Is Venice Worth Visiting? Top Reasons to Visit & Things to Do

Wondering whether Venice is worth visiting on your trip to Italy? You are in the right place!

After having spent two weeks in Italy (and three days in Venice), we can say that for us, Venice was definitely worth the visit! This post is here to help you decide whether Venice is worth visiting on your next trip.

Here, we’ll share our top reasons for visiting Venice and some of the best things to do there. In addition, we’ll share some of the things we did not like about Venice, so that you can decide whether to include this remarkable city on your trip itinerary.

Is Venice Worth Visiting?

In short, yes! Venice is absolutely worth visiting. Known by many as the Floating City, Venice is like no other place in the world. With its rich history, dazzling architecture, enchanting music, and fascinating infrastructure of bridges, streets, and canals, Venice is a captivating city to visit. We would highly recommend fitting it into your itinerary if you can!

Venice (along with Rome, Florence, and Tuscany) also makes a perfect stop on a first-time trip to Italy.

Our Top Three Reasons for Visiting Venice:
1. Its unique infrastructure of bridges, streets, and canals
2. Its opulent architecture
3. Its captivating music

Our Top Five Things to Do in Venice:
1. Ride the vaporetto down the Grand Canal
2. Visit St. Mark’s Basilica and St. Mark’s Square
3. Visit the Doge’s Palace
4. See an opera at the Teatro La Fenice
5. Wander across Venice’s many beautiful bridges
6. Bonus: Take a gondola ride

Reasons You May Want to Skip Venice:
1. If you don’t like being around crowds
2. If you don’t like being on or near the water or eating seafood
3. If your itinerary focuses on another region of Italy or you don’t have more than one day to spend in Venice

More on each of these below!

Top Reasons Why Venice Is Worth Visiting

There are many reasons why Venice is worth visiting, but here are our top three!

Its Unique Infrastructure of Bridges, Streets, and Canals

The main reason we wanted to visit Venice was to see the legendary “Floating City” for ourselves. Venice has been called the Floating City, the City of Canals, and the City of Bridges, and rightly so. It is made up of over 100 small islands, which are woven together by more than 300 bridges and 150 canals. Interestingly, Venice was actually built on the marshes rather than on land, which makes it look like the city is rising straight up out of the water and “floating” on the Venetian Lagoon.

This is amazing considering the city is over 1,600 years old!

The infrastructure of Venice was a marvel to me, but it was also one of the things I loved most about Venice. The endless maze of tiny streets, bridges, and canals is part of what makes Venice such a magical place to visit.

Its Opulent Architecture

Another reason to visit Venice is for its stunning architecture. St. Mark’s Square, St. Mark’s Basilica, the Doge’s Palace, and the Teatro La Fenice are all examples of the incredible architecture found in Venice.

Its Captivating Music

Another reason we wanted to visit Venice in particular was for its musical history. Venice boasts one of the most decadent opera houses in Italy, and attending a performance there was one of the highlights of our trip! If you have a taste for classical music, you will enjoy the musical highlights of Venice.

Best Things To Do in Venice

Whether you want to take a gondola ride or enjoy the music in St. Mark’s Square, Venice has many sights and experiences to offer.

Here are some of the best things to do that we believe make Venice well worth visiting.

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1. Take a Boat Ride down the Grand Canal

One of our favorite experiences in Venice was taking a boat ride down the Grand Canal. The Grand Canal is the main water highway in Venice, and it serpentines all the way from one end of the island to the other. The views of the city from the water were amazing!

We took the vaporetto (the Venetian water bus) and were lucky enough to get two seats at the front of the boat. We took Line 1 from Piazzale Roma to San Marco, which took us from one end of the Grand Canal to the other in about 35-45 minutes.

The vaporetto is the most affordable option, but you can also take a private water taxi if you are willing to pay extra.

2. Visit St. Mark’s Basilica

One of our favorite sights in Venice was St. Mark’s Basilica. This cathedral was built in the 9th century and dedicated to St. Mark the Evangelist, the patron saint of Venice. St. Mark is symbolized by the lion found throughout the square.

While the cathedral’s exterior was certainly striking, its elaborate, gold interior was even more so! The inside of St. Mark’s Basilica is covered in more than 85,000 square feet of mosaics, most of them plated in gold. The mosaic work was done over eight centuries and looks different depending on the lighting and time of day. We were blown away by the gold mosaics inside the church.

