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If you’re planning a trip to Venice, you might be wondering how on Earth you’re going to fit over 1,600 years of history and culture into a few short days. But don’t worry, because we managed to do exactly that on our trip to Venice, and now we’ve compiled our top 10 list of must-do Venice activities.
We designed this list to ensure that you get the best out of Venice, from its iconic gondola rides and architectural wonders to its food, wine, and secret spots. We’ve even included our favorite day trips because, with the Prosecco Hills and the Dolomites close by, there’s plenty to explore beyond the canals. Let’s get into it!
Quick Pick: Our Favorite Activity
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Our personal FAVORITE thing to do is go on this food tour of Venice! Experience local restaurants, full of amazing food and wine, and the welcoming people. It’s a great way to get off the tourist track! Check the 1,700+ 5-star reviews and book this tour here.
Tip: This tour is popular – reserve your spot now and get FREE cancellation before you go!
- Quick Pick: Our Favorite Activity
- Things To Do in Venice
- 1. Join the famous “Venice in a Day” Tour
- 2. Tour St. Mark’s Basilica and Doge’s Palace
- 3. Go on a food tour
- 4. Learn to cook Italian food
- 5. Explore the Murano and Burano Islands
- 6. Go wine tasting in the Prosecco Hills
- 7. See the art of glass blowing
- 8. Day trip to the Dolomites
- 9. Explore the “hidden Venice” on this walking tour
- 10. Get tipsy on a wine and food tour
- Thanks for reading!
- Why We Book Tours with Viator
- Don't Forget Travel Insurance!
Things To Do in Venice
1. Join the famous “Venice in a Day” Tour
- Price: €119
- Duration: 6.5 hours
- Time: 8:30 am
- Highlights: Rialto Bridge and fish market, gondola cruise along the Grand Canal, St. Mark’s Basilica, Doge’s Palace
- Inclusions: English-speaking guide, skip-the-line entry tickets, small group tour, canal cruise
- Rating: 5 stars (check 2,500+ reviews here)
- Free cancellation: yes
This top-rated tour is the ultimate way to explore Venice in just one day! It was the perfect introduction to the city, as we got to see the most famous attractions and do the most iconic thing of all: take a gondola ride through the canals. If you only have one day in Venice, then this tour will really allow you to make the most of it.
We met our guide, Giuliano, and immediately ticked off a major Venice attraction with a walk across the Rialto Bridge. We also got to visit the famous Rialto Fish Market, and Guiliano taught us a lot about Venice’s history as we explored.
Naturally, we were super excited to hop on a gondola and cruise along Venice’s famous canals. This really is the best way to explore the city, and we loved soaking in all of the views from the water. It just has to be done while you’re here!
We had just over an hour of free time for lunch, and Guiliano gave us some fantastic recommendations on where to eat and drink. It was nice to have a little time to ourselves to just relax for a bit and refuel with some food and coffee.
Then, in the afternoon we got to visit St. Mark’s Basilica and Doge’s Palace, both of which are truly incredible works of architecture. Having skip-the-line entry into both attractions saved us a ton of time! Giuliano’s commentary definitely enriched the experience because we were able to understand the context behind these architectural masterpieces.
This tour is like a one-stop shop for Venice! It was so well-organized, and we got to enjoy the city’s highlights without worrying about anything. If you want to feel like you’ve done Venice properly, then I highly recommend booking this tour.
Check out the thousands of 5-star reviews and book this tour here!
2. Tour St. Mark’s Basilica and Doge’s Palace
- Price: €85 – €99
- Duration: 2 hours
- Time: 10 am – 2 pm
- Highlights: Doge’s Palace, St. Mark’s Basilica, informative commentary, no queues
- Inclusions: skip-the-line entrance tickets, audio headsets, English-speaking guide, small group tour
- Rating: 5 stars (check 1,300+ reviews here)
- Free cancellation: yes
St. Mark’s Basilica and the Doge’s Palace are two of the most incredible works of architecture in the world. They really do have to be seen to be believed, and so visiting them is a must while you’re in Venice.
Of course, the downside of exploring these world-famous buildings is the fact that they attract millions of visitors every year, which means there are always long queues. Queues for both buildings can last between 45 minutes and 2 hours, so we definitely think it’s worth booking this guided tour with skip-the-line entry.
