Venice is the perfect city to get lost in. We highly encourage you to wander the streets along the beautiful canals. There are many bridges in Venice, which contributes to its incredible charm. It’s known to be an “outdoor museum” as there is so much to see while walking around. You will find a number of great museums, landmarks, restaurants, bars, and spots to relax with a Spritz and some cicchetti (a traditional Venetian snack and very delicious). We've compiled a list of our recommendations for your stay in Venice - enjoy!
Grand Canal: the Grand Canal is a channel in Venice. It forms one of the major water-traffic corridors in the city. Take a gondola or water taxi to really enjoy its beauty from the water.
Saint Mark’s Square (Piazza San Marco): the principal public square of Venice, where it is generally known just as la Piazza. This is going to be one of the busiest areas in Venice. Also, it's the location in which transit will be provided for the Welcome Cocktails (Friday) and Wedding (Saturday).
Rialto Bridge (Ponte di Rialto): the oldest of the 4 bridges spanning the Grand Canal with many shops on and around the bridge.
Bridge of Sighs: an enclosed bridge in Venice that passes over the Rio di Palazzo and connects the New Prison to the interrogation rooms in the Doge’s Palace. The view from the Bridge of Sighs was the last view of Venice that convicts saw before their imprisonment in the 19th century. Tickets are available to pass over the bridge but it really is a landmark worth seeing from the lagoon side.
Palazzo Contarini del Bovolo: a small palazzo with a famous external multi-arch spiral staircase. Located on a small, less traveled street but worth the visit - option to buy a ticket and climb the stairs to the top.
Santa Maria Gloriosa Dei Frari: the largest church in the city and happens to be across the square from Martino’s Nonna’s home!
Santa Maria Della Salute: another Roman Catholic Church that is hard to miss, sits right on the Grand Canal and was built in honor of the city’s deliverance from the black plague of 1630.
Arsenale di Venezia (Venetian Arsenal): one of the earliest large-scale industrial enterprises in history and complex of former shipyard and armories
San Giorgio Maggiore: a 16th century church with a bell tower - you can take a ride to the top for some beautiful views of Venice, tickets are sold there.
We recommend booking museums and ticketed spots ahead of time - we've added links to streamline the booking process.
Doge’s Palace (Palazzo Ducale): an opulent gothic palace overlooking Saint Mark’s Square, was the government’s seat from the 14th and 18th centuries
(https://palazzoducale.visitmuve.it/en/home/)
Saint Mark’s Basilica: an iconic cathedral in San Marco, right next to Doge’s Palace and absolutely stunning
(http://www.basilicasanmarco.it/?lang=en)
Peggy Guggenheim Collection: once the home of the gallerist and collector Peggy Guggenheim, the museum still maintains the feeling of a private house as most of the work displayed was collected by Guggenhim during her lifetime
(https://www.guggenheim-venice.it/)
Museo Storico Navale di Venezia: without the canals, Venice wouldn’t be Venice. The naval history museum reveals how the city’s waterways are central to its identity (https://www.marina.difesa.it/en/Pagine/default.aspx)
Pinault Collection: contemporary art collection of French billionaire Francois Pinault is split between two venues in VeniceL Palazzo Grassi, near the Accademia bridge, and Punta Della Dogana, the former customs house at the top of Dorsoduro.
(https://www.pinaultcollection.com/palazzograssi/en)
Museo Correr: a great museum to get a crash course on Venice’s history, Museo Correr tells the story of the city’s robust development, from its founding to its union with Italy in the 19th century (https://correr.visitmuve.it/en/home/)
Ca’Rezzonico: an 18th century palazzo on the Grand Canal housed one of the city’s noble families. It’s now an icon of that era and each room houses a trove of opulent historical and artistic relics. (https://carezzonico.visitmuve.it/)
Gallerie Dell’ Accademia: Venetian Renaissance 101, housing basically every important painter from the era. The collection spans from the 13th to 17th centuries and consists mostly of works created in and around Venice.
(https://www.gallerieaccademia.it/en)
Ca’Pesaro International Gallery of Modern Art - a marble waterfront palace, housing a collection of prominent modern Italian works from the 19th and 20th centuries.
Gondola ride: gondolas are a part of the history and tradition of Venice. Taking a gondola ride through the canals is an experience we highly recommend.
Catamaran tour: we’ve never done this, but always wanted to because it looks so fun! Take the catamaran tour around the lagoon to check out the many islands of Venice (including Giudecca and San Servolo - both of which will hold events for wedding weekend) https://www.venezia-cat.it/
Eating tour or walking tour: there are a number of eating and walking tours in Venice. We used to have one to recommend but the tour guides moved to Iceland! Google search and you’ll find a bunch of options.
Shopping is everywhere, check out the many shops around Rialto Bridge, Piazza San Marco and all over Venice! There is a luxury mall near Rialto Bridge called T Fondaco dei Tedesch which is worth popping in as its simply beautiful inside but also has a great rooftop to get the Venice views!
Casino di Venezia (Venice Casino): the oldest casino in the world! Sits on the grand canal and is totally stunning inside. Has a grand private garden as well, worth checking out if you like to gamble. There is a dress code.
Lido di Venezia: there is a beach in Venice if you didn’t know! Lido di Venezia is its own island so you would need to get there via boat. If you can’t come to our Recovery Beach Day on Sunday June 2nd, it's worth checking out the beach if you’re looking for a relaxing day. It’s where all the Venetians go during the summer - Martino being one of them for many many years.
Murano: another island, famous for glass blowing and totally worth checking out; we recommend Fornace Estevan Rossetto, it’s awesome!
Burano: another beautiful island, known for its brightly colored fishermen’s houses and its casual eateries serving seafood.
where everyone goes...
Harry’s Bar
Harry's Dolci (Giudecca)
Cip's Club (Giudecca)
Caffe Florian
Bar All’Arco
Ristorante Da Ivo
Trattoria Al Bomba
Ristorante ai Barbacani
Ristorante Quadri
where the locals go...
Trattoria Da Ignazio
Nevodi Restaurant
1000 Gourmet Venezia (best pizza!!)
Venetika
Trattoria Altanella (Giudecca)
La Bitta Venezia
Al Profeta
Osteria alle Testiere
Ristorante Ai Tre Scaini (Giudecca)
Antiche Carampane
Co’ Vino
Timon All’Antica Mola
Alla Vedova