Ultimate Venice Travel Guide: What to See, Do & Eat in Italy’s Floating City
Venice is the type of place that you keep dreaming of after you visit. The winding canals, enchanting cathedrals, culinary delights, and unforgettable hotels make Venice a unforgettable trip. The small Italian city is located just east of Milan, on the coast, and is a short drives away from the Slovenian border. Read on to discover your Venice, Italy Travel Guide!
Venice is unlike many other cities in Italy, it kind of has its own little culture. You will find unique cultural events in Venice throughout the year (Carnival of Venice, Festa della Sensa, ect.) that make the city unique.
Venice is a great addition to any trip to Italy! In this Venice, Italy Travel Guide we will go over the best places to stay in Venice, the best things to do in Venice, where to dine in Venice, and more.
Map Of Venice
Best Hotels In Venice, Italy
Venice is home to some amazing and unique hotels! These are our all time favorites for every kind of budget.
🛎️Luxury Hotel In Venice - St. Regis
🛎️Middle Range Hotel In Venice - Palazzo Venart
🛎️Budget Hotel In Venice - Hotel Palazzo Keller
In terms of neighborhoods, Venice is a very small city with only six neighborhoods, and honestly, they are all amazing. You really can't go wrong with whatever neighborhood you stay in. Our all time favorites include San Polo, San Marco, and Costello.
What To Do In Venice, Italy
Explore Doge's Palace
Doge's Palace is one of the most popular sights to see in Florence. The palace is a government building that was built in the 1400s.
This stunning structure is the quintessential image of Venetian Gothic architecture. You will find grand staircases, golden archways, captivating merals displayed on the walls, and much more.
Exploring Doge's Palace is non negotiable while in Venice. The best way to see the palace is on a tour, as it can get quite crowded. And there is nothing worse than spending half of your day waiting in lines.
Marvel At St. Mark's Basilica
St. Mark's Basilica is another must visit in Venice. Among the most grand and largest cathedrals in Venice, St. Mark's was built in the 800s and is home to lovely examples of Gothic and Byzantine architecture.
St. Marks is free to visit! I would recommend stopping by in the morning or evening for less crowds.
Take a Ride On a Gondola
No trip to Venice is complete without a gondola ride. Seeing Venice on a goldona gives you a different perspective of the city and is honestly just so relaxing to sit back and enjoy the views of Venice.
To ensure that you don't get scammed - book your gondola ride online. We did this one and loved it!
St. Mark's Square
St. Mark's Square or Piazza San Marco marks the centre of Venice. The stunning square is perfect for lounging around in and people watching. Be sure to grab a coffee at one of the oldest cafes in Italy, Caffe Florian, located in St. Mark's Square.
The Bridge of Sighs
Venice is a city full of stunning bridges, but The Bridge of Sighs is easily the most iconic. Located right next to Doges Palace, The Bridge of Sighs was made to connect the palace to the prison boasting myths and legends.
It is called the bridge of sighs because more often than not prisoners would walk over the bridge to be executed in Doge's Palace - they would let out a sigh as they knew it would be there last time seeing Venice.
Gallerie dell'Accademia
Venice is home to so much beautiful and historic art. The Gallerie dell'Accademia is the best place to see Venice's most famous works.
The best and most famous piece in the gallery is definitely The Giorgio Vasari's Venetian Masterpiece which was made in the 1500s and restored just recently and put back on display.
🎨Accademia Gallery Entry Ticket
Get Lost In Venice
Venice is one of the best cities in the world to get lost in. The hidden passageways, hole in the wall cafes, adorable boutiques, and amazing gelato shops are the real reason to visit Venice. The hidden gems in Venice are captivating and truly fill you will the desire the wander and explore.
Some of our favorite hidden gems in Venice are the Jewish Neighborhood (the Venetian Neighborhood), a small alleyway called Calle Varisoe, the bell tower of San Marco, The Libreria Acqua Alta, and Caffè del Doge (a cute espresso bar).
Explore Rialto Market
Dating back to the 1000s, Rialto Market is a fresh food and fish market located in the centre of Venice. This historic market is open Monday - Saturday from 7:30 am to 3 pm and makes for the perfect spot to try local food.
To get the full experience I would book a food tour of Rialto Market with a local!
🍉Rialto Market Food and Wine Lunchtime Tour of Venice
Take a Day Trip To Burano
Burano is a small island village located about 40 minutes outside of Venice. This stunning little village is the perfect spot for a day trip from Venice.
In the colorful village of Burano you can explore the vibrate streets, visit the lace museum, or stop by the leaning tower of Burano.
The best way to see Burano is by doing a tour from Venice. You can book your tickets here.
🛥️Murano & Burano Islands tour
Where To Dine In Venice
Best Coffee Shops In Venice
☕Caffe Florian (one of the oldest cafes in Italy)
☕Dolce Vita Venezia (serves all things coffee, pastries, and drinks)
☕Caffè del Doge (cute espresso bar on a side street)
Best Restaurants In Venice
🍴Estro (traditional Venice cuisine)
🍴Da Fiore (fine dining & amazing views)
🍴Ristorante da Ivo (small restaurant with delectable food)
Best Bars/Places To Go Out In Venice
🍷Bar Longhi (amazing views of the canals)
🍷Bacaro Jazz (funky bar, great for the younger crowd)
How To Get To/Around Venice
There are two airports right by Venice. The Venice Marco Polo Airport (VCE) and Venice Treviso Airport (TSF).
The closest on to the center of Venice is VCE (14km), so if you can fly onto that one. From the airport I would recommend taking the ATVO blue bus. If you don't want to take a bus you can book a transfer here.
If you are flying into TSF (40km) from Venice you can book a bus or book a private transfer here.
Once you get to Venice you can walk around the city (Venice is very walkable) or take water taxis.
✈️Checkout The Latest Fares To Venice here
Best Tours To Take In Venice
🚗Venice In a Day (Basilica San Marco, Doges Palace & Gondola ride)
🚗Murano & Burano Islands (Guided Small-Group Tour by Private Boat)
🚗Eat Like a Local (3-hour Venice Small-Group Food Tasting Walking Tour)
Venice, Italy Travel Guide FAQs:
How many days should you spend in Venice Italy?
To see all of the main sights you really only need one day in Venice. It really is tiny! But, if you want to explore hidden gems in Venice and try the coolest restaurants in Venice stay for 3 days at least.
Which is the best month to visit Venice?
Venice is a year round destination. But, October, in my opinion, is the best month to visit Venice.
What to know before going to Venice, Italy?
There is a tourist tax (5 euros when I was there). Also be prepared to deal with crowds - Venice is small, but extremely popular.
Venice, Italy Travel Guide Wrap Up
Venice is a captivating city, home to an amazing culture, delectable restaurants, and jaw dropping sights. The city has been attracting travelers for hundreds of years, and for good reason. We hope that this Venice, Italy Travel Guide helps you plan the perfect trip to Italy. If you liked this post check out our other Italy guides.
Happy Travels,
Daisy
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