Not only is this tour a huge time-saver, but it’s also so much better to explore these hallowed buildings with a guide. Having a guide really enriched our visit, and we loved learning precisely why they’re so ornate and extravagant. And since St Mark’s Basilica is 1,200 years old and Doge’s Palace is 600 years old, you’d better believe that these walls (and frescoes) hold some serious stories. We particularly enjoyed learning about the political system in the Republic of Venice at Doge’s Palace.
We also like the fact that this is a small group tour and that you get audio headsets to ensure you can hear your guide. As mentioned, these sites are busy, so that can be an issue! However, since the Palace and the Basilica are so popular, this tour does usually sell out, so we would recommend booking it in advance.
This tour is likely to sell out – book your spot now and get FREE cancellation before you go.
3. Go on a food tour
- Price: €89
- Duration: 2.5 – 3.5 hours
- Time: 10:45 am – 5:45 pm
- Highlights: lots of specialty food and wine, visiting small local restaurants, exploring the city on foot, small group
- Inclusions: all food and drink samples, local guide
- Rating: 4.5 stars (check 2,000+ reviews here)
- Free cancellation: yes
Venice was its own republic for a thousand years, so its food scene differs a lot from the rest of northern Italy. We were keen to discover what Venetian cuisine is all about, so we booked this food tour and had an absolute blast!
Our guide, Sara, was awesome and gave us insight into the local side of Venice. She took us to small restaurants tucked away in Venice’s labyrinthine backstreets that we wouldn’t have found on our own. I must say, Venice is full of touristy restaurants, so if you’re someone who likes to discover local hotspots, then this tour is a must.
As for what we got to eat, it was a true smorgasbord! As we explored, we tried so many different foods that are unique to Venice, including seafood dishes, tramezzini sandwiches, local cured meats, Venetian cookies, and, of course, some regional wines. We even finished with some homemade gelato, which was the perfect way to round off the tour.
I love that this tour has a “guaranteed full” motto. Even if you’re not full by the end of the tour, the guide will bring you more food until you are! That’s some true Venitian hospitality.
This tour allowed us to learn so much more about Venice’s food scene than we would have by ourselves. The great thing about food tours is that they allow you to visit tons of places and try lots of different things. We would definitely recommend this tour over grabbing dinner in just one restaurant!
Book this tour with more than 1,700 5-star reviews here!
4. Learn to cook Italian food
- Price: €134
- Duration: 4 hours
- Time: 11 am or 5 pm
- Highlights: prosecco on arrival, making pasta from scratch, cooking sauces and tiramisu, sit-down meal with wine at the end of the class
- Inclusions: all ingredients and equipment, professional chef instructor, translator, glass of prosecco, ½ bottle of wine per person
- Rating: 5 stars (check 300+ reviews here)
- Free cancellation: yes
We not only ate lots of Venetian food while in the city, but we also learned to cook it ourselves with this Italian cooking class! What we loved about this class was that it actually took place in the private home of a local chef, so we got to learn about Venetian home cooking in the best way possible.
Chef Rosa greeted us with a glass of prosecco on arrival, which obviously got the evening off to a good start! We also met Leto, her translator, who was just as lovely. Soon, we got to work making different kinds of pasta from scratch, including stuffed ravioli, which Rosa then taught us how to cook in delicious sage butter. We also prepared and roasted vegetables, and best of all, we made an epic tiramisu!
Cooking was so much fun, and Rosa and Leto created a fantastic atmosphere. We loved hearing about Venetian cooking traditions, and there was a lot of laughter and joking throughout. After we finished cooking, we sat down as a group to eat our delicious creations. Better yet, we got to wash it all down with plenty of Venetian wine.
This class was one of the major highlights of our time in Venice, and it really made us smile. You could easily spend the price of this class on a meal at a sub-par, touristy restaurant in the city, so we think you’re much better off enjoying this wholesome, authentic local experience instead!
Reserve this tour here to get FREE cancellation 24 hours before you go.
