Things to do in Venice: a food lover’s guide to Italy’s floating city

What to see and what to do in Venice. Venice is one of the most beautiful cities in the world. Everyone dreams of visiting it to see its canals, beautiful churches and ancient palaces as well as to experience romantic sunsets over St. Mark’s Basin. The city inspires visions of an unforgettable vacation holiday accessible style of Venice is rooted in its food and family culture.

Of course, one of the best ways to understand the culture of a city is to start with its traditions, food and lifestyle. Venice’s traditional preparations of seafood and vegetable dishes as well as it’s family-based culture have intrigued the world for centuries.

In this article, Gioia will present a visitor’s guide to experiencing Venice through its flavors and iconic dishes. As a professional cooking instructor, Gioia will be your guide to discovering some of the most authentic aspects of the city, starting with local cooking specialties and lifestyle. Her suggestions of fun and easily accessible authentic experiences will immerse you in Venetian culture as you enjoy all the best Venice has to offer. Keep reading for cool things to do in Venice. Here you find a list of restaurants in Venice.

Key Information About Venice and Tourist Attractions

Best Time to Visit Venice.

Choosing the right time of year to visit Venice is essential when planning your vacation holiday. I recommend the winter months of November to December for those who love tranquility, spending time in museums, pastry shops and historic cafes. During this time period, you will enjoy the Christmas atmosphere and traditional Venetian holiday desserts. These months are also ideal for sampling typical Venetian risottos made with pumpkin, red radicchio, mushrooms, and seafood from the lagoon.

If the spring season is more to your liking, I would recommend planning a getaway during the period of February to May, especially for those who love Carnival. In this period, you can enjoy the beginning of spring and mild temperatures that invite you to spend time outdoors.  In addition, this is a premium time to sample the famous agricultural products of the island of Sant’Erasmo, especially baby artichokes and asparagus.

Best Way to Get Around Venice

Venice is one of those cities where there are no cars, buses, or even bicycles in the City Centre. For this reason, walking is the best way to get around Venice. Walking Venice will allow you to immerse yourself in its unique atmosphere and architecture, enjoying every glimpse and view of the City.

There is also a wonderful public transportation system available, provided by water buses called “vaporetto.” Different vaporetto lines travel along the Grand Canal and around the city on a regular schedule. Vaporettos ensure organized and functional mobility and are a wonderful way to enjoy the views of Venice via its waterways.

 Ideal Trip Length for must-see places

Venice may be a small city but it is full of treasures to discover. I suggest staying in Venice for at least 4-6 days because the city has so much to offer its visitors. In addition to seeing its historic centers, cathedrals and museums, you would also have time to experience the islands of the Lagoon (Murano, Burano and Torcello) and enjoy the beaches of Lido on the Adriatic Sea.

Venice has 106 churches, over 20 different museums, art exhibitions of every type, the Opera House, and many musical venues. Venice offers its visitors a vast array of opportunities to experience its cultural heritage and emerging art scenes.

During your stay in Venice, you might consider an immersive experience such as taking a cooking class with a local in a typical Venetian home. The class will teach you how to cook typical Venetian recipes using local ingredients, a skill that will allow you to re-visit Venice any time from your home kitchen. For information on registering for a class, please see the website for Accademia di Cucina Italiana at https://www.accademiadicucinaitaliana

Top things to do in Venice

 MUST-DO CULINARY EXPERIENCE IN VENICE

Ask the professional cooking instructor, Gioia Tiozzo, to teach you the secrets of local recipes and step inside a typical Venetian home to feel right at home. Learn to cook like a true Venetian with a local expert who knows pretty much everything about Venice.

Must-Do Experiences in Venice with a Culinary Twist

Venice is a small island in the middle of the Venetian Lagoon, but there are many experiences to enjoy and things to see. Remember, the Republic of Venice conquered the Mediterranean and traded with the Far East since the time of Marco Polo. Even today, its ancient history lives on in its architecture, art and traditions. The city is full of places and experiences that have the power to transport you back in time.

