Venice Culture: Museums, Tours, Fairs and Everything else you need to see

If you are planning to visit Venice, you might want to be prepared with a bit of knowledge about the Venice culture and what to do in Venice.

This is exactly why we have created this small Venice guide to help your time spent here go as smoothly as possible. Through some of  our suggestions, you can start writing out your itinerary and getting excited to visit “ The city of Masks"( read more about leisure in Venice).

Enjoy our Venice Italy apartments for rent long term

What to do in Venice: 

Discover the travel itineraries of Venice. Studentsville's Staff informs you about the things to do and see in Venice during your journey. It doesn't matter if you're a student on a limited budget or a couple on Christmas holiday, here in this section you will find everything you need to plan your travel trip in Venice:
What to do in Venice for half a day: 
You're in a hurry but you want to visit the main monuments of Venice, read our list of  "Venice things" not to be missed.
When in Venice what do in 1 day (24 hours):
You can stay in Venice only for one day? Don't miss Studentsville's selection of the best places in Venice to see in 24 hours.
When in Venice what do in 2 days (48 hours):
During your weekend in Venice follow Studentsville's two days itinerary.
When in Venice what to in 3 days:
If you get the opportunity to stay in Venice three days, you can begin to savor Venice's spirit through many gondola rides. Discover our suggestions.
What to do in Venice for free:
If you're on a limited budget, Studentsville's staff has selected for you the best free activities in Venice.

venice culture

What to do in Venice with family:
Venice is a family-friendly, so kids love the city because staying in Venice is like a daydream. Don't miss our tips for your children.
What to do in Venice for couples:
If you don't fall in love in Venice, you don't know what you're missing.
What to do in Venice for Christmas, Carnival and New Year's eve:
During the festivities Venice gets even more beautiful, book your trip and read our guide.
What to do outside of Venice:
Yeah, Venice is so amazing but but even the islands nearby are breathtakingly beautiful. Studentsville's staff has selected the most interesting places near Venice to visit.

Museums & Venice Monuments:

Peggy Guggenheim Venice

This is one of the most popular Venice museums to visit and is conveniently located on the Grand Canal. This museum houses work from popular 20th century artists such as Picasso and DuChamp.  

Ponte All'Accademia

Created by Naploeon- this Venice gallery fill up three different buildings and is home to the works of Venice’s most popular artists.

piazza San Marco

Piazza San Marco

Probably one of the places that you picture first when you hear “Venice.” Sit here and people watch at one of the cafés or restaurants. Or take in the history by visiting one of the three sites that call Piazza San Marco its home. Torre dell’orologio, Doge’s Palace and the Basilica di San Marco.

  • Torre dell’orologio

  • Learn more about the tower and astronomical clock that is considered one of Venice’s most famous architectural sites.
  • Doge’s Palace

  • Discover the many apartments of this palace and cross over the famous “Bridge of Sighs” into the main prison area.
  • Basilica di San Marco

  • Venice’s most important church, nicknamed “Church of Gold” and a symbol of the Venetian wealth. Head to the San Marco Bell Tower and climb to the top for a panoramic view of Venice.

Day trips

Visit the sections of Murano and Burano. Murano is most well-known for its glass. Here you will want to visit a glass blowing factory and buy a little souvenir to take home with you! Burano is a small fishing village that is known for its lace. Go check out this multicolored little village. You can visit both of these island in one day, no problem.

Venice Italy what to do and see:

If you don't know what to do in Venice for a few hours, click on the link above to take a look at the tours offered. You can choose to take a boat/walking tour or even a self guided tour, equipped with the app and headphones to take yourself around Venice at your own speed.

For the latest and updated exhibitions and fairs taking place, including Carnival parties, click on the link above.  

For those of you looking to explore by foot, download this: What to do in Venice: Map. You can print it or view it on your phone for more convenience.

What to do in Venice for a week and more: Venice Italy to do list

Venice is a small city but it is a bottomless pit of beauty. If you're going to visit it for a short period, you have just happened in the right place. On Studenstville.it you can easily discover what to do in Venice for a week and more. There are many Venice things to do one day at a time.

