18 Unmissable Must Go Places in Venice (a 2026 local’s guide)

How long should I stay in Venice?

Let me tell you that one day is not enough to visit Venice, nor is it a weekend. Venice has so many beautiful places, museums, and islands to visit. The local restaurants offer delicious and fresh local cuisine that, after every meal, will make you want to try more because everything tastes so good that you will never get enough. 

I highly recommend you stay for at least four days to make sure you experience everything this magical city offers. Also, remember that the sun goes down in winter at 4 pm, so it gets dark pretty early, while during summer, it is bright till after 9 pm.

European Travel Alert! If you are from the US and want to travel to Europe starting at the end of 2026, you must complete an ETIAS visa waiver form before your trip and pay the €7 ($7.25) fee. This easy-to-complete form should give you instant approval, but it’s recommended that travelers plan and submit their forms a few weeks before their departure date. 

18 Unmissable places to see in Venice

1. Rialto Bridge: 

The Rialto Bridge is famous for its architecture and its history. For years, it was the centerpiece of Venice’s economy. 

The Rialto Bridge was built between 1588 and 1591, to a design by the architect Antonio da Ponte, to replace the previous wooden structure, which collapsed twice and burned on various occasions.

Travel Tip: If you arrive in Venice too early for your check-in or your departure time is too many hours after your check-out, and you need a place to store your luggage, check out Radical Storage in Venice, a website that shows you all the safe places to keep your bags while still exploring Venice.

2. Rialto Market: 

The characteristic fish, fruit, and vegetable market embodies Venetian authenticity. Visit the Rialto Market; it is an experience not to be missed. Full of excellent fresh products and local merchants who scream in dialect to attract the attention of buyers.

Opening times: Tuesday- Saturday, 7.30 am – 12 pm.

See the Food Tastings in Rialto Market Area.

3. Canal Grande: 

The Grand Canal (Venetian Canal Grando) is the central canal that crosses the historic center of Venice. Here is where you will find the ferries and the water taxis. Many of the important churches, hotels, and sights are along the canal so that you will see a lot of it. 

See the Private Grand Canal 1-Hour Boat Tour.

4. Basilica of Santa Maria della Salute: 

It is one of the most important churches in Venice. It was founded in 1631 to commemorate the end of a terrible plague outbreak that began in 1630 and killed a large portion of the Veneto population. It was dedicated to Our Lady of Health (Salute in Italian).

Opening times: Mon-Sun 9.30 am noon 3.00 pm-5.30 pm Free entrance.

5. St. Mark’s Basilica: 

The Patriarchal Cathedral Basilica of Saint Mark, known as St Mark’s Basilica, is the cathedral church of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Venice. It is the most famous of the city’s churches and one of the best-known examples of Italo-Byzantine architecture. 

Opening Time: Mon-Sat 9.30 am-5.00 pm. Sun close at 4.30 pm. Free donation

See Legendary Venice St. Mark’s Basilica with Terrace Access & Doge’s Palace.

6. Mark’s Campanile: 

St Mark’s Campanile is the bell tower of St Mark’s Basilica. It is the tallest structure in Venice and is colloquially called “el paròn de casa” (the house’s master). It is one of the most recognizable symbols of the city. It is one of the best places to enjoy a marvelous city view.

Opening Time: Mon-Fri 10.30 am-6.30 pm Sat-Sun 10.30 am-9.30 pm. Ticket 10 Euro

7. St. Mark Square:

Piazza San Marco is the city’s main public square and contains its most famous buildings, St Mark’s Basilica and the Doge’s Palace. Napoleon called it “the world’s most beautiful drawing room” in Venice’s heart. It is absolutely an unmissable place to see in Venice.

8. Doge’s Palace: 

The Doge was the head of state in the Republic of Venice, and this Palace was its residence for many centuries. The government and city council also met in this stunning building. 

The first Palace was built at this location in the 9th century, but a big fire destroyed it, so it was rebuilt according to the original Gothic design in the 14th century. See the skip-the-line ticket to visit the Doge’s Palace.

Opening time: Every day, 9 am-7 pm. 

