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Let's be honest, you've been dreaming about Venice long before you actually booked those plane tickets. Maybe you caught glimpses of it in films, spotted it on social media, or saw a certain fashionable character gliding through its canals on your favourite streaming show.
With popular series like Netflix's Emily in Paris, which has just wrapped up filming in Venice and is set to premiere soon, the floating city is having its moment yet again. So, what to do in Venice when you finally arrive? Think of it as your insider's itinerary for experiencing the city like your favourite on-screen characters with lots of gelato included.
When figuring out what to do in Venice, you can't skip the classics. Piazza San Marco is non-negotiable. Hit it early, around 7am if you can manage, when the morning light bounces off the golden mosaics and you've got the place mostly (and hopefully) to yourself. Don't forget to get your morning coffee (or ice cream) at one of Europe's oldest cafés, Caffè Florian, founded in 1720 and can house up to 400 customers at a time. We also recommend trying Florian's signature semifreddo tiramisu.
The Rialto Bridge has been the main artery across the Grand Canal since 1591. Come back at sunset when the light turns everything golden, or late evening when it's quieter and somehow even more romantic.
The Grand Canal itself is Venice's main stage. Whether you're on a vaporetto water bus or splashing out on a private water taxi, this 3.8-kilometre stretch of palazzos, churches and bridges is pure Venetian magic.
Here's what savvy travellers know about what to do in Venice: the best experiences happen when you venture beyond San Marco. Dorsoduro is where Venice still feels like a living, breathing neighbourhood with top museums such as the Peggy Guggenheim Collection and the Gallerie Dell'Accademia. Admire the famous Santa Maria della Salute church, where films like Tomb Raider, Indiana Jones, and Casanova featured.
Campo Santa Margherita becomes the social hub in the evenings. Students and locals gather here for aperitivo, and you'll find some brilliant spots for cicchetti (Venetian tapas) and wine. This is Venice without the performance.
The Avani Rio Novo Venice Hotel sits right in the heart of Dorsoduro, which means you're seconds from real Venetian life. You're close enough to walk to the major sights but far enough to escape the crowds when you need a breather.
One of the most fascinating things to do in Venice is witnessing centuries-old crafts that are still thriving today. Take the vaporetto to Murano Island and watch master glassblowers transform molten glass into impossibly delicate sculptures.
Venetian gondolas are handmade by specialised craftsmen called squeraroi. Each takes months to build and requires eight different types of wood. Whether you splurge on a gondola ride or simply admire them from the bridges, you're looking at functional art.
Back in the main islands, seek out the smaller workshops. Leather artisans hand-stitching bags in San Polo. Mask makers preparing for Carnival in Castello. Paper marbling studios using techniques from the 1400s. Pop into these workshops, chat with the artists, and you'll see Venice's creative soul.
Figuring out what to do in Venice absolutely includes eating well. Start with cicchetti for breakfast. Just like the Spanish have tapas, the Venetians have cicchetti.
Find a bacaro (traditional wine bar) in Dorsoduro or Cannaregio, and order baccalà (codfish), fegato (liver), moeche (local crabs), sardines and radicchio, as well as hams and cheeses, which are all laid on a piece of bread or fried polenta. Recommended places include All'Arco (featured in Stanley Tucci's CNN travel show 'Searching for Italy') and pair everything with an Aperol Spritz or local Veneto wine.
For sit-down meals, venture into Cannaregio or Castello where restaurants cater more to locals than tourists. Some recommendations include Osteria Alle Testiere, an all-time favourite of Michelin-starred chefs such as Angela Hartnett or look for places with handwritten menus which are usually a good sign.
Experience the film-inspired Venice and more cinematic moments with Chic in Italy: Set-Jet Stays – a six-night journey with two nights each in Rome, Venice and Milan. Just like the series, the package celebrates fashion, food and joie de vivre – only this time, with an Italian twist.
