Venice. What sights and attractions are worth seeing in Venice How to visit it cheaply? Guide and map

• Venice is an amazing city on the water, where buildings are flooded by water, especially at high tide. Then you have to move around the city on special platforms
• Highlights include St. Mark's Basilica, available for a fee, and the free Rialto Bridge perfect for sunset!
• In 1 day, you will get to know it best during the Grand Canal cruise, in a more expensive version by gondolas or much cheaper by special city trams. Moving around them is made easier by the AVM Venezia application, I recommend season tickets
• You can sleep cheaply at the A&O Hotel, in the Mestre district, it is comfortable and the price includes breakfast
• If you are staying longer than 1 day, it is worth taking a look at the lace, colorful Burano Island. It's beautiful, closer lies Murano Island with artistic glass, I also recommend it, but if you only have time for one, then Burano is more impressive!

Venice is one of the most popular and attractive cities in the world, and St. Mark's Basilica is the second most visited Italian monument after the Roman Colosseum. This is the only such city in the world! Where life takes place on the water. I invite you to an article from which you will learn what attractions are worth seeing in Venice and on the Venice Lagoon and how to visit it and not go bankrupt. It turns out that this city associated with wealth and splendor can be visited cheaply and still very pleasantly!

 And did you know that the fame of this place grew out of theft? The evangelist Mark, the patron saint of the city, was murdered in Egypt. As the story goes, in the 9th century, two Venetian merchants stole the body of this Saint and hid it, putting pork on it. The Muslims, due to their religious customs, did not search the transport and thus the body of St. Mark was found in Venice. This fact raised the awareness of the Venetians so much that they freed themselves from Byzantine influence and built a huge commercial power. The Venetian Republic was ruled by the Doges until the end of the 18th century.

The biggest tourist attractions, or what to see in Venice?

There are plenty of attractions in Venice. At every step, you are amazed by the amazing and unusual architecture of the city on the water. Be sure to see the area around St. Mark's Square and the most beautiful basilica, but also the famous Rialto Bridge. I definitely recommend a cruise through the Grand Canal, and it is best to do so at the very beginning to feel the spirit of this city. In Venice, it is also worth seeing the labyrinth of narrow streets. But beyond the main attractions, there are very many lesser-known ones that also encourage you to explore other parts of the city. A stay in Venice is worth enriching with a visit to the islands of the lagoon. Read this guide and discover the most beautiful attractions of Venice!

St. Mark's Basilica in Venice - the best attraction of Venice

The basilica is an impressive temple. The most famous church in Venice. It was built in the Byzantine style, because the beginning of Venice's existence was closely related to Byzantium. The interior of the church makes a colossal impression. Gold mosaics in the "tessera" technique dominate here. Their surface consists of small pieces of gilded glass, no more than 1.5 cm long. They cover about 4,000 square meters of walls and ceilings! The elaborate work of medieval artists.

The basilica can be visited for a fee. There are often queues here, you can buy an entrance ticket on site or online. The cheapest version costs 3 euros.

St. Mark's Square (Piazza San Marco) - the most important monuments and attractions of Venice

The biggest attraction of Venice, where the heart of the city beats. This is the most recognizable part of Venice. No wonder it's almost always crowded, no matter the season. The history of the square began in the 9th century, when the first St. Mark's Basilica was built. At that time, the square was small. One of the Venetian canals flowed through here, dividing it into two parts. The square gained its current size at the end of the 12th century. The dominant buildings here are the Basilica of St. Mark, the clock tower standing next to it (Torre dell 'Orologio) and opposite the classicist building of the Napoleon's wing (Ala Napoleonica). It connects the buildings of the Old and New Procuratorships.

Piazzetta San Marco - Doge's Palace and bell tower

Piazza San Marco connects closely with Piazzetta San Marco, and the dominant buildings here are the Basilica, the Doge's Palace on the Grand Canal  and a tall, slender bell tower, available for visiting for a fee. He stands by the New Procuratorate.

Caffe Florian - Venice's oldest cafe

In the arcades of the Procuration buildings on the main square you will find numerous cafes. In this part, like the bell tower, the arcades hide the most famous of them. This is the Florian cafe, the oldest not only in Venice, but also in the whole of Italy, and perhaps also in Europe. It is over 300 years old! There were such personalities as Charles Dickens, Lord Byron, Casanova and even Goethe. And now we were too 😉 Admittedly, in a cheaper version, because it was supposed to be cheap. At the bar, you will pay 3.50 euros for an espresso, and 7 euros at the table. My cappuccino cost 6 euros.

