13 Best Views of Venice, Italy (With Map + Essential Tips)

Venice is one of Italy’s most beautiful cities, where every bridge, palace, canal, and square looks like a work of art.

While the entire city is a feast for the eyes, certain spots offer truly unforgettable views. During my recent trip, I set out to uncover Venice’s best viewpoints – from 15th-century palace terraces to iconic bell towers – and I’m excited to share them with you in this guide.

Here are the 13 best views of Venice, with my personal favorite at #1. At the end, you’ll find my top 5 picks and a map to help you plan your visit.

Best Views of Venice

1. San Giorgio Maggiore Campanile

San Giorgio Maggiore, a small island just across the water from St. Mark’s Square, is home to one of Venice’s most iconic sights: the San Giorgio Maggiore church. The real gem here, though, is the church’s campanile (bell tower), which offers what I’d argue is the best view of Venice.

Take the elevator 63 meters to the top, where you’ll be greeted with stunning panoramic views that span all of Venice. From this vantage point, you can see the Doge’s Palace, St. Mark’s Square, St. Mark’s Campanile, and the winding Grand Canal.

The best part? Despite offering one of Venice’s most spectacular views, San Giorgio Maggiore remains blissfully uncrowded, as many visitors don’t venture out to this island.

Tickets: €8 per person, cash only. No steps are needed, as the elevator takes you all the way up.

Hours: 9:00 AM – 7:00 PM

Getting there: To reach San Giorgio Maggiore, take vaporetto line #2 from S. Marco San Zaccaria “B” to the S. Giorgio stop—it’s just one stop away.

2. St. Mark’s Campanile

Towering at 323 feet (99 meters), St. Mark’s Campanile is Venice’s tallest building and offers one of the city’s most stunning views. Take the elevator to the top, where you’ll enjoy sweeping 360-degree vistas of the Venetian lagoon and red-tiled rooftops.

Tickets: €12 per person. It’s best to purchase your tickets online in advance to skip the line.

Opening hours:

• Mid March to Mid November: 9:30 AM – 9:15 PM (last entry 8:45 PM)
• Mid November to Mid March: 9:30 AM – 7:15 PM (last entry 6:45 PM)

Check the official website for up-to-date hours and pricing.

READ ALSO: 25 Best Things to do in Venice

3. St. Mark’s Basilica Terrace

For an incredible view overlooking St. Mark’s Square and the Doge’s palace, make your way to the terrace of St. Mark’s Basilica.

To access the terrace, head to the entrance of the Museo-Loggia dei Cavalli inside of the basilica. There’s an additional fee of €7 to visit the museum (the basilica costs €3), but the views are well worth it.

Tickets: Purchase your tickets for the basilica and museum online in advance to avoid long lines. Without advance tickets, wait times can be over an hour. Book your tickets online here – I recommend reserving at least one month in advance.

4. Riva degli Schiavoni

The Riva degli Schiavoni is a scenic waterfront promenade near the Doge’s Palace. It offers a perfect view of San Giorgio Maggiore’s island church across the water.

It’s also one of my favorite photo spots in Venice, especially at sunset. With the church in the background and gondolas bobbing in the foreground, it creates a pretty idyllic scene.

5. Rialto Bridge

The Rialto Bridge, the oldest bridge spanning the Grand Canal, is one of Venice’s most iconic landmarks. Climb to the top for a fantastic view of the colorful buildings lining the canal, with boats and vaporettos gliding by below.

Because it’s such a popular spot, the bridge gets incredible busy during the day. To enjoy it without the crowds, aim to visit early in the morning, ideally before 9:00 AM.

6. Ponte dell’Accademia

Ponte dell’Accademia, one of the four bridges crossing the Grand Canal, offers a postcard-perfect view looking toward Santa Maria della Salute. It’s one of my favorite views in Venice, and it’s far less crowded than the Rialto Bridge.

For an extra touch of magic, try to visit just before sunset—the golden hour light makes this view even more spectacular.

7. T Fondaco Rooftop Terrace

Located on the rooftop of the T Fondaco dei Tedeschi luxury shopping center, this terrace offers a fantastic view over Venice’s Grand Canal and the iconic Rialto Bridge. Best of all, it’s free to visit—just be sure to reserve your time slot in advance, as bookings often fill up a month ahead.

