The Top 8 Things You Must Do in Venice
Venice, in northeastern Italy is the capital of the Veneto Region as well as the most populous. However, the uniqueness of the city lies in that you will spot no cars here; Venice is situated across a group of 118 small islands and is surrounded by water—the only way to go anywhere is by boat. And if you’re anything like me, this can make for fun and adventure!
Last week, April 20th, I landed in Venice and, in just under 2 days, enjoyed so much of this beautiful city. Here are the top 8 things I recommend doing in Venice!
- Walk around the Piazza San Marco
Piazza San Marco—known in English as ‘St. Mark’s Square’—is the main public square of Venice, Italy and forms the social, religious and political center of Venice.
There you will see the Cathedral Basilica of St. Mark, the most famous of the city’s churches at the eastern end of the Piazza San Marco and one of the best known examples of Italo-Byzantine architecture.
There are also many other buildings and sights to see in the Piazza San Marco, such as the Palazzo Patriarcale (the seat of the Patriarch of Venice), the Torre dell’Orologio (the Clock Tower), the Correr Museum, the Campanile of St. Mark’s Church and a plethora of additional historical structures.
One suggestion I would absolutely make is during the evening and night, walking around the long arcade along the north side of the Piazza. There you will find many restaurants and places to stop for a cocktail. A few of these restaurants display musicians playing wonderful jazz , classical and international music. Here is some of the music I enjoyed a couple weeks ago in the piazza. So romantic and lovely <3.
A romantic evening in Piazza San Marco
(no, his lip is not bleeding, that’s from where I kissed him :P).
- Enjoy the views from the Campanile
As previously mentioned, the Campanile is one of the structures in the Piazza San Marco. It is the bell tower of St. Mark’s basilica–rebuilt in 1912 after the collapse of the former campanile in 1902—and is one of the most recognizable symbols of the city.
When you enter the campanile, you can pay a small fee for a ticket where you will be able to take an elevator to the top. From there, you can enjoy breathtaking 360 views of all of Venice. Here are some photos I took of the city from the top of the bell tower.
- Grab a Gelato!
This really applies for anywhere in Italy, so why not in Venice?
Gelato is ice cream made in the Italian style. The word Gelato simply means ‘ice cream’ in Italian, but in English, it has come to mean specifically Italian or Italian-style ice cream.
Gelato typically contains less air and more flavoring than other kinds of frozen desserts, giving it a density and richness that distinguishes it from other ice creams AND it is generally lower in fat than other styles of ice cream. More flavor, less fat? Sounds like a win-win to me!
You can find Gelato shops on many corners in Venice, but if you’re looking for a recommendation, Suso and Gelato Fantasy are amongst the best in town.
- Ride in a Gondola
If you go to Venice, you must take a Gondola ride. Where else in the world can you explore every crevice and canal in the city in this iconic symbol of romance? (nowhere :P).
There are gondola stops all over Venice, so it will not be difficult to find one, but I would suggest booking your gondola ride in advance if possible. Also, please note that Gondola rides normally last around 40 minutes and evening Gondola rides are typically more expensive than day gondola rides.
During my gondola experience in Venice, our gondolier took us first on the quiet back canals and then afterwards to the Grand Canal. Riding on canals outside the main tourist area lets you see a different view of Venice and there won’t be bumper-to-bumper gondolas, which is a plus. I preferred the back canals for that reason, but there is also a ‘wow’ factor to seeing the openness and busy activity of the Grand Canal, so try both and see what you prefer!
Our gondolier did not sing to us and not all gondoliers do, but he did provide explanations of the buildings we passed which was very interesting to learn some of the history of the city as we passed historical monuments and structures. We did however pass a couple singing gondoliers, so if you know you’d prefer some romantic music on your gondola ride, this is another reason to book in advance so you can put in that special request :).
Gondola with singer on board
Vince and I onboard our gondola 🙂
- Take a Water Taxi
Whether or not you have the opportunity to take a gondola ride, I would at least suggest riding in style via a Venetian water taxi! Water Taxis in Venice appear as sleek wooden boats and contain plush leather, open-air seating, equipped with a private driver. Taking a water taxi is a way to provide you with unique views of the city while making you feel like a Hollywood star at the same time!
Also, water taxis are not just luxurious, but are convenient and can come quite in handy if you are in a hurry or have luggage that is difficult to cart around; There are taxi stations at all major sites and transportation areas, including at Marco Polo Airport, Venice’s international airport.
Be aware that luxury and convenience often comes with a price so water taxis can be a bit on the pricey side, however as they can hold a larger number of people (up to 10 people), sharing the cost with a small group is greatly suggested!
Enjoy riding out like a rock star!
- Venture out to Murano!
Murano is a series of islands, lying north of Venice most notably known for its exquisite glass making. You can get there by boat quite easily and, depending on what part of Venice you are departing from, it should take you no longer than 45 minutes to get there.
There are a plethora of glass factories on Murano. The one we visited was called Murrina.it and what a great experience we had!
There, we saw a glass master construct two amazing pieces in under two minutes per piece. Check out this amazing video and photo below.
After we witnessed this incredible master at work, we then followed the glass factory guide to the glass display rooms of all that was for sale. We are proud to be the mom and pop of two beautiful pieces we made a home for. However, one thing you should make note of is that you are absolutely NOT required to make a purchase if it does not interest you, after you have seen a glass making exhibit or come into contact with glass makers. Glass factories in Murano are in the business of glass making, so their objective is to sell, but (unless you know that you truly want to make a purchase), your objective is to see something new and experience the glass making process, so if you keep this in mind, I believe you will find your experience on Murano quite satisfying :).
- Make a stop at Burano!
If you’re going to make a trip to Murano, then there’s no reason to not make a stop to see her brother, Burano, along the way!
Burano is another island near to Venice and no more than 30 minutes from Murano by boat. Burano rose in importance in the 16th century, when women on the island began making lace with needles and thus—as Burano is recognized for its glass making—Murano is known for its lace work. The primary economy today is tourism as visitors arrive for sightseeing and to purchase lace goods and to also take sight of the brightly colored homes on the island.
Here are some photos from my day in Murano.
While in Burano, I purchased a lacy red dress (I have not yet taken a photo of it, but it is beautiful!), so, other than checking out the spectacular multi-colored homes, if you’re going to make a purchase, I would absolutely suggest buying some lace as that is the prized good on the island.
- Get Lost
Last but not least…Get Lost! And no, I’m not telling you to scram! :P. I mean this quite literally! Venice is a city that you can walk around for hours with no plan and still have a wonderful time because there is so much to see by foot and so much to do in this labyrinth of passages!
Whether it be shops, gondola stops, museums, the Piazza, gelato, wine, etc., you’ll find something that strikes your fancy.
The day we got lost in the city, some of the things I enjoyed stumbling upon were the fish market and the Museo della Musica (Vivaldi’s Museum), displaying some pretty amazing instruments dating as far back as the 16th century!
So, enjoy getting lost! Just remember where your hotel is so that you’re not completely out to lunch =).
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I hope you enjoy these tips for what to do in Venice and arrivederci! (for now)
Xoxo
~Lesley Yvonne~
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