What to See & Do in Venice, Italy (Not So Touristy Version)

No place in the world is like Venice, Italy. Canals wind through the city instead of streets and men artistically steering long wooden boats replace cars. Life is slower here and more intentional. It is a whimsical city, you’d have to assume could only exist in the movies. Venice gets a bad rep for being over touristy and crowded, but when done right, you’ll dream of returning. Read on for What to See & Do in Venice, Italy.

1. Bacari Tour Through Venice with a Local

My all-time favorite experience during the trip was a bacari tour through Venice, which I booked through Airbnb Experiences. ‘Bacaro’ or ‘bacari’ (plural) are Venetian wine bars. Polo led our tour. He grew up in Venice, and has an unwavering passion for the city. He took us to three of his favorite bacari, where mostly locals surrounded us. We stopped periodically for him to share history and stories about the city, pointing out areas of importance along the way.

Polo was incredibly knowledgable, but more importantly, it felt like wandering the streets with an old friend through their beloved hometown. After the tour ended, we decided to carry on – hopping from bar to bar, meeting locals, drinking Italian wine, and sharing stories of our travels into the wee hours of the next morning. A one of a kind experience that I will never forget.

2. Sample As Many Cicheti As You Can

Cicheti (or sometimes spelt ‘cicchetti’) are little bites on bread. Similar to tapas, but whatever you do, do not use the “t” word in Venice…They come topped with anything you like – roasted vegetables, cheese, fish, smoked meats and are served from ‘bacari’, which are typically whole-in-the-wall tiny taverns. Since they are small, the key is to sample one or two before moving onto the next bacaro.

In Venice, the most famous type of cicheti is called baccala mantecato. It is olive oil blended with salted cod into a creamy topping. Doesn’t sound that tasty, but I promise it is! Definitely check out Cantina Do Mori. It has been in business since 1462 and claims to be Venice’s oldest bacaro. You won’t be disappointed.

3. Have an Aperol Spritz..or 10

According to Venetians, the “Spritz” was invented in Venice. I’m not sure that is true, but I can confirm they make the best I’ve ever had. A spritz traditionally contains prosecco, Aperol (sweeter) or Compari (more bitter), and a touch of sparkling water. In Venice it is topped with a green olive. Refreshing and light. Perfect to pair with a cicheti or two. 

Note: if you order a spritz, you’ll likely be asked if you prefer Aperol or Compari. Try both! I’m a Compari gal myself. My favorite spots to enjoy a spritz were Osteria da Bacco and Al Merca.

4. Watch the Sunset in Venice at an Unexpected Place

In every city I visit, I always seek out the best spot for sunset. In Venice, my favorite view was at a very unexpected location, the rooftop terrace of the DFS Store. The DFS Store is a massive department store right by Rialto Bridge. The roof is dedicated as a viewing platform for customers. It offers an incredible vantage point over top of the red-roofed buildings of Venice with the canal running lazily below. 

Note: access to the terrace is completely free, but you need to book in a time slot ahead of time and all guests are limited to 15-minutes on the terrace. Reserve your spot through the link here. 

Another great spot to view the sunset is along the Grand Canal. Walk along the canal and find a picturesque spot (there are too many to choose from). When I visited there were a number of street performers playing music. It offered the perfect backdrop to watch the sun slowly slip beyond the horizon.

5. Snag a Photo & a Book at Acqua Alta Library

Acqua Alta Library has been made famous by Instagram over the past couple of years. Many of these sights I find to be highly overrated, but this one lived up to the hype. A tiny bookshop, covered from floor to ceiling in books. The place is beautiful chaos. And the best part? As you wander through the store, suddenly you are met by the canal right at the back doorstep. 

