The Ultimate Venice Travel Guide
Venice is by far my most favorite city in Italy, with its winding canals, charming streets, and gothic palaces. This unique destination is also called “The Floating City” because it is made up of over 100 small islands. San Marco is the most popular island in Venice with historic landmarks, restaurants, and shops. This charming city will surely feel like a dream with delicious Venetian food and romantic gondola rides through the Grand Canal.
Personalized Trip Planner
If you are interested in a more tailored and detailed Travel Itinerary, I am happy to help. With my Custom Travel Itineraries you will receive a full travel consultation with me and a full Itinerary that is fit to your travel style and needs!
1. San Giorgio Church Tour + Lunch
San Giorgio Maggiore is one of the main islands in Venice and is also a famous church. I highly recommend catching a water bus to this island and spend at least half a day here. We joined a 45-minute tour hosted by the San Giogio Cafe. We toured the famous “New Manica Lunga” library and Borges Gardens. The Michele De Lucchi-designed library is a special place with coved ceilings, 1400 linear meters of shelving, and narrow second-floor landings filled with books. After the wonderful tour, head over to San Giorgio Cafe for a delicious Venetian lunch!
2. Ride the Vaporetto (Waterbus)
Since Venice is made up of many small islands, the main form of transportation is Vaporetto (waterbus). The ACTV is the company that runs these public boats. You can find many ACTV stops around the islands. Apple Maps does a great job in Venice, it will tell you when the boats are coming and which line to take. One single ride will cost you €7.50, which can be used for the next 60-minutes after the first validation. The single tickets can add up quickly especially if you exploring many islands. We purchased the 48-hour travel card for €30.00 each, which allows for unlimited rides for 48-hours. This does seem like an expensive cost for public transportation but it is a fun way to get around and much cheaper than the water taxis.
Tip: Be sure to validate your ticket before boarding the waterbus.
3. Rick Steves Audio Guides
Save money and download the FREE Rick Steves audio guides. Rick Steves is a legend and offers great insight on many famous cities located throughout Europe. He has many Venice, Italy audio guides. We listened to his Grand Canal Cruise and this was a wonderful free guide that we got to enjoy while cruising the Venice canals. His audio guides were made quite some time ago but the information is still up to date and provides a wealth of knowledge about the area.
Tip: Don’t forget to charge your phone and to bring your headphones!
4. St. Mark’s Square
St. Mark’s Square (Piazza San Marco) is the heart of Venice located on the largest island of San Marco. Tourists flock here every year to explore the stunning buildings and architecture. St. Marks Basilica, Doge’s Palace, and the National Archaeological Museum are the three main attractions. Be sure to purchase your tickets ahead of time to avoid long queues. Whether you visit these landmarks or not, a nice stroll through the piazza is a great pastime with many entertainers set up throughout the streets.
5. Gallivant through the Narrow Italian Streets
One of my favorite things about Venice is its charming narrow streets. We spent one morning just strolling through the streets with no specific destination, we did get lost but that was the fun of it. You will find many small alleyways that have a dead-end leading to the winding canals. You may stumble upon your favorite cafe!
6. Dinner at Antico Martini
Antico Martini is located in the heart of San Marco Island in Venice, Italy, and the perfect place for a nice dinner after enjoying a show at the nearby Teatro La Fenice. Antico Martini is a fine dining restaurant serving elevated Venetian food since 1720. Two freshly made bellinis started our candle-lit dinner with a bang. The food is absolutely amazing with each dish made from scratch!
7. Teatro La Fenice (Venice Opera House)
This world-famous theatre is popular amongst Italian opera lovers. The Venice Opera House is a great place to visit for a special evening. Inside is absolutely stunning with ornate gold decor and ruby red velvet chairs. It is located right next to Antico Martini on the main island of San Marco, making for a convenient dinner after a show. Purchase your tickets well in advance to ensure you have the best spot in the theatre!
8. Rialto Bridge (Ponte di Rialto)
The Rialto Bridge is one of Venice’s main attractions. It was the first bridge built in Venice to allow easier access to the Rialto (financial district). Without this bridge, pedestrians would cross the canal via a gondola. Today, millions of people visit the bridge. This area has become a tourist attraction with many restaurants lining the canal. Why not grab an Aperol Spritz and enjoy the hustle and bustle!
Tip: Visit the t fondaco Rooftop Terrace located next to the Bridge to get a birds-eye view of the city!
9. Take a Gondola Ride
A gondola ride is one of the most popular things to do in Venice, Italy. You will find many gondoliers posted up waiting to give customers a tour around the Grand Canal. One gondola tour costs at least €80.00 for a private ride. This is quite expensive for only 30 minutes. For a far cheaper option look for the green Traghetto signs. These gondola stations are for transporting people across the canal to the other side. It is a short ride but a fraction of the price at just €2.00 per person. While this may not be a private ride, you can still get the feel and snap a photo for your Instagram!
10. Constitution Bridge
The Constitution Bridge connects the train station to the bus station of Rome Square. This modern bridge was designed by Santiago Calatrava and was installed in 2008. Take a walk over the bridge and take in the stunning views of the Grand Canal and boats passing through.
Venice Travel Guide Map
2-Month Backpacking Through Europe Packing List
Subscribe for my Full Packing List Free Download
This post contains affiliate links. If you use these links to buy something I may earn a commission at no additional cost to you. Thank You and Happy Gallivanting!
10 Greek Foods You Cannot Miss in Greece!
