Our guide on what to see in Venice

Venice (Venezia) was first founded in 421. The Veneti were expelled by the Ostrogoths and the Lombards, leaving them to take refuge in the marshlands forming the city of Venice. In the 6th Century, Flavius Belisarius (a general of the Byzantine Empire) conquered Venice bringing it under the Eastern Roman Empire and a part of the Exarchate of Ravenna.

In 641, the mainland Byzantine city of Oderzo fell to the Lombards and the political authority was shifted to one of the islands within Venice. Continuing in 697, the powerful families of Venice placed the first doge Anafestus Paulicius in power dramatically increasing the importance of Venice.

An important part of history occurred in 829 when the relics of Saint Mark the Evangelist were stolen from Alexandria in Egypt and smuggled to Venice. San Marco would then become the city’s patron saint with the relics held in St Mark’s Basilica.

The true strength of Venice started in the 11th Century when the Byzantine emperor Alexius I Comnenus granted Venice unrestricted trade throughout the Byzantine Empire. This privilege marked the beginning of Venetian activity in the East allowing Venice to become an imperial power through their trade of fish, iron, silk, spices, slaves and wood. This led to the development of the Latin Empire.

Venice is made up of 118 small islands connected through a series of bridges and canals, so there is a lot to see. This city holds so much character and history, you’ll need a minimum few days to even scratch the surface. To truly experience Venice and all it has to offer, a lifetime is required. So instead of trying to see everything, make the most of your time here and be ready to want to return.

For your first trip to Venice, let us guide you through its must-see spots. Let this be the first taste of what this magical city has to offer.

Widely known as the most famous square in Venice. The sheer size of Piazza San Marco (St Mark’s Square) trumps all other squares, making it the largest square in Venice. Located on the grand canal, the square is home to St. Mark’s Basilica, St Mark’s Campanile, Doge’s Palace and Torre dell’Orologio. Other than these famous landmarks, the square is surrounded by a series of arched walkways which truly fit the vibe of the place.

Tip: We do not recommend eating or even having a coffee on this square. The extravagant prices, which must allow a surcharge for the view, are likely to dig deep into your travel budget.

Though Venice has hundreds of canals, it is hard to miss the largest, the Canale Grande (Grand Canal). This canal is equivalent to a river in comparison to the stream like channels through the city’s streets. It is impressive to behold as it passes from one side of Venice through to the other.

Only four bridges span the grand canal leaving it generally open to hustling traffic and larger boats. Though this may not be the quaint and hidden canals that you came to Venice to see, we recommend spending some time along these waters. This is where you can appreciate the grand scale of the city as it sits only centimetres above the surrounding sea.

Standing at 98.6m, St Mark’s Campanile (Campanile di San Marco) is the tallest building in Venice. Created in the 9th century, the structure was damaged by fire, earthquakes and even lightning, resulting in its collapse in 1902. The structure that now stands here is a reconstruction completed in 1912.

The tower is located in St Mark’s Square near the mouth of the Grand Canal. It was originally intended as a watchtower to protect the city from approaching ships. However, it also served as a landmark to guide Venetian ships back home to safety.

Though a simple red brick design for most of the structure, the upper stoned archways and the golden statue of Angel Gabriel on top allows the tower to stand out. The true appeal of the tower is once you reach the top of it. Providing panoramic views of Venice, it’s a fantastic way to appreciate the city and the best views you’ll find in Venice.

Serving as the main government building during the Venetian Republic and the residence of the Doge, this palace (Palazzo Ducale) is one of the most recognised buildings in Europe. With its distinct Gothic architecture, it’s fascinating to look upon the sheer size of the pink Verona marble structure as its weight bears down on the slender arched columns.

One of the most fascinating things about Doge’s Palace, which is now a museum, is that, unlike most museums, the paintings inside are the originals used to decorate the Doge’s Palace. This means that though you may be witnessing magnificent art, you are also able to appreciate the fact that you are walking through this magnificent palace as it always has been.

While the exterior is obvious to marvel upon, we definitely recommend a visit inside to learn the history behind this place. To avoid the lines, which are significant with this being one of the most popular places to visit in Venice, we recommend checking out the tours below:

With its Baroque design, the Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute (Church of the Saint Mary of Health) was completed in 1687 and is identified as a minor basilica of the Roman Catholic Church. Located facing out towards the grand canal, it makes for a grand vision from the other side of the water. Though the detail may not match that of other churches in Italy, the symmetrical nature of the design and bright white marble provides a lot of fancy on the eye.

A lot of people might say that Venice is overcrowded which ruined their trip. If you stay on the main path around this group of islands, then this could be true and is often of many cities in Europe. The magic of Venice is found when you take an unexpected left or right turn and end up in a quiet part of the neighbourhood with a hidden gem all to yourself. The great part about Venice is that every wrong turn you take leads to a spot like this.

The time we spent in the backstreets of Venice is where we truly grew to love the city. Sitting by a quaint junction between two canals. Watching a gondola slowly paddle away from us through the mazed city of water. These are the moments when we really absorbed the city and appreciated just how amazing and unique this place is.

Because of this, our biggest tip is to get lost in the city’s maze. It’s not hard to do, as Google Maps does not work very well in Venice. Enjoy those moments when you are away from the crowds and not sure where you are. This is when the place starts to feel like the Venice of old and becomes that fairytale of the mind.

Burano and Murano are two isolated sets of islands about 30-minutes from Venice by boat. Though Murano and Burano aren’t technically Venice anymore, a list of the must-visit places of Venice isn’t complete without including them.

Burano and Murano are two very small fishing villages. Though they may be small in stature, they are grand in charisma. The villages on these islands are special as all of the houses are painted in bright pastel colours. If you think of the houses you used to paint as a child, colouring the walls with the brightest crayons you could find. Then Burano and Murano are a real-life version of those drawings.

The story behind the colours is that the fishermen painted their houses in bright hues so that they could find their way home during the thick fogs that blanket this area. Another reason was so that the fishermen could distinguish their home from the property of their neighbour. This is why each house is painted in a different colour.

The major difference between Burano and Murano is the skill that they are most renowned for. Burano is most famous for the beautiful lace that is used to produce wonderful garments, while Murano is more famous for its creation of Venetian glass. The art of glassmaking can still be witnessed here today.

Choosing where to stay in Venice can be challenging but wherever you choose, you’re a short distance from the fascination that is Venice. To make it easier for you, we’ve provided a bunch of budget options in the main neighbourhoods of Venice and the advantages of staying in those neighbourhoods.