The floating city of Venice looks like a picture postcard with crisscrossing canals, marvelous castles, ancient museums, cathedrals, art galleries, churches, and public squares. The attractions make for the most preferred places to see in Venice and cast a fervent charm on the tourists.

One of the most frequented places by the lovebirds, Venice is truly a charmer attracting millions of tourist round the year. Epitomized by the grand canal that runs across the city and picturesque heritage monuments around, Venice is the place where you would love to walk into the sunset.

1. St. Mark’s Basilica

Certainly Venice’s best-known church, and one of the most easily recognized in the world, St. Mark’s Basilica (Basilica di San Marco) was originally the Doge’s private chapel, decorated with Byzantine art treasures that are part of the booty brought back by Venetian ships after the fall of Constantinople.

The gold-backed mosaic pictures above the doorways on the façade only hint at the mosaic artistry inside, where 4,240 square meters of gold mosaics cover the domes and walls. These set a distinctly Byzantine tone to its soaring interior, but you’ll find treasures from other periods, including later mosaics designed by Titian and Tintoretto – names you’ll encounter all over the city. The magnificent golden altarpiece, the Pala d’Oro, one of the finest in Europe, was begun by early 12th-century artists, and centuries later, adorned with nearly 2,000 gems and precious stones.

If you can tear your eyes from this, the mosaic domes, and the multitude of richly decorated altars, glance down at the floor, a masterpiece of marble inlay. And take time to see the gold reliquaries and icons in the Treasury.

2. Grand Canal

Canale Grande or Grand Canal is the most important icon of Venice- lined with gorgeous and vibrant looking palaces and castles on both sides. The canal is one of the best places to visit in Venice and meanders through the city in a zigzag way with a few breathtaking bridges built over it.

It is one of the most popular places to visit in Venice at night, to enjoy the stunning sunset and watch the sparkling water of the canal.

3. St. Mark’s Square

Whilst St. Mark’s Basilica is the most famous building in Venice, St Mark’s Square is the most famous piazza.

Located on the grand canal, opposite the island of San Giorgio Maggiore, this square holds huge importance in Venice and is a truly spectacular place to visit.

Surrounding the Piazza is a series of ornate buildings with arched walkways that frame it perfectly.

Furthermore, several important buildings are located on the square including St Mark’s Campanile, St Mark’s Basilica, Doge’s Palace and Torre dell’Orologio.

This square really is the perfect place to start your tour of Venice and tick off some of its most impressive sights.

4. Venetian Arsenal

Venice’s long, rich history is inextricably linked with the waters upon which the city is built; commerce and conquest relied on the city’s ability to build ships and project power abroad.

Long before the industrial revolution, the Venetian Arsenal was churning out ships at an astounding rate, and much of the city’s stupendous wealth and beauty is due to this enthralling complex.

Wandering around the historic site is a delightful experience; there are some informative displays on show as well as some wonderful little neighborhood bars.

5. Bridge of Sighs

Perhaps Venice’s most famous architectural jewel, the Bridge of Sighs is situated in the city center near the Piazza San Marco. Its name derives from the fact that it was part of the Doge’s Palace prison complex, and convicts had to cross it to go from the Doge’s interrogation rooms to the New Prison once they received their sentence.

It was the last thing they saw before their incarceration, so many sighs could be heard as they walked through the bridge, resigning themselves to their imminent fate.

Today, the bridge has much happier connotations, with millions flocking each year to witness its beautiful design.

6. Ponte di Rialto

Once the only bridge across the Grand Canal, Rialto Bridge marks the spot of the island’s first settlement, called Rivus Altus (high bank). Built in 1588, some 150 years after the collapse of a previous wooden bridge, this stone arch supports two busy streets and a double set of shops.

Along with serving as a busy crossing point midway along the canal, it is a favorite vantage point for tourists taking – or posing for – photos, and for watching the assortment of boats always passing under it.

The church of San Bartolomeo, close to the San Marco end of the bridge, was the church of the German merchants who lived and worked in the Fondaco dei Tedeschi (German Commodity Exchange) bordering the canal here. It has an excellent altarpiece, The Martyrdom of St. Bartholomew, by Palma the Younger.