5. Explore the Murano and Burano Islands
- Price: €49
- Duration: 5 hours
- Time: 9:30 am – 3 pm
- Highlights: scenic boat ride, glass blowing demonstration, lace making demonstration, local discounts
- Inclusions: round-trip transport by boat, English-speaking local guide
- Rating: 4.5 stars (check 5,600+ reviews here)
- Free cancellation: yes
The Murano and Burano Islands are right across the Venetian Lagoon, just a few kilometers from the city of Venice itself. Both islands are very scenic, with pretty canals and colorful buildings, and they’re renowned for glassblowing and lacemaking respectively. So of course, we just had to go and check them out for ourselves on this organized tour!
We met our guide in central Venice and then hopped on a boat that was just for us and our little tour group! It was way nicer than having to take one of the crowded waterbuses. We sat back and enjoyed the views as we cruised over to Murano, where we visited a local glassblower’s workshop. I really enjoyed watching him shape the molten glass into different shapes, and it was interesting to learn how Murano became such a hub for glassblowing.
We had some free time to explore Murano after that, which I always appreciate on day tours! As you would expect, there are tons of glass souvenirs on offer here, and we liked having a chance to amble through the brightly painted streets by ourselves.
Next up, we got back on the boat and headed over to neighboring Burano, where we learned about the art of lacemaking and watched local craftswomen working. We learned how Burano lace was once a favorite among European royals, and how the tradition of lacemaking continues today.
This tour was the perfect day trip from Venice. It was well-organized and we loved having a guide with us to teach us more about the distinct character and craft of each island. And honestly, going on a private tour boat made all the difference, too!
Check availability and book this tour here to secure your spot.
Why We Book Tours with Viator
Viator is a trusted online booking system for tours around the world! We almost always book our tours using Viator for a couple of reasons:
- Free cancellation on most tours – Most of the tours on Viator allow you to cancel and get a full refund up to 24 hours in advance. This is handy in case plans change, or if booking an outdoor activity, the weather forecast is looking grim.
- Reserve now and pay later – You can secure your spot on some of the most popular tours well in advance and not pay until closer to the day of the tour.
- Lowest price guarantee – If you happen to find the same tour at a lower price elsewhere, Viator will refund you the price difference.
- Pay in your chosen currency – Avoid costly international transaction fees by choosing to pay in your home currency.
- Peace of mind – When booking with tour operators you find in person on the street or in small booking offices, you are often promised one thing and given another. This online platform holds tour operators accountable with a written description of inclusions as well as the opportunity for customers to leave reviews.
Check out the Viator website here! Or, for more info, read our detailed review about Viator here.
6. Go wine tasting in the Prosecco Hills
- Price: €179
- Duration: 7 hours
- Time: 9 am
- Highlights: drinking prosecco at scenic wineries, delicious lunch at a family-owned Osteria, visiting beautiful hilltop viewpoints for photos, small group tour
- Inclusions: return train tickets from Venice, transport in the Prosecco region, driver and guide, two prosecco tastings, 4-course lunch
- Rating: 5 stars (check 350+ reviews here)
- Free cancellation: yes
We really cannot say enough good things about this full-day wine tasting tour in the Prosecco Hills. It was amazing from start to finish, and full of stunning scenery, great food, and best of all, sparkling wine!
The tour included our train tickets to Conegliano in the Treviso Province, and then our guide, Carlo, picked us up right on time and drove our small group around the Prosecco Hills for the day. He was an incredible guide who made everyone feel welcome, and he was hilarious as well as knowledgeable. Honestly, I don’t think you can have a bad day out with Carlo as your guide.
Carlo took us to several epic viewpoints in the Hills as we wound our way towards a winery for our first tasting of the day, which was modern with beautiful views. In fact, the views here are so gorgeous that I guarantee you’ll be thinking about packing up and starting a new life in the Prosecco Hills!
For me, the real highlight of the day was lunch at Carlo’s family’s osteria – with more prosecco, of course. We had a 4-course lunch made with recipes passed down from his Nonna, so we definitely got the real deal in terms of regional food. My favorite part was the slow-cooked spiedo, meat… or maybe it was the homemade desserts, I can’t decide!
