Venice: The Complete Guide
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.
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. Top help you plan your trip, I have also included an interactive map and practical tips for visiting!
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37 Best places to See in Venice
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!
Caffè Lavena
Location: Cafè Lavena, Piazza San Marco, Venice, Metropolitan City of Venice, Italy | Website | Distance: 0.10km
Visiting Caffè Lavena
Piazza San Marco
Location: St. Mark's Square, Venice, Metropolitan City of Venice, Italy | Hours: 24 Hours | Price: Free | | Distance: 0.20km
Visiting Piazza San Marco
St Mark's Campanile
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 | | Distance: 0.20km
Visiting St Mark's Campanile
Museo Archeologico, Venice
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 | Distance: 0.20km
Visiting Museo Archeologico, Venice
Basilica di San Marco
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 | | Distance: 0.20km
Visiting Basilica di San Marco
Museo Correr
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: 0.20km
Visiting Museo Correr
Torre dell'Orologio
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 | | Distance: 0.20km
Visiting Torre dell'Orologio
Caffè Florian
Location: Caffè Florian, Piazza San Marco, Venice, Metropolitan City of Venice, Italy | Distance: 0.20km
Visiting Caffè Florian
Piazzetta dei Leoncini
Location: Piazzetta dei Leoncini, Piazza San Marco, Venice, Metropolitan City of Venice, Italy | Distance: 0.20km
Visiting Piazzetta dei Leoncini
Procuratie Nuove
Location: Procuratie Nuove, Piazza San Marco, Venice, Metropolitan City of Venice, Italy | Distance: 0.20km
Visiting Procuratie Nuove
Palazzo Ducale
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 | | Distance: 0.30km
Visiting Palazzo Ducale
Rialto Bridge
Location: Rialto Bridge, Sestiere San Polo, Venice, Metropolitan City of Venice, Italy | Hours: 24 Hour | Price: Free | Skip the Line Tickets | Distance: 0.30km
Visiting Rialto Bridge
Bridge of Sighs
Location: Ponte dei Sospiri, Piazza San Marco, Venice, Metropolitan City of Venice, Italy | Hours: 24 Hours | Price: Free | | Distance: 0.30km
Visiting Bridge of Sighs
Biblioteca Marciana
Location: Biblioteca Marciana, Piazza San Marco, Venice, Metropolitan City of Venice, Italy | Distance: 0.30km
Visiting Biblioteca Marciana
Piazzetta di San Marco
Location: Piazzetta San Marco, Piazzetta S. Marco, Venice, Metropolitan City of Venice, Italy | Hours: 24 hours | Price: Free | Distance: 0.30km
Visiting Piazzetta di San Marco
Teatro La Fenice
Location: Teatro La Fenice, Campo San Fantin, Venice, Metropolitan City of Venice, Italy | Hours: 9.30am-6pm | Website | | Distance: 0.30km
Visiting Teatro La Fenice
Harry's Bar
Location: Harry's Bar Cipriani, Calle Vallaresso, Venice, Metropolitan City of Venice, Italy | Distance: 0.30km
Visiting Harry's Bar
Museo Fortuny
Location: Museo Fortuny, San Marco, Venice, Metropolitan City of Venice, Italy | Hours: 10am-6pm Wed-Mon | Price: adult/reduced €10/8 | Website | Distance: 0.40km
Visiting Museo Fortuny
Fondaco dei Tedeschi
Location: Fondaco dei Tedeschi, Calle del Fontego dei Tedeschi, Venice, Metropolitan City of Venice, Italy | | Distance: 0.40km
Visiting Fondaco dei Tedeschi
Chiesa Parrocchiale di Santa Maria Formosa
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: 0.40km
Visiting Chiesa Parrocchiale di Santa Maria Formosa
Casa di Marco Polo, Venice
Visiting Casa di Marco Polo, Venice
Punta della Dogana - Pinault Collection
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: 0.50km
Visiting Punta della Dogana - Pinault Collection
Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute
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: 0.50km
Visiting Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute
Mercato di Rialto (Rialto Market)
Location: Mercato di Rialto (Rialto Market), Calle Prima de la Donzella, Venice, Metropolitan City of Venice, Italy | Distance: 0.60km
Visiting Mercato di Rialto (Rialto Market)
Peggy Guggenheim Collection
Location: Peggy Guggenheim Collection, Dorsoduro, Venice, Metropolitan City of Venice, Italy | Hours: 10am-6pm Wed-Mon | Price: adult/reduced €15/9 | Website | | Distance: 0.60km
Visiting Peggy Guggenheim Collection
Basilica dei Santi Giovanni e Paolo
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: 0.60km
Visiting Basilica dei Santi Giovanni e Paolo
Ponte dell'Accademia
Location: Ponte dell'Accademia, Venice, Metropolitan City of Venice, Italy | Hours: 24 Hour | Price: Free | | Distance: 0.70km
Visiting Ponte dell'Accademia
Galleria Giorgio Franchetti alla Ca' d'Oro
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: 0.70km
Visiting Galleria Giorgio Franchetti alla Ca' d'Oro
Gallerie dell'Accademia
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: 0.80km
Visiting Gallerie dell'Accademia
Ca' Rezzonico
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: 0.80km
Visiting Ca' Rezzonico
Basilica S.Maria Gloriosa dei Frari
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: 0.80km
Visiting Basilica S.Maria Gloriosa dei Frari
Leonardo da Vinci Museum, Venice
Location: Leonardo da Vinci Museum, Campo San Rocco, Venice, Metropolitan City of Venice, Italy | Price: € 8 | Website | | Distance: 0.90km
Visiting Leonardo da Vinci Museum, Venice
Scuola Grande di San Rocco
Location: Scuola Grande di San Rocco, Venice, Metropolitan City of Venice, Italy | Hours: 9.30am-5.30pm | Price: adult/reduced €10/8 | Website | | Distance: 0.90km
Visiting Scuola Grande di San Rocco
Museo di Storia Naturale di Venezia
Location: Museo di Storia Naturale Giancarlo Ligabue, Salizada del Fontego dei Turchi, Venezia, Metropolitan City of Venice, Italy | Distance: 1.00km
Visiting Museo di Storia Naturale di Venezia
Jewish Museum of Venice
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 | | Distance: 1.40km
Visiting Jewish Museum of Venice
Venetian Arsenal
Location: ARSENALE DI VENEZIA, Venice, Metropolitan City of Venice, Italy | Hours: Access is only possible during major events and exhibitions. | | Distance: 1.40km
Visiting Venetian Arsenal
Giardini della Biennale
Location: Giardini della Biennale, Calle Giazzo, Venice, Metropolitan City of Venice, Italy | | Distance: 1.80km
Visiting Giardini della Biennale