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15 of the best things to do in Venice, Italy

A concise, practical roundup from Lonely Planet covering top sights (Doge’s Palace, Grand Canal, Rialto Market), local tips (cicchetti, vaporetto use), nearby islands (Murano, Burano), and planning advice for tides, accessibility, and timing to avoid crowds.

Making Venice Magic — Rick Steves' Travel Blog

Rick Steves' personal travel-piece mixing practical guidance and evocative anecdotes: highlights of Venice’s atmosphere, recommended neighbourhoods, value lodging and eating tips, plus advice on pacing visits to see both major sights and quieter local corners.

Venice Budget Travel Guide (Updated 2025)

Nomadic Matt’s long-form guide focused on budget-minded travelers: suggested itineraries, cost-saving tips, where to eat and sleep affordably, and practical transport advice for getting around Venice and to nearby islands.

Discover the Top Sights to See in Venice: How to See it All With an Expert

Walks of Italy’s blog entry (Venice tag) oriented toward first-time visitors and day-trip planning: key monuments, recommended walking routes, expert-curated sightseeing order and tips for pairing major attractions into efficient visits.

25 things to do in Venice, Italy

An illustrated list-style blog that covers classic Venice experiences (St. Mark’s, gondolas, markets), practical transport tips (ACTV passes, vaporetto), and island day trips, aimed at helping travelers prioritize activities across short stays.

St. Mark’s Basilica (Basilica di San Marco)

Piazza San Marco, 328, 30100 Venezia VE

Venice’s cathedral church and former private chapel of the doge; built and embellished over centuries with Byzantine mosaics, eastern-maritime influences and treasures brought by Venetian trade.

Doge’s Palace (Palazzo Ducale)

Piazza San Marco, 1, 30124 Venezia VE

Seat of the Venetian Republic’s government for centuries — richly decorated halls, prisons and passageways that reveal Venetian political power and artistic patronage.

Rialto Bridge (Ponte di Rialto)

Rialto, spanning the Grand Canal between San Polo and San Marco

The oldest major crossing of the Grand Canal; a historic trading hub that grew up around the nearby market and fondaci (merchant warehouses).

Grand Canal (Canal Grande)

Main waterway through Venice (stops include Santa Lucia, Rialto, San Marco)

Venice’s principal artery lined by palazzi, churches and mercantile buildings — historically the showcase for merchant wealth and today a spectacular route by vaporetto.

Bridge of Sighs (Ponte dei Sospiri)

Connects the Doge’s Palace to the New Prisons, near Piazza San Marco

Enclosed baroque bridge said to have inspired its name from prisoners’ final view of Venice before imprisonment; a romantic and melancholic symbol in Venetian lore.

Gondola or Traghetto ride on the Grand Canal

Take a classic gondola for a private canal experience or hop on a public traghetto for the short, authentic crossing across the Grand Canal.

Iconic way to experience Venice’s waterways; traghetto is low-cost, while a gondola offers the romantic, traditional experience most visitors seek.

Visit St. Mark’s Basilica and Piazza San Marco

Explore the ornate basilica, its mosaics and the surrounding piazza with cafés and historic architecture.

Central religious and civic heart of Venice with world-class Byzantine mosaics and prime people-watching on the square.

Doge’s Palace and the Bridge of Sighs

Tour the former seat of Venetian government, its state rooms and the enclosed Bridge of Sighs that led to the prisons.

Deep dive into Venice’s political history, art and dramatic architecture — one of the city’s most historically resonant experiences.

Rialto Market and a food walking tour

Wander the Rialto fish and produce markets in the morning, then taste cicchetti and local specialties in nearby bacari.

Great way to connect food to place — see local ingredients, meet vendors and sample authentic Venetian bites and wines.

Murano & Burano island half- or full-day trip

Take the vaporetto or a water taxi to Murano (glassmaking) and Burano (lace, painted houses) for artisan demonstrations and photography.

Experience living craft traditions outside the historic centre — Murano glassblowing and Burano’s colorful streets are quintessential Venetian day trips.