The lines for both St. Mark’s Basilica and the Doge’s Palace were both very long when we were there, so we recommend booking your tickets in advance (or booking a tour) to save time.

Hours: The basilica is open every day from 9:30 am – 5:15 pm (with last entry at 4:45 pm), except Sundays (opens at 2 pm). Check the official website for the most up-to-date information.

Tickets: If you prefer to visit the cathedral on your own, you can purchase skip-the-line tickets from the official website here. A single ticket for St. Mark’s Basilica costs €6 online (and up to €20 if you want to add on the Pala d’Oro and the Museum).

Tours: If you prefer to take a guided tour of St. Mark’s Basilica, we did this well-rated tour, which includes the Doge’s Palace as well.

3. Tour the Doge’s Palace

We also visited the Doge’s Palace on our visit to Venice. It is right next to St. Mark’s Basilica. The palace was built in 1340 and represented the seat of power in Venice and the former residence of the Doge.

The interior is grand and opulent (with enough gold to rival St. Mark’s Basilica) and is a reflection of the city’s rich and powerful history.

Hours: The Doge’s Palace is open every day from 9 am to 7 pm (last entrance at 6 pm). Check the official website for the most updated information.

Tickets: If you would like to visit the Doge’s Palace on your own, you can book tickets online in advance from the official website here.

Tours: If you would rather take a guided tour of the Doge’s Palace, we did this well-rated tour, which includes St. Mark’s Basilica as well.

4. Walk Across Venice’s Romantic Bridges

Venice has many bridges, but the most famous of all is probably the romantic Bridge of Sighs.

As legend has it, the bridge is named for the sighs of prisoners who were given one last look at their beautiful city as they walked across the bridge from the palace to the prison. We had the chance to walk across the Bridge of Sighs during our tour of the Doge’s Palace. However, I think I liked it better from the outside!

The best place to view the Bridge of Sighs is from the Ponte della Paglia, which is just around the corner from St. Mark’s Square. With everyone trying to get a picture, it is usually quite crowded during the day, but it is surprisingly empty in the early morning.

It you want to walk across the infamous Bridge of Sighs, you can do so from inside the Doge’s Palace.

Another of Venice’s famous bridges is the Rialto Bridge. Built in the 16th century, it is the oldest of the four bridges spanning the Grand Canal.

Admittedly, this is a very popular tourist spot and was extremely crowded when we were there. While you will probably end up crossing this bridge just to get around Venice, we would suggest returning to this spot in the evening or early morning for a more enjoyable experience.

If you find those two bridges too crowded, not to worry – Venice has hundreds of other beautiful bridges!

The smaller bridges, which are tucked away on the narrow back streets of Venice, are far less crowded. Even during one of the busiest times of the year, we often had these little bridges to ourselves (other than the occasional gondola passing by).

If you want to experience some of the most romantic parts of Venice, then discovering Venice’s hidden bridges is a must!

5. See an Opera at the Teatro La Fenice

The grandest experience we had in Venice was getting to see a classic Italian opera at the Teatro La Fenice. Aptly named after the mythological creature, the Phoenix, the theater was tragically burnt to the ground twice after being built in the 1790s, and both times it was rebuilt out of the ashes.

With its magnificent gold interior, it is one of the crown jewels of opera houses in Italy. If you have an appreciation for classical music, then this is a place you won’t want to miss!

Tickets: You can buy tickets directly from the Teatro La Fenice website here. Ticket prices can range anywhere from 45 euros for a seat in the gallery to 230 euros for a seat in the royal box. (We splurged and got front row seats in a lateral box and thought it was 100% worth it!)

Tip: If you do get box seats, be sure to get seats in the front row, as the views are very obstructed from the back.

6. Take a Gondola Ride

One of the most iconic Venetian experiences you can have is to take a gondola ride through the city’s winding canals. These traditional Venetian boats are handcrafted in workshops called squeri and are made to navigate the city’s narrow waterways with a single oar.

Taking a gondola ride is something you can do only when in Venice! We decided to wait until the evening to take our gondola ride (to avoid the gondola traffic jams that you see so often during the day), and although we paid a slightly higher price, it was totally worth it!

