7 Free Things To Do In Venice

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!