Things to do in Venice for self travelers
Enjoy self-guided audio tours with included attraction tickets in one appTop sights in Venice
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Discover the Treasure of Venice with this official self-guided audio tour of the Saint Mark's Basilica! Note! This tour DOES NOT include a ticket! Buy it at www.st-marks-basilica.com Located in St. Mark Square, right next to the Doge's Palace, the Saint Mark's Basilica has always been the center of Venice's public and religious life. Today it is open both for prayer and for the opportunity to admire its extraordinary artistic heritage. Starting with an incredible journey, the Basilica's story is a tale like no other. Venice brought Byzantium's spiritual and material heritage to the West and preserved it till now so travelers from all over the world could experience its grandeur. Be lucky to see 8000 square metres of mosaics covering the Basilica walls, vaults, and cupolas. Marvel at a unique architectural collection consisting of masterpieces of different types, epochs, and origins. Visit the Saint Mark's Museum, which houses precious exhibits such as Persian carpets, liturgical vestments, and illuminated manuscripts. There are only a few places in the world so rich in their history and heritage. Be sure not to miss it!
The Doge's Palace & St. Mark's Square are among the most important symbols of Venice. These are at the heart of this self-guided audio tour that will take you on a journey through the city’s history. Embark on a captivating journey through Venice, a city that seamlessly blends its rich history with breathtaking beauty. Your adventure begins in the iconic St. Mark's Square, the pulsating heart of Venice, where the architectural splendor of St. Mark's Basilica and the lively ambiance of the square envelop you in the city’s vibrant spirit. From there, proceed to the majestic Doge's Palace, an enduring symbol of Venice's illustrious past and its Renaissance grandeur. Step inside to explore the sumptuous halls, each adorned with artistic masterpieces that narrate tales of power, intrigue, and artistry. Continue your tour by immersing yourself in the rich tapestry of Venetian history and architecture, adding layers to the narrative of "La Serenissima." This tour not only highlights the historical landmarks but also invites you to uncover the lesser-known tales woven into the very fabric of the city. Note! This tour is not affiliated with the Doge's Palace and St. Mark's Basilica but is provided by an independent creator. Please keep in mind that the tour doesn't include a visit to the St. Mark's Basilica.
Today Venice is known as one of the most romantic places on Earth, but It hasn’t always been so peaceful. On this in-app audio tour, you’ll learn about the horrible events that are believed to have taken place in Venice and find places inhabited by ghosts. Start the tour at St.Mark’s Square, the principal square of Venice. There, you’ll learn about the secrets and spine-chilling stories about the place that attracts millions of tourists each year. Then you’ll go to the Church of San Zaccaria where a couple of doges were violently murdered. While strolling through the narrow winding streets you’ll listen to the stories of the Venetian Butcher who made human-meat sausages and the boy who tore out his own mother’s heart. See the famous House of Spirits and get to know why the Venetian fishermen refuse to fish in front of it. Afterward, you’ll learn the story of the House of the Mysterious Statues. The tour finishes with a legend of the miraculous sculpture of Madonna dell’Orto in a church of the same name.
When you visit Venice, you can't miss Fortuny Palace, with its centuries worth of history. When you pass through the front door, you immerse yourself in the customs and traditions of Venice. Its unique facade is characterised by seven openings, while its interior has wooden lintels and marble pillars. Its architectural beauty is what attracted the designer Mariano Fortuny, who decided to restore the palace and give it back its lost beauty. Amongst the designer's creations, you can admire the winter garden and painting studio located on the first noble floor. The space features art of female figures, allegorical images, satyrs and exotic animals, parrots, and monkeys enveloped in floral and vegetable motifs, garlands and grotesques. Make sure to admire the Fortuny family's antiques collection and spectacular examples of textile production during your visit.
Duck out of the thronging crowds at St. Mark's Square, and enjoy a little holiday in the mind of a genius, with a ticket to Negozio Olivetti. Designed by celebrated Venetian architect Carlo Scarpa, this boutique museum is the perfect counterpoint to Venice's Gothic and Moorish architecture - and its bustling crowds! Epitomizing Scarpa's innovative use of space, the understated elegance of Negozio Olivetti offers a bite-size slice of calming modern design, without a single pigeon in sight!
The Museum of Natural History Venice, with its two rich exhibition floors, will do nothing but surprise you! On the ground floor you'll find the Cetacean Gallery – with the skeleton of a baleen whale and a young sperm whale – and the Tegnùe Aquarium, which reconstructs a particular underwater rocky environment of the Upper Adriatic Sea. On the upper floor, the museum is divided into three parts: the first is dedicated to fossils, the second recounts the evolution of collecting nature and the birth of scientific museology, and the third illustrates the variety of living forms and the complexity of adaptations and specialisations. Prepare to be amazed by our natural world at the Museum of Natural History Venice.
Once the home of Venetian nobles, two world-class museums occupy the space inside this opulent ex-palace. Explore a huge collection of 19th and 20th-century paintings, as well as Expressionist and Surrealist art in The International Gallery of Modern Art. In the Oriental Art Museum, ogle the many treasures from Prince Enrico di Borbone's jaunt across Asia from 1887–89. Marvel at beautiful antique Islamic ceramics, an exquisite carved Chinese chess set from the 18th century, and more.
Twiddle your beards, both real and fake as you peruse one of the most important museums for 20th-century art. The Peggy Guggenheim Collection in Venice boasts works by Picasso, de Chirico, Dalí, Pollock, Kandinsky and Magritte, amongst others.