Prices: Gondola prices are set in Venice. As of the time of writing, a 30-minute gondola ride costs €80 during the day and €100 after 7 pm. Check the official website for current rates.

Tip: For a quiet and romantic gondola ride with the canals almost all to yourself, we recommend finding a gondolier on one of the less busy streets away from the crowds (mornings and evenings are best). The main canals can get very congested!

7. Wander the Picturesque, Narrow Streets of Venice

Venice is a wonderful labyrinth of tiny streets and canals. One of the best things you can do is to wander away from the main areas and get lost in the some of the city’s less crowded streets. This is how you will find some of the most beautiful hidden streets and bridges!

I loved how no two streets looked the same. The varying colors, window and shutter styles, and balconies made every row unique! It was hard not to stop and photograph every canal and street.

There are also no cars in Venice, which makes its streets completely walkable and adds to the city’s old-world charm.

Some of the best areas to explore include the Cannaregio, Castello, and Dorsoduro districts.

If you prefer a walking tour of the local side of Venice, we would suggest this highly rated walking tour.

8. Take a Lift to the Top of the Bell Tower

For another amazing view of Venice, you can take a lift to the top of the bell tower in St. Mark’s Square. Known in Italian as the Campanile, the bell tower is the highest point in Venice at 99 meters high. (The tower even collapsed once but was rebuilt in 1903!)

From the top, you can enjoy spectacular views of the city and the nearby islands.

Hours: Winter hours are from 9:30 am – 7:15 pm (last entry at 6:45 pm). Summer hours are from 9:30 am – 9:15 pm (last entry at 8:45 pm). Check the official website for the most up-to-date information.

Tickets: You can purchase timed entry tickets on the official website here.

9. Try Some Cicchetti (& Other Regional Specialties)

We will be the first to admit that the food in Venice took us a bit by surprise. Compared to Rome, Florence, and Tuscany, we thought the food in Venice was a little bizarre!

Being that Venice is on the water, you can expect to find lots of fish, squid, anchovies, and prawns.

However, whatever your tastes, one of the traditional Venetian foods you must try is cicchetti! Cicchetti are small, bite-sized, appetizer-like foods that you can order in Venice, usually costing only a few euros each.

Because they are such a quick bite, they are typically eaten standing up. Some of the most popular cicchetti dishes include crostini (toasted bread with toppings), mozzarella in carrozza (fried mozzerella), polpette (meatballs), and baccalà mantecato (salted cod).

Three great local spots for cicchetti are Cantina do Spade, Cantina do Mori, and Acqua & Mais.

For a real sample of Venice’s regional specialties, consider taking a local food tour! It is a great way to discover some of the best local restaurants and try a broad assortment of Venetian dishes. Here are two recommended tours:

The Award-Winning Private Food Tour of Venice
– 3-hour private food tour with a local guide
– 10 hand-selected food & drink tastings in Venice’s local neighborhoods
– Rated 5/5 stars (almost 400 reviews)

✔ Book your private Venice food tour here!

Experience Venice like a Local: Small Group Cicchetti & Wine Tour
– 2.5 hour food & wine tour with a local guide
– Rated 5/5 stars (over 1,300 reviews)
– Small group tour (limited to 12 people)

Includes:
– 7 cicchetti dishes and 1 dessert
– 5 wines and 1 spritz
– Passage across the Grand Canal on a traghetto (gondola ferry)

✔ Book your small-group Venice food & wine tour here!

10. Enjoy the Ambiance in St. Mark’s Square

St. Mark’s Square is the most popular square in Venice. Like Venice’s other main attractions, we found it to be very crowded during the day. However, in the mornings and evenings, the atmosphere was lovely!

St. Mark’s Square is lined with decadent coffee shops, the most famous being Caffé Florian – the oldest coffee shop in Italy!

In the evenings, when the crowds have left the square, traveling orchestras set up outside the cafes and play for hours. I thought it was worth staying in Venice just to enjoy the soft romance of this city in the evenings.

11. Visit the Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute

Another one of the main landmarks in Venice is the Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute. This 400-year-old cathedral is located on the Grand Canal and is worth a visit if you have the time.

