Venice attractions

Back in the 13th century, the Venetian trader Marco Polo journeyed along Asia’s storied Silk Road and recorded tales of his adventures in a travelogue, The Travels of Marco Polo. Today, travelers and adventure-seekers pay tribute to his legacy by stopping by Marco Polo's Home (Casa di Marco Polo)—the site believed to be his family’s former residence. While the surrounding houses cannot be visited, the location is marked with a commemorative plaque.

Peggy Guggenheim was a prolific art collector in the mid-20th century who lived by the motto “Buy a picture a day.” The native New Yorker eventually settled in an 18th-century palazzo in Venice along the Grand Canal. Her namesake museum, housed in her former home, grew from the artworks she amassed, and her ashes are interred in the garden. Today, the Peggy Guggenheim Collection is one of the world’s most acclaimed museums of modern art.

The burial place of more than two dozen Venetian doges and dignitaries, the 15th-century Basilica dei Santi Giovanni e Paolo—known by locals as San Zanipolo—is among the most important churches in Venice. The sheer scale of the massive Gothic structure is impressive, but don’t miss the interior, which displays elaborate tombs and artistic masterpieces by Giovanni Bellini, Paolo Veronese, and other Italian greats.

Venice’s former Jewish Ghetto (Ghetto di Venezia) is one of the most fascinating and moving corners of the city. Found in the Cannaregio district of the city, it is the oldest Jewish ghetto in Europe; Jews from across Europe settled in this neighborhood for centuries. With Campo del Ghetto Nuovo at its center, the neighborhood is home to several 16th-century synagogues, the Jewish Museum, a small Holocaust memorial, and kosher restaurants and bakeries.

Campo San Bartolomeo is located in the heart of Venice, smack-dab in the middle of the city’s tourist-filled San Marco district. Known simply as San Bortolo to Venetian locals, the square’s name comes from the church constructed here in the mid-19th century (relatively recently by Italian standards). Café terraces cover much of the campo, while its most famous feature is a bronze statue of Venetian writer Carlo Goldoni.

Santa Lucia Station (Stazione di Venezia Santa Lucia) is Venice’s main train station and principal transport hub that serves as a gateway to the island city, where many visitors catch their first glimpse of La Serenissima. While its modernist design doesn’t resemble the typical look of Venice, its location in the Cannaregio district means that local highlights are just a vaporetto (water bus) away.

From afar, you can see its high tower soaring above Venice’s winding canals. Up close, you can truly appreciate the scale of one of the city’s largest and most important churches. The Frari Church (Basilica dei Frari) is known for its 15th-century Franciscan-Gothic architecture and spectacular collection of Renaissance artwork. Its claim to fame is Titian’s Assumption of the Virgin, plus works by Donatello and Bellini.

Venice sits across a network of islands in the Venetian Lagoon (Laguna Veneta), a sheltered bay on the Adriatic Sea spanning 212 square miles (549 square kilometers). Beyond the main islands, visitors can take a boat trip to the lagoon’s colorful and historic outposts, including Burano with its vibrant houses and lace, Murano famed for its glassmaking, and Torcello, which is home to ancient churches.

San Polo is one of the oldest of Venice’s six districts (sestieri) and home to many of the city’s most popular sites, including the Rialto Bridge (Ponte di Rialto) that connects San Polo to the San Marco side of the Grand Canal, and the historic Rialto Market, where locals shop for fresh produce and seafood. The district is a fun place to visit, thanks to its lively mix of culture, history, and authentic Venetian life.

Considered one of the best hidden gems in Venice, the Bovolo Staircase (Scala Contarini del Bovolo) is an intricately designed spiral stairwell that boasts picturesque views over Venetian rooftops and canals. Drawing architecture enthusiasts from around the world, this staircase is part of the Palazzo Contarini del Bovolo, a stunning palace once inhabited by one of the city’s most prominent noble families.