7. Doge’s Palace

One of the famous places to see in Venice, Doge’s Palace is an immensely beautiful and gorgeous palace, located on the bank of the Grand Canal.

During the early days, it was the Seat of Government, the Palace of Justice, and the official residence of Doge. The finesse & soberness of its Venetian Gothic architecture and décor set it a class apart.

8. Gallerie dell’Accademia

Located opposite the Ponte dell’Accademia on the Grande Canal, this museum hosts a fine collection of pre-19th century art and features works by artists such as Bellini, Canaletto and Titian.

The building that the gallery is housed was formerly a convent an was converted to the museum in the mid to late 1700’s.

For those who love Renaissance art and iconic masterpieces, this gallery delivers.

Possibly its best known piece is the Vitruvian Man by Da Vinci which shows the ideal proportions of man.

Other notable works include the Resurrection by Tintoretto, Virgin and the Child by Titian, and the Battle of Lepanto by Veronese.

9. Santi Giovanni e Paolo

The largest church in the city, Santi Giovanni e Paolo towers over the buildings around it, and 25 of Venice’s doges are buried within, which testifies to its importance.

Built in the Italian Gothic style, the red brick church is lovely to gaze upon, although the interior, with all of its fantastic paintings and statues, is what the majority of people come to see. Don’t miss Cima da Conegliano’s Coronation of the Virgin and David by Alessandro Vittoria.

There are loads of exquisite tombs and monuments to the former doges on show – this is in part what makes Santi Giovanni e Paolo so interesting to visit.

10. The Venetian Ghetto

Visiting the Jewish District in Venice is one of the top things for visitors to do in the city. It was the world’s first ghetto (in fact the word ghetto itself comes from Italian), established in 1516, when the Venetian Republic restricted Jews to this area of the city.

Today there remains a distinct Jewish population in the area, with numerous synagogues, Jewish restaurants, delicious bakeries and a museum, making the area a fascinating source of culture and history.

11. Scuola Grande di San Rocco

This impressive white marble building was built between 1515 and 1560 to house a charitable society dedicated to San Rocco. Soon after its completion, the great 16th-century Venetian artist Tintoretto won the competition to paint a central panel for the ceiling of the Sala dell’Albergo by entering the building and putting his painting in its intended place before the judging, much to the irritation of his rival artists. He later decorated its walls and ceilings with a complete cycle of paintings, which are considered to be the artist’s masterpiece.

The earliest works, in the Sala dell’Albergo, date to 1564 and 1576 and include The Glorification of St. Roch, Christ before Pilate, the Ecce Homo, and the most powerful of all, The Crucifixion. Those in the upper hall depict New Testament scenes, painted between 1575 and 1581. The lighting is not good, and the paintings themselves are dark, but you can still appreciate Tintoretto’s innovations in the use of light and color.

You can see the ceilings more easily with one of the mirrors that are provided. More works by Tintoretto are in the chancel of the adjacent church of San Rocco.

12. Teatro La Fenice

Teatro La Fenice is an opera house of Venice and many popular Italian theaters have been showcased here. Its architectural charm makes it one of the most beautiful places in Venice. La Fenice has hosted many famous operatic premieres and performances of famous composers like Rossini, Bellini, Donizetti, and Verdi.

The construction was devastated by fire incidents thrice but it was always rebuilt and refurbished to its original glory. No wonder, Teatro La Fenice is one of the most famous tourist destinations in Venice.

13. Venice Lido

If you are looking for a spot of relaxation and to get away from the bulk of the tourists, the Lido is the place to go.

This separate island creates a barrier between Venice and the Adriatic Sea and features a long stretch of beautiful beach to enjoy.

Home to approximately 20,000 inhabitants, the Lido also has a host of residential areas, shops, restaurants and hotels.

With a much calmer, laid back and relaxed feeling to central Venice, Lido is a true escape and provides a stark contrast to the busy streets and waterways surrounding the grand canal.

