You’ve made it to Venice, “Queen of the Adriatic”, “City of Water”, “the magical Floating Town“! Venice goes by so many names and its enchanting canals and rich architecture have won the hearts of travellers for centuries. But with fame, comes high prices. Hotels in Venice don’t come cheap, and while you can always find low-cost options I have to say that if you’re going to splurge on a hotel anywhere in the world, it should be in Venice.
There is nothing to compare to watching the gondoliers paddling down the canal at sunrise while you sip your espresso. Or coming home after a long night exploring the city, to sit and enjoy an Aperol spritz on your balcony watching the sunset against the water. But thankfully one of the greatest things about Venice is that there are SO MANY FREE things to do. You’ll be amazed that you could spend an entire weekend away here without spending a dime on entertainment. So whether you want to save a bit of money to splurge on a hotel or are just looking for an all-around cheap way to see the city, this is the guide for you!
Other than hotel and food, the only other cost involved in your “free” weekend in Venice will be your transportation. A great way to save on this is to buy a multi-day Vaporetto travel card. The Vaporetto is a Venetian public waterbus, or public boat. There are 19 routes that travel all over the main island of Venice. In addition, these boats also service nearby islands, such as Murano, Burano, and the Lido beachfront. While you can get around the city mostly on foot, the vaporettos will allow you to travel to the other island, or get around Venice itself much faster.
Is the travel card worth it? The short answer is yes. A one-way ride will cost you €7,50 and the two-day pass is only €30. So if you plan on just taking the Vaporetto to and from your hotel, you’ve already spent half of what the travel card would cost. The pass allows you to hop on and off as you please! If you’ve invested in a transport card, this will be all you need to spend to enjoy a magical weekend in Venice!
Many blogs and travel sites will advise taking a free walking tour when visiting Venice on a budget. There are a few different operators who run these “free” tours which depart multiple times throughout the day. While I sincerely don’t have anything against these tours, a word of caution. Despite the word “free” being in the title, most of these companies work on the assumption of getting a tip at the end of the tour. These tips truly do help pay these employees and keep the tours running.
While it’s not mandatory, it really is recommended and you might feel pressured to do so. I’ve seen people tip as much as 50€ for a group of two people, and that is much more than some of the paid tours charge for their services! I wish they would simply charge a flat fee instead since I think this would greatly benefit both the tour guides and the guests. This would prevent people from feeling pressured to pay for something which was advertised to them as being “free”. If you are truly looking for a free walking tour I have a few guided tours on my blog. Simply download the offline maps and save the text to your phone for a little bit of history along your journey!
With your unlimited 2-day Vaporetto pass, hope on Line 1, at any of the stops along the Grand Canal. Jump on, get a seat near the edge of the boat and ride around the entirety of the Grand Canal. This Vaporetto line will take you around the Piazzale Roma, the Rialto Bridge, Piazza San Marco, and the Lido di Venezia. It’s the perfect way to introduce yourself to the city. You can ride this loop as many times as you want. Maybe you want to switch sides of the boat to take in the sights on the other side of the canal!
Don’t skip a ride along the Grand Canal at night time. You can hop on and see all the spectacular sights of the city against a moonlit canal. If you want to know more about the different buildings along the canal check out my blog post for an in-depth guide at some of the most important architecture along this famous waterway.
Now that you’ve been introduced to the look of the city from the water, it’s time to meet the people of Venice. And there is no better place to get a peek into the real lives of the residences of Venice than to head to the Rialto Market! The Rialto Market is one of the last remaining fresh food markets in the city. As such it is a bustling place for locals to come and buy their food for the day. The fruits and vegetables are always seasonal. If you’re looking for a snack there is nothing more refreshing than a basket of freshly picked fruits! Shopping here helps keep this market alive and running so please come hungry!
Fresh fish is caught just outside the canal, you can’t get much more local than that! The fish market, or Pescheria, is located inside a neo-gothic hall. The hall is a soaring building with richly ornamented columns surrounding the entrance. Fish was the lifeblood for Venetians for hundreds of years and under this great edifice, you truly feel how important fishermen were to the foundation of Venice.
