Venice and its mainland are packed with museums and historical buildings of great artistic and cultural importance. A wide variety of museums, churches, palaces and villas, Venice historic centre and the famous islands of Murano and Burano make this a must-visit destination on any trip to Italy!
Explore the famous Piazza San Marco
St Mark’s Square is an incredible place just to wander, known as the the “Drawing room of Europe” there’s plenty to see and you can dip in and out of the shops that sit at the side, or head into St Mark's Basilica – the queues may be long but it’s worth the wait!
Treat yourself to a caffe latte and pastry in one of the surrounding cafes, including Florian, the oldest coffee house in Venice, established in 1720! Just don’t fall off your chair when you get the bill at the end!
The Piazza in the early evening is magical, as each café hosts musicians who play outside to the seated guests, feel free to join the standing crowd instead though – that way you can move between cafes as the music moves around and you don’t have to buy a drink each time!
Head to Il Ridotto for a spot of lunch
A little foodie gem not far from Piazza San Marco, Il Ridotto serves up delicious, traditional Italian food in an intimate ambiance (it only holds around 18 diners, so we recommend booking in advance)! For one of the best bargains in Venice, go for their €28 'cicheti plus main course' lunch menu with a glass of red wine or two.
Take a magical gondola ride
No trip to Venice is complete without seeing it from the water! Take a relaxing gondola ride along Venice’s famous canals - sit back and relax as you’re escorted to some of the famous sites of the city, including the Rialto Bridge, one of Venice’s most recognizable icons.
Take a trip on the Number 1 Vaporetto
For a few Euros, one of the best ways to see the beautiful Grand Canal is by jumping on the public boat service known as the Vaporetto – the Number 1 service goes along the length of the canal and back again – it’s a great chance to see some of the most famous places including the Fish Market – (best seen first thing in the morning), The Ponte di Rialto (Rialto Bridge) where you can hop off for a spot of sightseeing and shopping, and the Ca' d'Oro – the most elegant palace on the Grand Canal.
Stop for gelato
No holiday in Venice would be complete without gelato! With some many places to try it and so many flavours to choose you’ll be spoilt for choice. If you need a little pick up after a long day walking then try an affogato – a scoop of Italian Vanilla ice cream topped with a shot of espresso!
Shop till you drop at San Samuele
Wander around the San Samuele area; it’s full of galleries, craft shops and unique boutiques, where you’re sure to find some beautiful, traditional Venetian glass jewellery.
Dine on some traditional Venetian food
Head to the Trattoria Da Gigio for the best ‘sarde in saor’ in Venice (that’s a dish of sliced white onions cooked in oil and vinegar topping fried sardines – it’s flavoursome, fresh and delicious)!
Get lost!
Wandering around the narrow walkways, over bridges and through beautiful squares is like a maze – as there’s no cars in Venice the streets are safe to stroll along, you’ll most likely get a little lost but that’s part of the adventure and you can be sure that a helpful local will guide you back. Just watch out for the tricky signs as they don’t always tell the truth!
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