What to do in Venice for free

If you don't have enough time and you don't know what to do in Venice for 3 hours, Studentsville's staff has selected the best things to do in Venice. So, if you don't know what to do in Venice for cheap, read our tips because there any many Venice things to do for free:

  • Visiting Basilica di San Marco

You can enter Basilica di San Marco free of charge. The cathedral of the city of Venice, centuries of history concentrated in one large and imposing structure. One of the must-see places of the Venetian lagoon.

  • Admiring the Grand Canal from the terrace of the Fondaco dei Tedeschi

A terrace with free entrance (better to book), overlooking the first bend on the Grand Canal, the one leading to Ponte di Rialto. A view from above that sweeps over the entire city, including roofs, bell towers, domes and altars.

  • Walking through the "calli" of Venice

Walking through the "calli" (the streets) of Venice is an amazing experience. Don't forget it.

  • Ponte del Chiodo

It is the last remaining example of what were the ancient Venetian bridges, without balustrades.

  • Ghetto ebraico

The Ghetto was the district of Venice where Jews were obliged to reside during the period of the Republic of Venice. It is located in the Cannaregio district and is still today the centre of the Jewish community of Venice, seat of synagogues and other religious institutions.

What to do in Venice with family:

There are many Venice things to do for families, Studentsville's staff has selected the best ones. The top 3:

The Naval History Museum is a museum of the city of Venice, owned by the Italian Navy, located in the Arsenal. The museum collects historical evidence concerning navigation and in particular the Italian maritime history and the Venetian navy.

The Natural History Museum offers an interactive and engaging tour, designed to blend harmoniously with the refined atmosphere of one of the oldest palaces in Venice, the Fontego dei Turchi.

Seeing live the making of glass in Murano is always beautiful and evocative, especially for kids.

What to do in Venice for couples

What to do when you are in Venice with your sweetheart? You already know that Venice is the romantic town par excellence because at every corner you can breathe a magic atmosphere, it's like a daydream: I mean, there is no place like Venice in the world. A city on the water.

  • A Gondola ride

You can take a gondola ride. A gondola ride is an experience you can only live in Venice: something good, so breathtakingly beautiful. Your sweeheart will definitely fall madly in love with you.

  • Ponte dei Sospiri

Legend has it that whoever finds himself passing under Ponte dei Sospiri with his gondola, during sunset, and manages to kiss his partner at the precise moment when the bells of St. Mark's begin to ring, can count on eternal love with that person.

  • Meeting at Caffè Florian

Caffè Florian is the oldest coffee house in Venice, it's the perfect location for couples.

It was inaugurated on 29 December 1720 by Floriano Francesconi with the name of "Alla Venezia Trionfante", but from the very beginning the Venetians simply said "let's go to Florian". Since then i thas continued his daily coffee business uninterruptedly until the present day, becoming a privileged destination for Venetians, Italians and foreigners.

Giacomo Casanova courted the ladies and Carlo Goldoni entered it as a boy. He was attended by illustrious personalities such as Gasparo Gozzi, Giuseppe Parini, Silvio Pellico, Lord Byron, Ugo Foscolo, Charles Dickens, Goethe, Ernest Hemingway, Rousseau, Gabriele d'Annunzio.

  • Climbing to the top of Campanile di San Marco

Admiring the panorama of Venice from the top of  Campanile di San Marco (St. Mark's bell tower) is the most romantic feeling to experience.

What to do in Venice when raining

When it rains in Venice there is nothing better than spending time in one of the many museums and churches that the city is rich in. Our three suggestions about what to do when it rains in Venice Italy.

So, Venice Rain what do?

  • Chiesa di San Simeone Piccolo

Beautiful church with a big dome placed just in front of the station of Santa Lucia. On Sunday masses are celebrated here, sung in Latin with the Tridentine rite. The crypt, which can be visited on request, occupies the entire base of the church and is completely frescoed in tempera.