Tickets: Free. Reserve online here at least one month in advance.

Getting there: Enter through the doors near Campo S. Bortolomio, then take the escalators or elevator to the fourth floor, where you’ll find signs guiding you to the terrace.

8. Scala Contarini del Bovolo

The Scala Contarini del Bovolo is a unique spiral staircase tucked away in the San Marco district. The staircase is named “bovolo” meaning “snail” after its winding, shell-like design.

Climb to the top for a lovely view over Venice’s red rooftops and skyline, including St. Mark’s Campanile.

Tickets: €8 per person. There’s no need to buy tickets in advance, but you can reserve them online if you’d like.

Opening hours:

• February 26th – October 27th from 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
• October 28th – February 23th from 9:30 AM – 5:30 PM

For up-to-date information, check the official website.

9. Galleria Giorgio Franchetti alla Ca’ d’Oro

This stunning Gothic palazzo-turned-museum is one of my favorite spots in Venice. While the museum itself features a fantastic collection of Renaissance art, sculptures, and intricate mosaic floors, the true gem is its terrace.

Overlooking the Grand Canal, the terrace offers breathtaking views of landmarks like the Campanile di San Marco and other buildings along the waterway. It’s a peaceful spot to enjoy Venice from above and is a must-visit for both its views and museum.

Tickets: €8 per person, no need to reserve in advance.

Opening hours: The museum is open Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM (closed Mondays). For more details, visit the official website.

READ ALSO: 16 Best Museums in Venice

10. Grand Canal views from the Vaporetto

The vaporetto is Venice’s primary mode of public transportation, and it’s main route along the Grand Canal offers some of the best up-close views of Venice’s grand palaces. Hop on the vaporetto near St. Mark’s Square or the train station and enjoy a leisurely ride along the canal.

You’ll pass by old palazzos, picturesque Venetian facades, and iconic landmarks like the Rialto Bridge.

Tickets: Single ride tickets on the vaporetto cost €9.50 and last 75 minutes. You can use your phone or credit card to pay with the tap on/tap off system. I suggest purchasing a daily or multi-day pass, as you get the most for your money. For more information on these tickets, visit the Venezia Unica site.

11. Gondola Ride

Hop on a gondola near Riva degli Schiavoni and glide through Venice’s smaller, more secluded canals. From the water, you’ll get to enjoy the city from an entirely different perspective, passing under small bridges and alongside historic buildings.

While a gondola ride can be a bit pricey, it’s an experience worth having at least once in your life. As of 2024, a 30-minute gondola ride costs €90 between 9:00 AM and 7:00 PM, and €110 from 7:00 PM to 4:00 AM.

12. Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute

Built in the 17th century, this beautiful Baroque church dominates the entrance to the Grand Canal. The church’s massive dome, or Cupola, is one of the most recognizable features of the Venetian skyline.

For €8, you can visit the top of the dome from Friday to Sunday for another beautiful view of the city and lagoon. Alternatively, the steps at the church’s entrance provide a lovely vantage point overlooking the canal.

Opening hours vary throughout the year; check out the official website for updated information.

13. Bridge of Sighs

The Bridge of Sighs is one of the most photographed bridges in Venice. Built in 1600, it served as a passageway connecting the interrogation rooms in the Doge’s Palace to the prisons. Its name is said to come from the sighs of prisoners as they crossed, catching their final glimpse of Venice before being led to their cells

You can walk across the bridge and explore the prisons during a visit to the Doge’s Palace and take a peek through the small windows. To get a photo of the bridge itself, head to the nearby Ponte della Paglia along the Riva degli Schiavoni or to the Ponte de la Canonica.

My Top 5 Views of Venice

1. San Giorgio Maggiore Campanile
2. St. Mark’s Campanile
3. Ponte dell’Accademia
4. St. Mark’s Basilica Terrace
5. Galleria Giorgio Franchetti alla Ca’ d’Oro

Map of Best Views in Venice

To save the map to Google Maps on your phone or computer, click the star next to the title. This will add it to your “Saved Maps” list, making it easy to access later on your phone.

To view a list of all the locations on the map, click the box with the arrow on the left. To enlarge the map, click the box on the right.