Venice is mysterious, magnificent and unique. The lagoon city in the north of Italy is always worth a visit and is mostly famous amongst honeymooners. We introduce you to the best things to do in Venice and show you the really worthwhile highlights of Venice
1. St. Mark’s Basilica
St. Mark’s Basilica is an architectural marvel that was created in 1092 and is one of the most significant religious buildings in Italy. From elaborate detailing, sculptures and the artwork on the front to the beautifully painted frescoes and Byzantine artwork inside, every aspect of this church is fantastic. St. Mark’s Basilica is easily accessible from the Grand Canal and is a great example of Italian architecture.
2. St. Mark’s Square
St. Mark’s Square is the most famous square in the lagoon city and one of Venice’s highlights. The most important buildings, such as St. Mark’s Basilica, the clock tower, the Doge’s Palace and Torre dell’Orologio, stand around the huge square. The St. Mark’s Square has always been the place of celebration for the Venetians, including the world-famous carnival, which still attracts many visitors.
3. Grand Canal
The Grand Canal is almost 4 KM in length, varies between 30 to 70 meters wide and up to 5 meters deep. More than 200 magnificent and impressive palaces line the Grand Canal. Whoever sails on the Grand Canal takes a trip through the magnificent historical testimonies of the various eras. You can explore the canal with a vaporetto (public water bus), a water taxi or a gondola ride. This monumental canal goes from one side of Venice to the other and passes through the center in a large S-curve.
4. Ponte di Rialto
The most famous bridge over the Grand Canal is undoubtedly the Rialto Bridge . We were impressed by the enormous size of the bridge.
For over 250 years, it was just another way to cross over the great canal. It connects the neighborhoods of San Polo and San Marco. Even if it is usually quite populated, a walk over it is one of the things to do in Venice.It’s best to go to the bridge early in the morning. Then hardly anything is going on and you can take beautiful photos without many people.
5. Bridge of Sighs
The small Bridge of Sighs was built in the 17th century and connects the Doge’s Palace with the Prigioni nuove, the new prison. It has two narrow corridors running side by side, which were walled up to the ceiling so that the prisoners could not talk.
The bridge got its famous name in the Roman period because, according to legend, the arrested people sighed for the daylight that they had either not seen in a long time or were seeing it for the last time. You have a great view of the Bridge of Sighs from the Ponte della Paglia. When you visit the Doge’s Palace, you walk through the Bridge of Sighs and experience the view from the other side.
6. Cruise the Grand Canal on a vaporetto
The vaporetto(Water bus) is the main mode of transportation in Venice. You can choose to take a train or you can walk the streets, but to really experience Venice, you have to experience it from the water. The vaporetto system is very efficient and is one of the fastest ways to travel to different islands of Venice. You can buy passes in advance that allow multiple uses, so you don’t have to worry about buying a ticket every time you use one. During your time in Venice, try to travel by vaporetto as much as possible and enjoy the sights and sounds you encounter from water.
7. San Marco Campanile
In the central square of Venice, at the St. Mark’s Square, you can see the San Marco Campanile, which is almost 100 meters high . The bell tower used to be a lighthouse for ships because it is the tallest building in the lagoon city. The tower was built between 888 and 911, and a few centuries later (1511) the top of the tower was placed on it. A few centuries later, the tower was renovated. In 1902, it collapsed while being renovated without injuring anyone. Today you can climb it comfortably with a lift to get the unique view.
8. Private Gondola Ride
Yes, it’s expensive, but it’s still worth it. The gondolier profession has a long tradition. The history of the Venetian gondolas goes back as far as 1,000 years. If you are in Venice, Gondola ride is undoubtedly the best thing to do in Venice.
You can be on your own with the private tour. There are also cheaper gondola rides where you share the gondola. You can also ride the vaporetto, of course, but it’s definitely not the same. Sit back and enjoy the ride. There is a wonderful architectural backdrop to admire around you.
9. Venice Lido
Lido island forms a barrier between Venice and the Adriatic Sea and offers a long, beautiful stretch of beach. The Lido is home to around 20,000 inhabitants and has numerous residential areas, shops, restaurants and hotels. The 11 km long island borders the lagoon from the Adriatic. International guests and Hollywood stars who stay in the sophisticated hotels here, make the Lido famous, including the Grand Hotel des Bains, during the annual Venice Film Festival.
10. Teatro La Fenice
The Gran Teatro La Fenice di Venezia is the largest opera house in the lagoon city. A visit there is undoubtedly one of the best things to do in Venice. After the Second World War, the house experienced an upswing at the festival for contemporary music, which is held as a biennial. It also serves as a fantastic background for photos.
The festival still takes place between September and October. However, it became sadly famous due to another event, in 1996 it was set on fire during a renovation and burned to the ground. It was reconstructed true to the original and was finally reopened in 2003. Fortunately, the legendary acoustics are not lost keeping it as one of the best things to do in Venice.
Also read- Things To Do In Paris
The festival still takes place between September and October. However, it became sadly famous due to another event, in 1996 it was set on fire during a renovation and burned to the ground. It was reconstructed true to the original and was finally reopened in 2003. Fortunately, the legendary acoustics are not lost keeping it as one of the best things to do in Venice.