Venice is one of Italy’s most picturesque cities. Beautiful floating palaces of stone surrounded by an ancient network of canals, built on a group of 118 islands and these small islands are linked with 400 bridges. These islands are located in the Venetian Lagoon, which sits just off of the mainland of Italy. With its Gothic architecture, Renaissance and Baroque buildings, wide piazzas, and narrow canals, Venice is often described as one of the most beautiful cities in the world.

Venice is divided into six sestieri, neighborhoods that have distinctly different characters. San Marco is the heart of Venice and home to Doge’s Palace, St. Mark’s Square, and the Rialto Bridge, surrounded on three sides by a great loop in the Grand Canal.

Most tourists spend the majority of their time here, along with Dorsoduro (Pont dell’Accademia, Peggy Guggenheim Collection, and Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute), and San Polo. Santa Croce, located on the western end of Venice, is the main transportation hub. The bus station, parking garages, and train station are located here. Cannaregio, Castello, and Giudecca are where many local Venetians live, but these sestieri make great places to go for a stroll if you want to escape the tourist crowds in the heart of Venice. Finally, Murano, Burano, and Lido make great day trips from Venice, but you need to have at least three days in Venice in order to have enough time to do this.

History of Venice

Venice in the Early Beginnings: Refuge and Foundation

The history of Venice begins in the 5th and 6th centuries when people from nearby Roman cities fled to the lagoon islands to escape invading Germanic tribes. These early settlers built homes on wooden piles driven into the mud, gradually forming a network of communities across the marshy islets. As the Eastern Roman Empire weakened, Venice began to develop its own political structures, laying the groundwork for what would become a unique maritime republic. By the 8th century, Venice had its first Doge, and although nominally under Byzantine control, it was already charting a path of growing independence.

Venice in the Middle Ages: Rise of a Maritime Republic

During the 9th to 13th centuries, Venice emerged as a dominant naval and commercial power in the Mediterranean. The city’s strategic location between East and West allowed it to flourish through trade with the Byzantine Empire, North Africa, and the Levant. The construction of St. Mark’s Basilica in the 11th century, housing relics allegedly stolen from Alexandria, symbolized both spiritual prestige and worldly ambition. Venice’s influence expanded through military ventures, most notably the Fourth Crusade, during which it played a decisive role in the sacking of Constantinople in 1204. The spoils of this campaign further enriched the city and adorned its churches and palaces.

Venice in the Renaissance: Wealth, Art, and Power

The 14th to 16th centuries marked the golden age of Venice. The Republic solidified its dominance over maritime trade, controlling routes to the East and securing a vast commercial empire stretching from Cyprus to the Adriatic. This wealth fostered an extraordinary cultural and artistic flowering. Venice became a beacon of Renaissance art and architecture, with figures like Titian, Bellini, and Tintoretto defining its artistic identity. Lavish palazzi were built along the Grand Canal, and institutions like the Arsenal and the Venetian Senate demonstrated the city’s administrative and industrial prowess. Despite occasional setbacks, such as the plague of 1348, Venice remained a symbol of stability and opulence.

Venice in the Early Modern Period: Decline and Preservation

By the 17th and 18th centuries, Venice’s dominance began to wane. Shifts in global trade routes, particularly the rise of Atlantic trade, weakened its economic position. Meanwhile, its political independence was threatened by the growing power of neighboring states. Nonetheless, Venice retained its cultural prestige, becoming known for its Carnival, music, and literature. Composers like Vivaldi and playwrights like Goldoni thrived in this period. In 1797, the Republic of Venice came to an end when Napoleon Bonaparte conquered the city, transferring it to Austrian rule shortly afterward. This marked the beginning of a new, more subdued chapter in Venice’s history.

Venice in the Modern Era: From Occupation to Cultural Icon

During the 19th century, Venice changed hands multiple times before becoming part of the newly unified Kingdom of Italy in 1866. The city faced new challenges, including industrialization, flooding, and the slow decline of its port. However, its appeal as a romantic and historical destination only grew. In the 20th century, Venice established itself as a global cultural capital, hosting events like the Venice Biennale and the Venice Film Festival. Despite modern pressures, including overtourism and environmental threats, Venice continues to captivate the world with its unique beauty, historic legacy, and enduring mystery.

Visiting Venice for the first time and wondering what are the top places to see in the city? In this complete guide, I share the best things to do in Venice on the first visit. To help you plan your trip, I have also included an interactive map and practical tips for visiting!

This website uses affiliate links which earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.

This complete guide to Venice not only tells you about the very best sights and tourist attractions for first-time visitors to the city but also provide insights into a few of our personal favorite things to do.

This is a practical guide to visiting the best places to see in Venice and is filled with tips and info that should answer all your questions!