Bridge of Sighs in Venice (Ponte dei Sospiri) - must-see in Venice

There are plenty of bridges in Venice. I don't know if anyone has ever even tried to count them. One of the most famous monuments of Venice is the Bridge of Sighs. It connects the Doge's Palace with the former prison. There was a court at the Doge's Palace, and when the prisoners passed by, they sighed to their maidens who remained at large. Hence its name. The famous Casanova, known for his weakness for women, also went this way.

Grand Canal of Venice (Grand Canal), or Venice in 1 day, cruise

A must-see in Venice. It is a water channel that crosses the island and shows the uniqueness of the city. The Grand Canal cruise allows you to see the city and its top tourist attractions in 1 day. Sailing it by tram or gondola, you will see not only wonderful monuments, but also the life of townspeople on the water. On the Piazzale Roma route to St. Mark's Square, you will pass beautiful buildings and several bridges, including the most famous - Rialto.

The Rialto Bridge in Venice (Ponte di Rialto) - a hit of Venice

Rialto is one of the symbols and most important places in Venice. It is the oldest bridge over the Grand Canal. It is also, of course, the most beautiful and popular. Interestingly, until 1854 it was the only bridge that could cross this inverted S-shaped strait. It connects the shores of Riva del Vin and Riva del Ferro. Initially, only a makeshift bridge was laid here on shoulders, later a structure was erected on piles. Today's bridge was thrown across the canal at the end of the 16th century.

Rialto is a massive and majestic building. It is 48 meters long and 22 meters wide. Supported on one arch, it rises 7.5 meters above the water level. The arch rests on 6,000 oak piles on each side, driven into the bottom of the canal. A three-way staircase leads across the bridge. The central ones are surrounded by souvenir shops. The Rialto is a lovely sunset vantage point. During this time, the stairs of the building are covered with tourists. Here, too, it is worth experiencing Venice in the evening, when numerous pubs are filled with tourists. In my opinion, this is one of the obligatory elements of a trip to Venice.

Free viewpoint at Fondaco dei Tedeschi shopping mall - Venice skyline

At Rialto there is an exclusive shopping mall, at the top of which there is a 360-degree viewpoint. The terrace is available free of charge, but you need to book it online. Unfortunately, quite well in advance. We tried at home at the beginning of November but the whole November was already covered. We wanted to try it on the spot, and it will work, but unfortunately it was not possible. At least we used the free toilet, which is also important information when visiting the city.

Interestingly, Fondaco dei Tedeschi is a palace building, originally built in the 13th century as an inn and warehouse for German merchants. It was rebuilt thoroughly after a fire in the Renaissance style.

Church of San Giacomo di Rialto - the oldest monument of Venice

Behind Rialto stands an inconspicuous church, whose façade shows the year 421. According to tradition and legend, it is the oldest temple of the city, erected in the year of the foundation of the nucleus of the later Venice. When the Huns invaded Italy, the surrounding population on the Venetian Lagoon sought refuge. Rialto means "High bank", which is why the first settlement began here. There is nothing left of this ancient church, but it is now visible from the 11th century. It's also the right age.

Bridge of Dormitories (Ponte dell 'Accademia) - worth seeing in Venice

It is a wooden-iron bridge, built in 1933. One of the four arch crossings over the Grande Canal. It connects the districts of Dorsoduro and San Marco. It is one of the symbols of the city and leads to another symbol - Venetian culture and art - the Gallerie dell 'Accademia. According to Wikipedia, about 8 million pedestrians pass through it every year.

The first bridge on this site was commissioned in 1854. It was called Ponte della Carita. The current bridge was originally built as a wooden bridge. It was renovated for the first time in 1948. In 1986, wooden load-bearing elements were removed from it and 2 metal arches were inserted. In 2009, it was renovated again and architectural barriers were removed. The Ponte dell 'Accademia is 48 metres long.

