By Bridget Castner ✔ Reviewed by travel expert Ben Braude
Everyone knows the main things to do in Venice - romantic gondola rides, St. Mark's Square, and Doge's Palace, to name a few.
But if you're searching for something more off-the-beaten-path, look no further than this article. We've put together a list of some of the most unique things to do in Venice.
Start exploring with our air-inclusive Venice vacations.
Flooded Crypt of San Zaccaria
This haunting, ethereal tomb can be found beneath the altar of the Church of San Zaccaria. This 10th century crypt is permanently flooded with lagoon water and is home to the bodies of 8 saints as well as various other ancient relics. When water fills the chamber to the floor level of the stairs, the walkway is impassable; however, when the water level is lower, you can enter the crypt through a raised walkway.
Pro tip: Make sure you wear shoes with a good grip, as the steps can be slick!
Lazzaretto Nuovo: The Quarantine Island
While most people visit Murano or Burano, Lazzaretto Nuovo is often overlooked. This island is located in the northern part of the Venice Lagoon. It was used as a quarantine base when the plague hit in 1576 and again in 1630. Thousands of sick people were moved to the island, and mass graves have been discovered all around it.
The most unique part about the island is the “Tezon Grande”, a massive shed used for airing out incoming goods. Today, it's home to a museum exhibit, and you can still see the graffiti on the walls from quarantined sailors. While visiting, you can also see open-air archaeological digs and walk the marshlands trail.
Please note: This is a protected archaeological site and is only accessible by prior arrangement for guided tours between April and October.
The Island of Sant'Andrea
In the 16th century, Venice was so wealthy that it needed a significant way to keep out pirates and enemy navies, so they built the massive Forte di Sant'Andrea on a small island to guard the entrance to the city. Today, this old stone fortress is mostly still standing, though it's now overgrown with wild greenery, giving it a peaceful, “lost in time” feeling.
Since you can only get there by a private boat tour, it's one of the best unique things to do in Venice where you can enjoy a quiet picnic, take in the beautiful views of the waters, and escape the heavy tourist crowds.
Corte del Volto Santo “Court of the Holy Face”
Tucked just off the busy path between the train station and the Rialto Bridge lies a quiet, historic courtyard that feels like a well-kept secret. It takes its name from the “Volto Santo”, a mysterious stone face carved into the wall that has watched over the square for centuries.
While nobody knows exactly where the carving came from, local lore suggests it represents the face of Christ. It is a wonderfully peaceful spot, hidden away from the tourist crowds, where you can step back in time and enjoy a bit of old-world atmosphere and understated beauty.
Rialto Market
The Rialto Market has been the sensory heartbeat of Venice since 1097. It was once the most important commercial center in the world, where spices from the East were traded for European silver. The market is split into two sections: the Erberia (vegetables and fruit), and the Pescheria (the iconic fish market).
While you're wandering through the fragrant stalls, check out market specialties like sarde in saod (fried sardines in marinated onions, raisins, and pine nuts), or moeche (small, soft-shell green crabs fresh from the lagoon). Note that the fish market portion is closed Sunday and Monday, and while the produce market is open Monday-Saturday, vendors usually wrap things up by 1 pm - so don't plan an afternoon visit!
Scala Contarini del Bovolo
The Scala Contarini del Bovolo is one of Venice's most enchanting “hidden in plain sight” treasures, tucked away in a tiny courtyard just steps away from the bustling San Marco district. This 15th-century masterpiece is a rare architectural mashup, seamlessly blending Renaissance elegance and Gothic construction with distinct Veneto-Byzantine flourishes.
Its layered history is as captivating as its spiral design; the staircase served as a dramatic backdrop for Orson Welles's 1952 Othello, and in 1859, the astronomer Ernst Wilhelm Tempel used its summit to discover the Merope Nebula. As you climb the 80 steps, the open-air arches offer cooling breezes and shifting perspectives of Venice's “sea of terracotta”. From this vantage point, you'll be eye-level with the domes of St. Mark's Basilica and the towering Campanile and enjoy a serene pocket of quiet far above the crowds of the piazza below.
Paired with some of the best things to do in Venice, these experience create a well-rounded escape to this iconic Italian destination. Which one of these stunning hidden gems in Venice will you visit?