Procuratie Vecchie, St Marks Square, Venice

CC BY-SA 3.0 / Deror avi

The Procuratie are three connected buildings along the perimeter of Saint Mark's Square in Venice, Italy. Two of the buildings, the Procuratie Vecchie (Old Procuracies) and the Procuratie Nuove (New Procuracies), were constructed by the procurators of Saint Mark, the second-highest dignitaries in the government of the Republic of Venice, who were charged with administering the treasury of the Church…

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Location: Procuratie Vecchie, Piazza San Marco, Venice, Metropolitan City of Venice, Italy | Distance: 0.1km

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Visiting Procuratie Vecchie, St Marks Square, Venice

We recommend to rent a car in Italy through Discover Cars, they compare prices and review multiple car rental agencies. Book your rental car here.

Caffè Lavena

CC BY-SA 3.0 / qwesy qwesy

Caffé Lavena is a café in the city of Venice, Italy. It was established in 1750, and was originally called Regina d'Ungheria (the Queen of Hungary) under the Austro-Hungarian empire. The café has its origins in the popular Venice of the 17th century, it became later Orso Coronato (Crowned Bear) because of the picturesque sign showing a bear standing on…

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Location: Cafè Lavena, Piazza San Marco, Venice, Metropolitan City of Venice, Italy | Website | Distance: 0.1km

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Visiting Caffè Lavena

Here is a complete selection of hotel options in Venice . Feel free to review each one and choose the stay that best suits your needs.

Procuratie Nuove

CC BY-SA 4.0 / Wladyslaw Golinski

The Procuratie are three connected buildings along the perimeter of Piazza San Marco in Venice, Italy.  The Procuratie Nuove on the southern side housed the official residences of the procurators. Built between the late-sixteenth and mid-seventeenth centuries to replace a series of dilapidated medieval structures, it represented the culmination of an extensive programme of urban renewal that lasted over a…

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Location: Procuratie Nuove, Piazza San Marco, Venice, Metropolitan City of Venice, Italy | Distance: 0.2km

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Visiting Procuratie Nuove

Click here to read our blog about Get to know the Six 'Sestieri' of Venice

Procuratie Nuovissime (Newest Procuracies)

CC BY-SA 1.0 / SIG SG 510

The Procuratie are three connected buildings along the perimeter of Piazza San Marco in Venice, Italy.  The Procuratie Nuovissime (Newest Procuracies, also known as the Napoleonic Wing) was built during the second period of French occupation (1805–1815) when after the fall of the Republic of Venice, the Procuratie Nuove was transformed into the residence of the viceroy of the Kingdom…

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Location: S. Marco, 1105, 30124 Venezia VE, Italy | Distance: 0.2km

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Visiting Procuratie Nuovissime (Newest Procuracies)

Click here to read our blog about Venice on a Budget

Piazzetta dei Leoncini

CC BY-SA 4.0 / Jean-Pol GRANDMONT

Piazzetta dei Leoncini is a city square in Venice, Italy. The square is located on the north side of the St Mark's Basilica, near the Palazzo Patriarcale and San Basso. The square is known for its lion statuary. Also on the square, in an alcove of the Basilica itself, is the sarcophagus of Daniele Manin, the president of the brief…

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Location: Piazzetta dei Leoncini, Piazza San Marco, Venice, Metropolitan City of Venice, Italy | Distance: 0.2km

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Visiting Piazzetta dei Leoncini

Click here to read our blog about Guide to visiting Piazza San Marco

Caffè Florian

© Giovanni Dall'Orto

Caffè Florian is a coffee house situated in the Procuratie Nuove of Piazza San Marco, Venice. It was established in 1720 and is the oldest coffee house in continuous operation in Italy, and one of the oldest in the world (the oldest being Café Procope founded in Paris in 1686). The Florian opened with two simply furnished rooms on 29…

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Location: Caffè Florian, Piazza San Marco, Venice, Metropolitan City of Venice, Italy | Distance: 0.2km

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Visiting Caffè Florian

Museo Archeologico, Venice

CC BY-SA 4.0 / Marcoblueyes

The Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Venezia or National Archaeological Museum  is a museum located right on Piazza San Marco in Venice. The National Archaeological Museum was established in 1523 by Cardinal Domenico Grimani. This Museum has a great collection of Greek and Roman sculptures, ceramics, coins and stones dating back as far as the 1st Century B.C. Some of the…

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Location: Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Venezia, Piazza San Marco, Venice, Metropolitan City of Venice, Italy | Hours: 10am-7pm Apr-Oct, to 5pm Nov-Mar | Price: adult/reduced incl Palazzo Ducale €20/13, with Museum Pass free | Website | City Pass with Museums, Churches & Public Transport | Distance: 0.2km

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Visiting Museo Archeologico, Venice

Palazzo Contarini del Bovolo

CC BY-SA 3.0 / PatriPA

The Palazzo Contarini del Bovolo is a small palazzo in Venice, Italy, best known for its external multi-arch spiral staircase known as the Scala Contarini del Bovolo (literally, "of the snail"). The staircase leads to an arcade, providing an impressive view of the city roof-tops.  The palazzo is located in a small, less-travelled calle (street) near Campo Manin, about half-way…

