Top places to visit in Venice

• Grand Canal

  Waterway · 4.8 rating · about 1.5 h · check the fee at the gate

  Venice's 3.8 km main artery, lined with 200 palazzos spanning five centuries of Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque architecture. Vaporetto line 1 (slow route) is the world's best urban boat ride.

• Rialto Bridge

  Historic Bridge · 4.5 rating · about 0.3 h · check the fee at the gate

  Antonio da Ponte's 1591 stone bridge — first to cross the Grand Canal — was the heart of Venetian commerce for centuries. Its covered central arcade flanked by shops is one of Venice's most iconic images.

• St Mark's Basilica

  Basilica · 4.7 rating · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate

  Consecrated 1094, San Marco is Venice's Byzantine-Gothic masterpiece: 8,000 sq metres of gold mosaic, the Pala d'Oro altarpiece set with 2,000 gems, and four bronze horses looted from Constantinople.

• Doge's Palace

  Palace · 4.6 rating · about 2 h · check the fee at the gate

  The seat of Venetian government for nearly 1,000 years: the Doge's apartments, Grand Council Chamber with Tintoretto's Paradise (world's largest oil painting), the Bridge of Sighs, and the Leads prison.

• Murano Island

  Island · 4.4 rating · about 2 h · check the fee at the gate

  Venice's glassblowing island since 1291 — watch live furnace demonstrations, visit the Glass Museum, and browse galleries selling authentic Murano glass. Beware of "free factory tour" sales traps.

• Vaporetto Grand Canal Ride (Line 1)

  Activity · 4.8 rating · about 0.8 h · check the fee at the gate

  The €9.50 vaporetto (Line 1) that travels the entire Grand Canal — the slowest and most magnificent boat ride in Europe, past 100 Gothic and Renaissance palaces from San Marco to Piazzale Roma.

• Piazza San Marco

  public square · 4.7 rating · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate

  Venice's grand civic salon: the arcaded square flanked by the Procuratie, the Campanile, and St Mark's Basilica. The lowest point in Venice — frequently flooded during acqua alta.

• Burano Island

  Cultural · 4.7 rating · about 3 h · check the fee at the gate

  The lacemaking island north of Venice — famous for its vividly painted fishermen's houses, the Museo del Merletto (lace museum) and the Lido of the lagoon's most distinctive visual landscape.

• Bridge of Sighs

  historic bridge · 4.6 rating · about 0.3 h · entry €35 (≈ ₹3,730)

  The enclosed 17th-century limestone bridge connecting the Doge's Palace to the prisons; named for the sighs of condemned prisoners — now one of Venice's most photographed sights.

• Campanile di San Marco (Bell Tower)

  Heritage · 4.6 rating · about 0.5 h · entry €8 (≈ ₹850), Adult €8; short queue compared to Doge's Palace

  The 98m brick bell tower rebuilt exactly as it was after the 1902 collapse — with the finest city-level panorama in Venice from the top, and the only lift in Venice.

• St Mark's Campanile

  bell tower · 4.6 rating · about 0.5 h · entry €15 (≈ ₹1,600)

  The 98.6 m brick bell tower of St Mark's — rebuilt after its 1902 collapse — offers the finest panorama of Venice's rooftops, lagoon, and the Alps on clear days.

• Libreria Acqua Alta

  Cultural · 4.6 rating · about 0.5 h · check the fee at the gate

  The most eccentric bookshop in the world — books piled in gondolas, bathtubs and staircases to avoid flood damage, with a staircase of books leading to a view of the canal, and a resident gallery of cats.

Things to do

• Gondola Ride at Sunset Sightseeing · 0.5 h · from EUR 41 per person
• Doge's Palace & St Mark's Museum · 3 h · from EUR 50 per person
• Private Gondola Ride through Venice Canals Adventure · 0.6 h · from EUR 66 per person
• Murano & Burano Day Trip Day Trip · 5 h · from EUR 35 per person
• Doges Palace and Bridge of Sighs Heritage · 2.5 h · from EUR 33 per person
• St Marks Basilica Skip the Line Heritage · 1 h · from EUR 25 per person
• Murano Burano Torcello Boat Tour Day Trip · 5 h · from EUR 33 per person
• Venice Walking Tour Walking Tour · 2 h · from EUR 16 per person

Day trips and tours

• Venice Walking & Gondola Experience 3.5 h · from EUR 66
• Murano & Burano Island Boat Tour 5 h · from EUR 33
• Doge's Palace & St Mark's Secret Passages Tour 2.5 h · from EUR 29

Where to stay in Venice

• San Marco / Castello about EUR 320 per night

  Most central but most expensive; minutes from all sights; avoid the tourist traps

• Cannaregio about EUR 180 per night

  Least touristy sestiere; local bakeries, cichetti bars, and direct access to the Grand Canal

