Planning that trip of a lifetime and have Venice on your list? Here are our picks of Top 7 Free Things to do while in Venice that will leave you awestruck, inspired and oh so thankful you included this mystical city on your list.
St. Mark’s Basilica~The city’s most famous and most visited church is both a house of worship and a monument. Perhaps the greatest of Venice’s churches is completely free to enter although it is customary to leave a small donation. Insider Tip: Remember that there is a dress code when entering this monument.
Tour a Lagoon Island:
Burano Island
Photo By Robert Montgomery
This island is famous for it’s brightly painted houses and should not be missed. Your only cost for the tour of this unique island is the water ride over. Drink in the sites as you cross the water and embrace your inner photog capturing countless beautiful shots of this stunning village.
Murano Island the place to go if you are interested in seeing how glass is made. Warning, you may end up with a beautiful souvenir.
St Mark’s Square ~ Piazza San Marco
Piazza San Marco – Venice – Photo By Robert Montgomery
Reportedly dubbed “the ‘drawing room of Europe’, by Napoleon, the Piazza San Marco is an elegant colonnaded square lined by swanky cafes, cute jewellery and glass shops, and dominated at one end by the dreamy domes, spectacular arches and glittering mosaics of St Mark’s Basilica.
The Rialto Bridge
Photo Credit: Britanica.com
A marvel of construction built between the years of 1588 and 1591. On the bridge itself are many covered arches and tiny shops. It is best visited in the early morning or late evening hours when there are fewer crowds on the many steps crossing the bridge.
Santa Maria della Salute– A massive church built as a ‘thank you’ gift to God in the 17th century to mark the end of the plague. Admission is free between 9 a.m to noon, and 3 to 5:30 p.m. Insider Tip: You can line up before 9am to try and avoid the crowds.
Lido Beach– Heading to Venice in the heat of summer? Why not live like a local, and the glamorous celebrities, and dip your toes in the Adriatic Sea. Chairs can be rented or you can take your own beach towels to lay on. Unwind, relax, soak up some sun and do some good old fashioned people watching.
Window Shopping: While you are window shopping, don’t forget to pop into an authentic Carnival Costume shop. Who can resist the urge to try on a mask created for Carnival!
Before you head out on your adventure around Venice don’t forget to grab a map. The best way to explore the city is to simply walk, breathe, enjoy and get rightly and truly lost!
Oh boy would I love to visit Venice! It is so beautiful.
i do have Italy in mind in my future travels, i’ll definitely keep this list in mind! thanks for sharing.
Venice looks absolutely gorgeous!! Everything sounds so nice and interesting. I love window shopping and The Rialto Bridge looks great too.
This is my dream vacation. My daughter has been there. She is the traveler in our family.
Perhaps you and your daughter should be planing a trip to Italy together 🙂
It would be awesome to go on The Rialto Bridge sounds and looks amazing!!
I have to admit, I had no idea there was so much history with the Rialto Bridge. Fascinating.
Absolutely stunning photos! What a dream it would be to visit there!
There’s so much to see and do. Plus the people watching!
I would love to visit there. People watching and window shopping…coffee. 🙂
That sounds like a perfect afternoon.
my daughter wants to go by herself there in sept …sigh
By herself! An adventurer? I fear I’m raising a couple of those myself. Best of luck to you.
last yr she went to cuba by herself – scares me most times that kid…yeah, she loves to travel. She went to Germany in grade one with her grannie for a month. Went to Australia, NewZealand , and LA during grade 11’s voyager club. Then to Cuba last yr. She’s wanting to go somewhere either this yr or booking it soon. I won a million points from petro canada so she can use that on their site to get $1000 off.
Although I lived in Europe for most of my life I never made it to so many places I would have loved to visit, Venice and Rom being two of the many 🙂
How wonderful it would have been to have the chance to live in Europe! Sounds like you have a pretty good excuse to go back 🙂
I sure do, family, friends and relatives and 3 of my children & one grandson. So it will take me 6 wks to cover as many as possible in England, Germany and Denmark. 🙂
Looks so beautiful, everything is just so clean and tidy, love the row houses!!
I can’t imagine waking up and living that every day. Do you think the resident know how blessed they are?
Venice is definitely on my bucket list. Such a beauty! I’d love the church.
It’s amazing how many of us dream of Venice 🙂
Would be a nice trip to take.
Doesn’t hurt to dream, right?
Love the painted houses!
They look like art!
I’m adding all these places to check out whenever I get the chance to go to Venice….I’m hoping in next 10 years!
Isn’t it wonderful to have an ongoing dream list? My list grows by the day.
Venice is on my bucket list!
It’s been on my dream list forever. I can’t wait to see it this summer!