Venice tours and tickets
Venice rewards booking. St Mark's Basilica and the Doge's Palace sell timed slots that fill a week or two ahead in season, and the Accademia needs a few days. Boats to the islands, gondola rides and walking tours can be arranged on the day. A vaporetto pass makes sense once you count your trips. Padua and Verona are easy day trips by train.
Book these first
- St Mark's Basilica
- 1 to 2 weeks ahead in season. The skip-the-line slot saves a long queue in the sun.
- Doge's Palace
- 1 to 2 weeks ahead in season. Timed tickets avoid the queue, and the palace is the most visited sight.
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Churches and palaces
St Mark's Basilica
A Byzantine basilica with gold mosaics, the Pala d'Oro altarpiece and a terrace over the square. Entry is by timed ticket in season, and there are extras for the museum and the Pala d'Oro.
Which to pick. Book the first slot of the day to avoid the queue in the square. Cover your shoulders and knees, and leave bags at the cloakroom.
1 to 2 weeks ahead in seasonVisitor guideOfficial siteTours and tickets on ViatorDoge's Palace
The seat of the Venetian republic, with the Great Council Hall, the Bridge of Sighs and the prisons. Tickets are timed, and guided tours include the secret itineraries.
Which to pick. Book a morning slot, and add the secret itineraries tour if you like history. Allow three hours.
1 to 2 weeks ahead in seasonVisitor guideOfficial siteTours and tickets on ViatorSt Mark's Campanile
The bell tower on the square, with a lift to the top and a view over the lagoon and the roofs. Entry is by ticket on the day, and queues form in summer.
Which to pick. Go at opening, or at the end of the day. Pick a clear day for the view.
On the day is fineTours and tickets on Viator
Museums and galleries
Gallerie dell'Accademia
The main collection of Venetian painting, from Bellini and Titian to Tintoretto and Veronese, in a former convent. Entry is by timed ticket in busy periods.
Which to pick. Book a morning slot. The Bellini rooms and the Titian are the highlights. Allow two hours.
A few days ahead in seasonVisitor guideOfficial siteTours and tickets on ViatorGlass Museum on Murano
A museum of Venetian glass in a palace on Murano, showing the history of the craft from antiquity to the present.
Which to pick. Pair it with a furnace demonstration on the same island. Buy at the door, and allow an hour for the collection.
Not neededOfficial siteTours and tickets on ViatorJewish Ghetto walking tour
A guided walk through the world's first ghetto, with its tall buildings, synagogues and museum. Tours leave from the museum on set times.
Which to pick. Join a guided tour, since the synagogues can only be entered with one. Book a morning slot.
A day or two aheadTours and tickets on Viator
On the water
Gondola ride
A 30-minute ride in a traditional boat through the smaller canals, with a gondolier. Rates are set, and a shared gondola cuts the cost.
Which to pick. Take one at sunset, away from the Grand Canal. Agree the rate and the length before you step in.
On the day is fineTours and tickets on ViatorMurano, Burano and Torcello boat
A half-day or full-day trip to the glass island, the lace island and the old cathedral island. Public boats run, and tours add a glass demonstration.
Which to pick. Use the public boat and go early. A tour is simpler if you want a demonstration.
A day ahead in summerOfficial siteTours and tickets on ViatorGrand Canal by vaporetto
Line 1 runs the whole canal and is the cheapest way to see the palaces from the water. A day pass makes it cheaper after a few trips.
Which to pick. Take line 1 at the end of the day, or on a quiet morning. Buy a pass if you plan several rides.
Not neededOfficial siteTours and tickets on Viator
Food tours and classes
Cicchetti and wine tour
An evening walk through bacari, the small bars that serve tiny snacks with wine, such as salt cod on bread and fried olives.
Which to pick. Go in the early evening on your first day, to learn what to order later. Ask for dietary options.
A day or two aheadTours and tickets on ViatorRialto market tour
A morning visit to the fish and vegetable markets by the bridge, followed by tastings and a cooking class in a nearby kitchen.
Which to pick. Go on a weekday morning, since the fish market is closed on Mondays. Wear shoes that can get wet.
A few days aheadTours and tickets on Viator
Day trips
Padua
A university city about 30 minutes by train, home to Giotto's frescoes in the Scrovegni Chapel. Entry to the chapel is by a timed ticket.
Which to pick. Book the chapel slot ahead, since the visit is limited, and add the basilica and the botanical garden if you have time.
1 to 2 weeks aheadOfficial siteTours and tickets on ViatorVerona
A city of Roman ruins and Romeo and Juliet legends, about 90 minutes by train, with an ancient arena that hosts opera in summer.
Which to pick. Go by train and see the arena. Book opera seats well ahead if you want an evening.
A day or two ahead; opera months aheadOfficial siteTours and tickets on Viator
City and museum passes in Venice
- Venezia Unica City PassA city pass that bundles transport, museums and other services for a set number of days. It suits visitors who will use the vaporetto often and see several museums, and not a short stay of walks. Official page
Booking tours and tickets in Venice
Is a vaporetto pass worth buying?
Yes if you plan more than three or four rides in a day or two. Single tickets are costly, and a pass is cheaper after a few trips.
Is a gondola ride worth it?
Once, if you pick a quiet canal at sunset. Rates are set, so agree the length and price first. A shared ride cuts the cost.
Can I skip the line at St Mark's?
A timed ticket bought ahead lets you use a faster entrance. The first slot of the day is the best way to avoid the crowds.
Do I need a guide in Venice?
Not to find your way, though a walking tour helps with the history. For the Ghetto and the secret itineraries, a guide is needed.
Is Murano worth the trip?
Yes for a glass demonstration and a quiet afternoon. Burano is more colorful, and you can combine both with a day pass.
What can I leave until I arrive?
The Campanile, the Rialto market and vaporetto rides can be done on the day. Book the basilica, the Doge's Palace and the Accademia first.