Things to do in Venice this weekend
A locals-first shortlist of what's worth your time in Venice this weekend — from outdoor escapes to standout food and live music.
Top spots in Venice
Burano & Murano Day
OutdoorsLagoon
Vaporetto to candy-coloured fishermen's houses and glass-blowing workshops.
Gondola at Dusk
OutdoorsSan Marco
Splurge for 30 minutes on a black lacquer boat — ask for the small canals.
Cannaregio Cicchetti Crawl
Food & DrinkCannaregio
Locals' bacaro route — fried sardines, baccalà mantecato, ombre wine by the glass.
Doge's Palace
CultureSan Marco
Gothic palace of secret itineraries, Tintoretto ceilings and the Bridge of Sighs.
St Mark's Square & Basilica
CultureSan Marco
Byzantine mosaics, golden altarpiece and the Campanile lift for the lagoon panorama.
Rialto Bridge & Market
Food & DrinkSan Polo
Morning seafood market under the most photographed bridge in the world.
Where to eat
Al Covo
$$$Modern Venetian · Castello
Husband-wife team — chef Cesare, host Diane — meticulous lagoon-driven menus.
Cantina Do Spade
$Cicchetti · San Polo
1488 osteria off the Rialto — meatballs, sarde in saor, ombre Prosecco.
Osteria alle Testiere
$$$$Venetian seafood · Castello
Nine tables, fresh-from-Rialto fish, no menu — reserve weeks ahead.
Trattoria da Romano
$$$Burano risotto · Burano
Hemingway hangout — risotto de gò and the freshest grilled fish on the island.
Bacaro Quebrado
$Cicchetti · Cannaregio
Stand-up natural-wine bar with a daily-changing chalkboard.
Live & on stage
Carnevale di Venezia
City-wide · Jan 31 – Feb 17 · Festival / Masquerade
Festa del Redentore
Giudecca Canal · Jul 18–19 · Fireworks / Boats
Venice Biennale
Giardini & Arsenale · May 9 – Nov 22 · Art / Architecture
Venice Film Festival
Lido · Sep 2–12 · Cinema
Frequently asked
- Locals' favourites right now: St Mark's Square & Basilica, Rialto Bridge & Market, Doge's Palace. The full list is curated weekly and balances outdoor, food, culture and live music picks.