Gondolas - a luxury attraction of Venice

How about a romantic gondola ride? This is an important part of Venice's history. Once there were many more and they were what trams are now. The usual means of transport. Today, gondolas are a tourist attraction. And it's not cheap. A 30-minute cruise can cost 80 euros. Apparently, the only foreign gondolier is a Pole.

The word "Gondola" was first used in the 11th century. Although the boat only gained its characteristic, slender shape around the fifteenth century. It made it easier to navigate the narrow straits. Each nacelle is handmade and can cost nearly PLN 200,000! The black color is mandatory, because rich families wanted to stand out, they exaggerated in decorating the boat and an appropriate decree was issued about the color. However, I must admit that such decorated, black boats remind me a little of our funeral caravans.

Venice's narrowest street

What captivated me in the city were the charming, narrow streets. Do you think you see them all over Italy or Croatia? Yes, but this is where this slogan takes on a new dimension. There are plenty of climatic alleys here. They create an impenetrable labyrinth of shops, from whose windows the iconic Venetian masks peek. There are even forgotten streets, with laundry hung up, or so narrow that no ornaments and shop windows can fit. Sometimes so narrow that sunlight glances only from the channel that ends it.

In the narrowest one, I almost had to take off my jacket to squeeze through it. Not only is it the narrowest in Venice, but also one of the narrowest in the world. It is only 53 cm wide, and it leads like everything in Venice... to the water.

Church of Santa Maria della Salute - Sacred Attractions of Venice

The Basilica of Santa Maria della Salute was erected as a thanksgiving after the end of the plague epidemic that kidnapped 1/3 of the inhabitants of that time. The plague had already taken its toll on the Venetians. Already in the fourteenth century, for fear of it, quarantine was invented, i.e. a 40-day isolation of people who came here. The basilica is extremely impressive, as are many other temples in the city.

Biblioteca Scuola Grande di San Marco - Museum of Venice

There are many museums in Venice. If you are going to visit them, consider buying a Venezia Unica card - a city tourist card. This will save you a bit of money.

We chose a few of them. We entered the Scuola Grande di San Marco because of the intricate ceiling. It is a magnificent Renaissance building that houses the city hospital. But it was on the first floor that the most sumptuous rooms were located, which hide the medical museum with a beautiful library. We wanted to find a Polish accent here, e.g. a mention of Copernicus. We even asked the working lady, but it turns out that the only Polish accent we found here was the one from Poland. 
Admission costs 5 euros.

St. Zachary's Church with a flooded crypt (Chiesa di San Zaccaria) - worth visiting in Venice

This church is a museum. Admission to the main aisle is free, but in order to go deeper, you need to buy a ticket. The temple is characterized by a beautiful Renaissance façade, and the interior architecture is late Gothic and early Renaissance. Here you will find one of the masterpieces of Venetian art, a painting by Giovanni Bellini Madonna with Child and Saints, from 1505. In the chapel of St. Tarasius there are frescoes by Tuscan artists, Andrea del Castagna from 1442 and Francesco da Faenza. The Gothic polyptychs attributed to Antonio Vivarini are also valuable. Because of them, this place is called the "Golden Chapel". An underground, flooded Romanesque crypt with a colonnade is also available as part of the admission ticket. It is a relic of an older church. There are 8 tombs of the early Doge. You can move around the crypt on a special sidewalk, but due to the tide, it was completely flooded during our visit.
Admission costs 3.5 euros

San Giorgio Maggiore - the perfect island for a sunset in Venice

It is an islet located off the coast of Veneto, opposite St. Mark's Square. It is separated from Giudecchi by a small canal called Grazia. The most important buildings here are the Abbey and the Basilica of San Giorgio Maggiore, with an interesting water installation in the central part of the temple. This building looks beautiful from under the Doge's Palace, while in itself it is a wonderful vantage point during sunset.

Royal Gardens (Giardini Reali) - greenery and flowers in Venice

There is very little greenery in all of Venice. In most places, you will only see plants in a pot, and even in a small amount. But I recommend you a place that sinks in greenery and flowers. From early spring to late autumn. Just a few steps from St. Mark's Square, the Royal Gardens will delight you. While there are very few squares, benches in the city and you can relax mainly in pubs, here you can sit on a bench for free, in the shade of lush vegetation. The place is beautifully revitalized and quiet, although it is a few steps from the crowded square.

