Menu
Venice Airport Transfer Shared Taxi
Best things to do in Venice, Italy

Things to do in Venice, Italy

Leisure activities list of what to do in Venice and nearby islands, including entertainment tips, romantic places, activities for children, themed itineraries and shopping.

  • Take a gondola ride through the canals of Venice. It’s better take a gondola ride on the quiet, back canals than on the crowded Grand Canal. The official rates are €80 ($104) for up to 6 people for a 40 minutes ride; additional 20 minutes increments cost €40.
  • A walk along the Zattere promenade. The Zattere runs the length of the south side of Dorsoduro district along the Canale della Giudecca. The promenade offers splendid views over to the Giudecca island and a wonderfull ice-creams in Nico’s Gianduiotto.
  • On the island of San Giorgio Maggiore, the bell tower (campanile) offers spectacular views over Venice and it's lagoon, and has a lift to the top.
  • Take a free guided tour of Basilica San Marco with biblical interpretation of the mosaics (booking phone: +39 041 241 38 17).
  • Take a guided tour of the secret trails at Palazzo Ducale (booking phone: +39 041 42 73 08 92).
  • Take a guided tour at the Ca’ Foscari University, in a famous building overlooking the Canal Grande, considered among the finest examples of Venetian Gothic architecture.
  • Take a guided tour of Wagner halls in Ca’ Vendramin Calergi Palace (booking phone: +39 338 416 41 74).
  • Visit the machines of Leonardo da Vinci at Chiesa di San Barnaba, different models faithfully reproduced from the original drawings.
  • Try a Spritz, the most popular drink in Venice, a mix of wine, seltzer, and liquer. A good place is just off the Rialto Bridge.
  • Dinner at a restaurant with magnificent views over the Canal Grande or Canale della Giudecca.
  • Go see some opera at Teatro La Fenice (Campo San Fantin).
  • Enjoy a classical music concert with orchestra and singers in XVIII century costumes in Scuola Grande di San Teodoro (Campo San Salvador).
  • Enjoy "The Four Seasons" by Antonio Vivaldi, the great venetian composer, in Ateneo di San Basso (Piazzetta dei Leoncini).
  • Enjoy a choir show at Chiesa di Santa Maria dei Miracoli with a programme performed by various choirs.
  • Enjoy music in masks: musicians and singers offer the most beatiful opera arias embellished by 18th century costumes and handcrafted masks at Scuola Grande dei Carmini (Campo Santa Margherita).
  • Enjoy music at the palace: Musical evenings in the atmosphere of a venetian palace overlooking the Grand Canal at Palazzo Barbarigo-Minotto (San Marco 2504).
  • Enjoy a performance every night at Teatro San Gallo (Campo San Gallo) with audio guides.
  • See in San Maurizio Church the Music Museum, hundred-odd musical instruments and a few works of the Venetian Baroque period. Admission free.
  • Shopping in the street Calle Larga XXII Marzo, where you'll find Venetia Studium with precious Fortuny designs.
  • Shopping laces and art handicraft at Burano Island.
  • Take a look at Murano art glass and see glassblowing in a factory (Vetreria) in Murano Island.
  • Visit the art galleries around the Peggy Guggenheim Museum. You can find glass works of great contemporary artists, paintings and jewels.
  • Visit the original Fortuny showroom at Giudecca Island, beside Molino Stucky.
back to top