  • Chiesa di Santa Maddalena

Chiesa di Santa Maddalena was erected in 1222 by the Balbo family, but was then renovated in 1701 by Francesco Riccardi, then titled priest, on a project by Tommaso Temanza. In 1810 it ceased to be a parish church, in 1820 it was closed and then reopened as a sacramental oratory. It is one of the few Venetian churches with a circular plan, completed by a dome, and one of the most lucid examples of neoclassical Venetian architecture.

  • Casa di Carlo Goldoni (Museum)

The birthplace of the famous playwright, it houses a small Goldonian museum as well as the famous puppet theatre from Ca' Grimani ai Servi and already included in the collections of Ca' Rezzonico.

In the palace there is also a very rich library of theatrical texts and studies with original manuscripts.
Of remarkable beauty is the inner courtyard with an open staircase.

Venice what to do in the evening

There are many Venice things to do evening: I mean, early evening before dinner is the perfect time to walk around Venice, all the crowds are gone and you can feel the real magic vibes of the city on the water. So, what can you do in the evening? Let's get lost in the streets of Venice and discover the secret side of Venice during the sunset.

Best things not to be missed -  Venice what to do in evening:

  • The amazing night view of Piazza San Marco
  • The Sunset on the Grand Canal
  • The reflections of the ancient buildings in the canals

Venice things to do gondola: riding on the Venetian lagoon

Gondola is the symbol of Venice: when in Venice, you can't miss a gondola ride. I mean, you can easily find a "gondoliere" and take a gondola trip. You will enjoy the beauty of the city.

What to do in Venice for half a day

It happens that you can only stay in Venice for half a day. It's a shame but you have to optimize the time available for your  hit-and-run visit in Venice. Discover the shortest Venice's itinerary:

  • Ponte degli Scalzi

Near Santa Lucia train station, less than two minutes away on foot, there is the beautiful Ponte degli Scalzi: when you arrive at Venice's Santa Lucia train station for the first time, you cannot help but be pleasantly surprised by the view of this arched bridge in Istrian stone.

  • Ponte dei Pugni

Only fifteen minutes away on foot from Ponte degli Scalzi, you can find Ponte dei Pugni: a bridge with a special feature that can immediately go unnoticed. It has four shoe prints at the corners of the central square. They represent the brawls that took place on that bridge, in which the side that managed to throw the other's men into the canal won.

Near Ponte dei Pugni you can find and visit Gallerie dell'Accademia: Gallerie dell'Accademia in Venice is a state museum, which collects the best collection of Venetian and Venetian art, especially related to paintings of the period from the fourteenth to the eighteenth century.

Among the major artists represented are Tintoretto, Giambattista Pittoni, Titian, Canaletto, Giorgione, Giovanni Bellini, Vittore Carpaccio, Cima da Conegliano and Veronese.

Only four minutes away on foot from Gallerie dell'Accademia you can find Peggy Guggenheim Collection, beautiful modern art exhibition in a wonderful place. For the visit is recommended at least one hour.

When in Venice what do in 1 day (24 hours)

If you don't know what to do when you arrive in Venice,  you're  in the right place because Studentsville's staff has created the perfect guide for your itineraries, called Venice what do in one day. There are many things to do and see. Don't miss the most important and beautiful places of the city on the water. Discover what to do with 24 hours in Venice.

So, when in Venice what to do in a day?

Read our suggestions about what to do in Venice for 24 hours:

  • The Grand Canal

The Grand Canal is the main waterway that crosses Venice and divides the historic centre of the city into two parts. It is about 4 kilometers long and is crossed all day long by different types of boats, from gondolas to waterbuses and large ships. Walking along it from the train station to St. Mark's Square you can cross bridges, admire alleys, canals, shops, churches and various squares (small squares). Crossing it by vaporetto is an unmissable sight both during the day and in the evening.

It is the historically most important bridge in Venice. It has a breathtaking view from both sides and is embellished by the lights of the shop windows that follow one another along its steps. It has no equal. Immaculate splendor over time.

