What to do in Venice? 

Do you want to discover this fantastic city? But what to do in Venice? Of course, St. Mark's Square, the Doge's Palace, and the Rialto Bridge are enticing sights to see first. But how about the vaporetto boat tour on the Grand Canal?

I want you to discover on this page that there is much more besides visiting the most significant sights. For example, you can see the Peggy Guggenheim Museum or the many churches. Also, drink delicious wine and Cicchetti in one of the many bars among the locals at the Rialto Market. And get lost in the alleys - and take pictures!

Don't want to get lost? Walk through Venice with a local guide. Marian Muilerman gives tours in Venice. She lives in this city. Then you learn something about authentic Venice, and she knows the way.

5 Activities what to do in Venice - that you don't do so quickly

Muilerman-RooftopviewLocal Guide in Venice. What to do in Venice. Together on the free rooftop of the Venice shopping mall.

1. Step into Hotel Danielli with the feeling of being a hotel guest. You can see the beautiful lobby here. Or you step inside the reception and ask how much a room costs per night.

2.: Visit Calle Varisco. This is the narrowest street in Venice and perhaps in the world. You can't be more comprehensive than 53 centimeters, or you won't get through. So, it is unique to go through these alleys and take a picture. But, of course, you shouldn't be afraid. You can visit this alley in the Cannaregio district, Calle Varisco, at the Fondamenta Nuove vaporetto stop.

3: Escape the hustle and bustle of Venice: Visit the islet of San Giorgio Maggiore. Opposite Piazza San Marco. The church there you can visit where there is a world-famous painting of the Last Supper by Tintoretto. The campanile tower offers you the best view over the city of Venice.

4.: One that you do not quickly think about what to do in Venice is the island of Lido. There are cars, and you can cycle here and to a beach. An absolute seaside resort.

Fisherman RialtoFish Market Venice. What to do in Venice.

5.: Visit the Pescaria market of Rialto. It would be best if you did this from Monday to Friday in the morning. It is located on the Grand Canal.

It is one of the most beautiful fish markets in Europe. All kinds of fish and shellfish are sold here. It is a covered square with a street of fish stalls.

In the streets around the market are many delicious tents and specialty shops. The earlier you come, the more memorable it is. The restaurant owners in Venice buy their fresh fish here every day.

What things should you really see and do?

A brief overview of what to do in Venice:

  • Good food
  • To the islands of Burano and Murano
  • Stay out of the area between Rialto and San Marco between 11:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m.
  • Book your restaurant for the night before
  • Discover other districts, too

But also go to the free rooftop of the department store with a fantastic view over Venice. Click on the link to reserve a time slot.

Buy tickets for the vaporetto boats online or in the ACTV machines. Download the CheBateo app. All the lines are there and very practical. The CheBateo app is super handy!

Also, buy a day pass for the vaporetto boats if you go to the islands of Murano – Burano – Torcello. You can buy the day pass or Travel Card on-site or online. Your day pass works 24 hours, so it only starts to 'run' from the moment you do the first scan. So, for example, if you only board the first time at 3 p.m., it only counts until 3 p.m. the next day.

Burano LaceBurano is an island that you often combine with Murano. The colored houses but also known for Cotton operations.

What is nice to do is a boat in Venice at night when it's dark. There is even a night vaporetto, which makes it very charming to cruise the canals in the evening and see the illuminated quays. A part of the day is too short for these separate islands because of the weather. The crossing there! If possible, plan an extra day in Venice!

Visit Café Florian on San Marco square. A cafe from the year 1720. It used to be a place for people like Dickens and Casanova. It is a tourist spot but charming, beautiful, and romantic. The square is famous because of the musicians. When you sit outside at the cafe, they start to play. You will pay a fee at Café Florian for this live music. So don't forget to enjoy it when sipping hot chocolate and picking delicate pastries from silver trays. For first-time visitors to Venice, Florian is a charming place to sit for a while.

If you want to see an event in Venice, I recommend Regata Historica. It is a traditional festival on the first weekend of September. A unique way to get in touch with the spirit of this ancient city with one of its most famous traditions: Venetian rowing, a discipline only practiced in the Venetian Lagoon and the surrounding areas. Find a spot between Rialto Bridge and Ca' Foscari, where the parade and all the other rowing races pass by. But make sure to pick a place well in advance!

You didn't immediately think of these activities with 'What to do in Venice.' But of course, you can also visit the Rialto Bridge, the Doge's Palace, and the San Marco Basilica.

Which restaurant is recommended?

What to do in VeniceTrattoria da Romano on the island Burano

What to do in Venice is also 'good food.' We ate the tastiest Cichetti's at 'Baccarando in Corte dell'Orso,' a restaurant in the back near the Rialto Bridge. In addition to the Cichetti's, they have an extensive menu of meat, fish, and vegetarian dishes, a massive collection of over 700 types of drinks and 100 wine labels, a menu of carefully composed cocktails, plus live music on Wednesday and Sunday (from 19:30 to 22:30). www.bacarando.com

To visit a museum?

Then I recommend Gallerie dell'Accademia. The museum is Venetian Renaissance. Mention an important painter of the era - Titian, Canaletto, Bellini, Bosch, Tiepolo - and you can find him here, scattered in rooms as decadent as the paintings themselves. The collection spans the 13th to 17th centuries and consists mainly of works made in and around Venice. Delightful are the historical scenes of Venice, which give an impression of the chaos of the city during its heyday as a trading capital.

There is a lot to do in Venice. The city is a museum in itself. If you go a little longer than two days, you have the luxury to take all the time and sit on a bench or watch the activity of the people somewhere with a good glass of wine. Enjoy the boats passing by (I loved watching the brewer transport his bottles and the builders passing with their crane boat...).

What to do in Venice

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