For a wonderful view of the city, you can climb to the top of the church’s dome! The dome climb is 150 steps and takes about 30 minutes.

Hours: Check the official website for current hours.

Admission: Admission to the church is free. Entry to the dome is 8 euros per ticket. Tickets can be purchased in person or online in advance.

12. Visit the Fondaco dei Tedeschi Rooftop Terrace

For yet another beautiful view of Venice, visit the rooftop terrace at Fondaco dei Tedeschi, one of Venice’s luxury department stores. The terrace offers stunning views of the Rialto Bridge and Grand Canal.

The terrace is completely free to visit, but reservations must be made online in advance. You can make your reservation here.

13. Experience the Venice Carnival

If you want to experience some of the best festivities Venice has to offer, consider making a trip to Venice for the annual Venice Carnival. During this traditional and extravagant event, participants don elaborate Renaissance costumes and masks for a city-wide masquerade lasting around two weeks! 

The carnival typically takes place every year in late January and February.

Tip: If you don’t make it to Venice during the Carnival season, you can still get a taste of this Venetian tradition by exploring some of Venice’s many mask shops. 

14. Stop by the Liberia Acqua Alta

While this unique bookshop used to be somewhat of a hidden gem, it has now become one of the more well-known spots in Venice. For book lovers, the Liberia Acqua Alta is a curious place to stop. Due to Venice’s tendency to flood, this whimsical bookstore is known for storing its books in bathtubs, rowboats, and even a gondola.

15. Explore the Other Venetian Islands

If you are staying in Venice for more than two days, consider taking a full or half day trip to a few of the other Venetian Islands! Murano is famous for its glass-making, and Burano is known for its Venetian lace and its bright and colorful buildings.

If you are visiting during the warmer months, you could also take a day trip to the island of Lido, where you can enjoy its long, sandy beaches and go for a swim.

You can easily get to Murano, Burano, and Lido by taking the vaporetto.

16. Take a Day Trip to Verona or Treviso

If you would like to explore more of the Veneto region of Italy, both Verona and Treviso make wonderful day trips from Venice! 

Verona is a charming city, made famous by Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. If you love literature or theatre, then you will enjoy visiting the old Roman theatre and seeing Juliet’s balcony in Verona. It is only one hour by train from Venice.

Affectionately known as “Little Venice,” Treviso is a beautiful little city with its own collection of tiny streets and canals. If you are looking to escape the crowds in Venice during the day, Treviso is a great place to explore. Treviso is only a 40-minute train ride from Venice.

Reasons Why Venice May Not Be Worth Visiting

Finally, while we think Venice is definitely worth visiting, here are a few reasons why you may want to consider skipping Venice:

If you don’t like crowds…

One reason you may want to skip Venice is if you don’t like crowds. Venice is one of the most popular places to visit in Europe, which has resulted in a massive influx of tourists every year. Unfortunately, unless you visit in off-season, Venice will likely be very crowded when you visit. We were there during shoulder season in early April, and it was still very crowded.

Certain places, such as St. Mark’s Square, St. Mark’s Basilica, the Doge’s Palace, the Bridge of Sighs, and Rialto Bridge, will almost always be crowded during the day. However, if you stay overnight in Venice, you can visit these places in the morning or later in the day, making for a much more enjoyable experience. You can also spend peak hours exploring the more local neighborhoods in Venice, which are far less crowded.

If you don’t like being on or near the water or eating seafood…

Another reason you may want to skip Venice is if you don’t like being on the water. Being that Venice is completely surrounded by water, it is almost inevitable that at some point you will have to take a boat! For not being in the ocean, some of the boat rides were much more rocky than I expected. However, one way to minimize boat rides is to stay at a hotel that is actually on Venice (rather than staying at a hotel across the water on Giudecca Island, like we did).

Additionally, as mentioned above, Venice does serve mostly seafood, so just be aware that there are limited food options for those who do not like seafood.

If your itinerary focuses on another region of Italy or you don’t have more than one day to spend in Venice…

Finally, one last reason why you may consider skipping Venice (on this trip) is if your itinerary focuses on another region of Italy (such as southern Italy) or if you don’t have more than one day to dedicate to Venice.

We would recommend spending at least two days in Venice to experience all that the city has to offer.

