The 11 excellent things to do in Venice (journey manual)

Venice, the town of water. Where no cars can drive and all transport takes place via boats and bridges. Venice is one of the most unique cities in the world and is therefore an absolute must when visiting Italy. When you pass every street corner, you want to take out your camera and capture everything. So you can easily plan a 3 day city trip with all the things to do in Venice.

Day 1 – acknowledged and unknown Venice

Welcome to stunning Venice Since Venice is one of the most popular cities in Europe, it's best to get up early and avoid the large crowds. This way you will find it much easier to do all the things you can do in Venice.

Visit the Ponte di Rialto (Rialto Bridge)

Start your morning at 6:30 a.m. and walk down to the Ponte di Rialto, the oldest bridge over the grand canal in Venice. Watch the locals unload their fresh vegetables and fish from the boats and cross the stunning bridge.
Finally, walk down the bridge to the Sotoportego de l’Erbaria square. Afterwards, enjoy a delicious espresso and a croissant in the fresh morning sun.

T Fondaco dei Tedeschi  great rooftop terrace in Venice

From the bridge it is only a 2-minute walk to the roof of the Fondaco Dei Tedeschi. The rooftop terrace is located on a luxury shopping mall and is free to visit.

Visit the coolest bookstore in Italy

Libreria Acqua Alta is a little off the beaten path in a quiet area where you won't find many tourists. This crazy bookstore sells used books, postcards, maps and calendars. There are books everywhere, even in a giant gondola and bathtub located inside the bookstore. The reason for this is that the store can suddenly be flooded with water, which is intended to protect the books.

Get lost in the small streets - the best thing to do in Venice

The main tourist spots in Venice can be very busy, but you can easily get to a quiet area. Get lost and stroll along the canals, cross bridges, watch the locals sip their coffee and experience the true beauty of this incredible city. Undoubtedly one of the best things to do in Venice

Gondola ride in Venice

A unique and romantic way to see Venice is to ride through the canals in a gondola, Venice's luxury vehicle. The price of a gondola ride is 80 EUR per 40-minute ride and is officially valid for the entire city.

Day 2 – The highlights of Venice

Venice is known for some highlights that you can experience on day 2 in Venice.
Like every day, you should get up early, but this time you should treat yourself to a coffee and a snack before entering the main tourist area of the city.

Palazzo Ducale & Bridge of Sighs

Start your morning at the Doge's Palace at 8:30am. The palace is full of history and works of art that you cannot miss. From here criminals were sentenced to prison. The prisoners crossed the Bridge of Sighs and caught a last glimpse of Venice. Hence the name Bridge of Sighs.

Basilica of San Marco

The impressive architecture and mosaics of the Basilica of S. Marco are a must-see. Parts of the cathedral are free to visit and it is not allowed to take photos or videos inside. There are great views of the entire square from the top of the cathedral, but try to get here by 9:30am to avoid the long lines.

St. Mark's Square

Piazza San Marco (St. Mark's Square) is the largest square in Venice. It is strategically located, surrounded by some of Venice's most famous buildings such as the Basilica of San Marco, the Campanile (bell tower) and the Palazzo Ducale.