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Things to do in Venice

Remnants of medieval might are just the tip of the iceberg in this 1600-year-old port city.

Our most recommended things to do in Venice

Venice: Grand Canal Gondola Ride with App Commentary

1. Venice: Grand Canal Gondola Ride with App Commentary

Feel the essence of Venice as you explore hidden and picturesque waterways near the Grand Canal with a gondola ride. Listen to in-app commentary to learn more about the city as you admire the sights. Start your activity by meeting the host, who will explain some curiosities about the history of gondolas and gondoliers. Get free access to an app with commentary of your itinerary on the gondola. As you enjoy the beauties of the Grand Canal, admire the marvelous Palaces such as the Peggy Guggenheim Collection Palace, the Gritti Palace, the Salute Church, the Punta della Dogana. Discover the worldwide-famous La Fenice Theatre and the Mozart House along the romantic and hidden waterways. At the end of your ride, enjoy a breathtaking view of the Saint Mark’s Basin with San Giorgio Island.

Venice: Doge's Palace Reserved Entry Admission Ticket

2. Venice: Doge's Palace Reserved Entry Admission Ticket

Visit the Doge's Palace, an important historic landmark that served as the seat of Venetian political power for centuries. Skip the ticket line with to explore the seat of a 1,000-year republic, you’ll travel back in time to the Middle Ages. Marvel at the rich details of the magnificent gold staircase and spectacular works of art. Relive the anguish of the prisoners as they crossed the famous Bridge of Sighs. Your admission ticket also includes entry to the Correr Museum on St. Mark's Square. The building was originally designed as a residence for Napoleon, and later became the Venetian residence of the King of Italy.

Doge's Palace & St. Mark's Basilica with Terrace Access Tour

3. Doge's Palace & St. Mark's Basilica with Terrace Access Tour

Delve deep into Venice’s history with a 3-hour guided tour of St. Mark’s Basilica and the Doge's Palace, either as a private tour or shared group experience. Take in two of the city’s most important landmarks while discovering the history of the one-time mercantile capital of the Mediterranean.  Start by exploring St. Mark's Square with your guide before heading into the cathedral. From the first-floor terrace you’ll be able to admire views across the lagoon and see the famous bronze horses up close. Hear how they traveled all the way to Paris and back in Napoleon’s time. St. Mark's Basilica sometimes closes to visitors without warning. If this happens, visit the Church of San Zaccaria or the Correr Museum instead, depending on availability. Take a tour of the beautifully ornate 15th-century church and its flooded crypt or learn about the art and history of Venice. Next, you’ll use the priority entrance to reach Doge's Palace, formerly the residence of the leader of the Republic of Venice. Enjoy visiting the Chamber of the Great Council and courtrooms among other things. Highlights include frescoes by Tintoretto and the Giants’ Staircase.  After this, cross the infamous Bridge of Sighs that links to the New Prisons. Learn how the bridge got its name and the purpose for its construction in the 17th century as you take in the amazing views of the canals. At the end of your tour, feel free to stay and explore the Doge’s Palace with tips from your guide.

Venice: Marco Polo Airport Water Taxi Transfer

4. Venice: Marco Polo Airport Water Taxi Transfer

Enjoy a shared water taxi service between Venice Marco Polo Airport and central Venice hotels. Choose from a 1-way or round-trip service and relax for a scenic ride. Depart straight after you find your luggage and get whisked across the lagoon to your hotel. This is the most romantic and direct way to travel to the city. Be picked up or dropped off directly at some hotels located along the Grand Canal, or hotels such as Hilton Stucky and San Clemente. For less-accessible destinations on the inner canals, a designated meeting point will be decided that is within walking distance of your hotel.  For JW Marriott - Isola delle Rose, you will be dropped off in San Marco nearby the Marriott hotel shuttle boat.

Venice: Murano, Burano, Torcello Island & Glass Factory Tour

5. Venice: Murano, Burano, Torcello Island & Glass Factory Tour

Sail across the emerald waters of the Venice lagoon on this full day trip to the islands of Burano, Murano and Torcello. Choose from an option with a shuttle transfer from S. Lucia Train Station to the departure point in San Marco or pick a tour option that meets in San Marco.  Hop aboard a comfortable water taxi in the morning and glide through the Lagoon of Venice. Admire views from the boat's panoramic terrace and listen to commentary from your guide.  Upon arrival at your first stop, Murano, find out why the island is renowned for its glassworks with a visit to a local glass factory. Watch a skilled artisan during a glass processing demonstration. Afterward, have approximately an hour on the island for shopping in one of the many glass shops. Next, head for Burano, which is known for its lacework and brightly colored houses. Follow your guide to the heart of the town and have 2 hours of free time to purchase a nice lunch, typical Venetian aperitifs, or get an ice cream at one of the many cafes.  Venture from Burano to Torcello, the first center of civilization in the estuary. Spend an hour of free time where you can go to see the Venetian-Byzantine mosaics at the Basilica di Santa Maria Assunta. Return to San Marco in the early evening. 

