit of cliché but going to Venice and skipping a traditional guided trip on a gondola would be like visiting Rome and not entering the Colosseum. As you lay back on velvet cushions, gliding along the canals just like aristocrats did in the old days, you’ll be amazed at the navigating and story-telling skills of Venice’s gondolieri. It’s the best way to explore the lagoon‘s waterways, zig-zagging along the narrow canals where old houses have docks instead of entrance gates. Forget parking spaces for cars, many locals keep dinghies out the front porch.

2. Eat at a Renaissance restaurant

Prepare for a culinary throwback. The Osteria Antico Dolo, located in the Rialto Bridge market area, used to be a 15th-century brothel where energy-rich food was served to exhausted clients after heavy sex sessions. It’s one of Italy’s oldest restaurants. In 1434 it became a typical, no-frill Venetian tavern, tucked away in a traditional calle alleyway where clients could enjoy a glass of red or white wine. It still serves today delicious iconic recipes such as tripe with different types of offals.

Address: Ostaria Antico Dolo, Ruga Rialto, 778, 30175 Venezia
Website: anticodolo.it

3. Take the ferry boat to Burano

The isle of Burano, a 40-minute ferry boat ride across the lagoon from the main island, is a patchwork of brightly coloured, low-cut fishermen's dwellings that line the harbour, reflecting in the water. Time seems frozen. Far from the buzz of crowded spots, it’s quiet and peaceful, ideal for evening strolls or sunset aperitifs. Residents have embraced a slower-paced lifestyle and warmly greet visitors.

4. Admire the ‘aristocratic’ Grand Canal

Water is everywhere in Venice. The main infrastructure is the Grand Canal, the city’s biggest lure. It unwinds like a snake all the way to the open lagoon, passing by elegant mansions, museums, aristocratic buildings and majestic hotels. It may get crowded during rush hours, with taxi boats and ferries going up and down, but after lunch, when most locals are off to rest, it’s much quieter. Looking up, you’ll catch glimpses of regal palaces’ frescoed ceilings and crystal chandeliers. Private taxi boats come with onboard Champagne and finger foods.

5. Buy fresh produce at the Ponte di Rialto market

With over 400 bridges in the entire Venetian archipelago, the pearl-white, geometric Ponte di Rialto rules above them all. It’s majestic and one of the few in the world to have artisan boutiques built onto it, including jewellers and silk shops selling handmade creations. Despite its grandeur, it’s also a very humble place. Housewives and restaurant chefs head here each morning to buy fresh veggies and fruit at the farmers’ market. All products are locally sourced from the surrounding countryside, with zero food miles.

6. Get the goosebumps at Ponte dei Sospiri

Venice has quite a bit of dark history. To catch a glimpse of it, the creamy-white stone Ponte dei Sospiri (the ‘Bridge of Sighs’) is one of the most fascinating things to do in Venice. Don’t be fooled by the name, it’s not a romantic spot for lovers. On the contrary, this richly decorated arched passageway connecting the Doge’s Palace to the ancient dungeons, built above a canal, is where prisoners sentenced to death made their last walk to their cells, letting out sighs of torment and anguish. It can be visited by entering through a wing of the palace or simply strolling along the lagoon seafront.

Address: Bridge of Sighs, P.za San Marco, 1, 30124 Venezia
Website: palazzoducale.visitmuve.it

7. Get lost in the maze of calle

Venice is a labyrinth of intersecting canals and tiny bridges leading to narrow calle – the traditional alleys where Venetians kill time chatting. There is no better way to discover the city than by foot, up and down the ponticelli (little bridges). The calle unwind through piazzas, small gardens, cafés and boutiques selling the best handmade leather and silk clothes. Many private dwellings with courtyards are connected to the calle by minuscule bridges. Getting lost here is the only way to really soak in the Venetian vibe.

8. Learn about Murano’s glass blowers

The glass museum on sister-isle Murano showcases the centuries-old glass-making art and unique technique behind wonderful creations that look like masterpieces. It’s a skill handed down across generations of glass-blowers. The stunning handmade products, from rainbow-coloured lamps to beautiful earrings, are made inside the local glass factory, which is also open to tours.

Address: Glass Museum, Fondamenta Marco Giustinian, 8, 30141 Venezia
Website: museovetro.visitmuve.it

9. Go underground

There’s more to Venice than meets the eye. It may look like a floating city, but its depths are not made just of water. Below the sumptuous buildings and mystical churches lies a hidden, secret world of dark caves. At San Zaccaria Church and St. Mark’s Cathedral, you can descend to admire underground crypts full of skulls and skeletons and a mysterious grave covered in religious frescoes. According to local lore, these spooky places are haunted, so don’t freak out if you bump into a ghost on a guided tour.

Address: Chiesa di San Zaccaria, Campo S. Zaccaria, 4693, 30122 Venezia; Saint Mark's Basilica, P.za San Marco, 328, 30100 Venezia
Website: soprintendenza.venezia.beniculturali.it; basilicasanmarco.it

10. Let it all out during Carnival

The most fun part of the year to visit Venice is February, when the centuries-old Carnival takes place. Millions of revellers from all over the world dress up in masquerade costumes and get wild. It’s party time: in the past, it was a blank cheque to debauchery, and citizens could do whatever they wanted as long as their identity was concealed. Today it’s an open-air catwalk of glittery masks, feathered hats, black capes and colourful ball gowns. To enjoy the confetti-showered spectacle without getting stuck in the crowd, sit at one of the historical cafés that line St. Mark’s Square, swarming with party-goers.