Ponte Chiodo - a bridge without balustrades in Venice

It is one of two Venetian footbridges, next to the Devil's Bridge of Torcello, without balustrades. In the past, all the arches thrown over the canal looked like this. They had no security or barriers. Ponte Chiodo is named after the noble Venetian family that once owned the bridge. It is also private today. It is located at the Ca 'd 'Oro vaporetto stop (line 1).

The island of Burano (Isola di Burano) - colorful cottages and lace for the weekend in Venice

Burano is a small island, which will take at most a few hours to get around. However, it is worth coming here for extremely colorful houses. Legend has it that they are so colorful that residents arriving here, even in thick winter fog, can more easily find the right home and their family. The colourful houses are such a hallmark of the island that their owners have to refresh their façades from time to time. Interestingly, it is the authorities who decide what color a given building should be in order to create a harmonious landscape. The joint effort pays off, because the island lives from tourism, attracting thousands of interested spectators.

It was no coincidence that I wore a dress with lace for Burano. The island is famous for them. You will find small miracles in almost every store. There is also a lace museum and a gallery where the Lady creates lace works before your eyes. Some lace specimens on the island date back to the early 16th century! You will find, among others, a fan belonging to King Louis XIV and a beautiful wedding dress, made entirely of embroidery, made in the 18th century. It is a unique one of a kind in the world.

The island lies on the Venetian Lagoon, about 7 km from Venice itself. Its population is 4000 inhabitants. From Venice, you will sail here a vaporetto No. 12, from the marina F. te Nove.

Torcello Island (Isola di Torcello) - the oldest monument of the Venetian lagoon

Visible from Burano, the greenest of the Lagoon islands we've been to. It is inhabited by only a dozen or so inhabitants. Tourists come here willingly for two curiosities. Namely, the unique bridge and the oldest church.

The Devil's Bridge (Ponte del Diavolo) or the Devil's Bridge do not meet the safety standards. With our Amelia, I would have a lot of stress here. And until quite recently, although it is a bit of a relative concept, because I am talking about the 19th century, every bridge in Venice looked like this. He had no railings or handrails. Today, only two of them have survived. The one on Torcello and Ponte de Chiodo in Venice.

And the oldest church of the Venetian Lagoon is the Basilica of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary from the 7th century, or more precisely from 639. For nearly 1,200 years, Santa Maria Assunta was the cathedral of the diocese of Torcello. It hides Venetian-Byzantine mosaics. In the courtyard there is a marble throne, on which, according to local tradition, Attila, the chief of the Huns, was to sit. Whoever sits on it will return to Torcello in the future.

Next to it you can see the ruins of the baptistery with a large pool in which the baptism was performed. It was only in the Middle Ages that the immersion of the body was replaced by pouring water on the head of the baptized. Next to it stands the church of Santa Fosca from the 11th century, making the complex a wonderful example of Venetian-Byzantine architecture.

Murano (Isola di Murano) - glass island for the weekend in Venice

Of the three islands we visited here, Murano is the closest to Venice. And just as Burano is famous for his lace, Murano is famous for his artistic glass. And here in every store you will see glass wonders. Venetian glass has been made since the 8th century. At the turn of the twelfth and thirteenth centuries, they were refined to be hard, smooth and transparent. A steelworks was built on Murano and all plants were relocated from Venice. Probably out of fear of fires, because Venice had already been consumed by flames. The beautiful island of Murano has become a kind of prison for glass blowers. For fear of the mystery of creating such perfect forms, craftsmen were forbidden to leave the island. In return, they were highly respected, on an equal footing with the nobles.

The smelter in the former medieval church can be visited, but during our visit its doors closed earlier apparently and when we arrived here 30 minutes before the planned closure, no one opened the door for us anymore. A pity, there is also a modern museum full of works of art and several other temples on the island. This place reminded me of Rovinj in Croatian Istria, which we visited as a family in the summer.

Venice's Most Beautiful Stairs (Scala Contarini del Bovolo)

While walking through the streets of the city, we also had plans to visit the Scala Contarini del Bovolo. This is the unique staircase of the old palace, which stands between St. Mark's Square and the Rialto Bridge. It is round and extremely impressive. We had this experience on our list. I don't know how it happened that we finally forgot about her.

Map of top attractions, Venice guide

We have marked the attractions we visited on the map for you to make it easier for you to plan your city tour.