Venetians affectionately call it "El parón de casa". It is 98.6 meters high and is one of the tallest bell towers in Italy. It has a simple shape, it consists of a brick barrel with a square, grooved plan, having a side of 12 meters and about 50 meters high, above which there is the belfry, with arches.
The belfry is in turn surmounted by a dice, on whose faces are depicted alternately two lions and the female figures of Venice.

  • Piazza San Marco

One of the most beautiful squares in the world, elegant showcase of one of the most dreamed of and visited cities, Piazza San Marco is the beating heart of Venice, an authentic jubilation of art and culture, a must for anyone arriving in the lagoon.

  • Ponte dei Sospiri

One of the symbols of Venice is certainly the Bridge of Sighs that connects the Doge's Palace (the magistrates' rooms) to the Prison Palace. It was built in the 17th century with Istrian stone, in Baroque style, completely covered and consists of two separate corridors. Today the bridge has a romantic connotation and was once used by prisoners to pass from the prisons to the magistrates.

  • Palazzo Ducale (Doge's Palace)

A symbol of Venice and a masterpiece of Venetian Gothic architecture, formerly the seat of the Doge and the state judiciary,  it is now a museum.

Basilica di San Marco is the enchanting building that represents the magnificence of the Republic of Venice, during the thousand years of life of the Serenissima. With its monumental arches jutting out over Piazza San Marco, it is called the "Golden Basilica" because of the over one thousand square meters of mosaic tesserae made with gold leaf with which it is covered.

  • Ca' d'Oro

Ca' d'Oro is a well-known palace in Venice, located in the Cannaregio district and overlooking the Grand Canal, whose name derives from the fact that some parts of the facade were originally covered in gold.
Since 1927 it has been used as a museum as the seat of the Franchetti Gallery.

  • Murano

Charming location. A Venice in miniature where the best masters of artistic glass are concentrated.

When in Venice what do in two days (48 hours)

Studentsville's staff created the itinerary for your perfect weekend in Venice: It is called what to do with 48 hours in Venice.

So, during your Venice weekend what to do?

  • First Day

 

  • Ponte di Rialto

Ponte di Rialto is one of the four bridges, together with the Accademia Bridge, the Scalzi Bridge and the Constitution Bridge, that cross the Grand Canal, in the city of Venice. Of the four, the Rialto bridge is the oldest and certainly the most famous.

  • Piazza di San Marco

One of the most fascinating squares in the world, with and without high water! A huge porch, a Gothic-Byzantine basilica not to be missed and the charm of old Venetian cafes where you can taste the flavor of a unique city in the world.

Campanile di San Marco is a mighty square tower, about 98.6 metres high including the crowning spire, formerly a lighthouse for sailors, prototype of all the lagoon bell towers.

Basilica di San Marco is a concentration of history, art and beauty. During the visit inside, you stay with your nose up for a long time to admire a mosaic of almost 9000 square meters.

  • Ponte dei Sospiri 

The Bridge of Sighs is one of the most famous bridges in Venice and is built in stone, in Baroque style, and was built in the early seventeenth century. Located a short distance from St. Mark's Square, it connects the Doge's Palace to the New Prisons by a double passage, and served as a passage for prisoners from the prisons to the offices of the State Inquisitors to be judged. Tradition has it that, in the times of the Serenissima, prisoners, crossing it, sighed at the prospect of seeing the outside world for the last time.

Gallerie dell'Accademia is a state museum, which collects the best collection of Venetian and Venetian art, especially related to paintings of the period from the fourteenth to the eighteenth century.

  • Ponte dei Pugni

It is located in the district of Dorsoduro, dating back to 1600, so called because two large groups of inhabitants with different political ideals beat each other with fists until the opponent fell into the water below.

  • Ponte degli Scalzi

Historically one of the four bridges in Venice that cut through the Grand Canal. Not as famous as the Rialto one but important as it is located near the station and therefore indispensable to cross the canal. You can enjoy a beautiful view of the boat traffic from above.

  • Ca' D'oro

Ca' d'Oro is one of the most important Palaces on the Grand Canal of Venice for its particular state which is still the symbol of Venetian Gothic. It is called "Ca' d'Oro" for the golden decorations that once decorated some parts of the facade, today, unfortunately, completely lost.

