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Europe Italy Venice Do & See Grand Canal

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Grand Canal

The guide was updated: 2024-02-12

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Venice Sightseeing Walking Tour with a Local Guide

Canal Grande is the largest canal in town, almost 4 km long and 90-metre-wide in some parts, with an average depth of 5 metres. Public transport is available in the form of gondolas, water taxis, and the popular vaporetti — water buses. Along the canal, which is crossed by three stunning bridges, you'll discover plenty of famous buildings.

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Address: Canal Grande, Venice

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Our travel guides are free to read and explore online. If you want to get your own copy, the full travel guide for this destination is available to you offline* to bring along anywhere or print for your trip.

*this will be downloaded as a PDF.

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St Mark's Basilica

St Mark's Basilica

Located in St Mark's Square (Piazza di San Marco), next to the Doge's Palace, The Patriarchal Cathedral Basilica of Saint Mark — commonly known as St Mark's Basilica — is the most important religious temple in the city, as well as one of the finest examples of Italo-Byzantine architecture.

St Mark's Square

St Mark's Square

St Mark's Square is the biggest and the most well-known square in Venice. If you truly want to comprehend the power of the former Venetian empire, this is the right place to visit. The square is full of striking and inspiring sights, like the bell tower, from which you can grasp a splendid view of Venice.

Doge’s Palace

Doge’s Palace

Built in Venetian Gothic style and one of the most iconic landmarks of Venice, the Doge's Palace or Palazzo Ducale used to be the residence of the Doge of Venice, as well as the seat of power for the Venetian Republic, which lasted more than 1,000 years. Both the court and the prison were located within the palace walls, but since 1923 the building is better known as a museum.

Gondola Ride

Gondola Ride

There are several tour operators offering different types of Gondola tours. You can choose between a more romantic style with serenades sung to you and your beloved partner or a more classical sightseeing tour with a guide telling you the history of all the beautiful buildings around. There are even tours where you can learn how to row the Gondola yourself. Whichever tour you end up choosing, you're sure to have a memorable experience.

Burano Island

Burano Island

Burano Island is famous for its brightly coloured houses, picturesque canals, and peaceful atmosphere. Other attractions include the Church of San Martino with its leaning bell tower and the Lace Museum – lacemaking is a fruitful industry in Burano, and you'll find many artisan lace shops on the island.

Murano Island

Murano Island

Murano Island is a popular tourist destination in Venice renowned for its glassmaking industry, which is the result of a centuries-old tradition. You can learn more about it by visiting the Murano Glass Museum or any of the numerous glasswork studios on the island.

Glassmaking Workshop

Glassmaking Workshop

The island of Murano in Venice is famous worldwide for its long tradition of glassmaking. And if you're looking for a fun and unique way to spend an hour and a half on Murano and then leave with a glass treasure you made yourself, consider taking a personalised glassmaking lesson. In this 90-minute glassmaking workshop with a local artisan, you'll learn how to craft your own glass artwork while discovering the secrets of Murano glassmaking techniques. The best part is that you get to take your glass creation home.

Venice Carnival Mask-Making Class

Venice Carnival Mask-Making Class

A fun activity for both kids and adults while visiting Venice is to craft your own Carnival mask. Enjoy a course on mask making from a master artisan in Venice while learning all about the history of this ancient tradition. Choose between a production class, decoration class, or both. Whichever option you choose, you get to bring home your creation as a souvenir from this unique experience.

Food Tasting Walking Tour

Food Tasting Walking Tour

A great way to eat your way around Venice and discover the local cuisine is by booking a guided food tour. And in this 3-hour food-tasting walking tour, you'll get a chance to sample an array of local specialities, including fresh seafood, homemade gelato, traditional Venetian cookies, and regional wines, plus get tips on the best places to drink and dine in the city.

Bridge of Sighs

Bridge of Sighs

The Bridge of Sighs (Ponte dei Sospiri) has inherited its sad name from the condemned prisoners crossing it on their way to the execution. The covered bridge connects the prison to the interrogation room in the Doge's Palace and crosses Rio di Palazzo. If you happen to pass under it at sunset, at the time the bells of St Mark's Campanile ring, remember to kiss your loved one: as the legend goes, your love will be eternal.

Rialto Bridge

Rialto Bridge

The Rialto Bridge is one of the several bridges crossing Canal Grande. Be prepared to meet many other tourists here since this is one of the most well-known landmarks of Venice. The architecture is impressive, especially considering it was built on approximately 12,000 wooden pilings over 400 years ago.

Rialto Market

Rialto Market

This fish and vegetable market has been around since the year 1097, and there is frantic activity here, especially early in the mornings. The fishmongers, the bustling scenes, the old facades, and the fascinating canal combine to create a great experience for all senses.

Torcello Island

Torcello Island

Torcello is a small island that is usually not included on the typical tourist path in Venice. On this sparsely populated island, you'll find the oldest Byzantine church of Venice, which is truly amazing during the sunset, after which it even gets a little spooky.