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Location: Palazzo Contarini del Bovolo, Scala Contarini del Bovolo, Venice, Metropolitan City of Venice, Italy | Palazzo Contarini del Bovolo Entrance Ticket | Distance: 0.2km

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Visiting Palazzo Contarini del Bovolo

Torre dell'Orologio

CC BY-SA 3.0 / Mister No

The Torre dell'Orologio or Clock Tower of St Marks in Venice is an early Renaissance building on the north side of the Piazza San Marco, at the entrance to the Merceria. It comprises a tower, which contains the clock, and lower buildings on each side. It adjoins the eastern end of the Procuratie Vecchie. Both the tower and the clock…

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Location: Torre dell'Orologio, Piazza San Marco, Venice, Metropolitan City of Venice, Italy | Hours: tours in English 11am & noon Mon-Wed, 2pm & 3pm Thu-Sun | Price: adult/reduced €12/7 | Website | Skip the Line Tickets | Distance: 0.2km

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Visiting Torre dell'Orologio

Museo Correr

CC BY-SA 4.0 / Jean-Pol GRANDMONT

The Museo Correr is a museum in Venice, northern Italy. Located in St. Mark's Square, Venice, it is one of the 11 civic museums run by the Fondazione Musei Civici di Venezia. The museum extends along the southside of the square on the upper floors of the Procuratorie Nuove. With its rich and varied collections, the Museo Correr covers both…

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Location: Museo Correr, Piazza San Marco, Venice, Metropolitan City of Venice, Italy | Hours: 10am-7pm Apr-Oct, to 5pm Nov-Mar | Price: adult/reduced incl Palazzo Ducale €20/13, with Museum Pass free | Website | | Distance: 0.2km

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Visiting Museo Correr

St Mark's Campanile

St Mark's Campanile or Campanile di San Marco is the bell tower of St Mark's Basilica in Venice, Italy. The current campanile is a reconstruction completed in 1912, the previous tower having collapsed in 1902. At 98.6 metres (323 ft) in height, it is the tallest structure in Venice and is colloquially termed "el paròn de casa" (the master of…

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Location: St Mark's Campanile, Piazza San Marco, Venice, Metropolitan City of Venice, Italy | Hours: 8.30am-9pm summer, 9.30am-5.30pm winter, last entry 45min before closing | Price: adult/reduced €8/4 | Website | Venice San Marco Tour with St. Mark's Bell Tower Tickets | Distance: 0.2km

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Visiting St Mark's Campanile

Piazza San Marco

CC BY-SA 3.0 / 500px

Piazza San Marco, or St Mark's Square, is the principal public square of Venice, Italy, where it is generally known just as la Piazza ("the Square"). All other urban spaces in the city (except the Piazzetta and the Piazzale Roma) are called campi ("fields"). The Piazzetta ("little Piazza/Square") is an extension of the Piazza towards San Marco basin in its…

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Location: St. Mark's Square, Venice, Metropolitan City of Venice, Italy | Hours: 24 Hours | Price: Free | | Distance: 0.2km

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Visiting Piazza San Marco

Basilica di San Marco

CC BY-SA 2.0 / Gary Ullah

The Basilica di San Marco or Patriarchal Cathedral Basilica of Saint Mark, commonly known as St Mark's Basilica, is the cathedral church of the Catholic Patriarchate of Venice; it became the episcopal seat of the Patriarch of Venice in 1807, replacing the earlier cathedral of San Pietro di Castello. It is dedicated to and holds the relics of Saint Mark…

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Location: P.za San Marco, 328, 30124 Venezia VE, Italy | Hours: 9.30am-5pm Mon-Sat, 2-5pm Sun summer, to 4.30pm Sun winter | Website | St. Mark's Basilica Tour with Doge's Palace Option | Distance: 0.2km

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Visiting Basilica di San Marco

Harry's Bar

CC BY-SA 2.5 / Wolfgang Moroder

On May 13, 1931, Giuseppe Cipriani Senior opened Harry’s Bar in Venice. Over the years, Harry’s Bar became the place where writers, painters, artists, aristocrats, kings and queens would meet. Harry's Bar has long been frequented by famous people, and it was a favourite of Ernest Hemingway.[1] Other notable customers have included Italian conductor Arturo Toscanini, inventor Guglielmo Marconi, Charlie…

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Location: Harry's Bar Cipriani, Calle Vallaresso, Venice, Metropolitan City of Venice, Italy | Distance: 0.3km

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Visiting Harry's Bar

Piazzetta di San Marco

The Piazzetta di San Marco is an open space connecting the south side of the Piazza to the lagoon, The Piazzetta lies between the Palazzo Ducale (Doge’s Palace) and the Biblioteca Marciana (St. Mark’s library). At the open end of the Pizzetta di San Marco are two large granite columns. Sitting on top of the first column is Saint Theodore,…

