If you’re searching for unique things to do in Venice that don’t involve elbowing your way through St. Mark’s Square or paying €80 for a silent gondola ride, you’re in the right place. Venice gets a bad rap for being overcrowded and overly polished, but step off the main tourist trail, and you’ll find a quieter and far more magical version of the city. Think quiet canals with no selfie sticks, bell towers with zero queues and snacking on anchovies and crostini with the locals.
Below are 20 hidden gems that’ll help you skip the tourist chaos and fall in love with the Venice most people never even notice.
20 unique things to do in Venice
1. Seafood in a Cone at Acqua e Mais
You don’t have to eat in overpriced restaurants every day. This place is the Italian version of your local Fish&Chips (if you were in the UK), but ten times better. Acqua e Mais is a tiny stall near Campo San Polo, serving freshly fried calamari, shrimp, and sardines in a paper cone. Hot, crispy, salty joy.
Open 11am–9pm.
Expect to pay around €5–€8.
📍Walk from Rialto Bridge, 7 mins.
Pro tip: go early or late as it gets packed with locals during lunch. Eat it on the canal steps nearby, and thank me later.
2. Basilica di Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari
Facade of Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari (Venice)
Forget the tourist-thronged St. Mark’s. This basilica is where Venice hides its real art. It’s got works by Titian (including where he’s buried), Bellini, and Donatello. Oh, and a literal WWI bomb that never exploded.
Open Mon–Sat, 9am–6pm.
Entry: €3
📍Campo dei Frari, San Polo.
Pro tip: bring headphones. No audio guides, but a solid podcast will elevate the vibe.
3. Dal Moro’s SpritzEat
Imagine sipping an Aperol Spritz while your pasta gets lovingly swirled inside a molten wheel of cheese. That’s Dal Moro’s SpritzEat. Quirky? Absolutely. Delicious? Dangerously. And yes, it’s the kind of place you’ll want to photograph for Instagram… but let’s be honest, you’ll end up writing about it on Substack instead and calling it “research.”
Open noon–10pm.
Around €12–€15 per dish.
📍Near Campo Santa Margherita.
Pro tip: not to be confused with Dal Moro’s takeaway! Go to SpritzEat, sit down, and enjoy the cheese show.
4. Island of San Giorgio Maggiore
Hop on Vaporetto line 2 and escape the crowds. This island offers panoramic views of Venice from its bell tower and a peaceful labyrinth dedicated to writer Jorge Luis Borges. It’s serenity just minutes away from the chaos.
Tower open daily, 9am–7pm.
Entry: €6
📍Directly across from St. Mark’s.
Pro tip: go at sunset and watch the world melt in gold!
5. San Francesco della Vigna
This church in Castello is so off the radar even Venetians forget it’s there. It’s a quiet slice of Renaissance perfection. Inside is simple and sacred. A rare break from the city’s ornate overload.
Mon–Sat, 9am–12pm & 3pm–6pm.
Free.
📍Salizada Santa Giustina.
Pro tip: wander the cloister garden and enjoy the extra peace in nature.
6. Ponte de Chiodo
A bridge without railings? In Venice? Yep, and it’s still standing. Ponte de Chiodo is one of only two left in the city. It’s narrow, quirky, and makes you feel like you’ve time-travelled.
Fondamenta dei Mori, Cannaregio.
Free (unless you fall in, then it’s emotionally expensive).
Pro tip: go early in the morning for moody photos in the fog.
7. Campo San Maurizi
Campo e Chiesa di San Maurizio – Venezia
On weekends, this square turns into an antique market with serious character. Think: dusty maps, odd jewellery, vintage prints. The kind of treasures Shylock might’ve hoarded in a backroom, just waiting for you to name your price.
Market usually Sat–Sun, 10am–5pm.
📍Near Teatro La Fenice.
Pro tip: cash only, haggle but be kind. These vendors are pros, but they love a banter.
