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Best Things to do in Venice (2026)

Some of the best experiences in Venice involve simply being out and about in the city rather than queueing for a museum. Start early at the Rialto Market, where fish and produce stalls have served Venetians for centuries; the fish market runs from Tuesday to Saturday mornings, so plan around it. From there, a short walk leads to the Scala Contarini del Bovolo, a spiral staircase with a rooftop view over San Marco that is far less crowded than the Campanile.

A day on the lagoon islands is essential on a longer stay. Vaporetto Line 12 links Fondamente Nove with Murano and Burano, so you can watch glassmaking and visit the Murano Glass Museum in the morning, then walk among Burano's painted houses in the afternoon. In the evening, Teatro La Fenice offers opera, concerts and ballet in one of Italy's most famous theatres, and it also opens for daytime visits if you cannot catch a performance. Comfortable shoes are the most important piece of kit for all of these, as even short distances in Venice involve bridges and steps, and a multi-day vaporetto pass makes island trips simpler.

5 places · Updated November 12, 2026

Our top 3 things to do in Venice

  1. Rialto Market Food market, San PoloVenice's historic food market beside the Rialto Bridge, with a fish market under the Pescheria loggia and fruit and vegetable stalls in the surrounding squares.
  2. Teatro La Fenice Opera house, San MarcoVenice's opera house, opened in 1792 and twice rebuilt after fires, offering opera and concerts in the evening and self-guided visits of its gilded auditorium by day.
  3. Murano Glass Museum Glass museum, MuranoThe museum of Venetian glass on the island of Murano, open since 1861, tracing the history of glassmaking from ancient blown vessels to Murano murrine.

Thing to do

1. Rialto Market

Food marketSan Polo

Venice's historic food market beside the Rialto Bridge, with a fish market under the Pescheria loggia and fruit and vegetable stalls in the surrounding squares.

View details — Rialto Market

Thing to do

2. Teatro La Fenice

Opera houseSan Marco

Venice's opera house, opened in 1792 and twice rebuilt after fires, offering opera and concerts in the evening and self-guided visits of its gilded auditorium by day.

View details — Teatro La Fenice

Thing to do

4. Burano

Island of lace and coloured housesBurano

A fishing island in the northern lagoon, about 7 km from Venice, known for its brightly painted houses, its lace-making tradition and the leaning bell tower of San Martino.

View details — Burano