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Location: Piazzetta San Marco, Piazzetta S. Marco, Venice, Metropolitan City of Venice, Italy | Hours: 24 hours | Price: Free | Distance: 0.3km

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Visiting Piazzetta di San Marco

Biblioteca Marciana

CC BY-SA 4.0 / Venicescapes

The Marciana Library or Library of Saint Mark is a public library in Venice, Italy. It is one of the earliest surviving public libraries and repositories for manuscripts in Italy and holds one of the world's most significant collections of classical texts. It is named after St Mark, the patron saint of the city. The library was founded in 1468…

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Location: Biblioteca Marciana, Piazza San Marco, Venice, Metropolitan City of Venice, Italy | Distance: 0.3km

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Visiting Biblioteca Marciana

Teatro La Fenice

CC BY-SA 4.0 / Youflavio

Teatro La Fenice  or Theatre of the The Phoenix is an opera house in Venice, Italy. It is one of "the most famous and renowned landmarks in the history of Italian theatre" and in the history of opera as a whole. Especially in the 19th century, La Fenice became the site of many famous operatic premieres at which the works…

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Location: Teatro La Fenice, Campo San Fantin, Venice, Metropolitan City of Venice, Italy | Hours: 9.30am-6pm | Website | La Fenice Opera House Entry Ticket with Audio Guide | Distance: 0.3km

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Visiting Teatro La Fenice

Bridge of Sighs

CC BY-SA 4.0 / Didier Descouens

The Bridge of Sighs or Ponte dei Sospiri is a bridge in Venice, Italy. The enclosed bridge is made of white limestone, has windows with stone bars, passes over the Rio di Palazzo, and connects the New Prison (Prigioni Nuove) to the interrogation rooms in the Doge's Palace. It was designed by Antonio Contino, whose uncle Antonio da Ponte designed…

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Location: Ponte dei Sospiri, Piazza San Marco, Venice, Metropolitan City of Venice, Italy | Hours: 24 Hours | Price: Free | | Distance: 0.3km

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Visiting Bridge of Sighs

Rialto Bridge

CC BY-SA 4.0 / Veronika.szappanos

The Rialto Bridge or the Ponte di Rialto is the oldest of the four bridges spanning the Grand Canal in Venice, and without a doubt, the most renowned. Every year millions of tourists cross it. Connecting the sestieri (districts) of San Marco and San Polo, it has been rebuilt several times since its first construction as a pontoon bridge in…

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Location: Rialto Bridge, Sestiere San Polo, Venice, Metropolitan City of Venice, Italy | Hours: 24 Hour | Price: Free | t. Mark's, Doges Palace, Rialto, and Gondola Tour | Distance: 0.3km

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Visiting Rialto Bridge

Doge’s Palace (Palazzo Ducale) in Venice

CC BY-SA 4.0 / Didier Descouens

The Pałaso Dogal or Doge's Palace is a palace built in Venetian Gothic style, and one of the main landmarks of the city of Venice in northern Italy. The palace was the residence of the Doge of Venice, the supreme authority of the former Republic. It was built in 1340 and extended and modified in the following centuries. It became…

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Location: Doge's Palace, Piazza San Marco, Venice, Metropolitan City of Venice, Italy | Hours: 8.30am-7pm summer, to 5.30pm winter | Price: adult/reduced incl Museo Correr €20/13, with Museum Pass free | Website | Stroll The Halls of Doge's Palace on a Guided Tour in Venice | Distance: 0.3km

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Visiting Doge’s Palace (Palazzo Ducale) in Venice

Chiesa Parrocchiale di Santa Maria Formosa

CC BY-SA 4.0 / Didier Descouens

Santa Maria Formosa, formally The Church of the Purification of Mary, is a church in Venice, northern Italy. It was erected in 1492 under the design by Renaissance architect Mauro Codussi. It lies on the site of a previous church dating from the 7th century, which, according to tradition, was one of the eight founded by San Magno, bishop of…

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Location: Chiesa Parrocchiale di Santa Maria Formosa, Calle Seconda de la Fava, Venice, Metropolitan City of Venice, Italy | Hours: 10.30am-4.30pm | Price: adult/reduced €3/1.50, with Chorus Pass free | Website | Distance: 0.4km

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Visiting Chiesa Parrocchiale di Santa Maria Formosa

Fondaco dei Tedeschi

CC BY-SA 4.0 / Didier Descouens

The Fondaco dei Tedeschi  is a historic building in Venice, northern Italy, situated on the Grand Canal near the Rialto Bridge, now transformed into a luxury department store. It was the headquarters and restricted living quarters of the city's German (Tedeschi) merchants. First constructed in 1228, the building was rebuilt between 1505 and 1508, after its destruction in a fire.…

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Location: Fondaco dei Tedeschi, Calle del Fontego dei Tedeschi, Venice, Metropolitan City of Venice, Italy | | Distance: 0.4km

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Visiting Fondaco dei Tedeschi