Website: venice-carnival-italy.com

11. Nibble like a real local

Happy hour for Venetians is when they gather at the city’s historical bacari, little eateries that have been serving finger foods and alcohol shots since the dawn of time. Iconic drinks include Spritz (a Prosecco and soda water cocktail) and so-called ombre (wine glasses), paired with cicchetti appetizers. These are small grilled bread stuffed with baccalà stockfish, fruit, cheeses and Venetian calf liver mixed with onions. At Al Timon you can nibble inside a small boat, while Cantina do Mori with dangling copper pots is where womaniser Casanova loved to hang out.

Address: Al Timon, Fondamenta dei Ormesini, 2754, 30121 Venezia; Cantina Do Mori, Calle Do Mori, 429, 30125 Venezia
Website: altimon.it; facebook.com

12. Cruise the lagoon

Venice is a city best explored by water, so on a private cruise you’ll admire the entire lagoon and the hidden gems of its archipelago. Hop on Eolo, an old wooden flat-bottomed sailing boat formerly used to fish in shallow waters. It’s also a sailing restaurant, serving local delicacies like sweet and sour sardines. There are tailored tours of up to six days with personal guides, sleeping in exclusive accommodations and learning about the amazing history of this wonderful corner of Italy.

Address: cruisingvenice.com

13. Explore all around St Mark's Square

Napoleon is said to have described piazza San Marco as "Europe's drawing room". Nowadays, it's more like a café (watch out: there's a hefty surcharge for consuming at those pavement tables) at the heart of a remarkable museum. To start with, there's the domed basilica itself, with its prancing bronze horses on the balcony and acres of glittering mosaics inside. Next door, the Doge's Palace has splendid gilded-and-painted public spaces, contrasting starkly with cramped passages and tiny offices where bureaucrats worked in the shadows to keep the wheels of the mighty Venetian republic turning. There are infamous prisons here too. You can visit both on the Itinerari Segreti tour, bookable through the visitmuve website. Out in the piazza itself, the campanile (bell tower) offers spectacular views from the summit. Rebuilt many times since a tower was first erected here in the ninth century, this reconstruction dates from 1912. The moors with their huge hammers atop the Torre dell'Orologio (clock tower), on the other hand, have been striking the hour for over 500 years. To visit the historic clock mechanisms, book through the visitmuve website. Facing the basilica at the far end of the piazza, the Museo Correr is the Museum of Venice, full of art, maps, furnishings and historical curiosities to set the city in a chronological context. The rooms dedicated to Empress Sissi show the luxury enjoyed by the Austrian royals when they ruled Venice in the second half of the 19th century. Anne Hanley

Website: visitmuve.it

14. Visit the Island of San Giorgio Maggiore

A brief waterbus hop from the throngs in St Mark's Square lies the tiny island of San Giorgio Maggiore, an oasis of calm packed with unexpected treats. The striking 16th-century church of San Giorgio, designed by Palladio, contains artworks by Domenico Tintoretto among others. From inside the church, a lift ascends to the top of the bell tower. There's rarely any queue to visit this tower, from where the view is arguably even finer than the one from the campanile in St Mark's Square: from this vantage point, the whole of the island city is laid out perfectly at your feet. The former monastery attached to the church is home to the scholarly Fondazione Giorgio Cini. Besides inviting researchers from around the world, the Foundation hosts art and photography exhibitions, as well as concerts, theatre events, talks and seminars. Out back, and visitable on a guided tour, is a vast maze designed by British labyrinth expert Randoll Coate and inspired by the writings of Jorge Luis Borges. In the island's spacious, restful Stanze del Vetro museum, themed exhibitions focus on the art of Venetian glass in the 20th century. Anne Hanley

15. La Biennale

For a few days each spring, culture pages of the world's press fill with tales from Venice and its Biennale art (even years) or architecture (odd years) extravaganza, highlighting the extreme and/or controversial fringes of this glimpse into the contemporary scene. But the Biennale is so much more than that. For a start, La Biennale is not an exhibition so much as an organisation: as well as art and architecture events, the Biennale organises dance, music and theatre festivals. The glamorous Venice Film Festival also comes under its huge umbrella. More importantly, it's not a flash in the pan: the art and architecture shows are open from April to November, with main exhibits in the delightful Giardini della Biennale at the eastern end of island Venice and in the glorious Arsenale, where the Venetian republic built and maintained its ships over its 1000-year history. It's only during shows that visitors can explore the Arsenale's lofty spaces. What can't be squeezed into the main venues is spun off in shows dotted around the city, some in the most unlikely venues: private palazzi, ancient meeting halls... even inside the women's prison. If you're visiting during exhibition months, it offers a fantastic chance to nose about in under-the-radar Venice. Anne Hanley

Website: labiennale.org