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 skip-the-line ticket and official self-guided audio tour of the Saint Mark's Basilica! Please, note the entrance ticket includes access to and audio tour of the ground floor only! Access to and an audio guide of the museums and terraces is NOT included! 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. Start your incredible journey in front of the Basilica, learning about its history and architecture. Then, bypass the crowds and plunge into the story, which 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. As a bonus, when you've finished exploring the basilica and the square, we invite you on a stroll through the city of Venice. The route is designed to guide you through narrow cobblestone streets, over picturesque bridges, and alongside the shimmering Grand Canal, providing a structure to your discovery of Venice, concluding on the vibrant Rialto Bridge.
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!
Put your city plans aside and head to the rolling Euganean Hills for a taste of early 16th-century, aristocratic Italian life. The Villa dei Vescovi (Bishops' Villa) was intended as a place for nobleman Alvise Cornaro's intellectual friends to gather and discuss the importance of art and nature. As you do! Explore the fancy rooms and spot the homages to the great outdoors in the frescoes on the walls. The views across the vineyards outside are magical. Why not bring a picnic?
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.
Discover the interiors of the enchanting La Fenice Theatre in Venice with this skip-the-line entrance ticket! Whether you're a lover of opera or simply want to immerse yourself in the beauty of one of Italy's most celebrated theaters, this opera house is sure to leave you captivated and inspired. This ticket offers a unique behind-the-scenes look at La Fenice, taking you to areas typically overlooked by the public, such as the Royal Box and the Apollo Rooms boasting some magnificent details of the Baroque interiors. You'll be able to explore the stunning architecture and ornate interiors of La Fenice securing the heritage of the incredible performances that have taken place within its walls. Photos and artifacts will tell you the story of the theatre's founding, its tumultuous past, and its triumphant rebirth after devastating fires. Experience the magic of one of the most renowned opera houses and admire the artistry of this iconic venue. WeGoTrip is an authorized reseller of Venezia Unica services.
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.
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.
Get lost in the various rooms of the Scuola Grande dei Carmini, founded on 1598 as a laical confraternity. History unravels beneath your feet as you explore numerous, priceless works of art, including the famous ceiling. It's worth a bit of neck strain to feast your eyes on the paintings by Giambattista Tiepolo above your head! The artist worked tirelessly in 1739 and 1749 to create the famous nine canvases, depicting scenes of spiritual virtue. The interior rooms of the Scuola have fully preserved the original antique furnishings.
If you wanted a no-frills adventure in Venice, this is not it. Explore the art of Venetian lace from the 16th to the 20th century at the Lace Museum and learn about the art of tatting (also known as lace)! More than 200 rare and valuable objects are preserved in the open archive here, including drawings, photographs, and other lace charms. On the first floor of the museum, you'll find four rooms packed with lacey-based items. Learn about the evolution of the art of lace-making in Venice over the centuries, and get up close to over 200 rare and precious examples. During museum opening hours, you can even see skilled master lacemakers at work, custodians of an art handed down over the centuries.
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About Venice
The best tours to do in Venice with kids are:
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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.