Hotels

• Hotel Cipriani Belmond 5-star · INR 55,000 to INR 220,000 per night
• The Gritti Palace Venice 5-star · INR 45,000 to INR 180,000 per night
• Aman Venice 5-star · INR 75,000 to INR 300,000 per night
• Hotel Danieli Venice 5-star · INR 30,000 to INR 100,000 per night
• Hotel Danieli, Venice 5-star · EUR 580 to EUR 2,500 per night
• The St. Regis Venice 5-star · INR 25,000 to INR 75,000 per night

Where to eat

• Caffè Florian italian, venetian, brasserie · about EUR 45 per person
• Cantine del Vino già Schiavi italian, venetian, traditional · about EUR 10 per person
• Gran Caffè Quadri italian, venetian, traditional · about EUR 55 per person
• Ristorante Pizzeria Antico Capon italian, pizza, traditional · about EUR 22 per person
• Caffè Quadri italian, venetian, brasserie · about EUR 45 per person
• Gelateria Nico italian, venetian, dessert · about EUR 6 per person
• AlfreDo Spritz italian, venetian, wine_bar · about EUR 15 per person
• Bacareto da Lele italian, venetian, traditional · about EUR 3 per person

Getting to Venice

Airport: Venice (VCE)

How visitors arrive in Venice

• Train to Venezia Santa Lucia By train from Italian and European cities · common

  Santa Lucia is the terminus in the city; many through trains stop at Mestre on the mainland. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

• Fly into Marco Polo By air from Marco Polo Airport · common

  The closest commercial airport, on the mainland near Mestre; Treviso is used by budget carriers. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

• Bus or car to Piazzale Roma By road from Mainland · common

  Road traffic ends at Piazzale Roma or Tronchetto; the last part is on foot or by waterbus. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

• Cruise ship to Stazione Marittima By ferry from Cruise ports · possible

  Cruise ships dock on the west side of the main islands. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

From the airport to the centre

• Alilaguna water bus from Marco Polo

  Alilaguna lines run from the airport jetty to San Marco, Murano and the Lido. Baggage limits apply and boats can be crowded. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

• ATVO or ACTV bus to Piazzale Roma

  ATVO express and ACTV city buses both go to Piazzale Roma, Venice's bus terminal. Ticketing rules differ, so buy before boarding. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

• Water taxi from the airport jetty

  Water taxis leave from the same jetty as Alilaguna and go to the address you choose by canal. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

• Every arrival ends on foot from a jetty or terminal, so pack light and pick a hotel with the last leg in mind. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

From the railway station to the centre

• Train to Venezia Santa Lucia

  Santa Lucia is the main rail terminus on the edge of the historic centre. From here walk, or take a water bus or water taxi to your hotel. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

Getting around

• Ferry main way to get around

  Vaporetti, the public water buses, run along the Grand Canal and out to the lagoon islands and are the main public transport.

  ACTV Venice vaporetto · Venezia Unica transport tickets

• Walking

Safety and scams to avoid

• Pigeon Corn Sellers

  Piazza San Marco

  Men scatter corn at your feet while pigeons land on you; demand money for the photos

  How to avoid it: Walk away immediately and do not take any corn/food handed to you

• Restaurant Rip-offs Near Rialto

  Rialto Bridge tourist restaurants

  Menus with unlisted prices; lobster and fresh fish charged by weight at extreme mark-ups

  How to avoid it: Eat one or two streets back from tourist landmarks; confirm all prices before ordering

• Overpriced Gondola Rides

  Gondola stations across Venice

  Unofficial gondoliers offer rides below official prices (€80/35 min) then add fuel surcharges

  How to avoid it: Only board gondolas displaying official tariffs at official gondola stazioni

Best time to visit Venice

• Jan 8°C
• Feb 9°C
• Mar 13°C
• Apr 17°C
• May 22°C
• Jun 26°C
• Jul 29°C
• Aug 28°C
• Sep 24°C
• Oct 19°C
• Nov 13°C
• Dec 8°C

More in Italy

• Rome
• Florence
• Milan
• Naples
• Cinque Terre
• Verona

Frequently asked questions about Venice

What are the top-rated places to visit in Venice?

The highest-rated places in our Venice guide are Grand Canal, Vaporetto Grand Canal Ride (Line 1), St Mark's Basilica, Piazza San Marco, Burano Island.

Where should I stay in Venice?

Our guide covers these areas to stay in Venice: San Marco / Castello, Cannaregio.

How do I get around Venice?

Ways to get around Venice covered in our guide: Ferry, Walking.

What scams should I watch out for in Venice?

Scams reported to us for Venice include Pigeon Corn Sellers; Restaurant Rip-offs Near Rialto; Overpriced Gondola Rides. Each is explained in the guide, with how to avoid it.

What is the weather like in Venice?

Average daytime highs in Venice run from 8°C in Jan to 29°C in Jul.

Which airport is nearest to Venice?

The nearest airport to Venice has the code VCE.