20 unmissable places to visit in Venice

Who doesn't dream of a trip to La Serenissima? With its beautiful canals, stunning landmarks, and divine food, Venice is one of Italy's biggest attractions. You might want to visit as part of a romantic trip for two or bring the whole family. Either way, you'll find a wealth of attractions and places to visit waiting for you.

This guide will make sightseeing in Venice a breeze. The highlights include stunning historical buildings like the Doge's Palace, art galleries with works by great masters like da Vinci, and world-famous canals. Climb onto a gondola and let the adventure begin.

Best places to visit in Venice for history

1. Doge's Palace

The Doge's Palace, right on the edge of the lagoon, is the most important historic building in Venice. For over a thousand years, this was the seat of power of the Republic of Venice. The republic may have disappeared into modern Italy, but the Doge's Palace still stands as a fascinating museum.

Highlights:

Plunge into the history of Venice with a Doge's Palace guided tour. Your guide will point out all the interesting sights within the complex, including some stunning original paintings.

Address and opening hours:

Piazza San Marco 1, 30124 Venice. Open Sunday-Thursday, 9:00 AM-7:00 PM, and Friday-Saturday, 9:00 AM-11:00 PM.

2. St Mark's Basilica

A religious site for over a millennium, St Mark's Basilica is one of the finest churches in Italy. You'll be dazzled by the gold decor inside, including incredible ceiling mosaics. This building is a stunning example of the luxury and wealth that prevailed in the Republic of Venice.

Highlights:

Feel like a VIP with an after-hours tour of St Mark's Basilica. You'll have the church almost to yourself on this visit, which includes a trip into the spooky crypts.

Address and opening hours:

Piazza San Marco 328, 30100 Venice. Open Monday-Saturday, 9:30 AM-5:15 PM. Opening times vary on Sundays and holy days.

3. Home of Marco Polo

Many famous people have lived in Venice over the centuries, but perhaps the most important of all was Marco Polo. A visit to Marco Polo's home is a must for history buffs. You'll see the building in which the explorer lived before he set out to become the first European to reach China.

Highlights:

You can't actually go inside Marco Polo's house, but finding it is a voyage of discovery in itself. You'll need to go down narrow streets and tiny alleys in one of the most beautiful corners of Venice. No time to get lost? A walking tour of hidden Venice will lead you right there.

Address:

Corte Seconda del Milion 5852, 30121 Venice.

4. Jewish Ghetto

Venice's Jewish population was once confined to a single, fortified island. Exploring the Jewish Ghetto, with its artisan stores, bakeries, delis, and synagogues, is a great way to learn about a rarely-discussed part of Venetian history.

Highlights:

A walking tour of the Jewish Ghetto and synagogues is a true journey through time. You'll move as the Jewish community did, from their traditional neighborhood to their ghetto island, finishing in the part of the city they settled in when they were finally allowed to live freely.

Address:

Campo di Ghetto Nuovo, 30100 Venice.

5. Leonardo da Vinci Museum

He may have been from a town 250 miles away, but Leonardo da Vinci left his mark on Venice. He worked here as a military architect and engineer, and his brilliant plans kept the city safe from naval attacks. The Leonardo da Vinci Museum celebrates his legacy.

Highlights:

This museum gives you an intriguing glimpse into da Vinci's brilliant mind. It contains a reconstruction of his workshop, complete with prototypes of some of his designs.

Address and opening hours:

Scoletta di San Rocco, Campo San Rocco 3052, 30125 Venice. Open Monday-Sunday, 10:00 AM-6:45 PM.

Best places to visit in Venice for art

6. Gallerie dell'Accademia

Leonardo da Vinci's incredibly proportioned Vitruvian Man is one of the world's most famous artworks. You can see it at the Gallerie dell'Accademia, together with works by Titian, Tiepolo, Bellini, and more.

Highlights:

There's more to this gallery than just da Vinci's work. Don't miss Veronese's awe-inspiring Feast in the House of Levi, a jaw-dropping 43 feet wide.

Address and opening hours:

Calle della Carità 1050, 30123 Venice. Open Tuesday-Sunday, 8:15 AM-7:15 PM, and Monday, 8:15 AM-2:00 PM.

7. Peggy Guggenheim Collection

In the picturesque setting of a Venetian palace, the former home of heiress and art collector Peggy Guggenheim, this museum has one of the world's best collections of 20th-century art. Don't miss works by Picasso, Miró, Jackson Pollock, and Magritte. This is a fascinating journey through different 20th-century schools of art.