Housing what many consider the finest art collection in Venice, the Accademia Gallery (Gallerie dell’Accademia) showcases Venetian artworks dating from the 14th century to the 18th century. Leonardo da Vinci’s Vitruvian Man is the collection’s most famous—not to mention fragile—work. This popular institution showcases works from many Venetian painters that best capture the spirit of the Floating City, and is a must for art lovers.

At the heart of Venice’s Dorsoduro district, Campo Santa Margherita is a lively square known for its youthful energy. By day, an outdoor market draws locals and visitors with fresh produce, crafts, and snacks. In the evening, the square’s cafés, bars, and restaurants come alive, making it a hub of Venetian nightlife. Surrounded by historic architecture, it’s the perfect spot to soak up the city’s energy while enjoying its old-world charm.

Linking the central San Marco and Dorsoduro districts of Venice, the pedestrian Accademia Bridge (Ponte dell’Accademia) is popular with visitors for its Grand Canal views and history. Created in the late 19th century, the structure was originally made from iron, which was replaced in the 1930s with wood reinforced by steel supports.

Shrouded in legends of fairies, magic mirrors, and tears from a king, Lake Misurina (Lago di Misurina) in the eastern Belluno province is a lake that enchants you with stories and scenery. On calm weather days, its waters reflect the Dolomites’ most majestic mountains, including the Three Peaks of Lavaredo (Tre Cime). Its surroundings are launchpads for outdoor activities, enticing hikers, bikers, and winter sports enthusiasts from around the world.

Topped by impressive domes and spires, the Basilica of St. Anthony of Padua is the city’s most important church, attracting pilgrims from around the world. Its architecture blends Romanesque, Byzantine, and Gothic styles, with domes that echo St. Mark’s Basilica in Venice. Inside, visitors can explore richly decorated chapels, view sacred relics, and visit the Tomb of St. Anthony, while also exploring the collection of beautiful artwork.

Bordered to the north by the Grand Canal and to the south by the Giudecca Canal, this southern sestriere is a historic one, home to a cluster of art-filled churches, bridges, and palazzi—not to mention the island of Giudecca. Dorsoduro’s vibe is both young and touristic, in part due to the students who attend the Ca’Foscari University and visitors attracted by Dorsoduro’s cultural clout. The Gallerie d’Accademica and Peggy Guggenheim Museum are among its draws.

Don’t be fooled by its Venetian Gothic exterior—the Madonna dell’Orto Church (Chiesa della Madonna dell'Orto) is really a jewel of the Renaissance. Jacopo Tintoretto, one of the Floating City’s most important 16th-century painters, once lived and worked across the canal from the church. His remains are now housed inside the place of worship, as are 10 of his masterpieces and a standout altarpiece by Cima da Conegliano.

Sitting high above one of Venice’s most famous squares, the 15th-century St. Mark’s Clock Tower has marked the time in the city for over 500 years. Its blue-and-gold dial and bronze bell-striking Moors statues make it a popular photo spot, but there’s more to discover. Climb the narrow staircase past the intricate clock mechanism to reach the rooftop terrace, where you can see panoramic city views.

The 15th-century Scuola Grande di San Rocco is one of Venice’s most important Renaissance attractions, famed for its stunning collection of Tintoretto’s works. The building houses some of the artist’s most celebrated paintings, alongside other notable pieces by a variety of artists, including Titian and Tiepolo. Visitors come here to explore over 60 paintings in opulent halls, making it a city highlight for art lovers.

Long connected to monastic orders and once home to a leper colony, the tiny, diamond-shaped island of San Lazzaro degli Armeni is most famous for its Armenian Catholic monastery. Home to monks of the Mekhitarist Order, San Lazzaro is a center for Armenian culture and boasts one of the world’s largest collections of Armenian manuscripts. Around the monastery, rose gardens offer views of the nearby Lido island.

