How to choose among the things to do in Venice
Venice is small, but the big sights share a few hours of queues. The list below starts at St. Mark's Square, follows the Grand Canal, adds museums and quieter churches, and ends on the islands. Prices are for adults in 2026, and they can change on the day, so check the ticket page before you go.
Two rules shape every plan. First, the Basilica sells timed tickets, and the Doge's Palace has no single ticket of its own. Second, on fee days day trippers pay an access fee. It ended for 2026 on 26 July and returns in 2027 on 72 days from 26 March to 15 August. Details are in the access fee guide.
Around St. Mark's Square: experiences 1 to 3
Book these first. They have the longest queues.
1. St. Mark's Square and the Basilica
Entry is only possible in a booked time slot. The basilica alone costs €10 (a standard discount of 20% may apply), the full ticket with Pala d'Oro, museum and the Loggia dei Cavalli terrace €30. Shoulders and knees must be covered, and bags above 40 x 30 x 20 cm and trolleys are not allowed. On Sundays and holidays the basilica opens at 2 pm.
St. Mark's Basilica →2. The Campanile
The bell tower is 98.6 m high and you go up and down by lift in under a minute. Tickets cost €15, and the usual visit takes 30 to 40 minutes. It is a good place to see the lagoon and the roofs before you walk the city.
3. The Doge's Palace and the Bridge of Sighs
The €35 ticket (€30 online more than 30 days ahead, €15 reduced) also covers the Museo Correr, the Archaeological Museum and the Marciana Library rooms. The palace opens daily from 9 am, until 7 pm until 31 October and until 6 pm from 1 November. According to a secondary source the Bridge of Sighs is part of the standard route. The Secret Itineraries tour costs €40 and needs a reservation.
Doge's Palace → Bridge of Sighs →Our picks: the classics
The Doge's Palace, a gondola and the islands.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in euros (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Grand Canal gondola ride with app commentary
About 30 minutes in a shared gondola, with commentary on an app rather than from the gondolier. A private ride is an extra option.
Check availability →
Doge's Palace reserved entry ticket
Skip-the-line entry to the Doge's Palace plus the Museo Correr, the National Archaeological Museum and the Biblioteca Marciana. No guide is included.
Check availability →
Murano and Burano half-day lagoon trip
A boat between the islands with a live guide on board and a glassblowing demonstration in Murano. There is no guided walk on the islands.
Check availability →Venice tours and tickets
Skip-the-line tickets, guided walks, gondola rides and boat trips to Murano and Burano, with live prices and availability.
On the water and across the bridges: experiences 4 to 8
Venice looks best from the canals.
4. The Grand Canal by vaporetto
Line 1 is the slow line with almost all stops, line 2 is faster. A single ticket costs €9.50 and is valid for 75 minutes. Take a seat or a place at the rail at the front and ride the full length once.
Getting around →5. The Rialto Bridge and the Rialto market
The fish market (Pescheria) runs from Tuesday to Saturday, 7 am to 2 pm, and is closed on Sunday and Monday. Go early, before the bridge fills with day trippers.
Rialto Bridge →6. Gallerie dell'Accademia
The museum for Venetian painting is open Tuesday to Sunday, 9 am to 7 pm, and closed on Monday. Admission is €20, free on the first Sunday of the month. The website says the museum is closed at the moment and reopens on 20 October 2026 at 9 am; the reason is not given.
7. Peggy Guggenheim Collection
A modern art museum on the Grand Canal, open daily except Tuesday, 10 am to 6 pm. Adult admission is about €17. Booking a time slot online is recommended.
8. A gondola ride, or a traghetto
The official fare is €90 for 30 minutes by day (9 am to 7 pm) and €110 for 35 minutes at night, per boat with up to five people. A traghetto, the gondola ferry across the Grand Canal, costs about €2 per person and takes a few minutes.
Gondola ride →Islands and quiet corners: experiences 9 to 15
Most of these are included in a 75-minute ticket or a time pass.
9. Murano
The glass island lies about 9 to 10 minutes from Fondamente Nove on lines 4.1 and 4.2. The Glass Museum is open daily, 10 am to 6 pm until 31 October and 10 am to 5 pm from 1 November.
Murano and Burano →10. Burano
Line 12 takes 40 to 45 minutes from Fondamente Nove. The painted houses are free to see. The Lace Museum is open from 10 am to 4 pm and closed on Mondays.
11. Torcello
A short ride (line 9, about 5 minutes) from Burano. Torcello is quiet, with a cathedral and a small museum. The museum opens at 11 am and is closed on Mondays. The three island museums share a combined ticket for €20 (€10 reduced).
12. Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari
A large Gothic church in San Polo. Admission is about €8 according to a secondary source, so check before you go. Shoulders and knees must be covered.
13. Scala Contarini del Bovolo
A small spiral staircase with a view over the roofs. Visits are in 30-minute slots, from about €10 according to secondary sources. Check the current opening hours.
14. Libreria Acqua Alta
A bookshop where books are stacked in boats and a bathtub. Entry is free. It is usually open about 9 am to 8 pm.
15. The Lido
The long island with the city's beach. Vaporetto lines 1, 5.2 and 14 go there. It is the easy choice for a quiet half day, and a short step out of the crowds.
A note on one tip you may read elsewhere: the T Fondaco terrace is reported to be closed since May 2025, with no reservation possible, so do not plan around it. The Biennale Arte "In Minor Keys" is on until 22 November 2026.
Plan the rest of your trip
Useful pages before you go.
Things to do in Venice: frequently asked questions
What are the must-see things in Venice?
St. Mark's Square with the Basilica, the Doge's Palace, a ride on the Grand Canal and the Rialto Bridge. Add Murano and Burano if you have a second day.
Do I need to book the sights?
Yes for the Basilica, where entry is only possible in the booked time slot. The Doge's Palace has no single ticket, so book the St. Mark's Square Museums ticket. Tickets without a fixed time are valid for the palace from 12 noon.
What can I do for free?
Walking the districts, crossing the bridges, the Rialto fish market and the Libreria Acqua Alta cost nothing. On fee days in 2027, day trippers pay the access fee for the old town.
How many days do I need?
One day covers the centre if you book ahead. Two days allow a museum and one island. See the one-day route.
What can I do on a rainy day?
Visit the Accademia, the Guggenheim, the Frari or the Doge's Palace, which is largely indoors. The Glass Museum on Murano is also indoors.