Things to Do in Each Venice Neighbourhood

You may have discovered by now that Venice is a city with incredible landmarks and attractions scattered right across it. There are so many amazing things on offer here. However, this can make it challenging to decide which part of the city to stay in. There are six neighbourhoods (sestieri) in Venice, each with its own characteristics and charm. Here I’ve compiled a big list of all the amazing sights to see in the city, conveniently organised by the neighbourhood they’re located in. This should help you to make a decision, not only based on the general atmosphere and price range of the neighbourhood, but also in terms of proximity to the attractions you’re most interested in! So, let’s get started.

Cannaregio

Cannaregio is one of my personal favourite neighbourhoods in Venice. It has a great balance of bustling streets of bars and shops, and peaceful residential streets where locals live.

Fondamente Misericordia – A beautiful long street which runs alongside a canal. Packed with great bars for an aperitivo, and restaurants for dining next to the water.
Strada Nuova – One of the main shopping streets in Venice, lined with cafes, gelato shops and many grand palaces.
Ca’ D’oro – A gorgeous palace on the Grand Canal which houses an art gallery. It also has a great balcony on the first floor looking out over the Grand Canal.
Jewish Quarter – Established in 1516, and is still the centre of the city’s Jewish community today.
Jewish Museum of Venice – Here you can learn about the history of the neighbourhood, as well as visit the two synagogues.
Fondamente Nove – Beautiful promenade on the north shore of the island, with views of the cemetery island ‘Cimitero di San Michele’. Fondamente Nove is also a great spot to watch the sunrise, if you’re up early enough!
Church of Santa Maria Assunta The Jesuits – A beautiful, grand church located near to Fondamente Nove.
Venezia Santa Lucia railway station – This neighbourhood is also where you’ll find the city’s train station. Venice is very well connected to the rest of Italy by train. Read the full post on the best day trips from Venice here.

Castello

Castello is the largest neighbourhood in the city. Similarly to Cannaregio, it is where a lot of local Venetians live. A lot of this area is also occupied by the city’s former shipyards and a large public park.

Acqua Alta Bookshop – An extremely photogenic little bookshop, with books stacked from floor to ceiling on every wall.
Fondazione Querini Stampalia – A beautiful public library and gallery.
Giardini – A large expanse of public gardens, which many locals use to exercise and walk their dogs. Also a great spot for a picnic in the summer!
Arsenale – The former shipyards and armories of the city, where the Venetian Republic used to construct its ships. You’ll also find the Venice Naval History Museum here (entrance costs €10).
Biennale – A world famous art, culture and architectural festival held in Venice every year. Many exhibitions are located in the giardini and Arsenale buildings.
San Zaccaria Church and Crypts – A beautiful church housing artwork by numerous famous painters. Underneath the church is the flooded crypt which is open to the public.
Calle Giazzo – This peculiar metal walkway runs along the outside of Arsenale shipyards walls on the north of the island.

San Marco

The San Marco neighbourhood is often referred to as the heart of the city. This is because so many of the city’s most famous and iconic landmarks are located in this relatively small area.

Scala Contarini del Bovolo – A magnificent palace with an open-air spiral staircase and a terrace at the top. Entrance costs €7.
T Fondaco Roof Terrace – Free roof terrace on top of a luxurious department store next to the Rialto Bridge. Reserve a timeslot on their website here.
St. Mark’s Square – One of the most famous parts of the city, where you’ll find St. Mark’s Basilica and bell tower, the Doge’s Palace, the Bridge of Sighs and the clock tower. You can also opt for a tour of the famous golden Basilica at night to see all of its mosaics illuminated.
Live classical music – In the busier months, bands often play live music on outdoor stages in front of the main cafes in St. Mark’s Square.
Museums – Here you will find the St. Mark’s Basilica Museum and terrace, the Basilica Treasury, the Museo Correr, and the National Archaeological Museum of Venice.
St. Mark’s Basin – From the waterfront in St. Mark’s Square you can look out across the ‘basin’. You can also see the little island of San Giorgio Maggiore, and cross over to it by boat if you wish to explore!
Royal Gardens – A beautiful garden circled by a canal, with lots of trees and benches to sit on. Just a stone’s throw away from St. Mark’s Square.
Marciana Library – Magnificent public library located in the buildings surrounding St. Mark’s Square. One of the earliest surviving libraries in Italy.
Caffè Florian – Established in 1720 in St. Mark’s Square, this is said to be the world’s oldest cafe.
Teatro La Fenice – One of the most famous opera houses in the world, offering opera, musical performances, ballets and more.
High water – St. Mark’s Square is one of the lowest-lying parts of Venice. If there is a particularly high tide, this square is one of the places that will flood first. Read the full post about high water here.