8. Squero di San Trovaso
This is where gondolas are born- built and repaired. The squero (boatyard) is old school. You can’t walk in, but stand across the canal and watch the craftsmen do their magic.
📍Fondamenta Nani, Dorsoduro.
Free viewing.
Pro tip: pop into the osteria next door and grab a drink while you watch the show.
9. Mazzorbo Island
Right next to colourful Burano but minus the crowd. Mazzorbo has vineyards, a Michelin-starred restaurant and walking trails that make you feel like you’re in Tuscany on water.
Take Vaporetto 12 from Fondamente Nove.
📍10 mins from Burano.
Pro tip: Enjoy an exquisite meal or do a wine tour at the Michelin-starred Venissa estate.
10. Le Zitelle Church
This Giudecca gem was once a refuge for unmarried women, hence the name Zitelle (Spinsters). Today, it’s peaceful, airy, and nearly always empty. It faces San Marco, but no one’s looking back. Their loss.
It’s only open during services or events. Check at the tourism office before going.
📍Giudecca Island.
Pro tip: pair it with a walk along the Zattere promenade. Sunset heaven.
11. Venetian Ghetto
The oldest ghetto in Europe. This isn’t a tourist area, it’s a living, breathing part of the city with deep history, synagogues, kosher bakeries, and a local atmosphere.
Museum open Sun–Fri, 10am–5:30pm.
Entry: €10
📍Cannaregio.
Pro tip: take the guided tour to access the synagogues.
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12. Scuola di San Rocco
Few tourists are aware of this building as most tend to flock to the more popular Doge’s Palace . This hidden gem is located behind the Basilica Santa Maria Gloriosa die Frari. The building showcases beautifully preserved paintings such as the work of Tintoretto, one of Venice’s greatest painters. The opulent interiors and masterful artistry make it a must-see for art enthusiasts.
Daily, 9:30am–5:30pm.
Entry: €10
📍San Polo.
Pro tip: Don’t miss the details on the stunning ceiling but bring a mirror so you don’t end up breaking your neck.
13. San Pietro di Castello
This fascinating district offers a glimpse into the city’s rich history and boasts some stunning architectural pieces such as San Pietro di Castello Basilica, which was once Venice’s OG cathedral but now sits beautifully ignored. It’s calm, has a crooked bell tower, and a garden where cats run the show.
Tues–Sun, 10am–5pm.
Entry: €3
📍End of Via Garibaldi.
Pro tip: Sit on the steps, open your notebook and channel your inner Helena Bonham Carter. Dramatic sighs optional, but encouraged.
14. Museum of Music (Museo della Musica)
This hidden treasure trove is a must visit for music enthusiasts. Nestled within the historic Palazzo Cini, this museum offers a remarkable journey through the evolution of music in Venice and hosts an impressive collection of ancient instruments, Vivaldi scores, and creaky wooden floors. Intimate, fascinating, and dead quiet.
Daily, 10am–7pm.
Free
📍San Maurizio.
Pro tip: there’s often a string quartet playing nearby in the evenings. Follow the sound.
15. Libreria Acqua Alta
Although no longer a hidden gem since becoming insta famous, Libreria Acqua Alta is still worth a visit. This is a book lover’s paradise like no other. The unique bookstore is known for its whimsical and charming arrangement of books, which are often stacked in small boats, bathtubs, and even a full-sized gondola positioned inside the shop.
Daily, 9am–8pm.
📍Calle Longa Santa Maria Formosa.
Pro tip: climb the staircase of books in the back for a canal view. And yes, it’s safe (ish).
16. Torcello Island
While Burano and Murano often steal the limelight, Torcello remains one of Venice’s best-kept secrets. This serene gem in the venetian Lagoon offers a peaceful retreat from the bustling canals of Venice. Steeped in history, this island was one of the earliest settlements in the region and was once a thriving trading centre. Today, it exudes a tranquil charm, ancient ruins and the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta, known for its stunning Byzantine mosaics. It’s Venice’s forgotten ancestor: older, quieter, wiser.