With full bellies, we visited one of the region’s oldest and most traditional wineries for another prosecco tasting. It was very different from the first winery, and we loved learning about the ancient techniques still used here! Then, we said a sad goodbye to Carlos as he dropped us off at the train station again, and we caught the train back to Venice.
Honestly, this tour was such an amazing day out, and I think it’s a real must for anyone who likes prosecco… Which is almost everybody, right?
Don’t miss out on this prosecco-filled day – book your spot here!
7. See the art of glass blowing
- Price: €45 – €90
- Duration: 2 hours
- Time: 9 am – 3 pm
- Highlights: private water taxi ride, glass blowing workshop and factory, San Donato cathedral, glass works gallery, free time to explore Murano
- Inclusions: hotel pickup, one-way or return boat transport, activities, admission fees, English-speaking guide
- Rating: 4.5 stars (check 200+ reviews here)
- Free cancellation: yes
Venice is famous for its beautiful glassware, so why not head over to Murano Island to see how it’s all made? It’s pretty mesmerizing to see these artisans at work in the island’s glass studios, and we loved exploring the island itself. It’s home to lots of narrow streets and quaint, colorful houses, so it’s basically a photographer’s dream!
This 2-hour tour includes a one-way private water taxi from Venice to Murano as standard, but you can opt for a return ride if you’d prefer not to take the public boats back! I must say, watching the Venetian bridges and palaces glide by is much more relaxing when you have space to spread out and chill.
Then, the tour visits the Church of Santa Maria and San Donato, which dates back to the 7th century. This waterfront church is known for its intricate 12th-century Byzantine mosaics, and I must say, they really are something to behold!
Next up is a glassblowing workshop at a glass factory. If the skill of these master artisans doesn’t impress you, then I really don’t know what will. Then, after the demonstration, there’s time to explore the factory’s showrooms, before enjoying some free time to enjoy Murano’s historic center before catching either the private water taxi or local waterbus back to Venice.
One thing I love about visiting Murano is that, while it is a popular day trip from Venice, the streets here are much quieter than those in the main city. This tour is perfect if you’re looking for a short and sweet way to get away from the hustle and bustle for a few hours – and maybe find some cool souvenirs!
Check out all the positive reviews and secure your spot on this tour here!
8. Day trip to the Dolomites
- Price: €205
- Duration: 10 hours
- Time: 8 am
- Highlights: Cortina d’Ampezzo, Lake Misurina, views of the Tre Cime di Lavaredo, plenty of free time to explore at your leisure
- Inclusions: minivan transport, local driver
- Rating: 4.5 stars (check 1,300+ reviews here)
- Free cancellation: yes
We couldn’t go all the way to Venice and not take a trip to the Dolomites! And as much as we love Venice, after a busy few days in the city, we were ready to head into the mountains, so we booked this tour and enjoyed a very leisurely day ambling about in the mountains.
This tour is ideal for anyone who likes the freedom to explore independently while traveling. We had lots of free time and our fantastic driver, Enrico, was always on hand for advice and recommendations, but he let us explore at our leisure. This meant we got to do our own thing, without the hassle of hiring a car for just one day, which probably would have cost us more than the tour.
Our first stop of the day was Cortina d’Ampezzo, which is a beautiful ski resort town full of cute boutiques and cafes, with the Dolomites towering overhead. We also got to visit Lake Misurina, also known as the Pearl of the Dolomites. This is a super clear, calm lake, and so it often reflects the mountains in the background, which is just beautiful to see. In fact, it’s one of those places that’s so perfect it almost looks like it should be a stock photo!
Enrico also drove us to several viewpoints where we could enjoy fantastic views of Tre Cime di Lavaredo, a famous trio of jagged mountain peaks. Until the end of the first world war, these peaks were part of the border between Italy and the Austro-Hungarian Empire!
All in all, this was a fantastic day out, and it definitely made a nice change from the faster pace of Venice. The Dolomites are incredibly beautiful, and it would be a real shame to miss them. If you don’t have time to do an overnight stay in the area, this day trip from Venice is a fantastic way to enjoy them in just one day, with no stress or planning involved.
Reserve this tour now and pay later when you book online here.