  • Second Day

 

A very refined contemporary art museum housed in Palazzo Venier dei Leoni, residence of the famous collector Peggy Guggenheim, who lived here for many years. The spaces are all very intimate, even the garden, but really fascinating. Among the many masterpieces present, those by Magritte, Picasso, Ernst, Kandinsky and Pollock stand out, alternating also with some important Italian works (Boccioni, Balla, De Chirico, Fontana).

  • Palazzo Ducale (Doge's Palace)

Palazzo Ducale (Doge's Palace), in ancient times also the Doge's Palace as the seat of the Doge, is one of the symbols of the city of Venice and a masterpiece of the Venetian Gothic style

  • Murano

The island of Murano is famous for its long tradition of glassmaking. Many visitors take vaporetto to explore the Glass Museum, dedicated to the history of glass production over the centuries.

  • Burano

The picturesque island of Burano is famous for its brightly coloured fishermen's houses and informal restaurants serving fish specialties from the lagoon. The Lace Museum illustrates the development of lace-making in the area.

 

When in Venice what do in 3 days

  • First Day

 

  • The Grand Canal

The Grand Canal, called the "Canalazzo" by the Venetians, divides the historic centre of the city into two parts. It is much older than Venice, and the construction of the city on its banks had to adapt to the route that the main waterway takes. The canal stretches for about four kilometres and has the shape of an inverted "S" having as two extremes the Graft of the Ponte della Libertà and the Basin of S. Marco.

  • Piazza di San Marco

Spectacular at any time of the year but especially on a clear sunny day in spring or autumn. It can be reached on foot from Santa Lucia station or by water bus (line 1 allows you to admire the entire Grand Canal). In the square you can see St. Mark's Basilica, the bell tower, the Clock Tower.

Basilica di San Marco was the symbol of the power of the Republic of Venice. Since 828 it houses the relics of the homonymous saint stolen in Alexandria by two merchants. It is Greek cross-shaped, with five domes, three naves, covered by 9000 m2 of gold leaf mosaics, precious marbles and is filled with precious objects: sardonic vases, the gold altarpiece with 1927 precious stones, tapestries.

  • Palazzo Ducale (Doge's Palace)

Beautiful building for the exterior architecture and the magnificence of the interior. Symbol of the power of the republic and its maximum splendour, it collects inside precious art collections.

Campanile di San Marco is one of the most important symbols of the city of Venice. Together with the basilica of the same name and the square below, from which it takes its name, it is the main monument of Venice and one of the symbols of Italy. The Venetians affectionately call it El parón de casa ("The landlord)".

  • Ponte di Rialto

Ponte di Rialto is majestic and elegant with its white Istrian stone and overlooks the Grand Canal. The Rialto Bridge is undoubtedly the most beautiful and best known bridge in Venice, as well as being the oldest of the four bridges (Ponte dell'Accademia, Ponte degli Scalzi and Ponte della Costituzione) that cross the Grand Canal.

  • Second Day

 

  • Scuola Grande di San Rocco

Great Renaissance building with a splendid marble facade, a place of enormous historical and artistic value, especially for the superb cycle of paintings by Tintoretto.

  • Basilica dei Frari

Imposing Gothic church with three naves built by the Franciscan friars. The interior, spacious and bright, is full of works of art of the utmost importance, from the two altarpieces by Titian (the Assumption and the Pesaro Altarpiece) to the Triptych by Giovanni Bellini. There are many sepulchral monuments in marble, arranged along the aisles (the famous one by Canova and the impressive one dedicated to the Pesaro family, dating back to the 17th century).

  • Scala Contarini del Bovolo

Architectural jewel set in the alleys of Venice. Panorama that is worth the price of the ticket. Temporary exhibitions on the second floor.

  • Teatro La Fenice

Teatro La Fenice, located in the Sestiere di San Marco in Campo San Fantin, is today the main opera house in Venice and one of the most prestigious in the world. Twice destroyed and rebuilt, it has been home to important opera and symphonic seasons and the International Festival of Contemporary Music.

