Romantic things to do in Venice

Welcome to this guide on the most romantic things to do in Venice.

For those that didn’t know, Venice, with its dreamy views, is a popular destination for a romantic getaway or honeymoon for thousands of couples around the world.

The atmosphere you breathe while crossing its bridges and staring at the calm water of the canals is what has been inspiring artists and writers of all times!!

With gondolas sinuously glading the Grand Canal and the beautiful promenade walks you can take at sunset, not to mention the decor of many of the buildings, it’s clear why Venice is considered one of the most romantic cities in the world.

Romantic things to do in Venice

Are you planning to visit Venice with your other half soon? I invite you to read this guide to learn about some of the most romantic things to do in Venice for couples.

Find out in this post all the reasons why you should seriously consider Venice for your next romantic escapade and the best romantic things to do in Venice that you can only experience in this incredible city built entirely on the water.

What makes Venice so Romantic?

Below I will outline just a few reasons why I believe Venice is one of the most romantic places to visit and to spend some quality time with your lover.

If those didn’t suffice, I have also shared a huge list of free things to do in Venice that you can also use as inspiration to fuel your romantic rendezvous here.

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Romantic things to do in Venice

With no further ado let’s look at the most romantic things to do in Venice for couples to celebrate love and to create memories to cherish for years to come!

Let’s start with a classic: a gondola ride!

Do a Gondola Ride with Serenade

If you did not already guess it by yourself, for most visitors, one of the most romantic things to do in Venice for couples is to take a private gondola ride hands down!

The gondola ride is one of the most popular things to do in the city but there’s nothing better than discovering Venice’s beauty from its canals and of course, sharing this experience with your special one. Looking to surprise him/her?

Then why don’t you book a gondola ride with a serenade. Imagine being on your gondola while you admire elegant Venetian palaces and churches, navigate the calm water of the Grand Canal and pass under hundred years old stone bridges.

All this with the accompaniment of a gondolier’s serenade in the background. I’m sure your partner will love it! This is the perfect time to ask for the hand of your loved one and make her/him an unforgettable proposal.

Walk at sunset along Zattere promenade

A hand in hand walk at sunset is one of the most treasured things to do for any couple in love. In fact, many visitors to Venice do this without even thinking about it.

But there’s one special place to do that at sunset, when the lagoon turns red, pink and orange: Fondamenta Zattere. The beautiful promenade is located south of the city, in the Dorsoduro neighbourhood, far from most of the crowds.

The promenade has some restaurants, bars and hotels facing it, and overlooks the Giudecca canal. From here, you can spot the stunning Hilton Molino Stucky too.

To officially ‘seal the deal’ at the end of your romantic walk I recommend that you head over to one of my favourite bacaro of the city: Osteria al Squero.

If you’d like to immerse yourself in the Venetian aperitivo ritual at a bacaro, grab a few drinks and some cicchetti with your loved one. This area of Venice is perfect to do it on a budget! Aim to be here around 5pm for the warmest atmosphere.

Visit the colourful island of Burano

There’s much more than Venice historic centre you can explore with your partner. In fact, there’s an entire lagoon to discover.

One of the most loved islands is Burano, the rainbow coloured island is the perfect half or one day trip from Venice. You can literally spend a couple of hours or the whole day walking around its narrow streets, crossing bridges and taking pictures of the colourful fishermen’s houses.

Burano is a small island but with a history of its own, partly separated from the Venice one and worth getting to know. You can do that during this one hour private walking tour of Burano, where your guide will talk to you about the island’s past and take you on a walking tour all around it’s streets.

During the tour you can also watch lace making masters creating beautiful laces by hand, a tradition handed down from many generations of women from Burano.

Burano is also famous for its cuisine and in particular the risotto da gò. You can try the best one at the Trattoria al Gatto Nero (to get a table, a reservation is a must).

Share a gelato from Suso

One of the most romantic (and yummy) things to do in Venice is share a gelato from Suso. Their gelatos are some of the best in the city and they are very Instagrammable too!

You can choose among a vast selection of flavours, freshly prepared daily and that change based on the season. What couples love about this gelato is its artistic look and the forever changing flavours.

There are two Suso shops, one near St. Mark’s Square in Calle della Bissa and the other one in the Cannaregio district. The first one is usually quite busy, in particular during summer, so make sure to avoid the warmest hours of the day when people try to find refreshment by having this sweet treat.

Have a romantic couple photoshoot

Instead of the classic Venice souvenirs that everyone buys, you can also opt to have a romantic couple photoshoot and carry many pictures home with you.

There are some great professional photographers that offer this service and you can book your couple’s photoshoot before your trip and surprise your partner.