9. Explore the “hidden Venice” on this walking tour
- Price: €39
- Duration: 2 hours
- Time: 10 am
- Highlights: Jewish Quarter, Cannaregio Canal, Madonna dell’Orto, old gondola factory, Gothic palace, Chiodo Bridge, Rialto Bridge and Market
- Inclusions: city map, English-speaking guide,
- Rating: 5 stars (check 1,400+ reviews here)
- Free cancellation: yes
One of the most common complaints about Venice is how touristy it is, so why not get off the beaten track and see a more local side of the city with this secret walking tour? We’re so glad that we did this tour because it allowed us to get to know the real Venice. Plus, it was a small group tour so it felt really personal and friendly, and we got tons of fantastic recommendations from our guide, Leo.
Speaking of Leo, we were thrilled to learn that he was born and raised in Venice – and so were five generations of his family! How cool is that? He was able to tell us so much about local life in Venice and took us to areas of the city that most tours don’t usually visit, like Cannaregio, a residential area where we got to see how Venetians really live.
We also enjoyed visiting some quirky city highlights, such as the Camel House, and we loved exploring the Jewish Quarter. It’s actually the oldest Ghetto in the world, so it was so interesting to step back in time and learn all about its history.
This tour is perfect for anyone who wants a break from the crowds, and to explore a more authentic side of Venice. We loved getting away from the main tourist drag and discovering the areas where locals actually spend their time. We joined the small group tour, but if you’re traveling with a group of friends or as a family, then there’s also the option to make this a private experience instead, and tailor it to you!
Book this tour with more than 1,300 5-star reviews here!
10. Get tipsy on a wine and food tour
- Price: €90
- Duration: 2 hours
- Time: 11:30 am or 5:15 pm
- Highlights: lots of traditional Venetian food and fresh seafood, wine and cocktail pairings, Prosecco, visiting a diverse selection of local bars and restaurants, exploring different neighborhoods
- Inclusions: 6 food and drink pairings, an English-speaking guide
- Rating: 5 stars (check 750+ reviews here)
- Free cancellation: yes
Venice is not only known for its excellent seafood, it’s also located in the Veneto wine region. So, as far as I’m concerned, booking this food and wine tour just makes sense!
We loved this tour because it felt like more than just a food tour. Our guide, Mariana, took us walking through several areas of Venice and taught us about the unique history and character of each, so it was a fantastic way to get to know the city better. We loved hearing all of the local stories she shared with us, as it really helped us to understand Venice’s food and wine culture.
We visited some incredible bars and restaurants on this tour and had plenty of delicious food and wine. Personally, I loved the buttery scallops and the seafood lasagne! I also loved that we got a wine or cocktail pairing with each dish, which included Prosecco and Amarone, which is a rich and complex red wine that Venetians favor.
What really took this tour to the next level for me, though, was that Mariana also taught us how to spot good bars, restaurants, and wines going forward! She explained how to identify the most authentic local spots and the best bottles of wine on the menu which, no, are not always the most expensive. Her advice really helped us out during the rest of our time in Venice and in fact the rest of Italy, so we are so glad that we did this tour. It’s a real must for food and wine lovers, so if that’s you, I would recommend booking this tour before it sells out.
Check availability and book this highly-rated tour here, before it sells out!
Don’t Forget Travel Insurance!
If you’re looking to save money on travel insurance, we currently use and recommend SafetyWing. We’ve been using their coverage since 2018 and they’ve had our backs when we needed emergency flights and got sick overseas.
SafetyWing is one of the cheapest providers out there and covers everything from medical costs to lost luggage, travel delays, and emergency flights. A huge difference we’ve found between them and other companies is that they let you take out a policy AFTER leaving your home country. We’ve also found it handy that it’s a monthly payment rather than a lump sum, and you can get a refund for unused time.
SafetyWing has helped us out in some scary situations before and their affordable coverage has given us peace of mind. You can read our honest review of SafetyWing for all the pros and cons.
Thanks for reading!
We could have listed even more items on this list, but these top 10 things to do in Venice should be a great start! These are definitely some of our favorite memories from our time here – I mean with amazing food, wine, and scenery how could not love it!?
I hope you found this blog helpful. If you need help planning your adventures, check out our other blogs! We’ve traveled all over the world and have lots of resources to help you plan an epic vacation. Here are a few to get you started:
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