Top 10 Activities & Experiences

Unleash your creativity by crafting, decorating and painting your own carnival mask.

Take home your unique creation and return to Venice during carnival time to show it off!

How extraordinary would it be to glide through Venice’s canals in your own self-propelled vessel?

If “Awesome, where do I sign?” is your immediate answer, then you’re in luck — there’s a great selection of kayak tours available, including some perfectly timed for sunset.

If kayaking feels a bit too adventurous and you’d rather try something new, there’s a safer alternative — and one that’s also deeply Venetian.

VeniceOnBoard and RowVenice offer 90-minute lessons in traditional Venetian rowing, taught aboard a batellina — a stable, traditional boat once used around the lagoon.

After learning the basic forward stroke (a prua, at the prow), you’ll be invited to try your hand at the poppa — steering from the stern, just like a gondolier.

Grab the oars and give it a go!

Riding a gondola is on many people's bucket lists, and it’s truly as unique to Venice as it gets.

A 30-minute gondola ride has a fixed price set by the city: €90 during the day and €110 in the evening or at night.

This price covers a private gondola that can hold up to 5 passengers, but note that payment is only accepted in cash.

If you don’t have cash on hand, or if you're traveling solo or as a couple, consider booking a shared gondola online for a more affordable option.

With a water bus pass, you can explore Venice and its surroundings cost-effectively, avoiding the hassle of constantly buying individual 75' tickets.

Picture yourself enjoying grand views from the water of the entire Canal Grande (line #1) and then taking in the breathtaking aerial vistas from the belltower of San Giorgio Maggiore (reachable with line #2).

Afterwards, head to the northern entrance of the Arsenale with line #4.1 and even travel further to Murano.

All in the same day, for only €25.

There are over 100 islands in the lagoon, but the most famous ones are Murano, Burano, and Torcello.

Boat tours take you to all three islands in just a few hours, which is a great idea if you have limited time.

Murano has been the heart of Venice’s renowned glass-making industry since 1291.

Burano is distinguished by its brightly painted houses and is renowned for its traditional lace artisans.

Torcello is often seen as the symbolic birthplace of Venice.

While there are countless restaurants to try, the overwhelming choice can be daunting.

Consider taking a food tour led by a local to discover the best Venetian delicacies, with highlights such as the famous cicchetti.

Such tours often include fascinating storytelling, adding an extra layer to your culinary adventure.

As night falls, embark on a thrilling walking tour to uncover dark legends and hear chilling ghost stories.

Even if you're a skeptic, a ghost tour promises a spine-tingling experience.

Listen to an uplifting rendition of Vivaldi's beloved 'Four Seasons', performed not in a concert hall, but in the intimate settings of the churches of San Vidal or Chiesa della Pieta (Vivaldi Church) (also known as the Vivaldi Church).

Or step back into Venice's golden era with baroque classics and operatic arias, featuring performers in traditional Venetian costumes.

Experience Italian opera like never before as you move from room to room with the performers, soaking up the drama of epics like 'La Traviata' and 'Rigoletto' in the intimate and historically elegant setting of a 15th-century palace on the Canal Grande.

Discover cultural festivals, art exhibitions, concerts, and many more events taking place throughout the city.