Rialto Bridge & the Rialto Market

Rialto is the beating heart of the city, a place loved by residents for its concentration of historic shops. Every morning, the Rialto Market comes to life, its scents and colors telling the story of Venice and its culinary traditions. Market stalls sell fruit, vegetables, fish, and meat that can introduce visitors to Venetian recipes. Shops specializing in spices, pasta, wine, and desserts will make you understand how much Venetians love their culinary traditions. In my opinion, the Rialto Bridge is the top point of interest in Venice.

 Culinary Cooking Experience

A private cooking class in Venice with a local cooking instructor is a unique opportunity for a hands-on cooking experience using the local foods seen in the markets under the guidance of a local expert. In addition to enhancing your kitchen skills, you will learn about local culinary traditions and spend time in a Venetian home. The class will illustrate how important it is in Venetian culture to sit and share food with your family and friends.

Gondola Ride

Venice is the only city in the world where you can take a gondola ride through the city’s small canals. Not to be missed, it will leave you with unforgettable memories of Venice as seen from the water, which is different from what you see when walking down the street. I suggest taking a gondola ride in the late afternoon, when the canals of Venice are quieter and free of commercial motorboats. The ideal time would be before dinner. You could first take a break in a typical Venetian bar, known as a “bacari,” and enjoy some “cicchetti” (Venetian appetizers) and a glass of local wine, ending the afternoon with a gondola ride. It’s an experience you should have at least once in your life.

Piazza San Marco and the Doge’s Palace

Piazza San Marco is where all the tourists meet. For a visit to the Doge’s Palace, I recommend taking a guided tour and booking your tickets in advance to avoid long queues. My suggestion is to start the day with breakfast at one of the historic cafés in the square, such as Caffè Florian, the oldest bar in Europe. Inside, the atmosphere will take you back centuries. Have breakfast with a cappuccino and typical Venetian biscuits, in tune with local traditions. The best way to experience local traditions is to taste typical local products and just like a local.

Bridge of Sighs

The “Ponte dei Sospiri” (Bridge of Sighs) is a popular tourist attractions and a must-see for everyone. Avoid rush hour and go there in the late afternoon instead. Here you can take the most beautiful and romantic selfie in all of Venice. You can then toast your love in a typical Venetian “bacaro” (bar). Indulge in a glass of prosecco (the most famous wine of the Veneto region) and some “cicchetti” (local nibbles). Did you know that in Venice, finger food is actually eaten with your fingers? If you are a curious traveler, try the typical Venetian fried meatballs. You will find that one will not be enough, they are that good.

Stuff to do in Venice

The True Taste of Venice: Bacari & Cicchetti

For lovers of local food, I suggest trying a culinary experience in the famous, typical Venetian bars called “bacari.” Here you can taste a wide variety of “cicchetti,” or appetizers to enjoy with local wine. These bars, usually small and always crowded with Venetians, are the meeting place for locals who love to chat with friends before dinner. On the bar counter, you can see the variety of cicchetti available to eat. Usually, cicchetti are slices of crispy bread with ham, cheese or fish and homemade sauces. Typical ingredients include soppressa (a typical salami from the Veneto region) or “baccalà mantecato”, which is a spreadable cod cream. Cicchetti also include the famous Venetian “polpette,” (deep-fried meatballs). The bar usually offers a very informal service, without cutlery.  Cicchetti are eaten standing up, with your fingers. On a blackboard, you will find the list of wines (strictly local) that are served by the glass.

Taking a tour of Venice’s bacari is the quintessential Venetian street food experience. A culinary experience suitable for those who seek quality and are not too interested in trends, for those who are curious and love authentic things.

If you are a food lover, read my post about Venice Cuisine.

Best place to visit in Venice

For an authentic Venetian street food experience, I recommend trying these bacari. Must see and visit in Venice.

Cantina del Vino già Schiavi: a famous wine bar renowned for its incredible variety of bottled wines. It offers the best selection of meat, fish, and vegetable cicchetti in Venice. The atmosphere is very informal and friendly, and the decor is typical of a bacaro. The counter displays everything there is to eat, making it easy to see the available selection. I recommend going in the late morning or around noon.

Vino Vero: an elegant and stylish bacaro with table seating next to the canal where you can watch gondolas and typical Venetian boats go by. The atmosphere is very informal, but the style of the place is refined. The owner is known for his incredible knowledge of wine. It is a place suitable for those who are not easily satisfied and always want the best.

