6 Unique Things to do on Vacation in Venice, Italy

Last updated on May 11th, 2023 at 01:53 pm

I don’t just love Venice. I LOVE Venice. From the first time I visited, I was completely entranced. It is such a beautiful city which seems lost in time. I love just about everything here: the food, the San Marco Plaza, Doge’s palace, the Rialto Bridge, and more. And San Marco Basilica will always be my favorite church to visit in Europe! But, in this post, I want to give a little list of things to help you expand your experience beyond the top sites. Here, I present to you my own personal list of the top 6 unique things to do while on vacation in Venice, Italy! (Including the best place to buy a legitimate Venetian mask!)

***Disclaimer: Be sure to check the restrictions and entry requirements for Italy as well as any activity you wish to participate in before booking any part of your journey.

1. Get Unique Photos on a Venice Photography Tour

Honestly, I can’t believe I didn’t think of doing this sooner! You might have noticed that I am quite an avid photographer. But, oftentimes, I feel like we miss out on the opportunities to get really great photos of my husband and I together. I mean, the average fellow tourist can be rather helpful in snapping a few shots. But, oftentimes they are intimidated by a DSLR camera. And, it can be a challenge to describe the vision for a shot (especially if the other person doesn’t speak English).

So, as I was looking up things for us to do on our second trip to Venice, I came across some photo shoot opportunities. I decided right then that that’s what we needed to do. I mean, what could be better than doing that in city that we both love so much? And it truly was a fabulous chance to get beautiful and unique pictures all over the extraordinary city of Venice.

Booking this tour took all the stress and frustration out of the equation. And, what made it even better was that we got a variety photos; both in the most famous locations as well as off the well-worn paths of Venice. (as you can see from the photos above) I know that we will cherish these beautiful shots for the rest of our lives.

Recommendations:

Here is the link for the photography tour we did with Enzo through AirBnb. It was a great tour and I highly recommend it. He was easy to work with and even suggested poses for us, which I appreciated a lot.

Pro Tip: Your photography tour should be as early in the morning as possible! (Unless, of course, you want hoards of strangers in your special pictures.)

2. Experience Unique Music Opportunities in Venice

Did you know that Italy is the birthplace of opera? It is also the birthplace of many great composers and musicians: Antonio Vivaldi, Giacomo Puccini, Giuseppe Verdi, Scarlatti, Andrea Bocelli, and Luciano Pavarotti. At that point, it almost seems to be an obligation to see a performance during your stay in Italy.

Even if you’re planning to visit other places around Italy, I think that you will find that Venice has some pretty amazing and unique places to experience music.

Fun Fact: Antonio Vivaldi was born here and Venetians are very proud of that fact! You visit the little Museo della Musica di Venezia (Music Museum of Venice) to learn more about Vivaldi and his contemporaries. They also have a nice little collection of music manuscripts and musical instruments!

Musica Palazzo

The performance we saw at Musica Palazzo was one of the most memorable music performances of my life. (And I have been to a LOT of classical music concerts.)

First off, the performances take place inside an old palace in the city of Venice. The various acts of the opera take place in different rooms of the palace. This means that as the opera progresses, you will be moving throughout the palace. And, instead of the performers being separated from the audience, you are actually in the room, experiencing the scene with them. And, at certain moments in the performance, you may find yourself being handed a glass for a toast or momentarily whisked into a dance scene. For me, this truly made this one of the most unique things I have done in Venice.

For more information on upcoming performances, tickets, and prices, please check out the Musica Palazzo website.

Church of San Vidal

We were fortunate to see a lovely chamber concert at the Church of San Vidal on our second visit to Venice. We were both completely entranced by the experience. First of all, the interior of the church is very grand, making it a unique setting to experience music in Venice. On top of that, the group that was performing was fantastic and incredibly talented. Even though Baroque style music is not my favorite, that concert won my heart.

The schedule changes a lot as performers are brought in from all over. For more information on upcoming performances, tickets, and prices, please check out the Church of San Vidal website.

3. Get a Unique View From the Top at T Fondaco dei Tedeschi

View of Christine and Sebastian on T Fondaco dei Tedeschi viewing platform in Venice

View of Ponte Rialto from T Fondaco dei Tedeschi viewing platform in Venice

The T Fondaco dei Tedeschi is an important historic building located near the Ponte Rialto. It was once at the epicenter of Venice’s economy. Here, all kinds of lavish goods were traded: furs, murano glass, leather, lace, and velvet. Later, in 1808, it was transformed into the main Venetian post office. Nowadays, it is a luxury shopping center with four floors of goods to explore.

Its rooftop terrace is one of the best places to get a beautiful view of Venice. Even better, it’s completely free!! All you have to do is reserve your tickets for free on their official website. And, you will definitely want to make your reservation before your trip. The spots are limited (especially due to covid) and they are claimed quickly.

4. Shop for Real Venetian Masks at Ca’ Macana

If you are looking for a real Venetian mask, I highly recommend going to Ca’ Macana. They are true mask Venetian makers and artists. Their masks have also been featured in important film productions like Eyes Wide Shut by Stanley Kubrick and theaters such as the Vienna Opera House.

They are truly committed to educating people about the art of Venetian mask making and the history of the Venetian Carnival. You can even sign up for one of their mask courses! Here, you will learn how to make your own papier-mâché mask, or decorate a pre-prepared mask, or both combined! This is an especially great option for families with kids because it is educational and fun!

They have a couple of different stores across the island and each one has a unique selection. If you are interested in buying one of their masks, I would suggest visiting all three of them before making a final decision. For more information, feel free to visit their official website!

5. Get Lost exploring the Unique Alleys and Bridges in Venice

This is one of the most fun and interesting things to do in Venice. As you make your way lazily through narrow alleyways you will come across all kinds of churches, buildings, unique doors and windows, and sites that seem to be hidden from the average tourist. You will stumble upon little plazas, and watch the boats and gondolas drift by as you cross bridges (no two are exactly alike). This is how you discover the “real Venice”. This is the best way to immerse yourself in this impossibly beautiful place.

Maybe you agree with the sentiments of some: that Venice seems “touristy”. Or, maybe it’s too much like something straight out of a movie or Disneyland. But, the more lost you become, the more you realize that what you are experiencing is indeed real life. So, as you wander, check out the shops, chat with the locals, learn about their lives here (the joys and challenges of living in a “floating city”), and maybe even find some fun souvenirs along the way!

6. Take a Day Trip to Nearby Trieste, Italy

Trieste is a wonderful, historical city located nearby. While it is often overlooked in favor of Venice, it has much to offer visitors since it is the “coffee capital of Italy”, a literary capital, the location for the beautiful Miramare Castle, and so much more!

To learn more about all the best things to do in Trieste, Italy, check out my post: The Best Things to do When You Visit Trieste, Italy!!

If you are planning to stay in Venice and you don’t have a vehicle with you, there are plenty of great public transportation options. Personally, I recommend the train, and you can find great train connections from Venezia Santa Lucia to Trieste Centrale on the TrenItalia website. Even if you are staying just outside of Venice (for example in Mestre), there are also many train options!

In Conclusion

I hope that you have an incredible time discovering all the unique things Venice has to offer. And, I would love to hear about your favorite things you’ve done in Venice in the comments below! 🙂

Happy Travels,
<3 Christine