See Venice Museum Pass & Doge’s Palace Entrance Ticket.

Visiting Venice?

How to Plan a Trip to Venice
21 Useful Tips to Visit Venice
The Complete Venice Travel Guide

9. St. Mark’s Clocktower:

Legend says that after the construction of this monumental work in which mechanics, mathematics, and physics mingle with the art, the Serenissima made the Ranieri brothers blind to prevent them from repeating such a marvel. 

The Republic has asked Gian Carlo Ranieri to maintain the watch by living with his family inside the tower. From that was born the figure of the “temperatore,” who lives in the tower and takes care of the clock. This figure will be present in the history of the Clock Tower until 1998 when technology will make the presence of a person inside the tower unnecessary. 

The care and perfection of the construction mean that drastic intervention in the machine’s operation for 260 years will not be necessary.

Plan Your Vacation in Venice

Check out all my articles in the “Most Complete Guide of Venice” and get all the information you need to make your next travel successful. 

10. The Bridge of Sighs: 

The Bridge of Sighs, known in Italian as Ponte dei Sospiri, is one of the most famous bridges in the world. It passes over the Rio di Palazzo and connects the Doge’s Palace to the Prigioni, the prisons built across the canal in the late 16th century, where heartbroken ladies said goodbye for the last time to their lovers while they were going to prison.

Opening time: Every day, 9 am-7 pm. 

See the combined ticket to visit the Doge’s Palace.

Visiting Venice?

4 Most Visited Islands in Venice
18 Beautiful Places to See in Venice
38 Stunning Hotels in Venice with Canal Views

11. Rive degli Schiavoni: 

Rive degli Schiavoni is one of the most crowded walks in Venice. It’s a scenic waterfront in the central Castello district of the city, right along the Bacino di San Marco and the narrow bridge over the Rio di Palazzo della Paglia. 

Legend says holding hands or kissing while crossing this bridge will bring you good luck and a long-lasting relationship. 

So please give it a go! It is an excellent place to enjoy ice cream and relax after a long walk in the narrow alleys of Venice. Beware that restaurants here are pretty expensive.

Venice Travel Tip: As in every other tourist place, I advise avoiding tourist restaurants. You can recognize them because they have an extensive menu outside with pictures of their dishes, and there is always a very chatty server ready to pull you inside the restaurant. Those places are overpriced, and the food is average because they know you are a tourist and won’t return anyway. Read here my Best Restaurants in Venice!

Check out my article “Best Places Where to Have an Aperitivo or a Light Lunch in Venice,” where you will find all the best places to eat cheap local food. 

If you are looking for a place to have an excellent local dinner, check out “Best Local Restaurants in Venice,” if you are wondering what Venice has to offer, then check out “Delicious Food and Drinks to Try in Venice.” There are only local places and typical food there.

12. Zattere Promenade: 

Zattere promenade is a side of Venice that every traveler should explore. 

The promenade is vast and full of restaurants and coffee shops, perfect for taking a break from all the walking and enjoying the beautiful view of Giudecca Island, San Giorgio, and Maggiore church. 

13. Contarini del Bovolo Palace: 

Contarini del Bovolo Palace is another thing to see in Venice. It is a small palazzo best known for its external multi-arch spiral staircase, the Scala Contarini del “Bovolo,” literally “snail.” The name derives from the distinct spiral shape of the stairs. 

The Family Contarini built the Palace at the end of 400. During the XIX Century, it was also a hotel. Now, it is owned by IRE (Recovery and Educational Institution).

Opening time: every day from 10 am -6 pm. 

See Contarini del Bovolo Palace tickets.

14. Campo Santa Maria Formosa: 

Campo Santa Maria Formosa is one of the largest squares in Venice, and elegant buildings surround it. This lovely square is somewhat away from the tourist crowds and has a vibrant atmosphere thanks to its outdoor cafés and market stalls.

15. The Squero di San Trovaso:

This is one of the oldest and most famous Venetian squeri, and you must see it in Venice. The squero (“shipyard” in Venetian: from the word “square”, which indicates the tool used to build boats) is the classic shipyard where small-sized boats such as gondolas and other boats typical of the naval tradition were constructed and repaired. 