Venice: Burano and Murano Boat Tour with Glass Factory Visit

6. Venice: Burano and Murano Boat Tour with Glass Factory Visit

Set sail on a boat tour from Venice to the islands of Burano and Murano. Sail there on a comfortable vessel, enjoy some time at your leisure on the islands, and witness a glass-blowing demonstration. Depart from Venezia San Marco to the beautiful islands of Murano and Burano. Feel at ease as you cruise the seas and enjoy quality service and a panoramic terrace. Take an hour exploring the colorful houses of Burano and learn about the tradition of glass-making in Murano. Meet your crew and get the 5-star treatment as you ride by boat to the islands of Murano and Burano. Explore the colored buildings that line the small canals and step back in time for a while. Take your time and walk on your own. Next, find yourself on the island of Murano and discover the tradition of glass-making as you stroll the vibrant streets. In the evening you will return to San Marco. 

Marco Polo Airport: Bus Transfer to/from Venice City Center

7. Marco Polo Airport: Bus Transfer to/from Venice City Center

The airport express bus provides a non-stop service to central Venice and in just 20 minutes you’ll be dropped off at Piazzale Roma. This is the quickest and cheapest way to reach Venice from the airport, without sacrificing comfort. From Piazzale Roma you can continue to your final destination on foot, or by water-bus or water-taxi. If you will eventually be heading back to the Marco Polo Airport you can purchase a round-trip ticket, saving money and time. Buses from Piazzale Roma depart from the same place you were dropped off, at the ATVO bus platforms in the middle of the square. Dedicated staff are at your disposal to provide assistance and information.

Venice: St. Mark's Basilica Fast-Track Entry and Audio Guide

8. Venice: St. Mark's Basilica Fast-Track Entry and Audio Guide

Save time during your visit to Venice with a skip-the-line ticket to the popular St. Mark’s Basilica. Admire the hundreds of golden mosaics in the Basilica and learn details about the byzantine art inside with your audio guide. Download your audio guide to your mobile device and head to St. Mark’s Basilica to begin your tour. Breeze past the long lines and put in your headphones. Explore the five-domes and an array of artworks. Hear legends and stories surrounding this church which has stood for almost a 1,000 years.  Witness the dazzling effect of the 43,000 square feet of mosaics in the church. Take in the stunning marble inlay work on the floors. Soak up the atmosphere in the building that dominates St. Mark’s Square. 

Venice: Four Seasons Concert Ticket at Vivaldi Church

9. Venice: Four Seasons Concert Ticket at Vivaldi Church

Delight your ears with a performance of Vivaldi's Four Seasons by the "I Virtuosi Italiani" ensemble in the church of Santa Maria della Visitazione in Venice. Experience the emotion of listening to Vivaldi's music in the places where it was composed. it's sound, it's musical notes, it's the art of a great Baroque composer, but above all it's the energy of this place, Vivaldi's Church. It was here that Antonio Vivaldi spent forty years of his life and composed his magnificent works.  Enjoy inspired performances of the Four Seasons where in the music you can sense the reaping of the wheat, the grape harvest, the summer storms, the snow falling in winter, the warm fall colors, and the bright blossoming of flowers in springtime. Watch talented musicians play in the church where masters like Francesco Gasparini and Antonio Vivaldi trained the Daughters of the Choro to become virtuoso musicians that were renowned for their art all over Europe.

Venice: Grand Canal by Gondola with Live Commentary

10. Venice: Grand Canal by Gondola with Live Commentary

Explore the canals of Venice aboard a gondola. As your gondolier takes you down secluded ways and along the Grand Canal, enjoy live commentary from your guide. Learn about the city's palaces, churches, and attractions. Hear about local stories and the history of the gondola and gondoliers. During your journey, admire Desdemona’s House and Mozart’s House. You'll also pass by the magnificent La Fenice Theatre and the “De le Ostreghe” Canal. Continue on to the most important canal in Venice, the Grand Canal. Make your way towards the Salute Church, the Peggy Guggenheim Collection, and some of the stunning Venetian palaces that run alongside the canal, like Ca'Dolfin, Ca'Loredan, Grimani Palace, and many others. You will also see Punta de la Dogana and Saint Mark’s basin before making your way back to Campo San Moisè. At the end of the tour, you will receive a QR code to download a digital map with 2D images of Venice from the Middle Ages until the 18th century. With the shared option, enjoy a 20-minute walking tour from the meeting point as well as your 30-minute gondola ride. See the Biennale Cafe and the facade of San Moisè Church and learn about the history of the Venetian gondola tradition. You will also see Punta della Dogana and Grand Canal.

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Frequently asked questions about Venice

What top attractions are a must-see in Venice?

What are the best day trips and excursions from Venice?

The best day trips and excursions from Venice are:

Murano

Other Sightseeing Options in Venice

Want to discover all there is to do in Venice? Click here for a full list.

What people are saying about Venice

Overall rating

4.4 / 5

based on 138,603 reviews

All around excellent performance in an awesome setting. Highly recommend. Being an old church, if visiting in the winter, wrap up warm. Even fully booked full of people it got quite chilly. Well worth the extra for a front row seat.

We booked online prior to our arrival to Venice. Everything worked wonderfully and we were impressed by the "multilingualism" of our tour guide Eva.

Very nice. Recommend doing it at least once in a lifetime

Very interesting tour, we really enjoyed the experience.

It was breathtakingly beautiful well worth a visit.