Highlights:

Take a Peggy Guggenheim private tour to see the works at their best. Your guide will help you identify different schools of art and show how styles evolved throughout the 20th century.

Address and opening hours:

Dorsoduro 701-704, 30123 Venice. Open Monday-Sunday, 10:00 AM-6:00 PM.

8. Scuola Grande San Giovanni Evangelista

A trip to the Scuola Grande San Giovanni Evangelista is a must for all art lovers. It gives you a peek behind the curtain into the place where many of Venice's finest Renaissance and Baroque artisans lived and worked. As you'd expect, the building is filled with beautiful examples of art and architecture.

Highlights:

With holy relics of the True Cross, a stunning staircase by Mauro Codussi, and some of Tiepolo's finest works, it's hard to beat a tour of the Scuola Grande San Giovanni Evangelista. This is an exceptional day out for any fan of historic art.

Address and opening hours:

San Polo 2454, 30125 Venice. Open Sunday-Monday, 9:30 AM-1:00 PM and 2:00 PM-5:30 PM. Closed Tuesday-Saturday.

9. Vivaldi's Church

The Chiesa di Santa Maria della Visitazione is a bit of a mouthful, but most locals know it as Vivaldi's Church. It was here that one of Italy's finest composers wrote his most famous works, inspired by the beautiful frescoes all around him.

Highlights:

What could be better than a Four Seasons concert at the Vivaldi Church? As you listen to this classical masterpiece in the very place it was composed, you'll have a cultural experience that's hard to beat.

Address and opening hours:

Riva degli Schiavoni, 30122 Venice. Open Tuesday-Sunday, 10:30 AM-1:00 PM and 2:00 PM-6:00 PM. Closed Mondays.

10. La Fenice Opera House

La Fenice is one of Venice's finest opera houses, where the annual New Year's Concert takes place. It was destroyed by an arsonist in 1996 but painstakingly rebuilt in a Baroque style. Today, it is just as grand as it ever was, with a gorgeous, ornate interior.

Highlights:

You may be lucky enough to catch a show at La Fenice. If not, an entry ticket to the opera house allows you admire the gloriously detailed architecture. Your audioguide will also explain more about the history of opera.

Address and opening hours:

Campo San Fantin 1965, 30124 Venice. Open Monday-Sunday, 9:30 AM-11:00 PM. Opening hours may vary due to performances.

Best places to visit in Venice for families

11. Natural History Museum

If there's one thing curious kids love, it's dinosaurs. With plenty to admire at Venice's Natural History Museum, including the massive skeleton of an Ouranosaurus nigeriensis. The brilliantly colorful butterflies are also a delight.

Highlights:

The whole family will enjoy the Natural History Museum. Even entering this building is a thrill, as it’s right on the banks of the canal, and the plants, animals, and fossils inside are amazing too.

Address and opening hours:

Salizada del Fontego dei Turchi 1730, 30135 Venice. Open Tuesday-Sunday, 10:00 AM-6:00 PM. Closed Mondays.

12. Procuratie Vecchie

Closed to the public for 500 years, the Procuratie Vecchie has finally opened, and it houses one of Venice's best attractions for families. The interactive World of Potential exhibit gives you a series of fun games and activities to try, discovering more about yourself and your strengths along the way.

Highlights:

Kids and grown-ups alike will have fun with a Procuratie Vecchie Interactive ticket. There are 16 interactive installations designed to fill you with curiosity, hope, and gratitude.

Address and opening hours:

Piazza San Marco 105, 30124 Venice. Open Wednesday-Monday, 10:00 AM-7:00 PM. Closed Tuesdays.

13. Creature di Gomma Exhibition

Europe's largest vintage toy collection is a true marvel. With over 6,000 toys on display, this is one of the most remarkable exhibits in the world. The grown-ups might enjoy it even more than the kids.

Highlights:

An ticket to the Creature di Gomma Exhibition gives you full access to the toys. They're divided by country and era, making it easy to find your childhood favorites.

Address and opening hours:

Calle de la Vida 2390A, 30125 Venice. Open Monday-Sunday, 10:30 AM-7:00 PM.

14. Caribe Bay Water Park

Is the city heat getting to you? Head out to Caribe Bay and cool off. This is the most popular water park in Italy, with 27 attractions, including something for all ages.

Highlights:

A Caribe Bay Water Theme Park day ticket will give you hours of family fun. Splash around in the gentle kids' pool or dare to try the tallest bungee jumping tower in Europe.