Art gallery that is of fundamental importance for the painting of the Venetian school, housed in the historical premises of the Charity complex. The rooms on the first floor display mainly works from the fourteenth to the seventeenth century, while the renovated rooms on the ground floor offer masterpieces of the masters of the eighteenth century.

  • Squero di San Trovaso

Squero (which stands for shipyard) di San Trovaso is one of the few remaining in Venice.
It seems to be in activity since 1600 and today it produces only gondolas. It is located in the charming district of Dorsoduro, one of the most characteristic of Venice.

Beautiful collection of modern and contemporary art by the famous collector Guggenheim. Located in a villa overlooking the Grand Canal, it is divided into several rooms containing several collections exhibited at biennials starting from the 40s onwards. There are Magritte, Picasso, De Chirico. Just to name a few.

  • Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute

Baroque church with a central plan, built by Venetian citizens in 1631 as a votive offering to Our Lady of Health for the end of the plague. The project is by Baldassarre Longhena, the greatest Venetian architect of the seventeenth century. The exterior of the church, richly decorated with dozens of monumental sculptures, dominates the final stretch of the Grand Canal with its large dome. The interior, sober and harmonious, contains some important works of art: the ancient Byzantine icon at the altar, paintings by Titian and Luca Giordano and sculptures by Giusto Le Court and Morlaiter.

  • Third Day

 

  • Galleria Giorgio Franchetti (Ca' D'oro)

Ca'd'Oro houses a precious collection of art from antiquity to 1700. The works have been masterfully chosen, throughout his life, by Baron Franchetti who had the intention to transform the house into a museum.

  • Duomo di Murano

The center of Roman Catholic worship in Murano, beautiful Romanesque church with mosaic decorations in Byzantine style. Beautiful mosaic floor. A large brick building to visit inside and outside, rich in history. Beautiful square bell tower detached from the body of the basilica.

  • Basilica di Santi Giovanni e Paolo

Basilica di Santi Giovanni e Paolo (St. Zanipoło in Venetian) is one of the most impressive medieval religious buildings in Venice, together with Basilica dei Frari. It is considered the pantheon of Venice because of the large number of Venetian doges and other important people who have been buried there since the 13th century.

  • Chiesa di San Giorgio Maggiore

Elegant Renaissance church built by Palladio for the Benedictine monks. Outside the building is monumental and characterized by simple and clean lines, evident in the design and sober decorations of the imposing façade. The interior is austere, very bright and architecturally well-proportioned.

What to do outside of Venice

  • Visit Caorle

Caorle, included in 2017 in the list of Historical Seafaring Villages of Italy, its centre is structured as a little Venetian corner: it has its "calli" (alleys) and "campielli" (squares). It is definitely a year-round destination, you can't miss it, it's only an hour away.

  • Visit Chioggia

Chioggia, called the "Little Venice", is a populous and lively seaside town.

With its Venetian-style palaces overlooking the canals, the characteristic "Bragozzi" boats called "Bragozzi" with their colorful sails, the fish market, the Corso del Popolo, Churches, Museums and Monuments, Piazza Vigo with its beautiful bridge seems to go back in time, to the time of the Doges and the Serenissima.

  • Visit Torcello

Torcello (Torceło in Venetian dialect) is an island in the northern Venetian lagoon.

It was one of the oldest settlements in the lagoon, until its decline due to the predominance of nearby Venice and changing environmental conditions. Currently the island has only eleven residents, but the priceless archaeological heritage that it still preserves makes it a popular tourist destination.

When in Lido Venice what to do

Venice Lido is known because every year hosts Venice Film Festival but it also famous for being one of the beaches where Venetians love going during the summer. The island, in fact, is only a few minutes from Venice. Anyway, there are many things to do and see in Venice Lido.

  • Jewish cemetery

The Jewish Cemetery of Lido is one of the oldest in the world. It was established by concession of the Republic of Venice in 1389, following a dispute with the friars of the nearby monastery of San Nicolò, who claimed ownership of the land. It was used and expanded until 1641, but then fell into disuse, until its redevelopment in 1999. The suggestion of this place has deeply inspired many poets and writers of Romanticism, including Lord Byron and Goethe.