Where to Stay in Venice

If you are planning on visiting Venice, we would highly recommend staying at least a few nights to experience the best of this unique and magical city. Here are a few hotel recommendations:

• The Gritti Palace ($$$): Formerly a noble residence on the Grand Canal, the Gritti Palace is one of Venice’s most luxurious and elegant hotels. Located near St. Mark’s Square, this hotel is ideally situated for seeing all of Venice’s main sights.

✔ Check prices for the Gritti Palace here!

• Hilton Molino Stucky Venice ($$): This elegant, 5-star hotel is located on Giudecca Island, a short ferry ride away from San Marco Square. This hotel offers views of the entire city of Venice from the other side of the water. (We stayed here and were very happy with it.)

✔ Check prices for the Hilton Molino Stucky Venice here!

• Residenza Venezia ($): This charming bed and breakfast is situated in the Cannaregio neighborhood near the Rialto Bridge. It is on a quiet street and is within walking distance from all the main sights.

✔ Check prices for the Residenza Venezia here!

Getting Around Venice

Part of what makes Venice worth visiting is its old-fashioned ways of getting around the city. When you step onto Venice, it is like stepping back in time. There are no cars in Venice, and everyone gets around on foot or by boat.

Walking in Venice

The quickest way to get around Venice is by walking. Venice is a relatively small city, and most of the main sights are within 20 minutes of each other. You can walk from one side of the island to the other in less than an hour.

For the most part, we recommend walking everywhere, as it is the fastest way to get around the city. Just be sure to get off the beaten path at least a few times!

Water Buses

Another way to get around Venice is to take the water bus (called the vaporetto). When in Venice, we would definitely recommend taking the vaporetto at least once to enjoy the views of the Grand Canal from the water!

If you want to be able to hop on and off the vaporetto, you can buy a 24-hour, 36-hour, or 48-hour pass in person or online here. Just remember to validate your ticket before boarding!

Visiting Venice: FAQs

Below are some of the most frequently asked questions when deciding whether Venice is worth visiting.

How many days should I spend in Venice?

We believe two full days is the perfect amount of time to spend in Venice if you want to experience the best the city has to offer and still have plenty of time to wander around on your own. With three or more days, you can slow down and add on a day trip to the nearby islands of Murano and Burano or the romantic city of Verona.

Personally, we wouldn’t recommend visiting Venice on a day trip (there are too many crowds during the day).

READ MORE: How Many Days in Venice Is Enough?

What is the best time of year to travel to Venice, Italy?

The ideal time of year to travel to Venice is in the spring or fall during the shoulder seasons (late March to early May or September to October). The weather is lovely, and with the exception of Easter weekend, the city has fewer crowds than in the high season. Venice is also worth visiting in February for the annual Venice Carnival, where the entire city masquerades in extravagant costumes and masks. Summer (June through August) is peak tourist season, and the city becomes muggy and hot.

Is Venice or Florence better?

Both Florence and Venice are worth visiting if you have time! Each city is unique and has plenty to offer. Overall, Florence is better if you enjoy Renaissance art and architecture, museums, shopping, and traditional Italian food, or if you want to explore more of the Tuscany region. You can spend also more time in Florence because it has more to do and more day trip options.

On the other hand, Venice is better if you enjoy picturesque streets and canals, seafood, boat rides, classical music, unique architecture, and more of a dreamy, romantic atmosphere. Another reason to prioritize visiting Venice is simply to make sure you see the Floating City before it sinks.

Is Venice too touristy?

Like any other major city, Venice has some touristy areas and can get very crowded, especially during peak tourist season. However, Venice is still worth visiting! The best way to avoid the crowds is to travel during shoulder season and to visit the most popular sights in the morning, later in the day, or in the evening. (This is also one of many reasons why we think it is worth staying overnight!)

Conclusion: Is Venice Worth Visiting?

Yes, Venice is absolutely worth visiting! With its intricate framework of bridges and canals, Venice is one of the most unique cities in Europe and should not be missed. From its colorful, hidden streets to the famous Grand Canal, Venice has plenty to offer. Whether you want to admire the stunning architecture, take a romantic gondola ride on the quiet back canals, or enjoy a classic opera in Venice’s grand theater, we are certain you will find that Venice is worth visiting!