Cantina Do Spade: a bacaro in the heart of the city, a stone’s throw from the Rialto Market. Always full of locals, the atmosphere is informal and friendly. You can enjoy fish-based cicchetti or a quick lunch with fish-based first courses. Suitable for those who want to enjoy a culinary experience while sitting comfortably and relaxing after sight-seeing. The decor is typical Venetian with a counter at the entrance displaying the available cicchetti, a wine list on blackboards, together with wooden tables and chairs.

Dive Deeper: Learn The Secrets of Italian Cuisine in Venice

For lovers of Italian food who want to immerse themselves in the atmosphere of a typical Venetian home in the company of a 100% Venetian, a cooking class is the best choice. Imagine putting on an apron, making homemade pasta, smelling the aroma of freshly made dough, and enjoying lunch with a Venetian who knows everything about her city and is eager to answer all of your questions. These are the types of experiences you will have when you participate in a cooking class offered by Accademia di Cucina Italiana. The classes are taught by Gioia Tiozzo, a professional cooking teacher from Venice with 25 years of teaching experience. Born and raised in Venice, Gioia is a food and wine lover. Raised in a traditional Venetian family, she started making homemade pasta with her grandmother when she was a child and continues to use all the secrets her grandmother taught her to this day.

In the cooking classes organized by Gioia, you will learn how to make typical Venetian recipes, including risotto, gnocchi, and fish dishes  using products from the Rialto market. A cooking class is a cool thing to do in Venice.

Top Venice attraction

Explore the Venetian Lagoon: A Trip For The Senses

Remember that Venice is comprised of not just the historic center, ancient palaces, and churches, but also the Venetian Lagoon with its inhabited islands. It takes time to discover them all because each one is characterized by its particular cultural background and each offers its visitors a unique experience. The atmosphere of the smaller islands is very different from the historic center of the city of Venice. Even the typical local products are different from those found in Venice.

All of the islands located in the Venetian Lagoon are easily accessible from Venice via vaporetto, the city’s public transportation system.

Day Trip to Murano

The island of Murano is known for its glass factories and artisan shops that create lampwork beads. The island is large, and there is much to see; it is a shopping paradise. You can watch glass being made in small workshops where you can watch artisans produce various items from a glowing mass of colored glass. Don’t miss a visit to the cathedral and its mosaic-decorated floors. If you need a break, as there is a lot of walking involved, I recommend the “Osteriva” restaurant. It serves local fish dishes prepared in a contemporary style. The restaurant is an oasis of relaxation. It is ideal for those who love Italian food but want to move away from the iconic traditional dishes and explore something new based on local fish from Venice.

Day Trip To Burano

Burano is about an hour and a half from Venice. The island is known for its colorful houses and for its fishing community, which still uses the same fishing techniques as in centuries past. I visited the lace museum and shops where you can watch artisans making lace for wedding dresses and tablecloths. The famous “bussolai” biscuits, made with eggs and butter, were taken by fishermen on long fishing trips in their traditional wooden boats. You can buy them in the “Palmisano Carmelina” shop. They are delicious in the morning, dipped in cappuccino, as the Venetians typically do. At lunchtime, stop at the “Trattoria al Gatto Nero” restaurant to enjoy dishes based on fish from the lagoon. The catch is usually fried and served with polenta. The typical fish of the lagoon are small and very tasty. Also famous are “spaghetti con le vongole,” a first course based on local mussels sautéed in white wine. Burano island is the best you can see in Venice if you are a fish-based recipes lover.

Venice, what to see and do

More Than a Tourist: Discover Venice’s Hidden Gems

Below, I will point out some places that are located away from the most popular tourist spots, where you can get a taste of the local culture and hidden treasures that usually only Venetians know about. As a Venetian, I can say that the places listed below are where I usually go to avoid the crowds of tourists and where I take my friends when they come to visit me.

Libreria Acqua Alta

A charming place for those who love books about Venice. Inside this historic shop, there is an old gondola used as a bookcase. You will be able to appreciate how large and spacious this type of Venetian wooden boat is. The atmosphere of the bookshop is that of another era, with books in English and French. Four beautiful cats live in the shop and keep the readers company. The bookshop enjoys a beautiful panoramic view of a typical Venetian canal.