  • Malamocco

Malamocco is a small town located in the southern part of the island of Lido, and heir to the ancient Metamaucum. It is surrounded by a narrow canal, which separates it from the rest of the Lido, a remnant of the ancient port that was here.

There are: the parish church of Santa Maria Assunta from the 12th century, the Gothic Palazzo del Podestà (15th century) and the fort.

  • Spiaggia degli Alberoni

Although it is about 30 minutes from the historic centre of Venice, the beach enjoys a magical and timeless atmosphere. The beach, about 100 meters wide and 3 kilometers long, is adorned with dunes and bordered by a large and thick pine forest.

  • Chiesa di San Nicolò di Lido 

The origins of Chiesa di San Nicolò di Lido date back to 1044, when it was built at the behest of the Doge Domenico Contarini. Here, around 1100, were transported from the city of Myra, in Anatolia, some relics of St. Nicholas, who soon became the patron saint of fishermen, sailors and soldiers bound for the Holy Land.
The present church was built in 1627 next to a pre-existing Benedictine monastery, converted in Napoleonic times into military barracks. Around 1940 the Corinthian "palmette" capitals of the columns were rediscovered, datable around the 11th century, and walled up with the conversion of the building.

Venice what to do from cruise ship

The cruise ships dock in the historic centre, Maritime Station, after crossing the Giudecca canal which offers cruise passengers a wonderful view of Venice. To reach Venice City Center you can take vaporettos. The lines most frequented by cruise passengers are 1 and 2. The single trip costs € 7.00 and is worth 60 minutes.

Cruise ships normally stay 10 hours. So, not for long. You have to keep in mind a Venice to do list. Studentsville's staff is here to help you. Don't miss:

  • Piazza San Marco
  • Campanile di San Marco
  • Palazzo Ducale (Doge's Palace)
  • Grand Canal
  • Ponte di Rialto

Murano Venice what to do

Murano is one of the main islands of the lagoon and is famous for the tradition of blown glass. Murano has the shape of a small Venice: it is formed by 9 small islands joined by bridges with the Grand Canal in the middle.

Murano Glass Museum offers visitors an exciting thematic exhibition focusing on the products and techniques of glass art between the fifteenth and twentieth centuries. As a foretaste of the extraordinary results achieved in recent centuries, the first section of the museum offers an exhaustive overview of the extremely high quality level of glass production in Roman times, thanks to a series of showcases rich in intact and well valorised materials, covering a period from the beginning of the Imperial Age to late antiquity.

  • Visit Basilica dei Santi Maria e Donato

Basilica dei Santi Maria e Donato is is one of the greatest examples of Venetian-Byzantine style in the Venetian Lagoon. Built entirely of bricks, the basilica is one of the most conspicuous Venetian-Byzantine constructions of the 12th century, just after St. Mark's. The interior has a basilica plan with three naves, of which the main one is wider than the lateral naves, separated by five columns on each side and a wide transept with little projection. The wooden ceiling has a ship hull, a typical Venetian shape. The mosaic floor is a splendid Venetian-Byzantine work, the result of the work of local workers.

  • Visit Palazzo Da Mula

Palazzo Da Mula in Murano has panels and other motifs on the facade, dating back to well before the 15th century, which together form the character of Venetian ogival art.

Christmas time: what to do in Venice for Christmas

During Christmas Venice is magic, it is decorated and illuminated and all the alleys, the canals, the piazzas, the historic buildings of the city shine with new light. I mean, you can also find decorated gondolas. Anyway, if you want to breathe the real Venetian Christmas atmosphere, follow Studentsville's suggestions:

  • Shopping at Christmas Markets

Christmas Markets in Venice offer the perfect opportunity to buy all kinds of products: from decorations to typical panettone. In fact, you can take advantage of this event both to pack some gifts, to give to girlfriends and friends.