Steps away from Piazza San Marco is one of Venice's most artistically dazzling places of worship, the Church of San Zaccaria. Looking out over a serene square, this hidden gem dates back to the 9th century, with a layer cake–like facade designed during the Venetian Renaissance. Inside, you’ll find a museum’s worth of art, including a striking altarpiece by Giovanni Bellini, and an eerie crypt that’s visitable despite being flooded for most of the year.

Along Venice’s Grand Canal, the Ca' d'Oro—or House of Gold, named for the gold-leaf decorations that once adorned its exterior—is sure to catch your eye. Also known as Palazzo Santa Sofia, this 15th-century masterpiece has one of the city’s finest Venetian Gothic facades, with multicolored marble friezes that reflect brilliantly against the water. Inside is the lavish art collection of previous owner Giorgio Franchetti, who donated the palace to the state.

Santa Croce is one of Venice’s six central districts (sestieri); it’s often overlooked by tourists, although it is well worth a visit. The area is home to Campo San Giacomo dell'Orio—one of the city’s prettiest squares—alongside elegant palaces, churches, and museums. It’s also where Venice’s busy Piazzale Roma bus station and vaporetto (water bus) hub is located, providing a convenient gateway to explore the city.

Overlooking the Grand Canal, Ca’ Rezzonico is one of Venice’s most stunning palaces, offering a glimpse into the city’s Golden Age. An outstanding example of 18th-century Venetian baroque and rococo architecture and decor, the palace dazzles with Murano-glass chandeliers, gilded furniture, and rich silk tapestries. There are also paintings by renowned Venetian masters, including Francesco Guardi, and opulent interiors.

With its multi-colored marble facade and striking round windows, the small yet beautiful Church of Santa Maria dei Miracoli (Chiesa di Santa Maria dei Miracoli) is one of the most important examples of early Renaissance architecture in Venice. Built in the late 15th century to honor a miraculous image of the Virgin Mary, it showcases the spectacular work of architect Pietro Lombardo. It’s also considered a highlight of the historic Cannaregio neighborhood.

While today’s tourists escape bustling Venice on boat rides to the islands of Murano and Burano, the Floating City’s elite once flocked in the other direction to the Brenta Riviera. This meandering waterway flows from Padua into the Venetian Lagoon and is lined with the opulent second homes of Venice’s noble families. Surrounded by greenery, the villas, which date back to the 16th–18th centuries, provide a relaxing countryside atmosphere just a short distance from Venice.

The Church of Santa Maria Formosa (Chiesa di Santa Maria Formosa) dates back to the end of the 15th century, when it was built on a site that previously featured an earlier church dedicated to the Virgin Mary. It is known for its Renaissance and baroque architecture, including a campanile tower that looms over the adjacent square. An impressive collection of art is housed inside, along with an altarpiece of the Madonna and Child.

Campo San Luca is a lively square in the heart of Venice, situated between the Rialto Bridge (Ponte di Rialto) and St. Mark's Square (Piazza San Marco). Surrounded by cafés, shops, and historic buildings, it’s a favorite spot for locals to meet and for travelers to take a break between sightseeing excursions. The steady flow of people makes it an ideal place for people-watching and soaking up the city atmosphere.

Though less historical than Venice’s other notable landmarks, St. Mark’s Bell Tower (Campanile di San Marco) is just as much a symbol of the city as the nearby St. Mark’s Basilica and the Doge’s Palace. Rising over 300 feet (99 meters) above St. Mark’s Square, this 20th-century tower is one of the tallest buildings in the city with spectacular panoramic views of the Venetian islands and lagoon.

The Venice Lido (Lido di Venezia), a long stretch of sand in the Venetian Lagoon, offers visitors something different from the typical sightseeing experience. This barrier island is an easy escape for a quick beach break, round of golf, gentle bike ride, or leisurely meal. The island is just minutes from the center of Venice by boat, so sneaking away from the crushing crowds of St. Mark’s Square couldn’t be simpler.