Address and opening hours:

Via Michelangelo Buonarroti 15A, 30016 Lido di Jesolo. Open Monday-Sunday, 10:00 AM-6:00 PM.

15. House of Carlo Goldoni

The traditional Venetian puppets on display at the House of Carlo Goldoni will bring a smile to every kid's face. Admire the collections of marionettes and glove puppets. You may even be lucky enough to see a show.

Highlights:

While kids love the puppets, adults have fun here too. The building is a remarkable Gothic palace with an unbeatably theatrical atmosphere.

Address and opening hours:

Rio Terà dei Nomboli 2794, 30125 Venice. Open Thursday-Tuesday, 10:00 AM-4:00 Pm. Closed Wednesdays.

Best places to visit in Venice for culture

16. Rialto Bridge

This landmark is one of the most famous bridges in the world. There are dozens of ways to admire the Rialto: from the shore, by walking across it, or by taking a gondola ride under it. Whatever you choose, no trip to Venice would be complete without it.

Highlights:

The best Rialto experience has to be a private Rialto Bridge gondola ride. You can upgrade to a ticket with a singer and an accordionist for the full Venice experience.

Address:

Sestiere San Polo, 30125 Venice.

17. Rialto Market

When you think of Italian culture, what comes to mind? Food, of course. Eat like a local with a trip to the Rialto Market, the city's central market. This was where Italian coffee culture first started, so be sure to enjoy a cup of steaming hot espresso.

Highlights:

It's easy to get lost wandering the wealth of stalls. Take a lunchtime food and wine tour of the Rialto Market and your guide will helpfully lead you to the best products and finest wines around.

Address and opening hours:

Prima de la Donzella 306, 30125 Venice. Open Monday-Saturday, 7:30 AM-3:00 PM. Closed Sundays.

18. Palazzo Barbarigo-Minotto

When the Republic of Venice was a major power, its capital was famous for its lavish parties and masquerades. You'll get a sense of that era with a trip to the Palazzo Barbarigo-Minotto, an incredibly lavish historic palace on the Grand Canal.

Highlights:

The best way to see this building is with a display of traveling opera in one of the Grand Canal’s historic palaces. You'll move from room to room with the performers, feeling the emotion of opera in a new way.

Address and opening hours:

Fondamenta Duodo o Barbarigo 2504, 30124 Venice. Open for private shows only.

19. Burano Island

Far away from the grandeur of Venice's mansions and palaces, Burano Island has its own special charm. The brightly colored houses, each painted a different shade, mark a traditional working-class neighborhood famous for its lace production.

Highlights:

Take a guided tour of Burano Island, which includes a lace-making demonstration. This is a great way to see the other side of Venice, beyond the masquerades and operas.

Address:

Burano Island, 30142 Venice.

20. Murano Glass Factory

Glass is a traditional Venetian industry. You can see the painstaking glassblowing process in action at the Murano Glass Factory. This is a fabulous way to discover a remarkable tradition.

Highlights:

A Murano Glass Factory guided tour includes a demonstration of a master at work, a tour of the factory, and even a glass of prosecco.

Address and opening hours:

Fondamenta Manin 1, 30141 Venice. Open Monday-Sunday, 9:00 AM-5:30 PM.

FAQs

How many days should I spend in Venice?

Venice is a compact city, so you can see many of the major sights in just one weekend. For a closer look, you might want to spend a full week exploring the canals and alleyways.

What is the best time of year to visit Venice?

All that water means Venice can be humid in summer. From June-August, it can be unpleasantly sticky, but the spring and fall are great seasons. Visit in April, May, September, or October to see the city at its best. Of course, you may also want to visit in late winter for the stunning annual carnival celebration.

How do I get around Venice?

By boat, of course. There are no cars or buses in Venice, so you'll either have to go on foot or take a waterway. Water buses are a cheaper option to get around the city. Water taxis will get you to your destination faster, but they cost more.

What are the best neighborhoods to visit in Venice?

Your trip must include a visit to San Marco, where you'll find the most iconic landmarks and Venetian scenes. San Polo is another top neighborhood, particularly popular with families. Choose Cannaregio if you're trying to stick to a budget.

What are the best places to go shopping in Venice?

The single best shopping street in Venice is Salizada San Samuele. This is where you'll find independent boutiques selling unique clothes and jewelry. If you're after Italian designer gear, head to Salizada San Moisè.