The heart of Italy, Venice is a magnificent city that has stood the test of time. With its idyllic gondolas, marble architecture and rustic charm, Venice is a city you can’t help but fall in love with over and over again. With understated beauty around every corner, lots of Venice’s best-kept secrets can be found in plain sight, without having to cost you a penny. We chatted to a range of travel bloggers who told us about their favourite free things to do in Venice:
Top free things to do in Venice
Detour down quiet side streets
With plenty to see and do around Italy’s charming capital, it’s also worth taking a detour down its quiet, side streets to see the true Venice in all its glory, says Morgan from Morgan's Milieu. “We loved taking the narrow alleys off the regular paths, we had to squeeze through one or two but it was so much fun.
“Walking around Venice is such a joy, not only is it free but you get to see such beautiful sights. From the wonderfully coloured buildings to the unique statues. Head off the main path, through side streets and little alleys and you’ll discover the real Venice, where people live and enjoy life. Discover water fountains in the middle of a square, dogs and their owners out for a walk and amazing ornate buildings that scream culture, which you can tell are hundreds of years old by their stunning architecture.”
Feed the pigeons in St. Mark’s Square
“One of children’s absolute favourite free things to do when we were in Venice was to feed the pigeons,” Suzy from Where to go with Kids told us. “There are some of the greatest numbers of pigeons I’ve ever seen in St. Mark’s Square (Piazza San Marco). We saved a bit of bread for them at each breakfast and then we’d hang out on the square for a while feeding them. Well, our son fed them while we took in the stunning views of the square and the Basilica San Marco. If you stand with your arms out, they will also take food from your hands.”
Hit the beach
If you’re looking to take a load off, then a visit to one of the local beaches is just what the doctor ordered. Hannah from Behind the False Lashes recommends heading to Lido for a glorious day out that’s full of sun, sea and relaxation. “When you think of Venice, you probably don’t immediately think of heading to the beach, you think of bridges and canals but if you are spending more than a few days in Venice, pop over on the boat to Lido, which is one of Venice’s best-kept secrets.”
There is a small fee when taking the Vaporetti (waterbus) says Hannah but once you’re there, the beach is completely free. “With white sands and warm sea, as well as a lovely little cafe to enjoy a lemonade or three, this is the perfect place to escape the hustle and bustle of central Venice.”
Marvel at the incredible churches
If you delight in history and architecture, a visit to Venice’s plethora of churches should be high on your list. Kate from Refined Prose told us why exploring these sacred structures was so special to her, “I got engaged in Venice. We spent a week there and I completely fell in love with the unique city. Our favourite thing to do was visiting the churches, most of which are free to enter, to admire the stunning architecture.”
Suzy echoes Kate’s sentiments. She recommends visiting Santa Maria Della Salute, a beautiful, domed 17th century Roman Catholic church. “A visit to the Santa Maria Della Salute is also free. It is a really lovely church by the water’s edge, guarding the entrance to the Grand Canal. You are even allowed to take photos inside (unlike the Basilica San Marco). The church was built and dedicated to ‘our lady of health’ as an offering to deliver the people of Venice from the plague. It is worth spending some time looking at the outside of the church as well as the inside. It’s a beautiful church to look at with domed roofs and statues.”
Watch the world go by
Sometimes, just sitting back and watching the world go by is the perfect way to spend an afternoon in Venice. Whether that’s people watching outside a cafe, standing on one of Venice’s many bridges and watching the gondolas gliding through the canal waters below or even soaking up the atmosphere in a local park.
“We went to Venice for our 5 year anniversary,” Michelle from What Mummy Thinks told us. “We spent hours walking the streets of Venice, winding our way through the narrow streets. With so much to see and so many beautiful sights, we were never bored. One of the things we enjoyed most was the peaceful nature of reading on a park bench while taking in the atmosphere.”