Museo Fortuny

CC BY-SA 4.0 / Derbrauni

The Museo Fortuny or Fortuny Museum is an art museum in San Marco, in central Venice, Italy. The museum is housed in the Palazzo Pesaro Orfei, now often known as Palazzo Fortuny, where Mariano Fortuny (1871–1949) had a studio in the late nineteenth century, and lived from 1902. The museum presents paintings, fabrics, and Fortuny’s lamps on the first floor,…

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Location: Museo Fortuny, San Marco, Venice, Metropolitan City of Venice, Italy | Hours: 10am-6pm Wed-Mon | Price: adult/reduced €10/8 | Website | Distance: 0.4km

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Visiting Museo Fortuny

Punta della Dogana - Pinault Collection

CC BY-SA 4.0 / Jean-Pol GRANDMONT

Punta della Dogana is an art museum in one of Venice's old customs buildings, the Dogana da Mar. It also refers to the triangular area of Venice where the Grand Canal meets the Giudecca Canal, and its collection of buildings: Santa Maria della Salute, (hence the area is also known as Punta della Salute), the Patriarchal Seminary of Venice, and…

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Location: Punta della Dogana, Dorsoduro, Venice, Metropolitan City of Venice, Italy | Hours: 10am-7pm Wed-Mon Apr-Nov| Price: adult/reduced €15/10, incl Palazzo Grassi €18/15 | Website | | Distance: 0.5km

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Visiting Punta della Dogana - Pinault Collection

Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute

CC BY-SA 4.0 / Zairon

Santa Maria della Salute or Saint Mary of Health, commonly known simply as the Salute, is a Roman Catholic church and minor basilica located at Punta della Dogana in the Dorsoduro sestiere of the city of Venice, Italy. It stands on the narrow finger of Punta della Dogana, between the Grand Canal and the Giudecca Canal, at the Bacino di…

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Location: Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute, Dorsoduro, Venice, Metropolitan City of Venice, Italy | Hours: 9.30am-noon & 3-5.30pm | Price: Entry to the church is free. sacristy adult/reduced €4/2 | Website | | Distance: 0.5km

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Visiting Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute

Mercato di Rialto (Rialto Market)

CC BY-SA 3.0 / Abxbay

Mercato di Rialto is a covered market in the San Polo district is located near the Ponte di Rialto ("Rialto Bridge"). It is located directly overlooking the Grand Canal. Special are the covered halls of the 'Mercato al Pesce al Minute' where the fresh fish is sold. At the rest of the uncovered Rialto Market Venice you can buy fresh…

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Location: Mercato di Rialto (Rialto Market), Calle Prima de la Donzella, Venice, Metropolitan City of Venice, Italy | Distance: 0.6km

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Visiting Mercato di Rialto (Rialto Market)

Basilica dei Santi Giovanni e Paolo

CC BY-SA 4.0 / Zairon

The Basilica dei Santi Giovanni e Paolo, known in Venetian as San Zanipolo, is a church in the Castello sestiere of Venice, Italy. One of the largest churches in the city, it has the status of a minor basilica. After the 15th century the funeral services of all of Venice's doges were held here, and twenty-five doges are buried in…

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Location: Basilica dei Santi Giovanni e Paolo, Campo S.S. Giovanni e Paolo, Venice, Metropolitan City of Venice, Italy | Hours: 8.30am-noon & 3.30-6pm | Distance: 0.6km

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Visiting Basilica dei Santi Giovanni e Paolo

Peggy Guggenheim Collection

CC BY-SA 3.0 / Peter Haas

The Peggy Guggenheim Collection is a modern art museum on the Grand Canal in the Dorsoduro sestiere of Venice, Italy. It is one of the most visited attractions in Venice. The collection is housed in the Palazzo Venier dei Leoni, an 18th-century palace, which was the home of the American heiress Peggy Guggenheim for three decades. She began displaying her…

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Location: Peggy Guggenheim Collection, Dorsoduro, Venice, Metropolitan City of Venice, Italy | Hours: 10am-6pm Wed-Mon | Price: adult/reduced €15/9 | Website | | Distance: 0.6km

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Visiting Peggy Guggenheim Collection

Ponte dell'Accademia

CC BY-SA 4.0 / Didier Descouens

The Ponte dell'Accademia is one of only four bridges to span the Grand Canal in Venice, Italy. It crosses near the southern end of the canal, and is named for the Accademia di Belle Arti di Venezia, which from 1807 to 2004 was housed in the Scuola della Carità together with the Gallerie dell'Accademia, which is still there. The bridge…

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Location: Ponte dell'Accademia, Venice, Metropolitan City of Venice, Italy | Hours: 24 Hour | Price: Free | | Distance: 0.7km

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Visiting Ponte dell'Accademia

