Venice is built on 118 tiny islands in the lagoon, connected by more than 400 bridges, and has been one of the world's most admired destinations for centuries. The Serenissima, as the Venetian Republic was called, was one of the richest centres of trade between East and West in the Middle Ages, and this opulence is still reflected in its Byzantine, Gothic and Renaissance palaces. The city floating on water is at once a romantic, artistic and gastronomic experience, but to avoid the crowds it's worth rising early and wandering into the hidden corners too. Here are the 10 most important Venetian sights.
1. St Mark's Square and Basilica
Piazza San Marco is the heart of Venice and its only true "square", Napoleon called it the world's most beautiful drawing room. The gold mosaics of the Byzantine-style St Mark's Basilica are stunning: the 8,000 m² of mosaic surface tells biblical stories against a radiant gold background. The basilica is free to visit, but the Pala d'Oro altarpiece and the treasury require a separate ticket. From the Campanile bell tower, which you can also reach by lift, an unparalleled panorama opens over the lagoon and the city.
2. Doge's Palace (Palazzo Ducale)
Standing on the eastern side of St Mark's Square, this Gothic palace was the political centre of the Venetian Republic, where the doges and the Great Council governed the maritime empire. The interior rooms are decorated with paintings by Tintoretto, Veronese and Tiepolo, Tintoretto's Paradise in the Great Council Chamber is one of the world's largest oil paintings. The palace is connected to the prison via the Bridge of Sighs, which Casanova also crossed. The "Secret Itineraries" guided tour also leads to rooms closed to the public and to Casanova's cell, advance booking is recommended.
3. Rialto Bridge and market
The oldest and most iconic bridge over the Grand Canal was completed in stone in 1591, after fire and collapse had repeatedly destroyed its earlier wooden predecessors. From the top of the bridge a classic Venetian panorama opens over the Grand Canal, the gondolas and the waterside palaces. At the foot of the bridge, the Rialto market has operated for centuries: in the morning it's worth seeing the fresh fish and vegetable offerings, when the atmosphere is most authentic. In the surrounding streets, the little wine bars called bacari serve Venetian cicchetti (tapas-like bites) for a pittance.
4. A gondola ride on the Grand Canal
Rowing down Venice's "main street", the nearly 4-kilometre-long Grand Canal by gondola is the city's most classic experience. Along the way you pass around 170 palaces, including the Ca' d'Oro, the Ca' Rezzonico and the Palazzo Grassi, representing architectural styles from the Byzantine era to the Baroque. The official gondola price is €80 for 30 minutes during the day, and €100 in the evening, it's worth sharing the cost in a group. A cheaper alternative is the traghetto: for just €2 you can cross the Grand Canal in a gondola at the designated points.
5. Murano – the island of glassblowing
A 10-minute vaporetto ride from Venice, Murano is the centre of the famous Venetian glassmaking, where the glass workshops were moved in the 13th century for fire-safety reasons. In the still-active workshops on the island you can watch live as the masters shape vases, animal figures and jewellery from the glowing glass in a matter of minutes. The Museo del Vetro (Glass Museum) presents the history of glassmaking from the Phoenician era to modern design. Before buying, it's worth checking for the "Vetro Artistico Murano" trademark, which marks genuine Murano glass.
6. Burano – the island of colourful houses
Lying in the north-eastern part of the lagoon, Burano is one of the world's most colourful settlements, where the fishermen's houses glow in vivid yellow, pink, blue and green. According to legend, the fishermen painted their homes in colour so they could find their way home even in the fog. The island is also famous for lacemaking, the Museo del Merletto presents the centuries-old lace tradition. Burano is an excellent lunch spot too: the Trattoria da Romano is a legendary address for local fish dishes and risottos.
7. Bridge of Sighs (Ponte dei Sospiri)
Connecting the Doge's Palace with the prison, this enclosed bridge carved from white limestone is one of Venice's most iconic symbols. Its name comes, by tradition, from the sighs of the condemned, who as they crossed the bridge caught their last glimpse of the lagoon through the bars. The bridge is best photographed from the outside, from the Ponte della Paglia or the Ponte della Canonica, it's worth arriving early in the morning to avoid the crowds. From the inside you can walk it with a Doge's Palace ticket, and on the "Secret Itineraries" tour you can even enter the prison cells.
8. Peggy Guggenheim Collection
The former Venetian home of the American art collector Peggy Guggenheim, the Palazzo Venier dei Leoni on the bank of the Grand Canal, is now home to one of the most significant European collections of modern art. The collection includes works by Picasso, Dalí, Kandinsky, Pollock and Magritte, and the sculptural works in the inner garden are stunning too. The museum is closed on Wednesdays and open the other days from 10:00 to 18:00; admission is €16. The terrace overlooking the Grand Canal is a perfect spot for a short break after enjoying the art.
9. Santa Maria della Salute
Standing at the entrance to the Grand Canal, this monumental Baroque church is one of Venice's most recognisable buildings, erected in thanksgiving for the end of the plague epidemic of 1630–31. Built between 1631 and 1687 to the designs of Baldassare Longhena, its octagonal domed structure is a defining element of the Venetian skyline. In the church, paintings by Titian and Tintoretto can be seen, and admission to the main nave is free. Every year on 21 November, at the Festa della Salute, a pontoon bridge is strung across the Grand Canal, and Venetians make a candlelit pilgrimage to the church.
10. Lido beach
Stretching between the Venetian Lagoon and the Adriatic Sea, this 12-kilometre-long sandy island is Venice's beach paradise and the venue for the famous Venice Film Festival. The Lido is reachable in 15 minutes by vaporetto from St Mark's Square, and in the summer months it offers a perfect escape from the city-centre crowds. Besides the free public beach sections, there are also paid, equipped beaches (stabilimenti) with umbrellas and loungers. The Art Nouveau Hotel Excelsior and the Grand Hotel des Bains (the setting of Thomas Mann's "Death in Venice") are relics of the elegant seaside world.
Practical tips
- Transport: The vaporetto (water bus) charges €9.50 for a single trip, so it's worth buying a 24-hour (€25) or 72-hour (€45) ACTV pass, valid for Murano, Burano and the Lido too. In the centre you walk everywhere, comfortable shoes are essential because of the more than 400 bridges.
- Weather: In summer, heat of 30–35 °C and high humidity are typical, so the early-morning and late-afternoon hours are ideal for sightseeing. From November to March the acqua alta (high water) may flood St Mark's Square, wellington boots are useful then.
- Money-saving option: The Venezia Unica City Pass offers a combined ticket to the Doge's Palace and several museums, which can mean savings of up to 30%. Avoid the cafés on St Mark's Square, where an espresso can cost €10–15, a few streets away you'll get one of the same quality for a third of the price.
- eSIM tip: Italy is an EU member, so with an EU subscription roaming is free under EU rules. For heavier data use, it's worth getting a local eSIM plan, which offers better terms.
- Avoiding the crowds: Venice is extremely crowded during the day, especially between 10:00 and 16:00. It's worth walking early in the morning (before 8:00) or in the late afternoon, when the day trippers have already left the city and the light is nicer for photos.