10. Take a Walking Tour of Venice
If you prefer to walk the canals with a guide, here a few great options to consider.
This Venice Highlights walking tour gets near perfect reviews and it covers the major highlights of the city.
The walking tour with a local guide can be customized for how much time you have and what you want to see and do in Venice.
11. Enjoy the View from Ponte dell’Accademia
From Ponte dell’Accademia, you have one of the best views of the Grand Canal. This old, wooden bridge is not one of prettier bridges in town but the view from here is stunning.
Look east along the Grand Canal. You will be able to see the Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute, a 400-year-old church that is a famous Venetian landmark. This bridge also a great spot to watch as gondolas, water buses, and taxis drift up and down the Grand Canal.
View from Ponte dell’Accademia | Best things to do in Venice
12. Visit the Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute
This Basilica was completed in 1687 and it was built to celebrate the end of the plague. It is dedicated to Our Lady of Health (Salute in Italian).
There are two reasons why visiting the Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute is one of the best things to do in Venice: it is a beautiful basilica, both inside and out, and the views from the cupola are one of the best in the city.
Inside Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute | Best Things to Do in Venice
The Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute is located on the Grand Canal. From Ponte dell’Accademia, this baroque cathedral is one of the main focal points.
Visiting the Basilica is free.
During the summer months, the Basilica is open from 9 am to 12 pm and 3 pm to 5:30 pm. Get updated hours here before your visit.
Visiting the Cupola
We didn’t know that this was a thing you could do. We just happened to notice the sign to climb to the cupola while visiting the inside of the basilica. And of course we wanted to climb the cupola (and I am so glad we did!).
There is an 8€ fee per person to climb the steps to the cupola (the dome). We purchased our tickets from the attendant but here is a link to purchase them online.
You can visit the cupola on the hour and the half hour. Your visit lasts 30 minutes. Note: the cupola is not open on Monday or Tuesday.
When you enter the Basilica, follow the signs to the cupola. Wait here on the hour or half hour for the attendant to appear, pay your ticket, and then climb the steps. The attendant accompanied us to the cupola and when we did this, it was just Tim and I with one other couple.
Also, when we did this, the attendant was about 5 minutes late, so if he/she doesn’t appear right on time, it’s worth waiting a few extra minutes.
There are 150 steps to the cupola. This is on a spiral staircase and it is very narrow at times. If you suffer from claustrophobia, or don’t think you can climb a tight, twisting staircase, skip this activity.
Here is the view from the cupola:
View from the cupola | Best Things to Do in Venice