Venice - City on Water

Venice is a city on water. Water transports the inhabitants of Venice and tourists. Mail is delivered with water. Water is also used to collect rubbish and even to deliver materials for the renovation of large facades. We saw small excavators and cranes on the boats. The buildings were built on special piles driven into the bottom of the canal.

Tide Acqua alta

In slow translation, it is high water. Acqua alta is an exceptionally large tide, found in the Italian province of Veneto. In Venice, this phenomenon can most often be observed from autumn to spring. We were here in November, we just had the opportunity to see such a spectacular tide. The water on the Grand Canal is then poured into the houses. Also, some squares and streets are flooded with water. We walked around St. Mark's Square on special platforms to avoid wading ankles in the water. According to Wikipedia, the most tides of aqua alta in the last century occurred in 1996. High water flooded the city 101 times, on the main square of Venice the water level was over 80 cm.

This phenomenon results from the difference in atmospheric pressure at two ends of the Adriatic Sea and strong breezes of the southern sirocco and bora winds. The wind further propels the masses of water towards land and makes it difficult to reverse them during low tide.

Venice public transport: water trams, buses and tickets

You won't get to the Venetian islands by car. You can only move here by special water trams or vaporetto. Interestingly, even couriers have to reload their goods and also move on these trams. The ride is not the cheapest, but you can get around it a bit. You have to pay 9.5 euros for 75 minutes of the cruise at a time. We bought a three-day ticket and paid 45 euros. On it, we could travel for three days by various means of transport around Venice. He practically turned to us on the first day, and on the very second day, during cruises to the Lagoon Islands, he would turn to us almost twice. So it was a great investment. As part of this ticket, we also took a bus to the Mestre district, where we stayed overnight. Trams are best taken from the last bus stop of Piazzale Roma or the nearby Santa Lucia train station. Line 1 is quite slow and stops at almost every stop, but it allows you to get to every part of the city by the Grand Canal.

AVM Venezia application - cheap communication in Venice

Getting around by tram is made easier by the AVM Venezia App. After creating an account with the card, you can buy season and day tickets online for a specific day (Transport, Ticket Office, Automotive + Navigation tab)

The application includes a timetable, but we used Google maps more. Sometimes the numbers of the marina did not match and the timetable was not always perfect either, but this made it much easier to choose the tram number and the location of the stop. On the spot, we asked for details, including the exact letter of the marina.

Application Page 

Plane to Venice or Venice Airport

Venice Marco Polo International Airport is located 12 km north of the city centre. This is the easiest way to get to the city by plane. In fact, a flight to Marco Polo allows you to see the city in one day. Already landing, a wonderful view of the city opens before our eyes.

A slightly more difficult option is to fly to Treviso, to the airport named after Antonio Canova. It is located 3 km southwest of Treviso and 20 km from Venice. From here, you can get to the heart of the city on the water comfortably by a private bus straight from the airport. This option costs 10 euros. We chose the cheaper option. First, by bus line101 or 6, we reached the train station in Treviso in a few minutes. From here, we took the train for 40 minutes to S. Lucia in Venice. Tickets can be purchased using the Momup App. The bus cost 1.80 euros, and the train 3.80 + 0.30 fees in the app. Exiting the station, we found ourselves literally at the Grand Canal, under the marinas, from where we sailed a vaporetto to the heart of Venice.

Where to eat cheap in Venice?

Walking through the streets of Venice, even near the main square, you can find cool, inexpensive restaurants for Venice. You can eat well and inexpensively here. We promised cheap sightseeing, so near St. Mark's Square we recommend Dal Moro's - fast, cheap pastes. You can take and go or eat on the spot, standing. A tasty paste costs about 7 euros. You'll find a few similar places in this area.

Smaller delicacies are also a very good choice. Famous Venetian snacks are cicchetti, or small sandwiches. They can be with cheese, ham or seafood. I ate, among others, with octopus. It's something like Cieszyn sandwiches. A cheap and quick snack. They cost between €1 and €3. You can take with you or sit for a while, relax in the company of Spritz, a popular Venetian drink with prosecco, aperol and sparkling water (3:2:1). The price of a Spritz is usually 5-6 euros in cheaper eateries. You can choose to take away for €3. We tasted Cicchetti and a drink in several places, including Bar Redentore.

