I heard about Covid 19 the first time when I was roaming around the corners of St Mark Square in the first week of 2020. Venice was always my desired destination and wanted to cover all the corners of this beautiful town when I saw in “Casino Royale” Bond movie. I visited Italy thrice before this trip but never got a chance to visit Venice. When I planned cross countries plan of Europe with family in the Christmas holidays of 2019, Venice was a must. There is something charming and romantic about this beautiful town which is captured nicely even in Bollywood movies too. My wife was more excited than me. She had a list of plans like every tourist dreaming of Gondola ride over Grand Canal to eating authentic gelato, traditional Bologna Lasagna, Pizza Napoletana or Spaghetti and other Italian delicacies with no guilts.

Venice is very famous among tourists as it is one of the most famous tourist attractions in Italy.  So ready for tons of tourists throughout the year. June-August is the peak season here and it’s summertime in Italy so most of the tourists flock during this time only. I was in December with a temperature range of 10-15’c was simply incredible to walk on the streets and passageways, strolling beside the canals and finding foods in the corners.

At every place, there’s something that you can remember which is worth taking a photo of. Most of the best sights you visit will mostly lie around the popular landmarks of Piazza San Marco and the Grand Canal. The corners of Venice are chalked up with historical sites and overflowing with shops and restaurants which are worth the visit. I will have another blog soon about the history of Venice explaining more about this place which was once occupied by the fear of barbarian conquerors turned into “Queen of Adriatic” and UNESCO Heritage site.

Though Venice is small there is a lot to explore so your staying is key. Venice is not a city but more than 100 islands that are beautifully connected to each other with numerous canals and more than 400 bridges. So if not planned properly and your accommodation is away from the tourist spots then your time is gone. I stayed in La Rosa Dei Venti which was one of the heritage buildings of the 17th or 18th centuries with a great view of the lagoon and the Adriatic Sea from the balconies. Well, strategically aligned hotel near Saint Mark’s Square to explore must-see and do things in Venice which we shortlisted. When I visited Venice, my initial plan was to stay for 2 days but the place was so beautiful that I extended my stay for 3 days.

To plan out your stay, you shouldn’t miss any of the best places to visit in Venice so you can list down some of the top attractions in Venice that are mentioned below.

St Mark Basilica -Venice’s best-known church and most recognized in the world, St Mark Basilica which is originally Doge’s private chapel decorated with Byzantine art treasures which are parts of Venetian Ships.

The gold-backed mosaic pictures above the doorways which is probably the only hint at the mosaic artistry inside were 4,240 square meters of gold mosaics that cover the walls and the domes. The treasures of other periods, including later mosaics, will be found there in the church. You can also take some time to see the gold reliquaries and icons from the treasury. 

St Mark Square -Another famous tourist attraction in Venice would be the St Mark square which is brought together and made them have certain uniformity with its architecture on three sides. St mark square is loved by the visitors, the place to gather, drink coffee, chat, meet friends, and the place to work or play.

There are many fashionable shops and even more fashionable cafes that make the place even more attractive.

Doge’s Palace -This place doesn’t fail to impress the visitors with its extraordinary palace, both by its size and the finesse of its architecture. If you entered the inside of the doge’s palace the impression would only strengthen as they entered through the porta Della Carta. Even the 21st-century travelers got awe at its palace’s grandeur and the beautiful decoration. You will also see the largest oil painting in the world. The line for admission to the doge’s palace is often long and when I visited the palace the entry fee was 25 euros. A local guide will take you past that line and explain to you whole about the history and art of the amazing dazzling rooms.

Canale Grande (Grand Canal)- The Grand Canal is considered as the principal of Venice which is connected to Piazza San Marco, Rialto Bridge, and the bridge from the mainland. The Grand Canal is the first choice for the visitors as it is one of the best tourist attractions in the city.

A ride along the Grand Canal in a Gondola is considered the most romantic thing to do in Venice at night. A half an hour ride costs between Euro 80-100 which is slightly on the expensive side. But I will recommend it as the Venice trip without a Gondola ride is not considered complete. You can negotiate also.

I had gone for a ride with my family and spent hours there during the day. While I was on that ride, I saw an instant beautiful change in the weather in the evening which made my visit worthwhile with the golden yellowish sky.

Rialto Bridge -The only bridge across the Grand Canal, Rialto Bridge marks the spot of the island’s first settlement. It serves as one of the busiest crossing points midway along the canal; it is one of the favorite tourist points for taking pictures and posing or watching the boats. On the other side of Rialto Bridge is the busy food market, where you can get fresh produce seafood. There are some famous artisan shops and mask-making studios one of the best places for shopping in Venice.

San Giorgio Church -The gorgeous cycle of a painting by carpaccio, the church is a hidden treasure. The fascinating workshop on the artist workshop right across the bridge from the church. Each painting in the room is beautiful which is lined up across one room on the second floor. So if you are in Venice make sure you visit here.

If you are a food lover like me then so many options are here from chocolates to Italian delicacies at each corner. I had a great time at each outlet but recommend strongly try Marco Polo which is near to Saint Mark’s Square only for authentic Italian Bologna Lasagna, Pizza Napoletana or Spaghetti. If you are a chocolate lover then visit Nino & friends which has three locations in Venice only. My kids had tons of chocolate in the name of testing their handmade chocolates. We bought quite a lot for our next destination which was Slovenia.

Conclusion 

There are many other places to visit when you are in Venice and share me in the comments so I can explore them next time. Watch my video on YouTube about places to see in Venice in detail.