1. Taking a water bus around town
2. Visit some of the very unique neighborhoods
3. If you’re a shopper, there are some amazing boutiques around Venice.
4. Often overlooked, visit Basilica di Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari to see their artworks on display
5. Spend a day doing a tour of the three nearby islands
6. Marveling at the beautiful Saint Mark’s Basilica
7. Stand in the middle of one of the most powerful city-states in world history
8. Take an afternoon gelato break, just make sure it’s the real deal
9. Standing on the Piazza San Marco and thinking, “Wow, I’m really here!”
10. More than a gondola ride, hire a personal tour boat for the afternoon.
11. Go to the opera, it’s more fun than you think!
12. Photograph and then walk across the Bridge of Sighs
13. Visit the Peggy Guggenheim Collection to see some great 20th century art
14. Buy a Carnevale mask because, well, you’re in Venice!
15. Give in to your inner corny tourist and enjoy Venice for what it is.
16. Walk across the Rialto bridge, then see it again from the water
17. Drink more wine. (it’s Italy)
18. Go on a ghost tour at night; Venice has an incredibly gruesome history
19. Enjoy great food on a self-guided tour of the city’s markets
20. Stand in front of the Giant’s Staircase and wonder how many important and powerful people preceded you
21. Go deeper and get an in depth tour of the amazing Saint Mark’s Basilica
22. Spend some time people watching with a coffee in hand
23. I’m a huge Vivaldi fan, so make sure to take in a concert while in town
24. Going on a corny gondola ride
25. If it’s summer, head to Lido Beach to catch some rays
26. Finish an afternoon by sipping some wine in a café with a view
27. Learn more about the history of Venice at the Correr Civic Museum
28. Go to the top of the Campanile for amazing views of the city and lagoon
29. Make sure you catch a sunset over the water at least once
30. If you love art, there are some fantastic collections around town
31. Getting lost, because frankly it’s unavoidable
32. If you’re there for several days check out nearby towns like Verona.
33.Walk back to the train station from St. Mark’s. It’s a long but beautiful route.
34. Stop by a local restaurant for classic Venetian food
35. Hop on a vaporetto for a tour of the Grand Canal
36. Art lovers will love a visit to the Academy Gallery (Gallerie dell’Accademia)
37. A tour of the secret rooms inside the Doge’s Palace
38. See how many of the beautiful bridges in town you can cross in one day
39. Visit nearby Murano for traditional Venetian glass
40. Complete the Venice trifecta by snapping pics of the Torre dell’Orologio, (clock tower)
41. Tour the old Jewish Ghetto, an area that gave name to the term
42. Spend a night on the town, either at a jazz club or a low key wine bar
