20 pictures of Venice, Italy that will make you want to visit

A visual guide with my best photos of Venice

Venice will forever remain one of the most beautiful cities I ever visited. And this is exactly the reason why I always want to return to take even more pictures. No matter how often you’ve been there before, La Serenissima will always take your breath away.

There are just so many things to do in Venice, there are some beautiful luxury hotels in Venice, and of course, there is an abundance of amazing photography spots in the city.

But in all honesty, I feel that instead of running around the island, crossing bridges hither and tither, barely stopping to take a breath because you only got one day in Venice might be a big mistake.

Beauty is around every corner. You just need to take some time to appreciate it. Sometimes a scene can look totally different depending on a light. And what might be a totally dull little bridge could turn into a true spectacle at sunset.

And do not discount the nighttime either. If you ask me, it’s actually my favorite time of the day in Venice. Then, things really quiet down and the city is almost at peace.

Even on the famous St. Mark’s Square, you will almost find no tourists after 10 PM. And if you ask me, that’s a very special feeling – standing on a spot that sees millions of tourists each year and having it all to yourself?

I also firmly believe in leaving the main pathways. Sure, the Canal Grande is epic and you should definitely take a water taxi or bus and enjoy the ancient Palazzos along the way.

But, you should definitely also visit the other parts of the city that barely see any tourists. I love the area behind St. Mark’s Square where you can find the old arsenal. Such a sweet photography spot in Venice!

In fact, just walking along the waterfront can be epic. So many, just stick to the few main attractions when in reality Venice is a city that grew over more than 1.000 years and the whole city is one big attraction – not just a few dots on a tourist map.

Now, I’m not saying you shouldn’t visit the Rialto Bridge. It’s beautiful and famous for a reason. But at the same time, you shouldn’t reduce the city to this one image.

The Doge’s Palace and St. Mark’s quite can be mentioned in the same breath. Both are worthy of your bucket list and probably 5 out of 10 postcards of Venice feature a picture of at least one of the two.

If you walk only a couple of meters further, you can take an especially beautiful picture: The island San Giorgio Maggiore with the gondolas moored at the San Marco waterfront.

If you got the time, take a water bus from here and explore the island and its ancient convent. Climb the clock-tower for a beautiful view of the whole Venetian lagoon (the only place where you can see it all!)

I personally like the view from the little lighthouse in front of the tranquil little island even more!

And talking about secret view-points. The Scala Contrarini del Bolvolo also offers a very unique view of the inner city. It’s a bit pricey (like 7 €) to climb the renaissance stairs, but worth it in my opinion.

Now, I could rant on and on, but I actually just want the pictures to speak for themselves. But there are a couple of things you should be aware of. Believe it or not, but Venice is actually even prettier within.

So, definitely don’t miss the chance to visit one of the ancient palazzos. Or maybe even stay at one. The Aman Venice could be a very good idea – it’s certainly my favorite hotel in the city now.

I visited during carnival this year and let me tell you how amazing this visit was. The city closed down only one week later and I cherish those impression like probably no other.

I finally had the time to explore beautiful Murano in full. Never really had the time on my previous vists, and what a shame that was!

Burano and Torcello also were on that list, and they might even be prettier. A waterbus will get you there in a bit over 40 minutes and you will not regret investing that time, believe me. It’s like the best Instagram spot in Venice! You’ll shoot pictures of everything – it’s all so colorful!

It feels a bit like a dollhouse version of Venice. When you are standing on one of the many rooftop terraces in the city, you cannot help but marvel at all the grandness – and Burano is like the cute, tiny, little sister city.

There are, however, no gondolas there. You’ll only see them crossing the Grand Canal, loaded with tourists from foreign countries, trying to catch a glimpse of the illustrious past the Venice and maybe snap a picture or two to make those who stayed at home a bit jealous.

This is, admittedly not especially hard. It’s a bit harder to find a quiet place during the day time. But I once heard somebody tell me how pigeons and tourists are an essential part of Venice, just like the gondolas and palazzos.

Oh..and the churches. Venice has some outstanding churches, and I’m sure you will be able to get your fill there. Not all of them allow taking pictures, but they are as beautiful from within as from without.

Anyway, I hope you enjoyed these pictures of Venice and my little walkthrough. These are difficult times, and I felt like adding a little joyful light. I hope I succeeded .

Norman