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Venice, with its maze of canals, historic buildings, and unique floating charm, stands as one of the world’s most magical destinations.
This remarkable city built entirely on water invites visitors to lose themselves among winding streets and turquoise waterways, creating memories that last a lifetime.
If you’re planning a quick visit or an extended stay, Venice offers countless experiences for every type of traveler.
Here are the unusual things to do in Venice
Must-See Landmarks
Cross the Iconic Rialto Bridge
The Rialto Bridge serves as both a vital connection across the Grand Canal and one of Venice’s most photographed landmarks.
For the best experience, visit during sunset when golden light bathes the canal and surrounding buildings.
While typically busy with tourists, the bridge remains an essential starting point for orienting yourself in the city.
Nearby cafés provide perfect spots to enjoy a drink while people-watching and soaking in the Adriatic breeze.
Experience the Bridge of Sighs
This small yet instantly recognizable enclosed limestone bridge connects the New Prison to the interrogation rooms in the Doge’s Palace.
Built in the early 17th century, the Bridge of Sighs earned its melancholic name from the notion that prisoners would sigh while crossing it, catching their final glimpse of beautiful Venice before imprisonment.
To walk across this historic bridge yourself, you’ll need to purchase a ticket to the Doge’s Palace.
While seeing the bridge from the outside is free, experiencing the interior perspective adds a meaningful dimension to your Venice visit.
Visit St. Mark’s Square
St. Mark’s Square (Piazza San Marco) serves as Venice’s main public square and beating heart.
Surrounded by architectural wonders, the square houses the stunning St. Mark’s Basilica, with its Byzantine domes and golden mosaics.
The basilica’s interior dazzles visitors with ornate decorations accumulated over centuries.
Arrive early in the morning to avoid crowds and truly appreciate the square’s grandeur.
While cafés around the square charge premium prices, the atmosphere and views sometimes justify the splurge for a special coffee break.
Explore the Grand Doge’s Palace
The Doge’s Palace represents Venetian Gothic architecture at its most impressive.
Once home to the Doge (Venice’s elected leader), this ornate palace showcases enormous halls with gilded ceilings, priceless artwork, and even secretive prison cells.
Inside, you’ll find works by Venetian masters like Tintoretto and Veronese.
The palace’s Bridge of Sighs connection allows visitors to walk the same path prisoners once took.
Built mainly between the 14th and 16th centuries, this essential landmark symbolizes the former maritime republic’s wealth and power.
Food and Drink Experiences
Sample Cicchetti at Local Bàcari
Forget typical Italian dining expectations—Venice offers its own unique food culture centered around cicchetti, the city’s answer to Spanish tapas.
Throughout Venice, you’ll find small wine bars called bàcari serving these bite-sized snacks alongside reasonably priced local wines.
Visit Cantine del Vino già Schiavi for €1-2 wine glasses and €1.50 cicchetti, featuring seafood, meats, and vegetable combinations on small bread slices.
These standing-room establishments encourage quick eating and moving on—perfect for sampling various spots in one evening.
Try Takeaway Pasta from Dal Moro’s
Who says quality Italian food must be expensive?
Dal Moro’s Fresh Pasta To Go proves otherwise, serving handmade pasta in convenient takeaway boxes for around €8.
Watch as your pasta is made to order with your choice of sauce—from classic carbonara to rich ragu.
Located near St. Mark’s Square, this small shop offers a budget-friendly, authentic Italian meal you can enjoy while sitting along a canal or in a nearby square.
The fresh, high-quality pasta demonstrates that Venice can indeed offer excellent food value despite its reputation for tourist traps.
Visit Caffè Florian
Step into history at Caffè Florian, established in 1720 and recognized as the world’s oldest coffee house still operating.
The café’s ornate 18th-century interiors feature mirrors, wood paneling, and frescoed walls that transport visitors to Venice’s glamorous past.
While prices reflect the historic setting (expect to pay over €10 for a cappuccino), the experience of enjoying coffee and traditional tiramisu in this landmark establishment adds a special moment to any Venice trip.
