Let’s be honest: everyone “does” Venice in quite the same way. They arrive, take a picture in front of St. Mark’s Basilica, take a gondola ride and feed a few pigeons some bread in the piazza. Yes, those are all part of the Venice experience, but they’re just the tip.
The truth is, Venice rewards discoverers who look deeper. So if you are planning a trip and wondering what more there is to be seen beyond St. Mark’s, these are the locations, experiences, and islands that show you the Venice that most tourists never see:
Dorsoduro
San Marco is the star, but Dorsoduro, which is just across the Grand Canal, is where the city’s imagination lies. It’s home to some of Venice’s most important art institutions, including the Gallerie dell’Accademia, the Peggy Guggenheim Collection, and Punta della Dogana, in a breathtakingly restored customs house.
Campo Santa Margherita, one of Venice’s most vibrant piazzas, is thronged with locals enjoying hair time. If you’re interested in taking a peek at how Venice truly lives, more than the postcard image, Dorsoduro is a good place to start.
The Jewish Ghetto
It’s situated within the northern part of Cannaregio district and one of the city’s densest historical, most culturally heavy districts: Venetian Ghetto. Created in 1516, the Venetian Ghetto became the first one in all Europe, and this is where “ghetto” was first established as a name.
Today, though, the district is tranquil, with synagogues, some of which are still in use, and a few good restaurants. And there’s the Jewish Museum of Venice, where you can take part in a guided tour of the ancient synagogues and learn about the community’s long history.
Cannaregio in general is one of the best areas to stroll around. It’s less refined but real.
The Arsenale and Castello
Most tourists never make it to Castello, the city’s largest district. This is where Venice begins to feel less like a theme park and more like a city with actual residents. It’s also home to the Arsenale, once the largest shipyard in the world and a symbol of Venice’s former naval power.
The Arsenale is especially worth visiting during the Venice Biennale, when its massive warehouses are transformed into contemporary art spaces. But even when the Biennale isn’t on, the area around it is fascinating. There are parks, local bakeries, and wide canals without gondola traffic.
San Giorgio Maggiore
All the tourists flock to the Campanile in St. Mark’s Square to take in the views, but for a calmer, perhaps better, perspective on Venice, hop the brief vaporetto (water bus) ride to San Giorgio Maggiore. The lovely island, directly opposite San Marco across the basin, boasts a Palladian church and a bell tower.
From the top, you’ll get panoramic views of the entire lagoon, the rooftops of Venice, and even the distant Dolomites on a clear day. Inside the church, you’ll also find some impressive Tintoretto paintings and rotating contemporary art exhibitions.
The island itself is peaceful – an ideal break from the chaos of central Venice.
Rialto Market
Venice is not famous for food, primarily because most restaurants along the tourist areas offer unremarkable renditions of classic dishes. But head where locals dine, and it’s a different tale.
The Rialto Market, which sits just off the renowned bridge, has served Venetians for centuries. Early in the morning, produce stands and fishmongers move in, selling anything from cuttlefish and soft-shell crabs to asparagus and peaches that are local, so it’s a must-visit for a truly local experience.
The Venice Lagoon Islands
Venice is not one city – but rather one segment of a lagoon covered in dozens of minute islands, every one of them with its own history, culture, and environment. Deciding to get to better know the Venice Lagoon Islands brings an entire other level of appreciation to your experience – as Murano is noted for glasswork, Burano — for lace and brightly colored houses, as colorful in real life as in photographs, and Torcello, where there’s hardly a soul today, was once the lagoon’s central island. Beyond these, there are more peaceful islands like Mazzorbo, Sant’Erasmo, and San Francesco del Deserto where you can find genuine peace and a glimpse of the lagoon in its most natural form. Taking a day or half-day to visit the Venice Lagoon Islands isn’t just an escape from the city, it’s a reminder that there is so much more to be gained when you take your time and travel just a little bit further.
This is a cliché, but Venice is one of the few places in the world where getting lost is a tactic. Maps don’t work here like they do everywhere else, alleys are loops within loops, so GPS isn’t an option.
And that’s fine. Set your phone down, turn left when everyone else turns right, and follow your gut — we promise, you’ll discover the true secrets that lie within Venice more than any typical tourist.