Galleria Giorgio Franchetti alla Ca' d'Oro

CC BY-SA 3.0 / Sailko

The Galleria Giorgio Franchetti alla Ca' d'Oro is an art museum located in the Ca' d'Oro on the Grand Canal in Venice, Italy. The Baron Giorgio Franchetti (1865–1927), was born to a prominent family of Turin. Initially trained in a military school, he preferred the study of music and collecting art. He married in 1890 the Baroness Maria Hornstein Hohenstoffeln.…

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Location: Galleria Giorgio Franchetti alla Ca' d'Oro, Calle Ca' d'Oro, Venice, Metropolitan City of Venice, Italy | Hours: 8.15am-2pm Mon, to 7.15pm Tue-Sun, 2nd fl 10am-6pm Tue-Sun | Price: adult/reduced €8.50/2 | Website | Distance: 0.7km

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Visiting Galleria Giorgio Franchetti alla Ca' d'Oro

Church of San Giorgio Maggiore

CC BY-SA 4.0 / Didier Descouens

San Giorgio Maggiore (San Zorzi Mazor in Venetian) is a 16th-century Benedictine church on the island of the same name in Venice, northern Italy, designed by Andrea Palladio, and built between 1566 and 1610. The church is a basilica in the classical Renaissance style and its brilliant white marble gleams above the blue water of the lagoon opposite the Piazzetta…

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Location: Church of San Giorgio Maggiore, Isola di S.Giorgio Maggiore, Venice, Metropolitan City of Venice, Italy | Hours: 9am-6pm | Price: bell tower adult/reduced €6/4 | Website | Distance: 0.8km

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Visiting Church of San Giorgio Maggiore

Ca' Rezzonico

CC BY-SA 4.0 / Didier Descouens

Ca' Rezzonico is a palazzo and art museum on the Grand Canal in the Dorsoduro sestiere of Venice, Italy. It is a particularly notable example of the 18th century Venetian baroque and rococo architecture and interior decoration, and displays paintings by the leading Venetian painters of the period, including Francesco Guardi and Giambattista Tiepolo. It is a public museum dedicated…

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Location: Ca' Rezzonico, Dorsoduro, Venice, Metropolitan City of Venice, Italy | Hours: 10am-5pm Wed-Mon | Price: adult/reduced €10/7.50, or with Museum Pass | Website | | Distance: 0.8km

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Visiting Ca' Rezzonico

Basilica S.Maria Gloriosa dei Frari

CC BY-SA 4.0 / Didier Descouens

The Basilica di Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari, usually just called the Frari, is a church located in the Campo dei Frari at the heart of the San Polo district of Venice, Italy. The largest church in the city, it has the status of a minor basilica. The church is dedicated to the Assumption of Mary. The imposing edifice is…

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Location: Basilica di Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari, Venezia, Metropolitan City of Venice, Italy | Hours: 9am-6pm Mon-Sat, 1-6pm Sun| Price: adult/reduced €3/1.50, with Chorus Pass free | Website | Distance: 0.8km

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Visiting Basilica S.Maria Gloriosa dei Frari

Gallerie dell'Accademia

CC BY-SA 2.5 / Wolfgang Moroder

The Gallerie dell'Accademia is a museum gallery of pre-19th-century art in Venice, northern Italy. It is housed in the Scuola della Carità on the south bank of the Grand Canal, within the sestiere of Dorsoduro. It was originally the gallery of the Accademia di Belle Arti di Venezia, the art academy of Venice, from which it became independent in 1879,…

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Location: Gallerie dell'Accademia, Campo della Carità, Venice, Metropolitan City of Venice, Italy | Hours: 8.15am-2pm Mon, to 7.15pm Tue-Sun | Price: adult/reduced €12/2 | Website | | Distance: 0.8km

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Visiting Gallerie dell'Accademia

San Giacomo dell'Orio

CC BY-SA 3.0 / Wolfgang Moroder

The Chiesa di San Giacomo dall'Orio is a church located in the sestiere of Santa Croce in Venice, northern Italy. The origin of the church's name is unknown. Possibilities include being named after a laurel (lauro) that once stood nearby, a version of dal Rio ("of the river"), or once standing on an area of dried-up swamp (luprio). It was…

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Location: San Giacomo dell'Orio, Venice, Metropolitan City of Venice, Italy | Hours: 10.30am-4.30pm Mon-Sat | Price: adult/reduced €3/1.50, with Chorus Pass free | Website | Distance: 0.9km

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Visiting San Giacomo dell'Orio

Leonardo da Vinci Museum, Venice

The Leonardo da Vinci Museum or Museo Ideale Leonardo da Vinci is located in Vinci, Leonardo da Vinci's birthplace, in the province of Florence, Italy. It is part of the Museo leonardiano di Vinci. Explore the mind of a genius with an entrance ticket to the Leonardo da Vinci Museum, near the Basilica dei Frari in Venice. Journey through complex…

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Location: Leonardo da Vinci Museum, Campo San Rocco, Venice, Metropolitan City of Venice, Italy | Price: € 8 | Website | | Distance: 0.9km

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Visiting Leonardo da Vinci Museum, Venice