San Polo

San Polo is the oldest neighbourhood of Venice, where the original residents of the city first decided to settle. There are a lot of nice bars and restaurants in this area, as well as the second largest square in the city, Campo San Polo.

Rialto Bridge – One of the city’s most famous landmarks is the Rialto Bridge. It is lined with little boutique and souvenir shops on both sides.
Rialto Markets – Daily market located next to the bridge, offering a wide range of fruit, vegetables and freshly-caught fish.
Bars – Around the Rialto market area there are many bars with outdoor seating close to the water. This area really comes alive in the evening, and is popular with both locals and tourists.
Basilica Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari – An enormous gothic church housing paintings by Titian, as well as his tomb.
Scuola Grande di San Rocco – An impressive art gallery housing a collection of Tintoretto’s finest paintings.
Campo San Polo – The second biggest square in the city after St. Mark’s Square.
Ice skating in Campo San Polo – During the winter months, a temporary ice rink is constructed in the square. Read the full post of things to do in Venice during winter here.

Dorsoduro

Dorsoduro is another of the more affordable neighbourhoods in Venice, due to its mostly student population. A lot of the city’s nightlife tends to take place in this area, as it is packed with cheap bars and affordable restaurants.

Accademia Bridge – This huge wooden bridge is a famous and impressive crossing point over the Grand Canal.
Galleries – Here you’ll find both the Accademia Gallery, and the Peggy Guggenheim Collection.
Santa Maria della Salute Church – One of the most important churches in the city. It was constructed in the 1600s to give thanks to the Virgin Mary for ridding the city of the plague.
Punta della Dogana – A great lookout point in the south of the city, with views out across the Basin from a different angle.
Campo Santa Margherita – Known as the hub of the city’s student population and nightlife. Lots of affordable bars and restaurants can be found here.
Banksy Graffiti – ‘The Survivor’ is located on the north side of Campo Santa Margherita. Read more on where to find the Banksy piece here.
Floating fruit market – Pretty self-explanatory! A fruit market on a boat, located in Campo San Barnaba next to the bridge ‘Ponte Dei Pugni’.
Zattere – The promenade that runs along the south shore of the city is a great spot to watch the sunset.
Venetian Gondola Boatyard – Visit ‘Squero di San Trovaso’, a traditional Venetian boatyard. Alternatively, you can grab a drink at the bar opposite the boatyard, ‘Osteria al Squero’.
Giudecca – The island of Giudecca is very residential and peaceful. Here you’ll also find the Hilton Molino Stucky hotel, with the incredible Skyline Rooftop Bar looking out over the city.

Santa Croce

Santa Croce is the area with the least amount of tourist sights to see. This is because it contains much of the city’s transport connections to the mainland. However, the eastern side of the neighbourhood is still very pretty like the rest of Venice. Plus, you can often find cheap accommodation in this area which is conveniently close to the bus, tram and train stations.

Ca’ Pesaro – An impressive palace on the Grand Canal that houses both the International Gallery of Modern Art and the Museum of Oriental Art.
Natural History Museum Venice – Also located along the Grand Canal is the fascinating Natural History Museum.
Churches – Here you will find numerous beautiful churches such as San Simeone Piccolo, San Stae, and San Nicola da Tolentino.
Ponte degli Scalzi bridge – An enormous stone bridge spanning the Grand Canal, which connects the Cannaregio and Santa Croce neighbourhoods.
Giardini Papadopoli – Beautiful public gardens with lots of trees and a children’s playground.