7 things to do in Venice, Italy

Venice is definitely one of the cities that I love and that I try to return to often. I'm actually going to be spending four days there at the end of June with my family before we head to Sorrento and I cannot wait to get back to a city I adore so much.

Having been to the city probably around 20 times (told you I like to take advantage of being so close by flight!) here are some of the best things to do in Venice…

1. Get lost

If you're a first time visitor to Venice, or even if you've been before, my top tip is just to leave your map in your hotel room and go out wandering without any particular sense of purpose.

Strolling through Venice's little back streets, passing charming, crumbling buildings, passing over adorable bridges and stumbling upon sweet little restaurants and small bars overflowing with local people is the best way to really get a feel for the city.

The key thing to remember is you're on an island, so you can't really ever get properly lost. You'll also find there aren't many street names on display in the city, but if you do want to find your way then look for small signs on some corners directing you to nearby landmarks (e.g. Rialto Bridge, San Marco etc).

2. Take the vaporetto

Vaporetto are pretty much the Venetian equivalent of buses (and are often called WaterBus) and they're the quickest and easiest way to get around the city.

The best vaporetto to take to enjoy views of the Grand Canal are lines 1 and 2. Line 1 is the slow boat, which takes around 45 minutes and stops at every dock on the way and Line 2 is the express boat that takes only 25 minutes. There's no better way to get unrivalled views of the Grand Canal for less than 10 euros!

Almost all of the boats have outside areas where you can sit or stand and take in the views, capture some photos and just enjoy being on the water in Venice. It sure beats the drab buses with steamed up windows and overpriced fares in the UK!

3. Go to the top of the bell tower

If you want to take in some seriously stunning views of Venice from above then there's no better way to do it than by going to the top of San Marco Campanile, the bell tower in St Mark's Square.

The bell tower is one of the most recognisable sights of the city and the price to take the elevator to the top is less than 10 euros per person. From the top you're treated to panoramic views of the city that will absolutely take your breath away.

Top tip: to save waiting in long queues I recommend visiting as early as possible! Find the opening times here.

4. Cicchetti time!

No trip to Venice would be complete without cicchetti. Ciccheti are simply local appetizers that line the counters of little pubs all over town at the end of each workday. You'll find these in the little pubs and bars that are away from the main tourist areas and as such they'll be filled with local people.

Stroll in, order a glass of wine or a beer and pick up a couple of cicchetti. Most of the pubs won't have many seats, as the Venetians like to stand and chat whilst they eat and drink at this casual time of day.

5. Go wandering at night

If you're staying in Venice you'll probably find that later in the day, heading into evening the number of people in the city will drop dramatically. So many people visit the city for a day from other nearby cities and towns, which means that as evening falls the city is far less congested and you'll be able to enjoy it without having to fight through hordes of tour groups.

Walk the streets at night when they're more empty, enjoy being able to stop and take photographs without having 917209710297 appearing in them or standing beside you waiting for you to move so they can take the same shot. Relish the sense of peace and quiet and imagine that's the way Venice once was.

6. Visit the Doge's Palace

The Doge's Palace is one of the main landmarks of Venice and one you'll have seen in photographs and on postcards. The Palace is built in Venetian Gothic style and was the residence of the Doge of Venice, the supreme authority of the former Republic of Venice.

Today it is a museum and visitors can go inside to view the opulent rooms and gorgeous architecture and learn more about the history of Venice. It's a truly fascinating building with plenty of hidden secrets, beautiful artwork and many stories to tell.

Visitors can also walk over the legendary Bridge of Sighs, which connects the building to the prison, where visitors got their last glimpse of the city before being locked up. It's a rather eerie place to visit considering it's history, but it's one of the most interesting places in the city.

7. Sit in St Mark's Square at night

In St Marks Square at night there are a couple of gorgeous restaurants with seats outside and live musicians playing classical music. Grabbing a white-tablecloth-covered table and sitting down with a drink and some snacks after dinner whilst listening to the divine music is one of my absolute favourite things to do in Venice.

Of course, the drinks prices are a bit inflated, there's a charge for the music and it's totally touristy, but it is so, so worth it. I don't mind paying a bit extra for experiences that leave me with a giant smile on my face and feeling wonderful. Worth every penny!

If you're considering Venice, compare Venice holiday packages here.