Romantic things to do in Venice for couples
Venice is regarded as one of the most romantic cities in the world. If you visit, it’s not hard to see why.
It’s a city of canals lined waterside basilicas and bell towers, fine mansions and palaces, and one of the most beautiful squares in the world. It’s the perfect place for a Valentine’s weekend, an anniversary trip, or a short romantic couple’s break. You’ll be spoilt for choice when deciding which romantic things to put on your itinerary.
Below, you’ll find the best of these. Whether you want to explore the top sights in the city, take a romantic ride through the canals, sail out to the local islands, dine out in style, or even chill out on the beach, there’s something for everyone.
I have included 13 for you to choose from for your romantic trip!
You can also check out my itinerary for 2 days in Venice. This also gives you some practical information on how to get to Venice, how to get around and the best time of year to visit.
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Take a romantic gondola ride
Top of the list of romantic things to do in Venice must be to take a ride on a gondola.
The city comprises 118 small islands in a tidal lagoon and is full of canals (there are over 150!) and is often referred to as a ‘floating city’. So it’s no surprise that one of the most iconic images the city conjures up is of gondoliers taking couples on a romantic gondola ride through the waterways.
The Grand Canal is the main canal and flows past the main sights in the city. A boat ride on it is, therefore, a great thing to do.
However, it’s also interesting to sail through the quiet little canals off of this. This is preferable in many ways as the gondola isn’t competing with other traffic on the water. You also get to see some of the ‘real’ Venice, where the locals live away from the glitz and glamour of the main sights and thoroughfares.
A gondola ride is a really romantic thing to do and an unforgettable experience. There are plenty of different ones – from private rides to evening and sunset rides, and romantic trips with prosecco. So you’re bound to be able to find one that is perfect for you.
You can choose from the different types of gondola rides here.
Wander around one of the most beautiful squares in the world
Not far from the Grand Canal and in the heart of Venice, you’ll find St. Mark’s Square (Piazza San Marco). It is often included on lists of the most beautiful squares in the world, so it is a perfect place to spend some time on a couple’s city break.
With St. Mark’s Campanile (the Campanile di San Marco), a pencil-like bell tower standing sentry over its vast expanse, you can’t help but be impressed with the square’s splendour.
It is surrounded on three sides by elegant historic buildings. This includes the stunning St. Mark’s Basilica (the Basilica di San Marco), built in the 9th century to house the Saint’s remains and which was originally a private church for the city’s leaders.
Thankfully, the square is pedestrianised, so you should be able to get some great shots of your partner with some of the incredible views in the background. The best view by far is of the basilica’s Byzantine domes and portals and the Campanile on the fourth side of the square.
Get stunning views of the city from the top of the Campanile
Climbing the San Marco Campanile is a must if you want to share the experience of seeing the breathtaking views over this unique city with your loved one. It’s another thing to include as part of your romantic getaway.
The Campanile bell tower stands in front of St Mark’s Basilica. The current tower’s design dates from the 16th century. It was then rebuilt in the early 20th century after it had collapsed.
It is 99 metres tall and is the tallest building in Venice. It’s therefore an ideal spot from which to look out and admire the beauty of the city.
The views over Venice, the lagoon and its islands, and the mainland from the bell tower are incredible. Depending on the time of year that you visit, you might be able to look down over the city at sunset.
You can buy tickets to climb the Campanile here.
Go inside St. Mark’s Basilica
Given how stunning St. Mark’s Basilica is from the outside (take some time to admire the intricate, lavish designs and eye-catching gold mosaics), you’ll probably going to want to step inside.
You’ll discover that the interior is just as splendid (perhaps even more so) than the outside. The internal layout follows the design of the Greek cross, and the inside of the five massive domes are covered from head to foot with gold mosaics. The floor, all 2,099 metres of it, is covered in marble.
Take a romantic stroll along the Grand Canal
Given how much there is lining the Grand Canal and just how beautiful it is, a leisurely stroll along the water’s edge is a great thing to do.
Along the Canal, you’ll pass through numerous squares and see beautiful mansions and countless churches. There is no shortage of places to stop off for a bite to eat and something to drink. Many of these give you wonderful views of the water and the gondolas gliding gently past.
You can also plan your stroll so that it includes the four bridges that cross the Grand Canal: the Ponte di Rialto, Ponte dell’ Accademia, Ponte degli Scalzi, and Ponte di Costituzione.