Palazzo Contarini del Bovolo

In the heart of the city, just a few minutes’ walk from Piazza San Marco, this palace is an example of majestic private architecture. Originally owned by a wealthy Venetian merchant, it is an example of how rich Venice was and how its wealthy merchants lived in luxury. The external staircase is spiral-shaped and can be visited by paying an entrance fee. At the top of the staircase is a belvedere from which you can enjoy an enchanting view of the rooftops and bell towers of Venice. This visit is suitable for those looking for hidden treasures and are inspired by architecture. As a local, I would say that this palazzo is a Place where to go in Venice.

Squero di San Trovaso

In this ancient wooden boat yard, gondolas continue to be built exactly as they were in past centuries. From the shore, you can see the craftsmen building the gondolas piece by piece and those who are dedicated to routine maintenance such as painting, using only black paint. There are six ‘squeri’ still active in the city, but this tradition is in danger of disappearing due to a lack of new craftsmen willing to take on a job that requires great manual and design skills. It is located in one of the most picturesque corners of the city, Le Zattere, frequented almost exclusively by Venetians due to its lack of common tourist attractions. It is a place far from the hustle and bustle and incredibly quiet. The visit is suitable for those who love the world of wooden boats and for those who love history. This is really a not to miss place in Venice.

Best place in Venice

FAQS

What food is Venice famous for?

Venetian cuisine is mainly based on fish. The most iconic recipes are: “sarde in saor” (deep-fried sardines with sautéed onions in vinegar), “seppie in nero” (stewed black cuttlefish with polenta), “risotto di pesce” (fish-based risotto), “polpette di carne” (deep-fried meatballs) and “fegato alla veneziana” (sautéed veal liver with onion). The best way to enjoy them is to learn how to cook the organ recipes. Take a cooking class in Venice at Accademia di Cucina Italiana.

FAQS

How many days are enough for Venice?

At least 4 days, much better a week. Venice is a small city but full of treasures to discover. Don’t limit your visit to the city center, discover also the islands of the Lagoon. Consider an immersive experience like a cooking class with a local in a typical Venetian home. You will learn how to cook typical Venetian recipes using local ingredients. Info at Accademia di Cucina Italiana.

FAQS

Is a gondola ride worth it?

Yes, Venice is the only city in the world where you can take a gondola ride through the city’s canals. It’s an experience you should have at least once in your life. Choose a very quiet and romantic spot in the city, preferably in the afternoon when there are no motorboats around the canals.

FAQS

What not to miss in Venice and top sights

Piazza San Marco and Rialto Bridge are definitely the most popular tourist attractions. If you love art, be sure to visit at least one of the 106 churches in Venice. For a truly unforgettable experience, immerse yourself in traditional Venetian cuisine by taking part in a cooking class at https://www.accademiadicucinaitaliana, where a professional  cooking instructor, born in Venice, will help you cook local recipes in her home kitchen.

FAQS

Is two full days in Venice enough?

It’s enough time to see the main attractions, but to make your trip truly special, dedicate a morning to an experience that goes beyond the usual tourist attractions. Take part in a cooking class in Venice at Accademia di Cucina Italiana to immerse yourself in authentic Italian culture. It will leave you with lasting memories and a new skill to take home, making your experience unforgettable.

FAQS

Do’s and don’ts in Venice, Italy

Do: Take routes less frequented by mass tourism to discover parts of the city frequented by Venetians. Visit the same places (bancari) to get a feel for the authentic local atmosphere. Don’ts: Avoid restaurants with illustrated tourist menus near the city’s most touristy spots. A must in Venice is learning how to choose local ingredients at the Rialto market and cooking a real Italian meal in our company. This is the best way to avoid tourist traps and savor the real Venice. Visit our website Accademia di Cucina Italiana 

Hope that this list will help you in planning your trip to Venice. Now you know how to choose your top attractions in Venice.

READY TO EXPERIENCE THE REAL VENICE?

Venice is a city to be seen, but more importantly, to be tasted. Don’t just be a spectator in this beautiful city, immerse yourself in its heart through its culinary traditions. Let Gioia Tiozzo guide you on a journey of flavor you’ll never forget.

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