6. Indulge in a Massage at Reali Wellness Spa

My visit to Venice was a solo trip. The entire holiday was an amazing opportunity to relax, indulge, and reflect with plenty of much needed “me” time. What better way to treat yourself than with a massage? I chose a detoxifying massage at Reali Wellness Spa in Hotel Ai Reali. There are many spas in Venice, but I ultimately chose Reali Wellness Spa due to their beautiful facilities. For an additional 25 euros, you gain access to their Jacuzzi, emotional shower, Turkish bath, sauna, and a small rooftop terrace outside. The perfect way to spend my morning resting and recharging before hitting the town. 

7. See Piazza San Marco (St. Mark’s Square) at Sunrise

I know, I know. Sunrise? I have to be kidding. Yes, the wakeup call will inevitably be rough, but I can almost guarantee it will be worth it. As you might have heard, Venice is a busy city. I mean very busy. In the wee hours of the morning though, no one is around and to experience that stark contrast is really something special. Not to mention, when the sun rises and casts its warm glow across the sun stained, white washed city, everything lights up the most brilliant shade of pink. Believe me, you’ll want to be around to see it.

Tip of the day – book a hotel along the water and a short walk from the square. You’ll be able to see the most incredible sunsets and sunrises from this location, and it’s just a short walk to all the sights. I stayed at A Tribute To Music Residenza and really enjoyed it. Hilarious name, unreal views. 

8. Marvel at St Mark’s Basilica & Doge’s Palace

While wandering through Piazza San Marco, it is impossible to miss St Mark’s Basilica and Doge’s Palace. You can pay for a tour through both buildings. Personally, I loved spending my time simply admiring the architecture though. My suggestion? Grab a pastry and an espresso, make it there around sunrise, and watch the buildings light up and the city come to life as everyone slowly wakes up.

9. Ponder at the Bridge of Sighs

The Bridge of Sighs connects an interrogation room in the Doge’s Palace to the main building of the New Prison. It is said that as prisoners crossed the bridge, sighs could be heard as prisoners got their last glimpse of Venice through the two small windows. 

The Bridge of Sighs is made entirely from limestone, and is really worth seeing. It can be viewed one of three ways. My favorite view (and the easiest to access) is from Ponte della Paglia, a footbridge along the Grand Canal. The second viewpoint is from a gondola, sailing under the bridge. And the last option: you can actually walk across the Bridge of Sighs. This is included with paid entrance into the Doge’s Palace.

10. Gaze at Gondolas Passing Under the Rialto Bridge

Another beautiful bridge is the Rialto Bridge, a massive footbridge right in the center of the city. Next to St Mark’s Square, this is arguably one of the busiest parts of town. On either side of the bridge are staircases down to the canal. Grab a sunny spot and get a great vantage point of the bridge, tons of gondolas passing through and plenty of people watching. 

Bonus: there are tons of great bacari in this area. “Bacari” are taverns serving the traditional “cicheti”, little bites on bread. My favorites were All’ Arco and Al Merca.

11. Stay Long Enough to Get Lost in the Beauty of Venice

It might be tempting to only visit Venice for a night before hopping to the next city, but you would be mistaken. Around every corner and canal is something new to discover. Because of the small winding streets and abrupt dead ends where you’re met with water and no bridge, it is very easy to get lost in Venice and highly encouraged. My favorite sights were often found completely unexpectedly and that was only possible because I had plenty of time to relax, wander and enjoy. Stay at least two nights and thank me later.

As some of you might know, Venice has recently been experiencing terrible flooding. The city is literally sinking and this is largely in part from over tourism. Remember to be smart, be kind, and be respectful when visiting places so precious.

Conclusion

My visit to Venice was my first solo trip, ever. Anyone planning a solo trip, I highly recommend considering Venice. The beauty of traveling solo is you get to call the shots – you choose the places you see, the spots where you eat, and all the activities. I loved seeing the city at my pace. If you need more convincing to visit Venice, check out my post – 20 Photos to Inspire You to Visit Venice in Winter. I hope you find this post on What to See & Do in Venice, Italy helpful. As always, let me know if you make it!