Church of Santa Maria Assunta - The Jesuits

CC BY-SA 4.0 / Didier Descouens

The church of Santa Maria Assunta, known as I Gesuiti, is a religious building in Venice, northern Italy. It is located in the sestiere of Cannaregio, in Campo dei Gesuiti, not far from the Fondamenta Nuove. The spectacularly ornate church built by local architect Domenico Rossi was given instructions to dazzle the people of Venice. The brick exterior is conventional…

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Location: Church of Santa Maria Assunta - The Jesuits, Salizada dei Spechieri, Venice, Metropolitan City of Venice, Italy | Hours: 10.30am-5.30pm| Price: adult/reduced €5/4, incl museum & campanile €12/10 | Distance: 0.9km

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Visiting Church of Santa Maria Assunta - The Jesuits

Scuola Grande di San Rocco

CC BY-SA 4.0 / Didier Descouens

The Scuola Grande di San Rocco is a building in Venice, northern Italy. It is noted for its collection of paintings by Tintoretto and generally agreed to include some of his finest work. The building is the seat of a confraternity established in 1478, named after San Rocco, popularly regarded as a protector against plague. The members of the "Confraternity…

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Location: Scuola Grande di San Rocco, Venice, Metropolitan City of Venice, Italy | Hours: 9.30am-5.30pm | Price: adult/reduced €10/8 | Website | Scuola Grande di San Rocco Audioguide | Distance: 0.9km

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Visiting Scuola Grande di San Rocco

Museo di Storia Naturale di Venezia

CC BY-SA 4.0 / Didier Descouens

Museo di Storia Naturale di Venezia (English: Natural History Museum of Venice) is a museum of natural history housed in Fondaco dei Turchi, located on the Grand Canal, Venice, Italy. Its collections relate mainly to the natural history of the Venetian lagoon that surrounds the city. Today it is one of the 11 venues managed by the Fondazione Musei Civici…

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Location: Museo di Storia Naturale Giancarlo Ligabue, Salizada del Fontego dei Turchi, Venezia, Metropolitan City of Venice, Italy | Natural History Museum Entry Ticket | Distance: 1.0km

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Visiting Museo di Storia Naturale di Venezia

Chiesa dei Santi Geremia e Lucia - Santuario di Lucia

CC BY-SA 4.0 / Didier Descouens

San Geremia is a church in Venice, northern Italy, located in the sestiere of Cannaregio. The apse of the church faces the Grand Canal (Venice), between the Palazzo Labia and the Palazzo Flangini. The edifice is popular as the seat of the cult of Saint Lucy of Syracuse, whose remains are housed inside. The first church was erected here in…

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Location: Chiesa dei Santi Geremia e Lucia - Santuario di Lucia, Campo San Geremia, Venice, Metropolitan City of Venice, Italy | Hours: 9am-1pm & 4.30-5pm Wed-Mon, 2.30-5pm Tue | Website | Distance: 1.2km

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Visiting Chiesa dei Santi Geremia e Lucia - Santuario di Lucia

Church of Madonna dell'Orto

CC BY-SA 4.0 / Clara Polo Sabat

The Madonna dell'Orto is a church in Venice, Italy, in the sestiere of Cannaregio. The church was erected by the now-defunct religious order the "Humiliati" in the mid-14th century, under the direction of Tiberio da Parma, who is buried in the interior. It was initially dedicated to St. Christopher, patron saint of travellers, but its popular name suggesting consecration to…

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Location: Church of Madonna dell'Orto, Cannareggio, Venice, Metropolitan City of Venice, Italy | Hours: 10am-5pm Mon-Sat | Price: adult/reduced €3/2 | Website | | Distance: 1.3km

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Visiting Church of Madonna dell'Orto

Venetian Arsenal

CC BY-SA 4.0 / Didier Descouens

The Venetian Arsenal or Arsenale di Venezia is a complex of former shipyards and armories clustered together in the city of Venice in northern Italy. Owned by the state, the Arsenal was responsible for the bulk of the Venetian republic's naval power from the late Middle Ages to the early modern period. It was "one of the earliest large-scale industrial…

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Location: ARSENALE DI VENEZIA, Venice, Metropolitan City of Venice, Italy | Hours: Access is only possible during major events and exhibitions. | | Distance: 1.4km

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Visiting Venetian Arsenal

Jewish Museum of Venice

CC BY-SA 2.0 / Greg Schechter

The Jewish Museum of Venice or the Museo Ebraico di Venezia is a museum focusing on the history of Jews in the city of Venice. The Jewish Museum of Venice was founded in 1953 by Cesare Vivante and rabbis Elio Toaff and Bruno Polacco. It was established at the request of Giovannina Reinisch Sullam and Aldo Fortis. The museum was…

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Location: Jewish Museum of Venice, Venice, Metropolitan City of Venice, Italy | Hours: 10am-7pm Sun-Fri Jun-Sep, to 5.30pm Sun-Fri Oct-May | Price: adult/reduced €8/6, incl tour €12/10 | Website | Private Tour of the Jewish Ghetto in Venice | Distance: 1.4km