Grand Canal

Grand Canal

Canal Grande is the largest canal in town, almost 4 km long and 90-metre-wide in some parts, with an average depth of 5 metres. Public transport is available in the form of gondolas, water taxis, and the popular vaporetti — water buses. Along the canal, which is crossed by three stunning bridges, you'll discover plenty of famous buildings.

Teatro La Fenice

Teatro La Fenice

La Fenice is a world-renowned opera house and a symbol of the Italian theatre tradition. Its name means "the phoenix", which suits the theatre very well, as it happened more than once that it burned down and had to be reconstructed. La Fenice was originally built in 1755 and witnessed several world-class performances, like the premiere of Verdi's La Traviata. Nowadays, you can either visit the theatre to see its magnificent interiors and learn about its rich history or enjoy a show there during the opera season.

Peggy Guggenheim Collection

Peggy Guggenheim Collection

Peggy Guggenheim, the wife of the artist Max Ernst, once resided in Palazzo Venier dei Leoni, which now serves as a museum that houses her remarkable art collection, featuring works from Europe and America dating back to the first half of the 20th century.

Scuola Grande di San Rocco

Scuola Grande di San Rocco

Let yourself be swept away by the beautiful Renaissance paintings in this gallery. The Venetian painter Tintoretto was paid to provide art for the halls of the Scuola and his masterpieces are still there to be admired. Take the audio tour to get a deeper knowledge of the artist and his works.

Interpreti Veneziani

Interpreti Veneziani

Whether or not you're a fan of classical music, the Interpreti Veneziani is a welcome break from the city's pulsating core. After its inauguration in 1987, its concerts have been performed all over the world, in countries such as the US, Japan, Canada, and across Latin America. Take one evening to enjoy the harmony brought to you by the orchestra.

Ca' Rezzonico

Ca' Rezzonico

Standing on the right bank of the Grand Canal, Ca' Rezzonico is one of the most magnificent buildings in the whole city, as well as a remarkable example of 18th-century Venetian baroque and rococo architecture. It was completed in 1756 and today serves as a public museum with an interesting display of 18th-century Venetian artefacts, including furniture, paintings, and sculptures.

Basilica di Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari

Basilica di Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari

Built in the 13th century and dedicated to the Assumption of Mary, the Basilica di Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari, usually called the Frari, is the largest church in Venice and an important example of Venetian Gothic ecclesiastical architecture. It holds many masterpieces of Venetian art from the Renaissance period, which is simply a delight for the eye. Titian, the most renowned member of the Venetian school of painting of the 16th century, not only has paintings here, Assumption of the Virgin (1516–18) and Pesaro Madonna (1519–26), as this is also his final resting place.

Ca' Pesaro

Ca' Pesaro

Ca’ Pesaro is the city’s modern art museum, located in an old baroque palace facing the Grand Canal. The first floor houses 19th and 20th-century paintings and sculptures, while the upper floor is dedicated to the Oriental Art Museum, exhibiting 30,000 objects from Japan, China, and Indonesia.

Musica a Palazzo

Musica a Palazzo

Musica a Palazzo is a cultural association created in 2005 and housed within the elegant Palazzo Barbarigo Minotto. Its primary goal is to convert this historic palace into a captivating and intimate setting, perfect for delving into the rich world of opera culture. If you plan to visit, be sure to visit their website to discover the program offerings.

San Giorgio Maggiore

San Giorgio Maggiore

Occupied in the Roman period, San Giorgio Maggiore is one of the several islands around Venice. At the beginning of the 19th century, after the Republic fell, the island became a free port housing Venice's artillery. This is another perfect opportunity to capture a gorgeous panoramic view of Venice, especially from the top of the Basilica of San Giorgio Maggiore's bell tower.

Lido

Lido

Lido is a big island featuring the city's only public beaches as well as some private ones. It can be reached by ferry, and the journey can last from ten minutes to half an hour depending on the starting point. The famous Venice Film Festival takes place here every year in September.

Marciana Library or Library of Saint Mark

Marciana Library or Library of Saint Mark

The Marciana Library or Library of Saint Mark (Biblioteca Nazionale Marciana) is located in a beautiful Renaissance building and takes its name after St Mark, Venice's patron. Being one of the most ancient manuscript depositories of the city, it is an exquisite place to become more familiar with the history of Venice.

Church of Saint Mary of Miracles

Church of Saint Mary of Miracles

Santa Maria dei Miracoli is the most requested church for weddings in Venice, and if you step inside, you'll easily see why. It is said to be built from the leftovers of St Mark's Basilica. Being one of the best examples of early Venetian Renaissance architecture, its nickname is "the jewel box" due to its striking beauty.

Museum of Natural History

Museum of Natural History

For families with children, this is an ideal destination to explore. It features an assortment of botanical exhibits and animals, including fossils and well-preserved creatures that will keep the whole family engaged.

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