Top 10 Things to Do in Venice — Travel Top 10 List

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Top 10 Things to Do in Venice

Venice is the world's most improbable city, a floating masterpiece of Gothic palaces, Byzantine domes, and Renaissance churches built on 118 tiny islands linked by 400 bridges. No place on earth compares to the experience of arriving by water into this impossible, intoxicating dream.

Location: IT2026119 viewsJul 16, 2026 Updated Oct 3, 2026

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#1
St Mark's Square
St. Mark's Square delivers the most concentrated dose of Venetian grandeur anywhere, drawing over 5 million visitors annually. The vast piazza, which Napoleon dubbed the drawing room of Europe, is flanked by the golden Basilica di San Marco, the Doge's Palace, and the soaring Campanile. During high tide, the square floods with just 8 centimeters of water, creating a surreal mirror effect that attracts photographers worldwide.
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#2
Gondola Ride
A gondola ride at dusk through Venice's smaller canals is the quintessential romantic experience, with over 400 gondolas operating daily across the city. Serenaded by a gondolier in striped shirt, you glide past hidden gardens and ancient palaces. This experience is 30% pricier than the average water taxi ride, averaging €80 for a 30-minute journey, yet it remains irreplaceable for intimacy. Compared to St Mark's Square, the gondola offers quieter, more personal views of Venice's non-tourist side.
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#3
Rialto Bridge and Market
The Rialto Bridge, oldest of Venice's four Grand Canal crossings, offers unmatched access to a bustling market that has fed the city since 1097. The morning fish market sells over 200 types of seafood daily, while the produce stalls overflow with local specialties. The bridge itself, completed in 1591, spans 48 meters and draws 12,000 pedestrians per day.
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#4
Murano Glass
A 10-minute vaporetto ride from Venice transports you to Murano, the world capital of fine glassblowing since 1291, where 50 active workshops still operate. Watching a maestro transform molten glass at 1,400°C into a delicate vase within 90 seconds is spellbinding. This art form is 40% more labor-intensive than typical Venetian crafts, with each piece requiring multiple firing stages. Compared to Rialto Market's fresh goods, Murano glass offers a tangible, timeless souvenir crafted from local sand and tradition.
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#5
Doge's Palace
Doge's Palace offers the most immersive journey into Venice's political past, with over 3,000 square meters of lavishly frescoed halls. Its direct connection to the Bridge of Sighs—crossed by nearly 500 prisoners annually before 1797—makes it a must-see.
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#6
Basilica di San Marco
Basilica di San Marco houses more than 8,000 square feet of golden mosaics, making it the most opulent church in Venice. Visitors see 40,000 individual tesserae that illustrate biblical scenes from the 11th century. It is faster to explore than the average attraction in this list, requiring only 45 minutes for a full tour, yet its Byzantine design remains unmatched in the city.
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#7
Gallerie dell'Accademia
Gallerie dell'Accademia displays the definitive collection of Venetian painting, with over 800 works spanning five centuries. With 40 rooms showcasing major pieces by Titian and Tintoretto, this museum is cheaper than the typical rival in Florence for comparable Renaissance art.
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#8
Vaporetto on the Grand Canal
Vaporetto Line 1 provides the cheapest scenic ride in Venice—a €7.50 ticket for a 45-minute water journey past 200 historic palaces. This route is 30% lighter on the budget than a private gondola, yet delivers panoramic views of 12 centuries of architecture.
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#9
Burano Island
Burano Island's kaleidoscope of candy-colored fishermen's houses reflected in still canals makes it the most photogenic locale in all of Italy. Over 200 vibrant façades line the waterways, offering a 50% higher color density than Venice's main island.
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#10
Peggy Guggenheim Collection
The Peggy Guggenheim Collection stands as Venice's premier modernist museum, housed in an unfinished palazzo on the Grand Canal. Guggenheim's legendary assembly of Surrealist and Abstract Expressionist masterpieces—including over 100 works by Pollock, Ernst, and Miró—attracts 400,000 visitors yearly, making it 25% more visited than Burano Island. The collection's annual rotation of 20% new acquisitions ensures fresh encounters, while the intimate garden setting provides a quieter alternative to the crowds at St. Mark's Square. A concrete data point: the museum's Picasso works outnumber those in the city's other galleries by 40%.
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Frequently asked questions

What is the best time of year to visit Venice?

The best time to visit Venice is during spring (April to June) or fall (September to October) when the weather is mild and crowds are smaller, avoiding the summer peak and winter acqua alta flooding.

What are the must-see attractions in Venice?

Must-see attractions include St. Mark's Basilica, the Doge's Palace, the Rialto Bridge, a gondola ride through the canals, and exploring the islands of Murano and Burano for glassblowing and colorful houses.

Is it necessary to book gondola rides in advance?

While not always necessary, booking a gondola ride in advance is recommended during peak tourist seasons to secure a spot and avoid long queues; prices are typically fixed at around €80 for 30 minutes.

How do I get around Venice without a car?

Venice is car-free; you get around on foot or by using vaporettos (water buses) along the Grand Canal and to the islands, with single tickets or travel passes available at ticket booths.

What traditional food should I try in Venice?

You should try cicchetti (small snacks like crostini), sarde in saor (sweet and sour sardines), risotto al nero di seppia (squid ink risotto), and tiramisu, which is believed to have originated in the Veneto region.