Venice is one of the most visited cities in the world!
As a lover of all things Venice, I’m not the first person to say that there’s nothing more enchanting than the view of St. Mark’s Basilica, Doge’s Palace and the Rialto Bridge.
But despite all that I say, there’s much more beyond the popular attractions.
For those that really want to explore Venice like a local, I created this guide with 15 off-the-beaten path things to do in Venice that will reveal the true city’s soul.
It’s usually the return visitors to Venice who begin to understand how these offbeat activities offer a much deeper connection to Venice’s rich history, art and culture.
Are you ready to learn about some of them right now? Let’s go!
The best non touristy things to do in Venice
After travelling to Venice back and forth over the years, I have covered most of the popular tourist attractions. But I will admit, I revisIt some at least once during my trips.
However, to get to know some of my favourite non touristy things to do in Venice and around the beautiful Venetian lagoon (beyond the classic Murano and Burano)…
Keep reading below!
Let’s start with one of my all time personal favourites…
Market shopping
Exploring market stalls in Venice offers an authentic glimpse into daily Venetian life. Bustling with fresh seafood, fruits, and local delicacies Rialto Market is a must-visit.
However, for a more local experience, head to the floating fruit and vegetable market boats in Campo San Barnaba, in Dorsoduro or the one in Via Garibaldi in Castello.
Similarly, the market in Rio Terà San Leonardo in Cannaregio and Campo Santa Margherita in Dorsoduro, are must-see markets for a real glimpse into Venetian lifestyle.
Go on a bacaro tour
The bacaro tour is what we call in Venice ‘andar per bacari’. It’s an experience worth having while in Venice to have a taste of what locals like doing when they are socialising at the bar. See my guide on self guided bacaro tours to get more insight.
The bacari are traditional taverns where locals gather to enjoy small plates of food known as cicchetti, paired with a glass of wine or spritz.
Each bacaro has its own specialties, such as:
- The classic crostini (slice of bread with different toppings)
- Creamy baccalà mantecato
- Marinated sardines (sarde in saor)
- Meatballs
If you don’t know where to start, you can either take one of the many street food guided tours like this popular one or embark on your very own bacaro tour!
If you’re currently planning your trip, did you know that you can get my bacari walking maps which you can save on your phone and follow while in Venice?
Get lost around the Cannaregio district
Cannaregio, one of Venice’s most authentic and less crowded districts, invites you to enjoy the silence of its empty calli and small squares. This is both a residential area but also a district packed with history and culture.
It’s here that you can find the Jewish Ghetto and some of the most beautiful yet less touristy churches of the city like the Chiesa di Santa Maria dell’Orto and the Chiesa di Santa Maria dei Miracoli.
Here I suggest discovering local cafes like Torrefazione Cannaregio, one of the oldest coffee roasters of the city, and the cafè and bistrot sullaluna where you can have your morning coffee or a delicious lunch.
Cannaregio is also home to art galleries, making it a perfect place to pick up a one-of-a-kind souvenir. There are also several places for dinner, some of my favourite of the city, like Osteria al Cicheto and Osteria ai Promessi Sposi.
Jewish Ghetto
The Jewish Ghetto in Venice is the oldest ghetto in the world, established in the year 1516 when Jewish people started getting segregated in this area of the city, separating them from the rest of the population.
The ghetto is like a reality on its own and it’s extremely fascinating. It’s worth visiting it to get to really understand how intricate the Venetian past is. Here you can visit the synagogues and the Jewish Museum that I personally liked and suggest you go.
Visit local art galleries and eat at kosher eateries like the famous Gam Gam restaurant. Most businesses are still owned by Jewish families.
To learn how Venetian Jewish community used to live here, I highly recommend that you join this guided tour of the ghetto. You can do the AM or PM tour. Then, while you’re here, be sure you stop off at bakery Giovanni Volpe for a sweet treat.
Stroll along via Garibaldi in Castello
Via Garibaldi is possibly one of the only streets in Venice that looks like any other city’s street (together with the touristy Strada Nova).
It’s located in the Castello district, and the atmosphere you find here is worlds apart from the most touristy alleyways. Castello is also the residential neighbourhood of Venice, so here you can have a real taste of locals’ life.
Not only are there some offbeat hotels to stay at, you can also find all the essential services like small supermarkets, bars and many cicchetti and wine bars.
From 7am to 2pm, you’ll find the floating market where locals get their fresh fruit and veg. Go for a coffee at Caffè La Serra and walk around the Giardini Napoleonici.
In the evening stop for cicchetti and drinks at the Castello bacari I recommend on this bacari walking map guide and dinner at the much beloved restaurant Nevodi.
Visit the artisans shops
Venice is a city of talented artisans and artists. I don’t think I’ve seen any other city so far that counts on such a heritage of craftsmanship.
Often, only a few metres away from the tourist-filled streets, you can find workshops where skilled artisans create high quality products.
From the ‘mascareri’, to the artisanal textiles production, to creative marbled paper artists and leather goods dealers, the city’s millenary traditions are kept alive by these people.
At these ‘botteghe’, not only can you purchase some of the most unique, handmade Venetian souvenirs, but you can also watch these masters at work and learn about the techniques that have been passed down through generations.
Visit the off-beat Natural History Museum
The Natural History Museum is one of the lesser known museums in Venice. If you purchased the ‘All Venice city pass’ then you have free entrance at this museum too!
It’s the perfect museum to visit if you’re travelling to Venice with children, or if you have some sort of interest in natural history and to discover more about the origins of the Venetian lagoon and its ecosystems.
The Museum is housed in the beautiful Fondaco dei Turchi, a 13th-century palace that happens to be one of the most beautiful palaces overlooking the Grand Canal. The vast collection includes fossils, taxidermy, and ethnographic collections.
