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Must See Sights In Venice – Venice is a beautiful Italian gem to explore. It’s a completely unique city, with miles of canals, small streets and heaps of history, you’ll be spoiled for choice when deciding on the best things to do in Venice.
Now, with all the canals and amazing little streets, I’m sure you’ll (at some point during your trip) get completely lost. This happened to me countless times in Venice. The great thing about Venice, though, is that even if you walk a little off the beaten path, you’ll find heaps of gems as many beautiful spots are dotted all over the city.
Must See Sights In Venice
Plus, Venice has a bunch of jelly around it. It’s like begging you to eat. Of course, consider it your duty to “take in” as much as possible (well, that’s an excuse for my overindulgence in Venice). Be sure to get around the main tourist attractions, prices vary in Venice. Also, take a little gander at how to find the best gelatin too. There are some easy “rules” to follow for the best gelatin.
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Anyway, below I’ve highlighted some of the gems of Venice that I hope you’ll enjoy. Some are iconic spots you can’t miss, while others are a little further away from the crowds. Either way, I hope you find a few you like.
Probably the most famous churches in Venice, seeing St. Mark’s Basilica is one of the best things to do in Venice if you want to see the city’s Byzantine architecture (which is amazing).
Check out this place with its iconic mosaics, which are hundreds of years old. This mosaic is hundreds of years old and still looks incredible.
Make sure you get there early if you want to miss most of the queues, it gets pretty busy.
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Another one of the “top view” points, Piazza San Marco is one of the most popular places to visit in Venice. This wide open piazza is stunning at any time and is probably the largest “open space” in Venice.
Now, it’s relatively easy to stroll around Piazza San Marco after visiting St. Mark’s Basilica, the National Library, or the Dog House. Look, all these places are lined up on the onion itself.
In a way, it’s like going to Times Square in NYC or seeing the Eiffel Tower in Venice because it can be packed with tourists and the cafe/food prices are a bit higher because of that.
If you’re headed for food, I recommend venturing a little further away from the main street by following the smaller alleys.
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For example, if you have a special dinner to eat, try going to Bistrot de Venise, it’s worth a good meal.
As the oldest bridge spanning the Grand Canal in Venice, the Rialto Bridge has become one of the most important sights you’ll see while strolling through this wonderful city.
In fact, it’s so old that the site has evidence of a bridge that’s nearly 1,000 years old!
Now it’s usually packed with visitors and can get super busy. So, if you want to avoid the crowds, hop on a gondola and glide across the bridge itself.
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Commonly called just “Fari”, it may look a little plain from the outside, but don’t be fooled, it’s charming and one of the few spots in Venice that still retains its Venetian medieval design.
Once inside, though the lighting makes it a bit difficult to see everything, be sure to check out the Portrait of the Virgin (by Titian) and the stunning choir stalls lined by Marco Cozzi.
Now, if you’re not into art or history, you might miss this one, but it’s completely free to enter and a lovely place for a 20-minute gander.
Surrounded by the Grand Canal itself, Ca’ Rezzonico is a Baroque Rococo palace that is awe-inspiring. In my opinion, it is one of the best-preserved palaces in Venice and has an amazing art collection.
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Not only that, but it’s one of the best things to do in Venice if you can take a bath. Check out the trendy, world-class art collection inside, and be sure to see the ballroom (with the Apollo chariot on the roof) which is so beautiful.
In many ways, The Bridge may seem entirely romantic, but it also has a rather dark history.
You see, the ornate bridge was actually built as a way to connect the Doge’s Palace with the prison and interrogation room. It is known as the “Bridge of Sighs” because it is said to be the last view of Venetian criminals before being imprisoned or executed.
Thankfully, you don’t have to be a prisoner of the bridge to see this magnificence. Just stick to the Ponte della Paglia and you’ll have a great view.
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After that, go to Bacaro 22 vintido. Trust me, they make one of the best Carbonaras in town and it’s reasonably priced.
So, the Grand Canal is a bit like the “waterway” of Venice. It’s full of boats, gondolas and a bunch of water taxis.
Now, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t visit, but you don’t have to plan to walk the Grand Canal itself. In fact, if you’ve ever seen Ca’ Rezzonico or the Rialto Bridge, you’ll find it quite natural.
Now, personally, I recommend taking a short trip via gondola (yes, they can be a little expensive) or if you want to save a little money, take a water taxi from the airport and go straight into Venice.
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It goes directly over the Grand Canal and is a unique way to get to the city. You can take a shared (cheaper) water taxi or a private boat (more expensive) from the airport.
The Doge’s Palace, the seat of Venetian government, had a long history within the Venetian Empire (it extended beyond Venice to places such as present-day Croatia and Greece).
Today, you can visit the Doge’s Palace to explore the magnificent rooms and fine art from the centuries. Now, one thing I would say is book your tickets online before you go so that you can save a lot of time.
It’s truly one of the best things to do in Venice and a place you can’t miss while exploring the city.
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Penetrated through several floors, Tintoretto’s paintings, sculptures, and some incredible houses look like something straight out of a fairy tale.
Now, once inside, the first floor looks a little subdued, but once you get to the top floor, you’ll see what makes this place so special. This is a must see.
As one of the islands that make up the city of Venice, San Giorgio Maggiore is a bit quieter than the area around Piazza San Marco, and is a favorite to visit.
Not only that, it’s really easy to get to by catching the Vaporetto water bus (ACTVLine 2), and it only costs a few euros.
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Once here, be sure to check out the views from the bell tower of San Giorgio Maggiore Church. One of their best in town.
Afterwards, head to Osteria Al Squero for some of their tasty crostini and an icy Aperol Spritz. It’s not fancy by any means, but the crostini are lovely.
Although a relatively small palace in Venice, Palazzo Contarini del Bovolo is worth a gander. Especially for the famous staircase that sits on the building itself.
If you’re looking for a smaller palace and you’re short on time, it’s one of the best things to do in Venice. After all, you don’t need to travel here, you can easily visit the site in about 20-30 minutes.
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As one of the most famous libraries in the world, the Library of Marciana holds the most important texts from all over Italy.
Although the library is not the largest, it is worth a visit (even from the outside) after visiting the Doge’s Palace.
Plus, it’s next to the Scuola Grande di San Rocco, which has amazing art (which I mentioned earlier).
Make sure the church is closed for renovations before you visit. Lately, it has been open and closed at different times.
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Now, don’t be fooled by its small size, seeing the Church of Santa Maria del Giglio is easily one of the best things to do in Venice. Especially if you love the history of the city.
Although you’ll see many beautiful bazaars and churches around Venice, you’ll still want to venture out here, even for a 10-minute walk. For me it is one of the most beautiful baroque facades in the city.
Be warned though, it can get pretty busy on weekends and peak times. So, to avoid them, usually plan to go early in the morning
