Venice, Italy, known as both "The Floating City" and "The City of Love", is a beautiful little destination in a lagoon in the Adriatic sea. It is nestled upon a group of over 100 small islands, separated by canals and linked by bridges. Located in the Veneto region of Italy, Venice does not have any roads, so to get around locals will either walk or use boats on the canals, which makes the city so unique. The grand canal stretches for 2 1/2 miles all the way across Venice, almost perfectly separating the city into two sides; it is the widest canal in Venice at a width of up to 300 feet. There is only one bridge that connects the mainland with Venice, and it contains a single roadway and a single railway.
It is definitely one of the most picturesque cities in Italy, and there is so much to experience among the long canals, breathtaking architecture, rich history and wonderful bridges. There are so many activities and sights to see that I highly recommend staying in Venice for at least a few days to truly take in everything the city has to offer. Here are the top four things to do when visiting Venice, Italy.
1. Gondola Ride
Taking a gondola ride in Venice, Italy can be a bit pricey but is well worth it as it's one of the top things to do in Venice. Seeing the city from the canals gives a whole new perspective to the city. It truly makes the area feel so romantic (you can see why they call it the 'City of Love'), and when in Venice I would not miss the opportunity to take a ride on one! First, the gondolas are absolutely stunning – ours was black and gold - and they feel so much bigger when you’re on one, fitting up to six people. It costs 80 euros during the day, and 100 euros during and after sunset. I would recommend taking them during the day or before sunset – Venice is dimly lit at night and it can be very dark being on the canals after sunset. The ride takes about 20-25 minutes, depending on any traffic in the canals.
There are multiple spots which you can get a gondola - they're set up for business pretty much all throughout the city - and each location offers a slightly different experience:
If you get a gondola on or near the grand canal, they usually take you down a few of the smaller canals (the smaller canals are my favorite due to its historic and romantic feel) and then you spend the rest of the ride on the grand canal.
If you are near the rialto bridge, they will take you under it - they say it is good luck to kiss your love under the rialto bridge! We took a gondola ride off the grand canal and got to go under the bridge, and it definitely was magical.
You can take a gondola from the small canals and avoid the grand canal all together for a more quiet and intimate feel.
Another place you could catch a gondola is on the very edge of the city where you would be looking out at the lagoon.
In my opinion, the best option is to take a gondola near the grand canal to ensure you get to ride on both the grand canal and in the smaller canals. It is so special, unique, and definitely one of the top four things to do in Venice, Italy.
2. Doges Palace and the Bridge of Sighs
When in Venice, Italy, you have to visit Doges Palace and walk across the infamous bridge of sighs. Doges palace is so beautiful and holds so much history. As its name suggests, Doges palace was the residence of the Doges of Venice - elected lords and heads of state. Many of the luxurious rooms were used as the Doges apartments and meeting places for the government council and ministries. The building is designed in gothic architecture and the rooms are filled with intricately designed gold and insanely beautiful murals, with each room getting better than the next. While walking through the palace, you will first pass by the courtyard, apartments and institutional chambers (government meeting places). Each room has a description of what it was used for in the past, and these descriptions really help tie the story of the tour together.
Other than the beauty of the apartments and institutional chambers, my next favorite stop in the Doges palace was getting to see the armory - a few rooms filled with historic memorabilia such as knights armor and many old weapons. One of the knights armor (pictured below) was made for a tiny child; another item that caught my eye was armor for the horses that were being ridden during battles.
The last two stops along the tour are the bridge of sighs and lastly the prison. The bridge of sighs feels so dark and harrowing to walk across, especially when you’re aware of the history of it. The bridge of sighs got its name from being the bridge that prisoners would walk across on their way to either be executed or locked up after sentencing in the institutional chambers. They would look out of the tiny holes in the windows at their last bit of freedom, sigh, and carry on to face their fate. It is quite beautiful to look at from outside, but a chill will definitely run down your spine when walking from one side to the other, just as the prisoners did. After coming out of the bridge you end up in the prison and walk down long hallways, peering into cells that were once filled with so much doom. All included in one ticket, the beauty and deep history of walking through the palace, over the bridge and through the prison makes this one of the top four things to do in Venice, Italy.
3. St. Marks Square & the Bell Tower
St. Marks Square is, of course, an iconic stop during your sight-seeing tour of Venice. However you must add this extra activity into your trip to the square - the bell tower! Going to the top of the St. Marks square bell tower and seeing the incredible views above the city is definitely one of the top four things to do in Venice, Italy. From the top, you can genuinely see all of Venice, and even Murano island! At just 10 euros per person, it is very affordable and has the best panoramic views of the city. It is definitely a unique experience, and I never miss the chance to have a fantastic view that makes me feel like I’m on top of the world. There is an elevator that takes you both up and down the tower, so you don’t have to walk on any stairs (it's easily accessible for families or people with a disability). There is no time limit, so you are allowed to stay at the top observing and taking pictures for as long as you’d like. When you're ready to head back down, just get in line for the elevator. I also recommend bringing some coins, around 2 euro, to look through the panoramic binoculars, as it is quite incredible how close up you’re able to see.
4. Murano and Burano Islands
Murano and Burano islands are located in the Venetian lagoon just a few miles away from the city, and are only accessible by boat. Murano and Burano islands are so historical and picturesque, and quite famous destinations in the Veneto region. Murano island is known for its glassmaking; nearly every other store on the island is an incredible shop featuring hundreds of handmade pieces of glass, including items from jewelry to chandeliers. Depending on how long you’re traveling for and what your budget is, I highly recommend grabbing a souvenir from one of these shops. They sell some pieces of Murano glass on the main islands of Venice, but personally I have found it feels more special and authentic when you get it right off the island it was created on. There are also so many more options! Given that Murano is a glassmaking island, it has many glassmaking factories that you can tour, and it even offers classes to create a glass piece of your own. This is so fun and I highly recommend doing one if you have the time.
Previously a fishing island, Burano island is known for its lacemaking and exceptionally colorful houses – these houses are even brighter in person than on pictures, and the vibrancy beats all expectations! During the night as men were coming back from a long day of fishing, it would get foggy and hard to see the island. In order to help them find their way home, the houses were painted bright, wonderful colors - since then, it has become a staple factor for Burano and the island now draws in nearly two million tourists each year. At just a vaporetto ride away, Murano and Burano islands are one of the top four things to do in Venice, Italy! For more information on Murano and Burano islands and how to get there, check out my post specifically about these islands!
I hope this guide helps you curate the perfect trip to one of the most famous cities in the world - Venice, Italy!
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