The San Trovaso one rises along the homonymous river and dates back to the seventeenth century. It is one of the few squeri still in Venice, even if only gondolas are produced or repaired today. At the same time, the shipbuilding activity also extended to other types of boats in the past.

Venice Tip: when you are passing by the Squero di San Trovaso, don’t miss to stop for an “ombra” (glass of local wine) and a cicchetto (sliced bread with a local topping) at the Osteria Al Squero. It is one of the best places to have a light lunch or an aperitivo.

Also, be careful of seagulls when eating outside. A very mean/hungry seagull stole one “Cicchetto” from my plate while I took a picture, so watch out!

Food in Venice?

18 Foods & Drinks to Taste in Venice
5 Amazing Restaurants with a View in Venice

16. Jewish Ghetto: 

The word ghetto, now used in all languages, originates from the Venetian word “geto.” In ancient times, in the early Middle Ages, in this part of the city, there was an old foundry (a “geto” in Venetian) that served to forge the “bombarde,” the small cannons of Venetian ships. 

When, for political reasons, in 1516, the Republic of the Serenissima established by law that all Jews should live here, the population mostly came from Central and Eastern Europe. Because of their pronunciation, the Venetian term “geto” came crippled in “gheto,” originating the word that we use today all over the world.

See the Small-Group Walking Tour of the Jewish Ghetto in Venice.

17. Burano Island:

Burano is unquestionably the most picturesque island in the Venice lagoon, so it is an unmissable place to see in Venice. With its tiny houses that follow one after the other, the result is a fabulous town that looks like a rainbow. The legend says that the colors were used by fishermen who returned home to find their way in the thick fog. 

Even the fishing boats are colorful, creating a perfect backdrop for a photograph. Anyone with enough time to spend in Venice cannot miss the idyllic Burano—it’s worth it!

How to get to Burano from Venice? One ferry line runs from Venice to Burano: the n. 12. It goes from Venice’s San Zaccaria stop (near St. Mark’s) to Burano and Murano, stopping at Venice’s Fondamente Nove.

It takes about 45 minutes and costs €6.50 per person. If you also want to visit Murano and other islands, I advise you to purchase a daily ticket that will allow you to pop in and out of ferries without extra costs.

Daily Ticket: 20 euros and lasts precisely 24 hours.

Check out these guided tours of the Murano & Burano Islands. If you like cookies, you cannot miss trying the delicious “Buranei/Bussolai.” You will thank me for that! You can buy them everywhere in Venice, but they are typical of Burano.

If you love to take stunning pictures, I advise visiting Burano early in the morning.

Visiting Venice?

24 Souvenirs to Buy in Venice
10 Picturesque Bridges in Venice
17 Most Visited Museums in Venice

Want to say Thank You?

Finding all my free tips & info useful and want to thank me for them?
Doing it in the Italian way by buying me a coffee ⤵️

18. Murano Islands:

Murano Island in Venice is one of the main islands in the lagoon and is famous for the tradition of blown glass. For centuries, the life of this small island has revolved around the furnaces where glass objects are sold worldwide. Murano is also beautiful, with characteristic streets, canals, and typical restaurants. 

Unmissable is the demonstration of glass processing in the traditional Murano furnace. After the demonstration, you can visit the shop and the exhibition gallery to see the most exclusive creations. It sounds expensive, but even with just 10 euros, you will have an incredible colored glass souvenir to take home with you.

See Murano glass blowing demonstration.

Venice Travel Tip: To get to Murano, I advise you to buy the daily 24-hour tickets, which allow you to explore many islands and hop on and off the ferry as many times as you want.

From Fondamente Nove to Murano, line 12 takes only 9 min. The easiest way to use the “Vaporetto” (Venetian ferry) is to get a ferry map at the ferry stop; it is straightforward to understand so that you will move around like a local.

See these guided tours of the Murano & Burano Islands.

Want to say Thank You?

Want to thank me for all the free travel tips? Book through my links to support my site, which will continue to provide valuable free information.