Famous past patrons include Casanova, Charles Dickens, and Marcel Proust.
Join a Venice Food Tour
Discover Venice’s food scene with expert guidance on a Venice food tour.
Local guides lead small groups through hidden bacari and markets, sharing insights about traditional Venetian cuisine while you sample cicchetti, fresh seafood, local wines, and sweet treats.
These tours typically include 5-7 food stops and provide cultural context for each dish.
Beyond eating well, you’ll learn about Venice’s culinary history and receive recommendations for restaurants to visit later in your stay.
Cultural Activities
Attend a Concert at La Fenice Opera House
Even if opera isn’t typically your interest, experiencing a performance at the historic La Fenice Opera House creates unforgettable memories.
This renowned theater, which has risen from multiple fires (hence its phoenix name), ranks among Italy’s most prestigious opera venues.
If a full opera seems overwhelming, the theater offers shorter concerts featuring selections from famous works.
Alternatively, guided daytime tours reveal the opulent gold leaf details, velvet seats, and impressive chandelier without requiring concert tickets.
Experience Chiesa della Pietà
Hearing this music performed in the Chiesa della Pietà, where Vivaldi actually taught and composed, provides a powerful connection to musical history.
Several ensembles perform regular Vivaldi concerts in historic Venetian venues, offering programs centered around his most famous works.
These intimate performances in authentic settings often sell out, so advance booking is recommended.
Visit The Peggy Guggenheim Collection
For a break from historic art, the Peggy Guggenheim Collection showcases outstanding 20th-century works in the American heiress’s former home, Palazzo Venier dei Leoni.
The museum houses masterpieces by Picasso, Dalí, Pollock, and Kandinsky, among others.
Beyond the art, visitors enjoy the Grand Canal-facing terrace and sculpture garden. Guggenheim herself is buried in the garden alongside her beloved dogs.
This modern art haven offers a refreshing contrast to Venice’s overwhelming Renaissance and Byzantine treasures.
Hidden Gems
Discover Libreria Acqua Alta
Self-proclaimed as the “most beautiful bookshop in the world,” Libreria Acqua Alta might actually deserve the title.
This charming store displays books in unusual waterproof containers—including a full-sized gondola, bathtubs, and waterproof bins—protecting them from Venice’s periodic high waters.
In the back courtyard, climb a staircase made entirely of damaged books for a canal view.
The shop’s resident cats add extra character to this literary treasure.
While browsing, consider purchasing something to support this unique establishment.
View the Scala Contarini del Bovolo
In flat Venice, finding elevated viewpoints proves challenging.
The Scala Contarini del Bovolo offers one of the city’s best panoramic views from its external spiral staircase (bovolo means “snail” in Venetian dialect).
Opened to the public in 2016, this Renaissance palace charges approximately €7 admission, which includes access to its small art exhibition.
From the top arcade, visitors enjoy spectacular views of Venetian rooftops and St. Mark’s Campanile.
Take a visit to Squero di San Trovaso
While riding in gondolas represents a quintessential Venice experience, few visitors see where these iconic boats are made.
Squero di San Trovaso, one of the last traditional gondola workshops, offers a glimpse into this specialized craft.
Though the workshop doesn’t allow internal tours, visitors can watch artisans at work from across the narrow canal.
The wooden Alpine-style building dating from the 17th century stands out amid typical Venetian architecture.
Consider visiting during working hours (typically weekday mornings) to see boat building in action.
Enjoy Free Views from T Fondaco Rooftop Terrace
For spectacular Grand Canal views without admission fees, visit the rooftop terrace at T Fondaco dei Tedeschi.
This luxury department store occupies a beautifully restored historic building near the Rialto Bridge.
Access requires advance online reservation, and visits are limited to 15 minutes, but the panoramic views justify the planning effort.
The terrace offers perfect photo opportunities of the Grand Canal’s curve and surrounding architecture.