And like Italy, so is pizza. In addition to lavish restaurants, Venetians also specialize in fast and inexpensive dishes. The best example is pizza, served here not only as a world-famous circle, or cut into ready-made pieces, but also, for example, as a rotolo. It's a rolled pizza, good for satisfying a little hunger. We also cost a small pizza in the shape of a gondola. These are all cheap and easy to eat snacks, even while walking. They usually cost a few euros.

Interestingly, in Venice you don't have to worry about drinking water and you can have it for free. In many places there are drinkers where you can pour water into the bottle. This is a very good, ecological way not to multiply plastic bottles. Considering the number of tourists in the city, our Earth will feel relief.

Cheap accommodation in Venice

Accommodation prices on an island in the heart of Venice are very high, even horrendous. If you want to stay for less, choose other neighborhoods. We chose A&O Hostels, which is located in the much cheaper Mestre district. There are dormitories and private rooms waiting for you. We chose the option for two, with a private bathroom. The rooms are comfortable, as are the bathrooms, decorated in a modern style. Breakfasts are good, based on basic products, but every day we could count on, for example, sweet pancakes. In the hostel there is a bar, comfortable places to work, as well as a kitchen for guests. 

Next to the property there is a large market, and the hostel is located at the railway station and practically at the bus stop. If you buy a season ticket, you can get to the island in 15 minutes. Buses run every few minutes from Piazzale Roma, where we ended the course with a water tram. Most often we found the bus line 2.

A film about Venice

We warmly invite you to the moving frames with numerous curiosities that were created after our visit to this unique city.

Venice for a Day - Sightseeing Fees

If you want to get to the city for free, you have to hurry, because in the spring of 2024 a fee for one-day tourists is planned. Initially, it is to be 5 euros and will be valid only on weekends and public holidays. This is a trial. Later, it may be more expensive or cheaper depending on the specific day you choose.

The main purpose of introducing a charge for people spending one day in Venice is not the desire for profit, but sustainable development. Venice is depopulating. In the 1960s, Of the 20th century, there were 150,000 permanent residents. Now under 50,000 The main reason is the very high prices of real estate and life, but also difficult everyday life. In order to limit the influx of tourists who can literally flood the city in the high season, it was decided to introduce payments. The fee may be waived if the authorities consider that it does not bring the desired benefits.

When to go to Venice?

Venice is attractive all year round. You can't avoid the crowds here, but there are significantly fewer tourists in November than in the high season. Being here in mid-November, we experienced a lot of sun and temperature around 10-15 degrees Celsius. Sometimes we wore short sleeves.

Carnival in Venice

It is well known that like the carnival in Italy, it is in Venice. This custom dates back to ancient times. And when did you start wearing masks while playing? Apparently as early as the 11th century. They appeared so that everyone could have fun - rich and poor, young or old, woman or man. Venetian masks are known all over the world. They are beautiful, colorful, richly decorated. They can cover the eyes, or the whole face, or even the head. With feathers, hats and even steampunk style.

The carnival starts here at the turn of January and February. In the 21st century, Venice celebrates it as loudly as ever. Then the whole world comes to Venice, as well as at other times of the year. Only then it was even more numerous.

Venice - trivia

• The word ciao comes from Venice. Originally meant "slave" and meant that we are "at your service"
• Venice was the first Italian city to taste coffee, thanks to Prospero Aplini, a physician and botanist who observed the habit of roasting and making coffee in Egypt
• Venice is located on 118 islands
• The building stands on piles that are immersed in water
• In 1996, during Aqua alta, the water level on St. Mark's Square was 80 cm
• Casanova was imprisoned in Venice, and you know, you know, he also lived in Poland? Apparently, he hoped to become the secretary of King Poniatowski, but after winning a duel with Franciszek Ksawery Branicki, he fell into disfavor with the king and he was ordered to leave the country. And good, because he probably did not know much about the beauty of women, since in his diaries he wrote about Polish women: "In general, the fair sex is ugly in that country"
• Napoleon Bonaparte recognized St. Mark's Square in Venice as the most beautiful salon in Europe

 The Venetians ruled not only in the north of Italy. They formed numerous forts in the eastern Mediterranean. This was the case, for example, in nearby Istria or in Greek Crete, where you will still see the Venetian fortress.