13 Best Things to Do in Venice, Italy

Venice is a unique city in the world, located in Italy and built on 118 small islands in the lagoon, at the point where the Brenta rivers flow into the Venice Lagoon. Venice has channels instead of the streets.

Along the canal is a series of churches and palaces of first-class value, a unique complex. For this reason, Venice and its canals have been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

In the Middle Ages, Venice was the most important city in the world and the largest market in Europe.

The city has many original nicknames such as “Serenissima”, “Queen of the Adriatic”, “Bride of the Sea”, “City of Bridges”, “City of Water”.

Proof of the uniqueness of this city is the fact that many cities around the world built on canals were given descriptions and names just because of Venice. For example, St. Petersburg was given the authentic nickname “Northern Venice”, while on the other hand, “Western Venice” is Amsterdam.

Venice is only 550 kilometers from Rome, the capital of Italy. Venice has many famous construction and artistic monuments, and it is a real-life experience to get to know its riches. Tourism is today the most important activity in Venice.

The city offers beautiful architecture, unique buildings and environments, Venice is full of romance and the most wonderful emotions. It has numerous churches, museums, and galleries.

The secret of unique Venetian buildings is that the wooden foundations in the water contain the planks on which the buildings were then built. What is fascinating about this is the fact that the tree survives longer underwater and without oxygen than on land.

What you must see in Venice if you decide to travel to this beautiful city on the water are its sights that have fascinated anyone who has visited this city.

It is completely natural to anyone who travels to Venice to raise the question of what to see in Venice and what are the interesting things that can be experienced in this magical city. Here are some places to visit and activities that should not be missed.

1. St. Mark’s Square

You need to start realizing your Venice tourism plan from St. Mark’s Square, which is otherwise very close to Skjavoni, which is a port for all ships coming from Lido di Jesolo. You can hear about this square that it is certainly one of the most beautiful you can see in the whole world.

The square is surrounded by the beautiful and unusual buildings of Procuratie Vecchie, Ala Napoleonica and Procuratie Nuove.

2. The Winged Lion of St. Mark

Not far from St. Mark’s Church, on this square is one of the most famous monuments – The winged lion of St. Mark, next to which you can photograph the most beautiful memories. The St. Mark’s Tower offers the most beautiful view of the whole square. The tower was demolished in 1902 but a new one was built in the same place.

3. St. Mark’s Basilica

As you enjoy walking through this square and as your view wanders through these beautiful buildings, do not miss St. Mark’s Basilica. It is a church that is considered one of the most beautiful in the world and is a symbol of Venice.

The church is decorated with works and objects of great historical and cultural importance such as mosaics, objects of gold, glass, sculpture, and paintings. It will leave you breathless!

Immediately near St. Mark’s Church, continue to the Palazzo Ducale, once the most important building in Venice. It was a building of great political importance, while today it is an unavoidable tourist spot within which you can see the chambers that once had Venetian leaders.

4. Santa Maria Della Salute

If you just look back, you come across Santa Maria Della Salute, the glorious church that catches your attention as you approach Venice. These beauties will welcome you as soon as you notice the first pictures of the city.

It’s time for a break. Nowhere will you dine nicer, tastier and more romantic. Spaghetti! Did you think spaghetti was delicious?

Then you have not tried bigoli, a spaghetti that is a specialty of Venice and is adorned with slightly thicker noodles, which are usually made with duck. Italy is a pasta country, don’t miss it.

Needless to say, Italians are the largest pizza makers in the world. In Venice, you can taste the best pizza of your life.

5. Try Sardine in Saor

They are not even like the ones you tried. Some traditional dishes in Venice, such as the famous sardine in saor – sardines in onion marinade, were created as a result of the need for food preservation during the Venetian Republic (Serenissima Repubblica di Venezia) when various techniques were used to preserve food on ships.

Fish specialties are the main advantages of Venetian cuisine: cod, cuttlefish, crustaceans, and shellfish. Always a good choice for a romantic lunch in Venice.

6. Aperitif Tradition

A special ritual in Venice for years is the aperitif tradition. This custom includes small bars for a glass of wine or the very popular Spritz, low alcohol cocktail, Campari and soda or prosecco Aperol, all with Venetian snacks, appetizers called stuzzichini. During the aperitif, you will learn a lot about places, people and lifestyles.

7. Try the Gelato

Don’t forget dessert. Gelato‘s famous Italian delicacy dates back to the 16th century and, in addition to pizza and pasta, is one of the most famous products of Italian cuisine.

Gelato ice cream is made from milk, sour cream and sugar with various additives such as fruits, bony fruits or other flavors. Gelato is made with less fat than standard ice creams and therefore has a greater freshness of flavor.

In Italy, gelato, by law, must have less than 3.5 percent milk fat. Small restaurants are always better and even if the owner is Italian then the quality of the food is guaranteed.

