Venice: what's actually worth it
Built on over a hundred small islands by refugees fleeing barbarian invasions centuries ago, Venice remains an architectural miracle of resilience where stone foundations meet the lagoon’s gentle tides. The city feels less like a museum and more like a living, breathing organism, its narrow calli whispering secrets to locals who still row their boats with practiced ease through crowded canals. Today it stands as both a fragile masterpiece and a bustling urban hub, inviting you to lose yourself in its labyrinthine beauty while respecting the delicate balance that keeps this watery wonder alive for generations to come.
Top things to do in Venice
Piazza San Marco
Plaza · ★ 4.7 (195,223 reviews)
Iconic square & gathering place dating back to the 12th century & dominated by St. Mark's Basilica.
Check tours & tickets →Ponte di Rialto
Bridge · ★ 4.7 (195,073 reviews)
Ornate covered 16th-century stone footbridge crossing the Grand Canal, with shops & restaurants.
Check tours & tickets →Doge's Palace
Museum · ★ 4.7 (39,229 reviews)
Ornate Gothic palace buildings hosting exhibitions with duke's rooms, prison & armoury tours.
Check tours & tickets →Saint Mark's Basilica
Church · ★ 4.7 (29,525 reviews)
Iconic cathedral with a cavernous gilded interior, myriad mosaics & an on-site museum.
Check tours & tickets →Ponte dell'Accademia
Bridge · ★ 4.7 (25,223 reviews)
Photography is popular at this wood-&-metal bridge over the Grand Canal adorned with padlocks.
Check tours & tickets →Bridge of Sighs
Bridge · ★ 4.6 (27,245 reviews)
Arched bridge named for sighs of prisoners crossing it en route from the Palazzo Ducale to prison.
Check tours & tickets →Peggy Guggenheim Collection
Art museum · ★ 4.6 (14,722 reviews)
18th-century waterside palace with a 20th-century art collection & an interior sculpture garden.
Check tours & tickets →St Mark's Campanile
Historical Place · ★ 4.7 (10,214 reviews)
Imposing 16th-century square cathedral tower with an angel-topped spire & belfry offering sea views.
Check tours & tickets →Palazzo Contarini del Bovolo
Historical Landmark · ★ 4.5 (14,952 reviews)
Restored 15th-century palace with a spiral staircase, a film location for Orson Welles' Othello.
Check tours & tickets →Arsenale di Venezia
Historical Place · ★ 4.6 (11,638 reviews)
Byzantine shipyard founded in 1104, today used for cultural events, exhibitions & trade fairs.
Check tours & tickets →Where to eat
La Piazza
Italian Restaurant · ★ 4.7 (25,889 reviews)
Premium venue with outdoor seating spotlighting local fare including pizza, pasta & seafood.
Website →Dal Moro's
Fast Food Restaurant · ★ 4.6 (19,577 reviews)
Boxes of fresh pasta mixed with a pick of made-to-order sauces served in a buzzing take-out spot.
Website →La Nuova Perla
Italian Restaurant · ★ 4.8 (9,628 reviews)
Website →Dal Moro's Venice | Fresh Pasta Restaurant
Restaurant · ★ 4.9 (7,950 reviews)
Website →Hostaria Osottoosopra
Restaurant · ★ 4.8 (8,632 reviews)
Classic restaurant offering local standards such as seafood, pasta & meat dishes, plus wine.
Website →Ristorante Ca’ Dolfin
Seafood Restaurant · ★ 4.8 (8,563 reviews)
Website →Hostaria Sant'Aponal
Restaurant · ★ 4.7 (7,021 reviews)
Website →Rio Novo
Seafood Restaurant · ★ 4.7 (5,916 reviews)
Casual venue featuring seafood, pasta & pizzas, plus terrace dining with canal views.
Website →Tours worth booking ahead
Venice Tours srl - Priority Tickets San Marco Square Monuments
Tour Agency · ★ 4.8 (1,597 reviews)
Check tours & tickets →Get outside
Parco Regionale Veneto del Delta del Po
Park · ★ 4.5 (10,526 reviews)
Hiking, biking & boating in the waterways of a wetland nature reserve with rich fauna & bird life.
Website →Parco San Giuliano
City Park · ★ 4.4 (8,905 reviews)
Green space offering views of Venice & the Venetian Lagoon, plus a play area, bike rentals & 2 bars.
Website →Giardini Papadopoli
Garden · ★ 4.4 (3,480 reviews)
Long-standing, landscaped gardens featuring mature shade trees & an area with kids' play equipment.
Website →Pineta di Valle Vecchia
National Park · ★ 4.6 (367 reviews)
Website →Dune Verdi con percorsi interni
Wildlife Park · ★ 4.3 (190 reviews)
After dark
Do Draghi
Bar · ★ 4.9 (2,135 reviews)
Website →Corner Pub
Bar · ★ 4.6 (3,202 reviews)
Chill, lively nook with canal views offering panini & sharing plates along with coffee, wine & beer.
Website →Il Mercante
Cocktail Bar · ★ 4.8 (1,175 reviews)
Website →Devil’s Forest Pub
Pub · ★ 4.3 (2,501 reviews)
Classic pub grub, cocktails & beers served in a warmly decorated establishment with sports on TV.
Website →More guides
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