Day Trips from Venice
Photograph Colorful Burano
The island of Burano, located in the Venetian Lagoon, dazzles visitors with rows of brightly painted fishermen’s houses in vibrant pinks, blues, yellows, and greens.
Beyond its Instagram-worthy streets, Burano maintains traditions of lace-making and produces delicious butter cookies called “bussolai buranei.”
Reaching Burano takes approximately 40 minutes via vaporetto (water bus) line 12 from Fondamente Nove or line 14 from San Zaccaria near St. Mark’s Square.
A half-day visit provides ample time to explore the small island, but remember that real people live in these photogenic houses—respect their privacy while visiting.
Witness Glass Blowing on Murano Island
Just a short vaporetto ride from Venice, Murano has produced world-famous glass since the 13th century, when Venice’s glassmakers were relocated there to prevent fires in the main city.
Today, visitors can watch master artisans create intricate glass pieces during live demonstrations.
Many workshops offer free demonstrations, hoping visitors will purchase their creations afterward.
For a more in-depth experience, the Glass Museum (Museo del Vetro) displays historical pieces and explains the evolution of Venetian glass techniques.
Half-day combination tours often include visits to both Murano and Burano islands.
Tips for the Perfect Visit
Take a Sunrise Walk
Experiencing Venice at sunrise rewards early risers with empty streets, soft light, and peaceful photo opportunities impossible during busy daytime hours.
Major landmarks like St. Mark’s Square and the Rialto Bridge transform when free from crowds.
During summer months, sunrise walks also help avoid uncomfortable midday heat. Pack your camera and comfortable walking shoes, then set your alarm to witness Venice at its most serene.
Ride a Gondola (But Choose Wisely)
A gondola ride remains an essential Venice experience despite the cost.
Official rates start at €80 for a 30-minute daytime ride (evening rides cost more), though prices increase during high season.
To maximize value, gather friends to share the cost—gondolas can accommodate up to six passengers.
For a more affordable option, consider traghetti (gondola ferry crossings) that locals use to cross the Grand Canal at specific points for about €2 per person.
Participate in a Cooking Class
Learning to make authentic Italian dishes provides a souvenir that lasts longer than any trinket.
Cooking classes in Venice typically focus on regional specialties like seafood risotto, fresh pasta, and tiramisu.
Most classes include market visits to select ingredients, hands-on cooking instruction, and, of course, eating your creations.
These experiences often become trip highlights, combining cultural insights with delicious results to recreate at home.
Get Lost Intentionally
Venice’s most charming experiences often happen away from major attractions.
Put away your map occasionally and wander through residential neighborhoods like Cannaregio and Dorsoduro, where laundry hangs above quiet canals and locals chat outside neighborhood shops.
These unplanned explorations reveal authentic Venice: children playing in small squares, everyday Venetians shopping at local markets, and peaceful canal-side spots perfect for reflection.
Remember that on an island, you can never get truly lost—you’ll eventually reach water!
Visit Gelatoteca SuSo
No Venice visit is complete without sampling authentic Italian gelato.
Gelatoteca SuSo near the Rialto Bridge consistently receives praise for homemade gelato in creative flavors like tiramisu and pistachio.
For the best experience, look for shops displaying gelato in covered metal containers rather than piled high in colorful mounds (often a sign of artificial ingredients).
Real gelato has natural colors and intense flavors without excessive sweetness.
Final Thoughts
Venice captivates visitors with its unique atmosphere, rich history, and endless discoveries around each corner.
Whether you’re admiring world-famous landmarks, sampling local cuisine, or simply getting lost among the canals, this floating city creates memories that last a lifetime.
Plan enough time to experience both the must-see attractions and quieter moments that reveal Venice’s true character.
By balancing popular sites with hidden gems, you’ll discover why Venice continues to enchant travelers centuries after its golden age.
Remember that the most magical moments often happen when you least expect them—perhaps while crossing a tiny bridge at sunset or watching gondolas glide by from a quiet canal-side spot.
Allow Venice to surprise you, and you’ll leave with stories to share for years to come.