14. Museo Correr

Located in Piazza San Marco, the Museo Correr’s wonderful collection looks at the art and history of Venice. The beautiful building which it is housed in demonstrates many Napoleonic and Hapsburg features, as the city was once ruled by both dynasties.

Wandering around the fine galleries is a lovely way to spend an afternoon. With maps, coins and paintings lying next to armor, wooden models, and navigational instruments, the Museo Correr is a treasure trove of a museum with a plethora of fascinating objects on display.

Highlights include the stunning Biblioteca Nazionale Marciana which is adorned with so many amazing frescoes and Antonio Canova’s beautiful Orpheus and Eurydice statue.

15. Ca’ d’Oro

The delicate marble filigree by Bartolomeo Bon seems too lace-like to be carved of stone, and you can only imagine the impression this façade must have made covered in its original paint and gold. Along with the Porta della Carta in the Palazzo Ducale, also created by Bartolomeo Bon, this is considered the most perfect example of Venetian Gothic.

You can admire the interior, too, as this palazzo is now an art museum, restored to provide both a setting for the art works and a look at the way wealthy Venetians lived in the 15th and 16th centuries.

The connoisseur responsible for saving the palace, Baron Giorgio Franchetti, gave his art collection to the state in 1922, with works by Titian, Mantegna, Van Dyck, Tullio Lombardo, and Bernini.

16. Ca’ Rezzonico

Ca’ Rezzonico is a public museum located on the bank of Grand Canal and one of the best places to visit in Venice.

This is one of the 11 museums managed by Fondazione Musei Civici di Venezia authority and has outstanding collections of paintings and sculptures including masterpieces by Titian, Mantegna, Van Dyck, Tullio Lombardo, and Bernini.

The museum also boasts of its marvelous collection of Venetian glasswork and vintage furniture.

17. San Marco Campanile

As the tallest structure in Venice, the campanile is a towering building that stands at a colossal 98.6m high.

The building that stands now, is actually a reconstruction as the original collapsed in 1902. Originally created in the 9th century, the campanile was used as a watch tower.

Throughout the years, the tower has been damaged by fire, earthquakes and even lightening.

Made of a simple red-brick design, the main shaft is quite simple, but the bell housing and pinnacle feature a myriad of arches and stonework, and the top features a golden statue of the Angel Gabriel.

Admire the tower from the Piazza di San Marco, but also take the elevator up to the top for possibly the best panoramic views of Venice.

18. San Giorgio Maggiore

Best known as the home of the 16th-century church of the same name, San Giorgio Maggiore is a small island located across the lagoon from St. Mark’s Square.

Designed by the great Renaissance architect Andrea Palladio, the church features a façade clad in gleaming white marble and an open and airy interior that’s refreshingly bare of over-ornamentation. The main alter is graced by two of Tintoretto’s best paintings, the “Last Supper” and “The Fall of Manna.”

Visitors can ride an elevator to the top of the church’s Neoclassic bell tower to enjoy a spectacular view of Venice.

19. Murano

Murano is another of the islands within the Venice district – This area of land is actually made up of several small islands connected together by a series of canals and bridges (much like Venice). Murano has a wonderful charm and is often not as busy as the main areas of Venice.

This wonderful island town has numerous sights including the Basilica dei Santa Maria, the Campo Santo Stefano and the Palazzo Da Mula.

Furthermore, Murano is famous for its glass blowing and you can see live demonstrations at the various factories that are established here.

20. Chiesa di Santa Maria Assunta

Located in the Cannaregio region of Venice, the Church of Santa Maria Assunta is a fine structure that is also known as I Gesuiti.

The front facade of the Church features several stone columns, ornate sculptured statues of religious figures, and a host of intricate detail – A huge bronze door serves as the main entrance.

Constructed in 1729, this is one of the newer churches in Venice but it is still important and the interior contains a number of impressive artworks such as the Martyrdom of St. Lawrence by Titian.

Furthermore, artwork, frescos and gold detail cover the ceiling of the church and some beautiful motif artwork lines the walls and columns.