by Wolfgang Moroder / CC BY-SA 3.0

The Most Unique and Iconic City in the World

A. About Venice

Nickname: La Serenissima

Situated in the north of Italy on the Adriatic Sea, mesmerizing Venice is the most unique, and iconic city in the world. 

Spreading over 117 islands, Venice owns more than 150 canals and four hundred bridges that magnificently mark the incredible setting of this legendary city. 

It is, without a doubt, one of the most fascinating and romantic places in the world and has remained remarkably intact and unchanged for numerous centuries.

Discover some of the world's most stunning churches, palaces, museums, and bridges all close together. 

Best Things to do in Venice

The Good: 

Firstly, being on 117 idyllic islands and rigorously car-free (and bike-free) Venice is easily the best city worldwide in the categories of location and pedestrian zones.

Furthermore, Venice possesses truly excellent sights with masterpieces like the elegant and finely ornamented Basilica San Marco or the Doge's Palace with its breathtaking ceilings. 

You can appreciate fantastic Italian cuisine and the city feels very safe and clean. 

Finally, the weather, as well as transport with its famous waterbus (vaporetto) lines, are excellent.

The Not-So-Good: 

Most noteworthy, Venice is extremely expensive.

Furthermore, it has hardly any parks and the shopping and nightlife do not offer variety.

In addition, finding the right time to visit can be tricky. Venice is often overcrowded with tourists; it has high tides, which cause regular flooding and smell problems, caused by the stagnating waters in the canals.

B. Best Things to Do in Venice in 2024 (Detailed List with Photos and Information)

In total, we count an impressive total of more than 150 sights in Venice. The following sights and attractions contribute to a very impressive score of 8.35/10 (sixth best in the world) in this most important category:

# BASILICA SAN MARCO (St Mark's Basilica) 9 4.5 out of 5 stars

Exceptionally elegant and decorated with a golden mosaic interior, St Mark's Basilica is universally regarded as one of the most beautiful and unique churches in the world.

Mixing Eastern and western building styles, the cathedral built in the eleventh century is one of the best examples of Italic-Byzantine architecture. 

Cathedral World Heritage Site: since 1987 | Completed: 1117 | Style: Italic-Byzantine

# HISTORIC CITY AND ITS LAGOON  9 4.5 out of 5 stars

Floating on water, almost unchanged for centuries and packed with stunning architecture, legendary Venice is easily the most unique city in the world.

Historic Area World Heritage Site: since 1987

Best things to do in Venice | Best Cities | No. 1: Venice | CITY AND ITS LAGOON

# CANALE GRANDE (Grand Canal) 8 4 out of 5 stars

Take a waterbus (called vaporetto) to admire world-famous bridges like for example Ponte di Rialto and the many fine palazzi like Ca d’Oro or Ca Rezzonico along the Grand Canal.

The canal is 3.8 km (2.36 miles) long and is considered for good reason a legendary waterway. 

Historic Canal World Heritage Site: since 1987 | Length: 3.8 km / 2.36 miles

# PIAZZA SAN MARCO (St Mark's Square) 8 4 out of 5 stars

Numerous important historical sites including St. Mark's Basilica, the Campanile, and the famous Doge's Palace are lining Venice's principal public square — without doubt, one of the most beautiful in the world.

Square World Heritage Site: since 1987

# PALAZZO DUCALE (Doge's Palace) 7 3.5 out of 5 stars

This iconic palace was once home to the doge, the elected leader of Venice.

Highlights include the gorgeous pink-and-white marble façade, the Senate Chamber (Sala del Senato), and the Grand Council Chamber (Sala del Maggiore Consigli) with its beautiful frescoes, the Golden Staircase, and the Bridge of Sighs.

Historic Building World Heritage Site: since 1987

Riccardo Lelli / CC BY-SA 3.0

# PONTE DI RIALTO (Rialto Bridge) 7 3.5 out of 5 stars

This iconic white marble bridge over the Grand Canal was completed in 1591. 

Bridge Completed: 1591 | World Heritage Site: since 1987

# Gallerie dell'Accademia 6 3 out of 5 stars

Originally an academy, this museum on the Grand Canal is home to the most important collection of 15th-18th-century Venetian paintings in the world.

Show top 10 paintings (click here)

Museum Gallery Space: 6,000 m2 [64,583 ft2] | Artworks on Display: ca. 800 | Established: 1750 | Visitors [2017]: 316,995

# CAMPANILE  6 3 out of 5 stars

Take the elevator to the top of the 97 m-high (318 ft) bell tower of the St. Mark's Basilica — the tallest structure in Venice — to enjoy breathtaking 360° views over this legendary city.

The current tower is a reconstruction of the 16th-century-tower, which collapsed in an earthquake in 1902.

Bell Tower Height: 97 m / 318 ft | Built: 16th-century / Rebuilt:  1902–1912 | World Heritage Site: since 1987

# Scuola Grande di San Rocco 6 3 out of 5 stars

This building of a charitable society is famous for its stunning interior with immense 16th-century paintings by Tintoretto on its walls and ceilings as well as superb paintings by other grand Venetian masters.

Historic Building

by Sailko / CC BY-SA 3.0

# La Fenice 6 3 out of 5 stars

Devastated by three fires (in 1774, 1836, and 1996) the fabulous Teatro La Fenice "The Phoenix" re-opened in 2004 in its former glory and is considered one of the most beautiful and most prestigious opera houses in Europe.

Opera House Opened: 1792 / 2003 | Capacity: 1,126 Spectators

by Youflavio/ CC BY-SA 4.0

Scoring and Icons Legend (Click here for detailed information)

10 = top-10 sight in the world

9 = world-class  

8 = outstanding

7 = excellent 

6 = impressive

5 = interesting

4 = decent

3 = mediocre

2 = bad

1 = abysmal

= World Heritage Site

= Excursion

C. Other notable sights and attractions in Venice

  • Ca' d'Oro (Palace) 6
  • Peggy Guggenheim Collection 6
  • Scuola di San Giorgio degli Schiavoni 6
  • Basilica dei Frari 6
  • Basilica Santa Maria della Salute 5.5 
  • Rialto Market 5.5
  • Ponte dei Sospiri (Bridge of Sighs) 5.5
  • Palazzo Rezzonico 5.5
  • Church of Santi Giovanni e Paolo 5.5
  • Church of Saint George the Greater and Tower 5.5
  • Correr Civic Museum (Museo Correr) 5.5
  • Campo Santa Margherita (Square) 5.5
  • Palazzo Grassi 5.5
  • Church of Santa Maria Assunta 5.5
  • Church of San Sebastiano 5.5

D. Best Day Trips and Excursions from Venice

Torcello (island, 12 km from Venice) 6

Verona (city, 121 km from Venice) 6

Murano (series of islands, 5 km from Venice) 5.5  

Burano (island, 12 km from Venice) 5.5 

Padua (city, 41 km from Venice) 5.5

Trieste (city, 162 km from Venice) 5.5

E. Top 10 List of the Best Things to Do in Venice (including close-by excursions)

To sum things up, these are the ten best sights we recommend to you when visiting Venice for at least three entire days.

ST MARK'S BASILICA  9 

  CITY AND ITS LAGOON  9

GRAND CANAL 8 

  ST MARK'S SQUARE 8

DOGE'S PALACE 7 

RIALTO BRIDGE 7

 Gallerie dell'Accademia (museum) 6 

CAMPANILE (bell tower, 96 m) 6

Scuola Grande di San Rocco 6 

  Torcello (island, 12 km away) 6

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