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Visiting Jewish Museum of Venice

Giardini della Biennale

CC BY-SA 3.0 / Moonik

The Venice Giardini or Giardini della Biennale is an area of parkland in the historic city of Venice which hosts the Venice Biennale Art Festival, a major part of the city's cultural Biennale. The gardens were created by Napoleon Bonaparte who drained an area of marshland in order to create a public garden on the banks of the Bacino di…

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Location: Giardini della Biennale, Calle Giazzo, Venice, Metropolitan City of Venice, Italy | | Distance: 1.8km

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Visiting Giardini della Biennale

A day trip from Venice offers the perfect opportunity to escape the urban rhythm and discover the surrounding region's charm. Whether you're drawn to scenic countryside, historic villages, or cultural landmarks, the area around Venice provides a variety of easy-to-reach destinations ideal for a one-day itinerary. If you are looking to rent a car in Italy I recommend having a look at Discover Cars, first, as they compare prices and review multiple car rental agencies for you.

Padova

Padova or in English Padua is a city in North Eastern Italy, and the capital of the province of the same name. It is located centrally in the Veneto region, between Venice on one side and Verona on the other. Famous as the backdrop for Shakespeare's "The Taming of the Shrew," Padua is particularly distinguished for its 14th-century Scrovegni Chapel…

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Visiting Padova

Vicenza

Vicenza  is a city in north-eastern Italy. It is in the Veneto region at the northern base of the Monte Berico, where it straddles the Bacchiglione River. Vicenza is approximately 60 kilometres (37 mi) west of Venice and 200 kilometres (120 mi) east of Milan. Vicenza is a thriving and cosmopolitan city, with a rich history and culture, and many museums,…

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Visiting Vicenza

Ferrara

Ferrara is a city located in the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy, situated near the eastern Adriatic coast and positioned at the top of Italy's boot-shaped peninsula. This charming city is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site. For a period of three centuries, Ferrara was under the rule of the Este family, whose Renaissance court was renowned as one of…

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Visiting Ferrara

Udine

Visiting Udine, located in the northeastern region of Friuli Venezia Giulia, Italy, offers a journey through a city rich in history, art, and culture. Udine is known for its charming old town, where Venetian influence is evident in its architecture and layout. The city’s centerpiece is the stunning Piazza della Libertà, often referred to as the most beautiful square in…

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Visiting Udine

Verona

Verona stands out in the Veneto region, rivalling even Venice in its abundance of Roman sites and picturesque streets adorned with pink-hued medieval buildings. This laid-back city offers a wealth of attractions, surpassing other places in the region in terms of sheer sights. While the city's allure extends beyond tourism, drawing strength from its economic success as a pivotal crossroads.…

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Visiting Verona

Cividale del Friuli

CC BY-SA 4.0 / Sirleonidas

Cividale del Friuli, a picturesque town in Italy's northeastern region, offers a captivating blend of history, culture, and natural beauty. Founded by Julius Caesar as a Roman colony in 50 BC, the town's historic center, now a UNESCO World Heritage site, showcases a remarkable array of medieval and Renaissance architecture. Key landmarks such as the Tempietto Longobardo, an exquisite example…

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Visiting Cividale del Friuli

Ravenna

Situated on the eastern coast of Italy, nestled between San Marino and Bologna, Ravenna serves as the capital of the Ravenna province and stands as one of the larger cities in the Emilia-Romagna region. Throughout its illustrious history, Ravenna has held a position of great importance under various empires, including serving as the capital of the Western Roman Empire and…

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Visiting Ravenna

Trieste

Visiting Trieste offers a unique blend of Italian charm and Central European influence, making it a fascinating destination for travelers. Located at the crossroads of Italy, Slovenia, and Austria, Trieste boasts a rich history and diverse cultural heritage. The city’s stunning architecture reflects its past under the Austro-Hungarian Empire, with grand neoclassical buildings, elegant squares, and a beautiful waterfront promenade.…

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Visiting Trieste

Bologna

Bologna, a captivating city, holds the distinction of being the capital and largest city of the Emilia-Romagna region. Renowned by many Italians as the second most beautiful city after Venice, it boasts a rich heritage and a vibrant atmosphere. Bologna's charm lies in its relaxed and stress-free lifestyle, accompanied by a warm and lively ambiance. Its historic center, one of…

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Visiting Bologna

Modena

CC BY-SA 4.0 / Albypino

Nestled in the heart of the Emilia-Romagna region in northern Italy, Modena is renowned for its delectable cuisine, a reputation rooted in its barrel-aged balsamic vinegar and exquisite cheeses. Culinary enthusiasts journey to this medieval city to savor tastes that embody the region's unique flavors. Yet, the city's allure goes beyond its gastronomic delights. Its center, a captivating blend of…

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Visiting Modena