Daily, 10am–5:30pm (last entry at 5pm).
📍Vaporetto 12 from Fondamente Nove. Stop: Torcello.
Pro tip: Climb the bell tower for a lagoon view that’ll knock the spritz out of your hand. Hemingway loved it here and you might too.
17. See Venice at Night
Few people stick around after dark. Most tourists head back to their cruise ships or overpriced hotels. But if you wander Venice at night, you’ll see a different city. The crowds vanish, the canals go still, and everything feels softer and absolutely magical.
Go after 9pm for maximum emptiness.
Vaporetto lines run until around midnight (some even later).
Pro tip: Bring a torch or use the one on your phone. When I say Venice feels like stepping back in time, that includes the part where street lighting wasn’t invented.
Bonus: 3 More Hidden Gems Locals Love
18. Learn to row like a real Venetian
Standing up in a boat and rowing through the canals like a local gondolier? Yes, it’s a thing! and yes, you can learn it. The traditional style is called voga alla veneta, and it’s been around for centuries. It looks graceful, but don’t be fooled; it works muscles you didn’t know you had.
The best part? You don’t need any experience. Companies like Row Venice offer beginner-friendly lessons where you’ll learn to balance, row and steer a gondola like a pro.
Lessons available daily, usually between 9am–7pm (book in advance online).
Around €85–€100 for two people (private 90-minute session)
📍Row Venice meets near Cannaregio but you will be told the exact meeting spot upon booking.
Pro tip: Don’t wear anything too precious. You probably won’t fall in… but this is Venice, not Disneyland. The water has vibes.
19. Do a Cicchetti Crawl
Forget the polished food tours and do what Venetians do: hop from bàcaro to bàcaro, grazing on cicchetti and sipping spritz or local wine. These are bite-sized bar snacks like marinated anchovies, fried mozzarella and baccalà mantecato (creamy salt cod you’ll dream about later).
It’s cheap, it’s cheerful, and it’s the most delicious way to understand the city. The rule? One drink, one bite, move on, repeat until you’re happily full or slightly tipsy.
Most bàcari open from 11am or noon until late evening.
Authentic.Cicchetti cost around €1.50–€3 each, wine or spritz from €2–€4.
📍Start around Cannaregio or Dorsoduro. It’s less touristy and more authentic.
Pro tip: Don’t ask for a table. Stand at the bar like the locals. And yes, it’s socially acceptable to eat five snacks in five different places in under an hour. You’re doing it right.
20. Enjoy a Show at La Fenice Theatre
La Fenice (which means The Phoenix) has burned down and risen from the ashes three times. Today, it’s one of Italy’s most iconic opera houses.
You don’t need to love opera to enjoy it. They host everything from full-blown Verdi productions to ballet, classical concerts, and the occasional jazz night. Even just walking into the lobby feels like stepping onto a movie set.
Performances usually start around 7pm or 8pm, depending on the show. Tickets start at €30 for upper gallery seats and go up to €200+ for the best boxes. Buy tickets online via teatrolafenice.it or at the box office (but they often sell out).
📍Campo San Fantin, right in the San Marco district.
Pro tip: You don’t need a tux, but do make a bit of an effort. Italians take this stuff seriously — and remember, you’re here for the full local experience, not a night at the cinema.
Venice is a city of layers, where hidden treasures await those willing to explore beyond the tourist-packed areas. This is not to discourage you from visiting the more popular spots which Venice is famous for, they are popular for a reason after all! But these off-the-beaten-path experiences will connect you with the soul of Venice and its rich history and will awaken your sense of adventure as the city’s secrets unfold before your eyes.
Merritt
Saved! These all look like great spots, can’t wait to see them one day!
Ibtissam
I hope you do!
Katie
Wow! So many fabulous places to visit that are off the beaten path. Adding them for to my itinerary for next year’s trip!
Ibtissam
Glad you found it useful 🙂