Highlights include the skeleton of a dinosaur discovered in the 1970s and a unique collection of lagoon and marine life specimens.
Rent a bike and go to Pellestrina
For a truly off-the-beaten-path experience, rent a bike in Lido of Venice and head over Pellestrina. This is a narrow island that stretches along the southern edge of the Venetian Lagoon.
Pellestrina is similar to other islands in the lagoon like Murano and Burano but guess what’s different? There’s barely any tourists! As you ride through, you’ll find colourful fishing villages, quiet beaches, and scenic views of the lagoon.
From Venice, you can get a vaporetto to Lido (line 1, 5.1, 5.2, 6, 10), rent a bike and ride till Alberoni Faro Rocchetta. From there get the bus/ferry to reach Santa Maria del Mare and keep riding to Pellestrina.
While around this part of the lagoon, you can stop at one of the local seafood trattorias to enjoy fresh catches of the day like Da Celeste Pellestrina, or simply relax by Pellestrina coastline.
Get a water bus line 13 to Vignole, Sant’Erasmo and Lazzaretto Nuovo
Another way to escape the crowds is by taking a vaporetto to the lesser-known islands of Vignole, Sant’Erasmo, and Lazzaretto Nuovo. This is line number 13 which stops in all of them so you can easily cover their visit in one day.
Vignole is a small, green oasis known for its vegetable gardens and its vineyards of the ancient native vine Dorona. You can book your wine tasting experience and visit this little gem.
Sant’Erasmo, often called the ‘vegetable garden of Venice’, is famous for its artichokes ‘castraure’ and other fresh produce. Here you can rent a bike and head to the Spiaggia del Bacan to relax, only surrounded by locals.
Lazzaretto Nuovo was the quarantine island during the plague. Today, it hosts archaeological sites and guided tours that you can book where you’ll learn all about the importance of the ‘barene’ that characterise the lagoon natural landscape.
Appreciate art in the most hidden Venetian churches
Venice is home to countless hidden churches that house extraordinary works of art, often overlooked by tourists.
Churches such as San Pantalon, with its stunning ceiling fresco, or San Giovanni in Bragora, with works by Cima da Conegliano, are just a few examples.
Many of these churches are tucked away in empty calli and campi or mostly residential areas of the city.
If you want to discover art treasures inside the churches here, you can get the Chorus pass which allows you to access 18 churches around Venice and discover some of the most beautiful masterpieces by Tintoretto and Titian which most people skip.
Visit the Scuole
The Scuole of Venice are historic confraternities that played a significant role in the city’s social and cultural life. Even if they were secular associations, they devoted themselves to a specific saint to protect them.
The Scuole in Venice are jealous keepers of hidden artistic treasures, often forgotten by the masses. In the Scuola Grande di San Rocco you can see stunning paintings by Tintoretto, which cover the walls and ceilings, similarly in the Scuola Grande di San Giovanni Evangelista.
These institutions were once centres of civic life and today they are still involved in charitable duties and to look after their extraordinary artistic heritage.
Go to temporary art exhibitions around the city
Venice is a city that breathes art, and beyond its permanent collections, it hosts a variety of temporary art exhibitions throughout the year.
These exhibitions often take place in historic palaces, galleries, and even outdoor spaces, offering a dynamic way to engage with contemporary and classical art.
The Venice Biennale, held every two years, is perhaps the most famous, but smaller, less-publicised exhibitions also provide unique opportunities to discover new artists and trends or why not?
Re-discover old ones. If I were you, I’d keep an eye on the Venezia Unica events page to see which exhibitions are on when you’ll be travelling to Venice.
Have a coffee at the Correr Museum cafè (instead of Florian)
Caffè Florian in St. Mark’s Square is one of the most famous historic cafes of Venice.
If you prefer not to spend over 10 euros on a cup of coffee, then you can head to the Correr Museum Café for a more relaxed experience, with equally elegant interiors and furnishings inspired by the Empire style.
Located inside the Museo Correr (both museum visitors and not can access it), this café offers a privileged view over the piazza from a much quieter location that the other bars on the ground floor.
If you have the St. Mark’s Square or All Venice city pass, you can have free access to the Correr Museum and its beautiful art collections.
Go to Libreria La Toletta, the oldest book shop in Venice
Libreria La Toletta is the oldest bookshop in Venice. If you look at books as much as I do, then make sure to stop by. This book shop is much less frequented by tourists than the Libreria Acqua Alta, and more popular with locals and students.
It’s located in the Dorsoduro district and it’s been serving Venetians since 1933. The shelves are filled with a mix of new releases, classics, and rare finds, and you can also find locally made souvenirs from independent artisans of the city.
Catch the sunset along Zattere promenade
Catching the sunset along the Zattere promenade is one of the best experiences you can have in Venice. Located in the Dorsoduro district, this waterfront promenade offers stunning views across the Giudecca Canal.
The Zattere is less crowded than other promenades like Riva degli Schiavoni. Here you can have the famous ‘gianduiotto’ from Gelateria Nico while waiting for sunset or order cicchetti and a Prosecco glass from the nearby Osteria al Squero.
Zattere is really the best place to end your day in Venice with a great choice of fine dining waterfront restaurants like Ristorante Riviera or Lineadombra.
Non touristy things to do in Venice
Now you should have a better idea of some non touristy things to do in Venice when you get tired of the crowds or want to see something unique.
Whether you’re a traveller that likes off-the-beaten experiences or a seasoned visitor wanting to explore new sides of the city, stay assured that Venice has plenty of hidden corners to discover and unconventional experiences to try.
If you want to learn where to stay in Venice, away from the crowds, see my guide on the best areas to stay in Venice so you can choose the right vibe for your needs.
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