Travel back in time and uncover the history and culture of La Serenissima with a visit to the imposing, yet elegant, **Doge's Palace** in **Venice**. The exterior hints at its beauty, and inside – with a **golden staircase, triumphal arches**, and **frescoed walls** – you'll get a complete sense of its splendor. Inside this Gothic structure, you'll find fantastically ornate rooms, decorated by artists such as **Titian, Veronese, Tiepolo,** and **Tintoretto**. The Doge's Palace also served as a prison in its storied lifetime. Don't skip the notorious **Bridge of Sighs** – so named for the laments of the convicted criminals as they made their way to the New Prisons.
With this combo ticket you'll get skip-the-line access to two of Venice's most interesting museums! Explore the art of Venetian lace-making from the 16th to the 20th centuries at the Lace Museum, then check out the largest collection of Murano glass in history at the Glass Museum.
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Insider tips for visiting Venice
Alina Carini is a local guide who has been publishing tours since 2022 for your discovery of hidden gems and local specialities of Venice on their personal guide page (view profile). Explore their expert tips planning trip to Venice.
When I’m in Venice, I always start early in Cannaregio, when the canals are still quiet and locals are out buying bread. For me, the most rewarding attractions in Venice are not just the big sights but the small moments: climbing San Giorgio Maggiore’s bell tower for the cleanest lagoon view, then walking Dorsoduro until I reach Squero di San Trovaso to watch gondolas being repaired. If friends ask me what to see in Venice, I tell them to cross to Torcello in the late afternoon, when it feels almost abandoned. I also like small food-focused tours in Venice, especially around Rialto, where cicchetti bars are busiest just before dinner.
On a first trip to Venice, I recommend getting up early and walking from Rialto to St. Mark’s before 8 a.m., when Venice still feels like itself. One of my favorite things to do in Venice is to slip into Castello after the square, where laundry hangs over narrow canals and you hear more Venetian than camera shutters. For classic attractions in Venice, I’d choose the Doge’s Palace, then balance it with a vaporetto ride to San Giorgio Maggiore for the view. When friends ask me what to see in Venice, I also suggest the Rialto market at lunchtime and, later, bacari in Cannaregio instead of standard tours in Venice.
When I visit Venice for shopping, I split my time by neighborhood. For handmade masks and small ateliers, I go to San Polo and the lanes just off Campo San Tomà, where Venice still feels intimate. If you plan to visit Venice for textiles, stationery, or beautifully curated home goods, I recommend Dorsoduro around Campo Santa Margherita and Calle Lunga San Barnaba. Locals know Cannaregio is better for everyday artisan food shops than flashy windows; I often stop there for biscuits, wine, and kitchen items. In any travel guide Venice usually points to Mercerie, but for me the real things to do in Venice include wandering one canal back from the main streets, where the most interesting shops hide.
In my travel guide Venice always depends on how you want to feel at night. When I visit Venice for a first stay, I usually suggest Cannaregio: you can walk to the station, eat well near Fondamenta della Misericordia, and still slip into quieter lanes after dinner. If you want museums and elegant evenings, I prefer Dorsoduro, especially around Campo Santa Margherita or the Zattere. Locals know San Marco is beautiful but tiring once day-trippers fill it. For me, the best things to do in Venice start early, so I like staying somewhere that lets me reach Rialto or St. Mark’s before breakfast crowds. If you visit Venice for atmosphere, Castello is another excellent choice.
When I’m showing friends Venice, I rarely keep them only around San Marco. For me, the most memorable attractions in Venice are spread across neighborhoods with very different moods. I love Cannaregio for its evening life along Fondamenta della Misericordia, Castello for quiet residential lanes behind Arsenale, and Dorsoduro for art, long waterfront walks, and the view from Punta della Dogana. If someone asks me what to see in Venice, I always add San Polo in the morning, when the Rialto market is still full of fishmongers shouting. I’m not big on standard tours in Venice, but wandering these areas on foot gives the best sense of how Venice actually lives.
When I’m in Venice with children, I usually head to the Natural History Museum in Santa Croce, then let the day unfold along the Grand Canal. It’s one of my favorite things to do in Venice because kids get space to move, and the dinosaur skeletons and lagoon exhibits actually keep them engaged. Afterward, I take the vaporetto to Burano, which for me is one of the most cheerful attractions in Venice for families: bright houses, no cars, and plenty of room to wander. If parents ask me what to see in Venice, I also suggest quiet campi in Castello instead of standard tours in Venice, where children can run a little without the usual crowds.
When I visit Venice, I eat the way locals do: standing at a bacaro with a glass of ombra and a few cicchetti. Venice is especially known for baccalà mantecato on bread, sarde in saor with its sweet-sour onion flavor, and little fried moeche when they’re in season. In my travel guide Venice always includes risotto di gò, a lagoon fish risotto visitors often miss, and fegato alla veneziana if you want something more traditional. One of the best things to do in Venice is go near Rialto before lunch, when bars fill with workers ordering small bites. If you visit Venice in winter, don’t skip fritole during Carnival season.
In my travel guide Venice, I usually tell people to stay at least two full days, but three is much better. Venice changes completely between early morning, midday, and late evening, and you only notice that if you sleep there. When I visit Venice, I like having one day for the classic walks around Rialto, San Marco, and Dorsoduro, then another for slower hours in Cannaregio or Castello, where daily life is easier to feel. A third day lets you add Burano, Torcello, or just long meals and aimless wandering. For me, the best things to do in Venice happen before breakfast and after dinner, when Venice finally exhales.