Classic Venice

With a little advance planning, you can easily arrange entry to St. Mark's Basilica and Doge's Palace yourself. See the dedicated sections for these two landmarks in our guide for details.

But if convenience is your priority - and you're planning to visit both anyway - a combined guided tour might be the way to go.

It typically lasts around 3 hours and also includes access to Museo Correr, though that part is self-guided.

Besides St. Mark's Square, there's one other landmark that's just as iconic: the Rialto Bridge.

It was the first bridge to span the Grand Canal, and for centuries, the only one.

The structure you see today isn't the original bridge, but the fourth iteration. Completed in 1591, its bold single-span stone arch was an extraordinary engineering achievement for its time.

Beneath your feet, around 12,000 elm piles driven deep into the lagoon floor support the bridge, anchoring its immense weight in the soft mud beneath Venice.

For centuries, the Rialto Bridge has been a meeting point for Venetians, merchants arriving from distant lands in search of trade, and countless visitors from all walks of life.

Today, you can walk the same crossing and enjoy the views that have inspired generations before you.

By the way, Rialto looks impressive from every angle, so take some time to admire it from different perspectives.

Cross the bridge on foot and don't miss crossing beneath it by water, too!

It might be the perfect moment for something else that's unmistakably Venetian: hopping into a gondola and gliding beneath the arch.

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

The most atmospheric rides usually take place along quieter side canals, where the city feels slower and more intimate. Some routes also pass along the Grand Canal or under the Rialto Bridge, where larger boats pass close by and the water feels busier and more dynamic.

Gondola rides can be booked on the spot at a fixed city rate: €90 for a 30-minute ride during the day and €110 in the evening or at night. The price is per boat, not per person, and each gondola can carry up to five passengers. Payment is cash only.

You could also book a shared gondola ride online. These are more budget-friendly for solo travelers or couples who don't mind sharing the gondola with others, and they also remove the need to handle cash payments.

If a private gondola feels a bit too pricey, there's a great budget-friendly alternative: the traghetto.

For just €2, these larger gondolas - rowed by two oarsmen - ferry passengers across the Grand Canal at designated crossing points.

It's a short but scenic ride, and if the boat's not too full, you might even stand - just as tradition once called for.

In a city built on water, canals take the place of streets - and the Grand Canal is Venice's 'main street'.

Only here can you admire some of the world's most exquisite palaces and architecture while gliding past a lively mix of boats.

The most scenic stretch runs between the San Marco basin and the Rialto Bridge, though continuing beyond Rialto still rewards you with stunning facades like Ca' d'Oro.

The easiest way to cruise the canal is to hop on vaporetto Line 1, but organized boat tours offer a different perspective and often add something special to the experience.

Just a short vaporetto ride from Venice, the island of Murano is the place to discover the city's glassmaking heritage - from fiery glassblowing to intricate artistry and souvenir shopping right at the source.

Murano is best explored as part of a day trip with the other two famous islands of the northern lagoon - Burano and Torcello - which we'll introduce in the next layer of Venice Unveiled.