The Rialto Bridge is the most famous of all of Venice’s canal bridges. The bridge has become somewhat of a tourist trap, with shops selling souvenirs lining the entire walkway above. But if you arrive early in the morning when the shops are all closed, this bridge still keeps its magic. There are these two little nooks on the bottom of the bridge, where you can sit right under it. The water lapping at your feet. It’s one of the most amazing places to watch the boats and gondolas float by. And with a basket of fruit from the market, the perfect spot for a quick picnic. The bridge is also one of the most iconic spots for pictures in Venice.
The Piazza San Marco of St. Marks Square is the largest, and most famous square in Venice. It was been called the “drawing room of all Europe” by Napoleon when he first came to the city. And while some of the buildings and museums which encircle it have admissions at high prices, the square itself is completely free to explore on the outside.
New rules for visiting the square have been instituted to help preserve the city from the flocks of tourists who often overrun it. There is now a limit on the number of people who can enter the square at one time. And officials are stricter when it comes to keeping tourists from sitting on the ground of steps. Remember those iconic pictures of people feeding the pigeons in Venice? Don’t do that! It is now illegal to feed the pigeons and fines will be given out to tourists found doing so. While these rules might seem intense, the city is really just trying to preserve their history and if these small measures help with that, it’s the least you can do as a guest to follow along.
Dominating the skyline of the square is the great Clock Tower of Venice. This clock town has stood here for hundreds of years and once was the main way that citizens would know both the time of day, or could be alerted to fires or attacks on the city.
One of the most stunning sights in Venice is the Basilica di San Marco or St Mark’s Basilica! The basilica is free to enter, the only portion which requires admission is the Museum, the treasury and the Golden Altarpiece. Some tourists pay to get into the church through a special entrance, but as long as you come early in the morning you won’t have an issue getting in. The line moves quickly and in no time you’ll be face to face with this truly awe-inspiring interior.
The church was built during the Byzantine period and is one of the finest examples of Italian-Byzantine architecture anywhere in Italy. The building dates all the way back to the 11th century when mosaics were all the rage! The interior of the church, with its multi-domed ceiling, is COVERED in gold and jewel-tone mosaics. They sparkle and shine in the light of the sun and glimmer and glint against the flickering candles. The mosaics took centuries to be completed and looking at this amazing workmanship is such a dream to experience. And all for FREE!
Beside the Basilica, around the corner from the Doge’s Palace, is the Bridge of Sighs. This bridge was once used by prisoners as the gateway between the city courts and their prison cells. For prisoners sentenced to death, this was their last chance to look out at the blue waters of Venice. The haunting history of the bridge makes it a powerful picture in itself but the bright white marble set against the blue sky and neon teal waters of the canal is what makes it truly superb.
On the first Sunday of every month in Italy, there are over 430 museums that are free to enter. This was a measure by the government to make their great works of art more accessible to every citizen and visitor. One of these museums is the famous Gallerie dell’Accademia. The Accademia is arguably the most important museum in Venice so getting to see it for free feels like a real treat.
This museum would normally cost €12.00 but on the first Sunday of the month, it’s FREE. You will have to get in a free ticket line, which is often very long, but worth it to save a bit of cash! Wake up as early as you can and make this your first stop of the day to ensure you get in as quickly as possible. The Accademia features pre-19th-century art from Venice and beyond. Highlights include paintings by Hieronymus Bosch, Bellini, Tintoretto, and (my favourite) Titian!
While the Accademia might be the most famous, my favourite museum in Venice is the Ca d’Oro. This gorgeous manor with its lace tracery exterior sits along the Grand Canal. It once belonged to Baron Giorgio Franchetti. The Baron was a great art collector and after he died he donated all these works for art and the house they rested inside to the city of Venice. Even in death, he wanted to make sure everyone could enjoy his collection. There is something really special about personal art collections and being able to see them in situ.
The Ca d’Oro is another one of the museums that’s free to enter on the first Sunday of the month. Not only are there great works of art to see here but you can also study the amazing architecture inside the palace. The best part of being there is getting to step out onto the grand terrace with its gorgeous floor tiles and stone balcony looking out over the Grand Canal. One can only imagine what living there must have felt like!
In the court downstairs, look for the sole purple porphyry column. This ancient column contains the Baron’s ashes which were interred here after his death. It’s nice to pay homage to the great collector during your visit!
The Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute is one of the most incredible buildings in Venice, but turn your back to it for a second and you’ll be surprised what you see. Bobbing up and down in the waters are beautiful black lacquered gondolas set against a backdrop of unbelievable Gothic architecture. It’s a rather simple scene but one which I find immensely charming. The church is free to enter to you need to go inside! Since the church was made in honour of the end of the plague, most of the art and symbolism you’ll find throughout the church in some way refers to death or the plague. This makes it a very uniquely themed church.
San Giorgio Maggiore is an island situated right across from St. Mark’s Square. Although the island also has some incredible places to visit, there is nothing like sitting on the water edge and taking in the view. From here you have a completely clear panoramic view of the city of Venice. This island makes for a phenomenal photo op!
Stepping outside of the main island is so important when visiting Venice. Burano is one of the most popular islands due to its multi-coloured fisherman’s village. These dwellings are home to both some of the cities best fishermen as well as the famous lacemakers. During the 15th century, Italy’s finest lace was produced here. The houses along the canals here are each painted a different colour, and bright colours at that. They make for some of the most exciting and dynamic pictures and are well worth the 45-minute boat ride out to the island.
Murano, a sister island to Burano, is less popular but no less incredible. The island is most notable for its glass blowing craftspeople. Hidden away from the main canal, you’ll find these secret passageways leading you throughout the rural homes of real Venetians. Discover the ancient craft of turning sand into glass and look at the breathtaking creations that these glassworkers can produce! Window shopping doesn’t cost a thing and it feels almost like a free visit to a great glass art gallery.
As a child, one of the only ways I could fall asleep was listening to a book on tape. One of my favourites I would listen to was all about Antonio Vivaldi and his life in Venice. To my great pleasure, I discovered the Museo Della Musica, located inside the San Giacomo do Rialto Church, features a collection of items and history about Antonio Vivaldi’s life. In addition to the Vivaldi exhibit, there is are also collections of instruments from as early as the 1600s, as well as presentations on the history of violin making. The museum is always free to enter which makes it a great option for those budget travellers.
Just on the other side of Venice is a huge island called Lido di Venezia or Venice Lido. This narrow strip of land separates the Adriatic Sea from the Venetian lagoon and is now a large public beach! To get to the Lido beach you can just catch the Vaporetto from the main island and then walk from Lido dock. Even if you don’t want to swim in the water, strolling along or laying out on the sand is a great way to relax and take in the ocean air.
Venice is full of amazing shops, but the most unique to the city are the Venetian costume mask stores. Venetian masks are worn primarily during Carnivale, a festival held in February. When the festival was established in the 13th century, the tradition of wearing masks began as people wanted to conceal their identity. This allowed both the rich and the poor to dance and celebrate together without social hierarchies coming into play for the duration of the festival.
Today, masks are sold in shops throughout Venice and are one of the most popular souvenirs. While real ones are fairly costly, exploring the shops which sell them, even if you don’t plan on buying anything, is like walking around a museum. To find one of the most authentic mask shops head to Papier Mache Venezia. There is the meaning behind each different masks and if you want to learn more about them read my mask guide!
In the 15th century, the area now known as the Zattere was a delivery dock for the mass amount of timber brought into the city. Zattere in Italian means rafts. The timber would arrive in the city on large rafts, giving the area its name. Timber was not only used to constructed the walls of grand palazzos and houses in Venice, it was literally the ground on which the houses were built on. So timber was one of the most important imports in the city. While the docks have disappeared, the area is now a peaceful promenade. Shipping was a rich man business in the 15th century and many of the timber importers built gorgeous manor houses along this stretch which makes wandering around this street a feast for the eyes. Sunset is one of my favourite times to visit the Zattere. Not only is it a peaceful place to end your day, but the view out to the lagoon reflects the sun as it descends over the city of Venice. Casting that golden light across the water.
Hopefully this tour gives you some great ideas on how to see Venice without spending a dime on your entertainment! There is so many other great things to do if you want to enter into any of the places we admired from the exterior but I really wanted to show how even a city as popular as Venice can still be done on a tight budget!
Let me know in the comments what your favourite thing to do in Venice was or if you have any other free things to do which you’re dying to share!
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