Among the most romantic locations in Venice to do that, there’s the iconic St. Mark’s Square, the Rialto Bridge and along the Grand Canal. You can decide with your photographer which shoots you want and where!

The best part of having a professional photographer taking pictures is that he/she knows the best angles and techniques to get amazing results that you can then receive (edited) in just a couple of days.

Climb the San Giorgio Maggiore Campanile

There’s a lesser known bell tower than the St. Mark’s Campanile, built by the famous architect Andrea Palladio and based in the San Giorgio Maggiore island: the San Giorgio Maggiore bell tower.

Once you get to the top of it, you can enjoy one of the most romantic views of the city. The panorama that opens up is breathtaking: a 360 degrees view of the Doge’s Palace, St. Mark’s Square with the St. Mark’s Campanile and the rest of the city in the background.

You can also clearly see Punta della Dogana and by looking all around you, the lagoon and the mainland in the background. On a clear day, you can spot on the horizon, the beautiful and imposing Alps.

Since you’re on this island, why don’t you book a guided tour of the Fondazione Cini and the Borges Labyrinth while you’re here? You can then have an aperitivo at the San Giorgio Café which overlooks the St. Mark’s basin and Riva degli Schiavoni.

Do a Prosecco tasting tour

If you didn’t already know, the Prosecco hills are a wine region in north-east Italy and they make the perfect day trip from Venice. Whether you love Prosecco or not, a tasting tour in this romantic yet underrated destination is a must!

I personally love this part of the Veneto region which also happens to be a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2019. I see this as a place where you can spend unforgettable romantic moments surrounded by the lush green Prosecco hills and vineyards with your other half, whether that be just for the day or a few more.

On these Prosecco tours from Venice you can try the best Prosecco in the world plus local wines, accompanied by snacks like cured meats and local cheeses.

There are different experiences you can have in the area, such as having a romantic lunch or dinner with a hillside view or a picnic in the vineyards. You can head over to the Prosecco hills official website to see all the available options.

Have Bellinis at the Harry’s Bar

Is there anything better than having a Bellini where the Bellini was created in the first place? The refreshing Venetian cocktail known all over the world is prepared with peach puree and Prosecco.

Sipping a cocktail at Harry’s Bar is not only one of the most romantic things to do in Venice but also an experience that will make you take a step back in time.

The story begins in 1930 when Giuseppe Cipiriani accomplished his dream to open his own bar in Calle Vallaresso, not far from St. Mark’s Square.

But how was the Bellini cocktail invented? In 1948, the Venetian administration organised an exhibition dedicated to Giovanni Bellini, a talented Venetian artist of the 15th century.

Giuseppe Cipriani, an art enthusiast, was inspired by the colours and shades used by Bellini in his works to create a new cocktail recipe. That’s how the pink-coloured Bellini we can still drink today was born!

Have a Romantic dinner in Venice

There’s nothing better than ending your day with a romantic candlelight dinner. Venice offers a variety of restaurants, pizzerias and taverns to eat in style at.

There are so many places that can suit every budget and taste, but there’s no doubt that the best places to sample authentic Venetian flavours are the osterie.

There are old-dated and rustic ones but also modern taverns that carefully revise the traditional dishes’ flavours to elevate the taste of each ingredient.

You can therefore choose to dine in a fancy restaurant overlooking the Grand Canal, where you can enjoy spectacular views of Venice at night, or in one of the small restaurants tucked away among the narrow streets of the city.

That all depends on your couple dining style and expectations, but I strongly suggest trying to discover the most intimate and authentic Venice eateries.

Walk along Riva degli Schiavoni hand in hand

Crossing bridges and observing canals with your other half is without any doubt the most romantic thing to do in Venice (and its completely free!).

I believe that a walk along the Riva degli Schiavoni at sunset is also romantic. You can start from St. Mark’s Square and move towards the Biennale Gardens.

When you leave the first part of the promenade near St. Mark’s Square, which is generally a bit busy, you have most of the street just for yourself. From this promenade you can really enjoy the most fiery sunsets over the St. Mark’s basin and the lagoon while you hold your loved one’s hand.

Make sure to take a few pictures that you can look back on in the future to remind yourself how the simplest things are the best when shared with the people you love!

Romantic things to do in Venice

Venice is the ideal destination for all couples in love who want to spend a few days of romance, relaxing, and enjoying each other’s company.

Whether it’s for a short weekend, a honeymoon or an anniversary, Venice can really enchant you with its impressive views and long list of romantic things to do.

Will you be looking at what else to do while here? I invite you to check out my guide that covers a list of the best things to do in Venice for some of my favourite ideas.

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