Venice city breaks & holidays

What to do in Venice

Venice packs a bunch of spectacular sights into a tiny area, so you'll never be stuck for something to do. After seeing the big-hitters, get off the beaten track by ducking down an alley and discovering the city's hidden side.

Saint Mark's Basilica

Smack bang in the middle of Piazza San Marco, it's impossible to miss the Byzantine domes of Saint Mark's.

Step inside to be dazzled by bright mosaics, swathes of gold leaf and blinding glitter embellishments, all throwing coloured reflections across the floor. It will leave you squinting and speechless. If you’d like to skip the constant queue outside (which is usually around 45 minutes long), book an entry slot through the Basilica’s website.

Climb St Mark's Bell Tower

Stretching 99 metres (325 feet) above the piazza, St Mark's Bell Tower is the tallest building in Venice. It was first built in the 12th century but the structure you’ll see now was rebuilt in the 16th (and then again in 1902 as the tower collapsed). From the top, the city spreads out below like a toy maze of canals and bridges.

If the queue is too long, head for the viewpoint at the top of the San Giorgio Maggiore church instead.

The Doge's Palace

A vision of pure luxury, the Doge's Palace (Palazzo Ducale) is one of Venice's most visited landmarks. This towering Gothic masterpiece was the Doge's official residence and the seat of Venetian power for almost seven centuries.

Climb its golden staircases and explore the Doge's Apartments including its map room and the Sala degli Stucchi, which is guarded by 18 roaring lions. Don't miss Tintoretto's famous Paradise painting, which adorns the Great Council Hall.

Explore the outlying islands

If you start to feel suffocated by holidaymakers, take a tour of the tiny islands to the north of Venice, namely San Michele, Murano, Burano and Torcello.

Murano is famous for its gorgeous blown glass, Burano its lace and Torcello was a hit with Hemingway, who wrote Across the River and into the Trees here. San Michele, meanwhile, is home to a cemetery where you can visit poet Ezra Pound’s grave as well as those belonging to other famous figures.

Gallerie dell'Accademia

Venice has been a creative hotbed since the dawn of the Republic, giving rise to some of the most famous artists to grace the globe.

The Gallerie dell'Accademia offers a parade of Venetian masterpieces, from Renaissance classics by Bellini, Veronese, Tintoretto and Titian to the 18th-century works of Canaletto. If you're an art buff, you'll be utterly blown away.

Where to stay in Venice

For families

If you’re on a longer Venice city break with the kids, the Venice Lido is a lovely place to stay. Around a 15-minute vaporetto ride from St Mark’s Square, the Lido has a long sandy beach to relax on as a break from sightseeing, as well as hire bikes to explore.

If you’d like a quiet and residential base in Venice itself, Santa Croce has a number of small hotels and a charming park, Giardini Papadopoli, with a kids’ playground.

The largest sestiere (neighbourhood) in Venice, Castello, is also a good spot with little ones as there’s the green space of the Giardini della Biennale to roam around.

For food and drink

Home to the Rialto food markets, San Polo is an obvious place to stay for foodies. As well as admiring the colourful market stalls, you can hop between its buzzing bars and restaurants, perhaps feasting on cicchetti to keep your energy levels up.

Cannaregio is a fantastic area for casual restaurants and cicchetti bars, and there’s a vibrant Jewish quarter with a great range of kosher bakeries and restaurants.

For nightlife

Venice isn’t the destination to visit if you’re looking for a non-stop party but there’s still plenty going on. At night, some of the canals in Cannaregio become lively spots where hip bars buzz with locals and tourists drinking waterside.

Student district, Dorsoduro, also comes to life as the sun goes down. One of the best places to start a night out is in Campo Santa Margherita. If you’d like to dance the night away in a nightclub, Mestre, on the mainland, is your best bet. It’s also a fantastic place to stay if you’re looking for a cheap Venice city break.

For culture

You can’t really go wrong when choosing where to stay for culture in Venice as the city is crammed with beautiful palaces, museums and galleries. An obvious choice, however, if you’d like to have some of the biggest monuments and attractions on your doorstep is San Marco. It’s a busy spot, but rightly so with St Mark’s Basilica, the Doge’s Palace and St Mark’s Bell Tower a stroll away.

If you’re into art, Dorsoduro is a great spot as it’s home to the Peggy Guggenheim Collection and Galleria dell’Accademia as well as paintings by Paolo Veronese in the unassuming San Sebastiano church.