8. The Murano Glass Factory

Have you heard of luxury Murano glass? Murano is one of seven islands in the Venetian lagoon connected by bridges. This island is located in the northern part of the lagoon and the world its name is celebrated for the production of glass, especially chandeliers. The Murano Glass Factory will be an unforgettable experience for you, a true paradise for the eyes.

To go to Murano Island and enjoy this extraordinary experience you only need to sit in a Vaporetto and sail to the island. If you are wondering what Vaporetto is, it is a “bus” that goes on water and you can easily go to the surrounding islands.

When you reach the factory, you will likely be taken immediately to the rooms where the glass is poured. You will be delighted at how skillfully and precisely the fabric workers are making glass and making from it all the possible figures and shapes you can imagine.

The most expensive glass you will see here is the “Murano red glass” and you will not be able to stop looking at it. This glass gets such a color because it is colored with specially dissolved metals and minerals, and the gold dust is mixed into the hot glass mass (which is liquid). This whole experience would take about 3 hours.

9. The Gondola Ride

The most romantic moment of your trip will be the Gondola ride. This is a favorite activity for couples in love and is most used by young married couples who spend their honeymoon in Venice.

The gondolas are a symbol of ancient Venice and represent longboats designed in the style of old Venice. During the gondola ride, you will have the most beautiful view of the buildings of Venice, and especially of the bridges that adorn it.

10. The Rialto Bridge

The most famous bridge in Venice is certainly the Rialto, whose construction lasted three years from 1588 to 1591. It was built by Antonio da Ponte – Antonio of the Bridge. While driving through the main canal, you will pass by grand palaces, luxury hotels, and houses.

11. The Venetian Masks

It’s time to spend some money and bring home the fondest memories from Venice.

For the history of Venice and its culture, the famous masks to which the inhabitants of Venice were inclined were also important, because under the masks people were unrecognizable and hidden, so wearing them allowed them to behave more freely, to step out of the present, or to enjoy the vices hidden behind those masks.

Masks are thought to have been made by masters from Venice who were artists appreciated by people from the polite society of then Venice. The material used to make the Venetian masks is leather or paper.

Often decorated with gilding details with gilding, the decorations of these masks are also precious and semi-precious stones and in many cases, the masks are also hand-painted. You must have one!

12. Carnival in Venice

If you want to visit Venice for a special occasion, a special day or a desire for a special experience then you should not miss the Carnival in Venice.

This event is held once a year and the time of this carnival is dependent on the day when it will be Catholic Easter, so the Carnival always ends 40 days before Catholic Easter, that is, on the Catholic holiday of Martedi Grasso. The Venice Carnival is held everywhere in Venice, in squares, canals, side streets, bridges.

During the carnival, you will be entertained by acrobats, magicians, musicians, you will have the opportunity to attend various exhibitions, concerts held at museums, churches, and palaces.

In some of the palaces of Venice, during the Venetian carnival, you can attend the sumptuous balls arranged for the occasion. You will not remain indifferent. In addition to the carnival, it should be emphasized that the New Year celebrations are magnificent in Venice.

13. Take a Shot of Espresso

Use the small amount of money left over at the end of this trip to get you some coffee. Coffee is part of the Italian culture, tradition, lifestyle. Italian coffee culture is based on espresso or espresso.

Espresso coffee is a blend of different types of coffee of different quality, exposed to hot water under pressure for a very short period inside the espresso machine so that many coffee lovers enjoy a cup of coffee.

Bonus: 5 Amazing Museums in Venice

After the hedonistic pause, you must be wondering what to miss in Venice, and the unmistakable answer would be: “museums”.

The Marciano Museum is a museum located in St.Mark, and what is attractive to look at in that museum are first and foremost collections of old manuscripts, then parts of old tapestries and pieces of old mosaics.

The Correr Museum is a very beautiful museum where items from the history of Venice can be seen.

Ca ‘Pesaro is a museum for all lovers of Japanese, Chinese or Indonesian art because there you will find collections of enumerated art collected and owned by Enriko di Borbone.

The Museo di Storia Naturale (Museum of Natural History) is a place where you can see fossil remains and other remains of various natural species including dinosaurs.

Museo Navale is a museum where you can see boats, gondolas and other vessels. Interestingly, you can also see the famous ship Bucintoro which was built in 1728.

Final Thoughts

Just a few days in Venice will allow you to experience love at every turn.

In addition to everything you can experience and see in the city, don’t forget to add a bit of Italian music to it, which turns even the most ordinary walk in the squares into scenes from romantic films.

More about Italy

11 Best Things to Do on the Amalfi Coast, Italy

10 Best Things to Do in Sulmona, Abruzzo, Italy

11 Best Things to Do in Bari, Italy

18 Best Things to Do in Rome, Italy

10 Best Things to Do in Florence, Italy

13 Best Things to Do in Bologna, Italy

15 Best Things to Do in Genoa, Italy

11 Best Things to Do in Turin, Italy

13 Best Things to Do in Naples, Italy

14 Best Things to Do in Palermo, Italy

16 Best Things to Do in Milan, Italy