  • Iceskating in Campo San Polo

Every year during Christmas an ice skating rink is set up in San Paolo (one of the biggest squares in Venice). The rink, which this year remains open from December to March, offers an amazing experience.

  • Regatta of Befana

Some gondoliers, disguised as Befana with long skirts, shawls and bonnets, compete along the central stretch of the Grand Canal, which goes from S. Tomà to Ponte Rialto, where a giant stocking hanging from the bridge awaits them.

What to do in Venice on New Year’s Eve

New Year's Eve in Venice is a timeless classic: there is no location more romantic than this magical lagoon. Venice has always been the favourite destination of many couples in love, who find a unique atmosphere along its canals, bridges and alleys. Discover what to do in Venice for New Years:

  • Admire the fireworks in Piazza San Marco

The fireworks are fired from the boats located off Piazza San Marco, the central point of the festivities.

  • New Year's Eve Concert at La Fenice Opera House

The New Year's Eve Concert at La Fenice Opera House offers a musical program in two parts: a first part exclusively orchestral and a second part dedicated to melodrama, with a series of arias, duets and choral passages performed by soloists of absolute prestige and the Choir of the Teatro La Fenice.

What to do in Venice for Carnival

The Carnival of Venice is known worldwide for its beauty and elegance. Every year it has a specific theme, but since ever, century after century, the masks hide the identity, sex and social class of the participants, behind a wonderful costume.

Since its debut in 1994, Antonia Sautter's Doge's Ball is universally recognized as the most sumptuous and exclusive Venice Carnival Masquerade Gala in the world. From the stage setting to the performances of singers, dancers and aerialists, from the floral design to the menu, from the sartorial masterpieces worn by guests and artists, everything contributes, for one evening, to the great and extraordinary result that is Antonia Sautter's Doge's Ball, where the spirit of the Venice Carnival enters into osmosis with real life, urging to dare to be happy.

One of the most eagerly awaited events of the Venice Carnival is the traditional Corteo delle Marie, a procession of beautiful Venetian girls that evokes, in a modern key, the kidnapping and release of twelve brides, at the time of Doge Pietro Candiano III (1039).

The Flight of the Angel officially opens the celebrations in Piazza San Marco on the second Sunday of Carnival. The Flight of the Angel recalls a 16th century episode, when a Turkish acrobat managed to cross St. Mark's Square, walking over a very long suspended rope, with the only help of a barbell. Starting from a boat anchored at the pier, he managed to reach St. Mark's bell cell. On the way back he reached the balcony of the Doge's Palace.

What to do when bored in Venice

Not far from  S. Marco and Rialto, Libreria Acqua Alta stands out for its original solution to protect the massive volumes from the phenomenon of high water. The books are in fact crammed in alternative furnishings, such as bathtubs and boats with typical Venetian charm.
Here you can find a large number of titles mainly second-hand or out of catalogue; among the various sections, there is a large catalogue reserved for the city and the wonders that make it unique in the world.

  • Shopping at Rialto Market

The Rialto market is located near the Rialto Bridge of the same name, in the heart of the historic centre of Venice, and extends between Campo de la Pescaria and the beautiful Campo San Giacometo.

The Rialto market hosts the traditional fish market and the fruit and vegetable market.

  • Vaporetto Tour

Take a Vaporetto Tour, you will definitely discover the beauty of Venice.

What to do Venice Grand canal

Grand Canal is the main waterway of Venice: the beating heart of a City. It winds in the shape of an "S" through the city, crossing it and dividing it into two parts, each of which groups three sestieri.

Thing to know: in Venice how do you say "Grand Canal"? Canal Grando, or Canalasso.

  • Stroll across Ponte degli Scalzi

Ponte degli Scalzi crosses Grand Canal. The bridge is one of the little treasures of Venice.

  • Stroll across Ponte di Rialto

Ponte di Rialto can be considered almost the soul of Venice, it is like a majestic guardian of  Grand Canal.

  • Visit Fondaco dei Turchi 

Fondaco dei Turchi is one of the most beautiful buildings on Grand Canal. It's really worth visiting.