The arched Rialto Bridge (Ponte di Rialto) is particularly stunning and is the oldest of all four. If you only have time to walk across one, this should be it. This is also another area where you’ll be able to get some great snaps of you and your partner.
Visit the Doge’s Palace (Palazzo Ducale)
A few minutes walk away from the Byzantine splendour of St Mark’s Basilica, you will find the Doge’s Palace, the one-time residence of the Doge, the city’s highest leader between the 8th and 18th centuries. Built in the Venetian Gothic style, it overlooks the Grand Canal and is spread over three wings.
The Palace is a treasure trove of Venetian art, culture, and history, so if this interests you, it’s worth adding to your list of things to do on a romantic break in Venice. You can explore the Doge’s Apartments, the institutional chambers, the prisons section, and an armoury section.
The interior is beautiful. There are rooms with beautiful wooden ceilings and marble decorations, a gold staircase (the Scala d’Oro), and an antechamber housing Girolamo Bassano’s The Angel appearing to the Shepherds.
The Doge’s Palace’s courtyard is also worth exploring, not least because it offers good views of part of St. Mark’s Basilica.
Admire the Bridge of Sighs (the Ponte dei Sospiri)
If you go to the Doge’s Palace, you must take a look at the Bridge of Sighs. This is a small, pretty 17th-century enclosed bridge that spans the Rio di Palazzo canal.
The bridge connects the Doge’s Palace to the nearby prison and was used to take prisoners to their cells.
On a tour of the Doge’s Palace, you may have already seen the inside of this bridge. But if not, you can admire it if you walk from the Palace alongside the quayside. You can also get excellent photos of it if you book a gondola ride that takes you underneath it.
Go to the opera
Italy is synonymous with opera, so if you get the chance, you should visit the spectacular Teatro La Fenice. Get dressed up, grab a pre-performance glass of wine, and treat yourselves to a spectacular show while you’re in the city.
Even if you don’t have time to catch a performance – the opera season runs only during certain months of the year – or opera isn’t something you particularly enjoy, you should definitely consider a tour of this magnificent building.
On a tour, you will see the interior of this ancient opera house. You can also learn about the theatre’s history, which dates back to 1792, the opera stars that have graced its stage, and some of the renowned building’s little-known secrets.
Book a romantic dinner
Venice is a beautiful city, so it goes without saying that there are plenty of places to head to for a romantic meal out and the opportunity to try out some Venetian cuisine. Many of these have fantastic waterside settings so you can look down onto the water with the lights from the nearby buildings twinkling in the darkness.
Among the recommended restaurants if you’re looking for romance, is the Restaurant Terrazza Danieli. It has a rooftop terrace restaurant with spectacular views across the lagoon.
There’s also Gio’s, which also has a terrace with views and is near the Opera House. This makes it a great place to combine with an evening at the opera.
However, Venice generally has an excellent choice of fantastic local restaurants – too many to single out any in particular – so I’d check out which are local to your accommodation when you’re visiting.
Sail over to the local islands
Venice is not just about the city centre sights and the Grand Canal. There are also some nearby islands you can sail over to.
The islands are all relatively small, so are perfect if you want to do a bit of sightseeing at a slower pace. I’d definitely suggest adding them to your sightseeing list for a romantic vacation.
One of these you can see from the quayside near St. Mark’s Square.
This much-photographed image of Venice is the Isola di San Giorgio Maggiore, with a bell tower standing over a basilica (the San Giorgio Maggiore basilica). The white marble building was completed in the late 16th century and has a collection of fine paintings, including works by Tintoretto and Ricci.
You can reach the island via the San Giorgio water bus.
Further into the Venetian lagoon, there are other islands, including Murano, Burano, and Torcello (you can travel to these using the Vaporetto water bus service which goes out to over 10 islands).
There is also a guided boat trip that covers all three islands, which is worth looking into.
Burano island is known for its lace but also for its brightly coloured houses. When we visited, we were told the houses are this bright so that in days gone by the fisherman could spot their houses through the fog as they were trying to get home.
Chill out on the beach
It might be hard to believe it, but Venice also has beaches! The most popular is the Lido. The seven-mile long island is located south of Venice, about 20 minutes away from the centre by water bus.
So if your romantic break is more about rest and relaxation and spending quality time together than sightseeing, this might be the place to head to.
A few beaches are free to use, but many are private and attached to the hotels here. So plan ahead if you want to pop to the beach while you’re on your short break – or maybe consider staying in this area.
Visit in February for Carnavele
February is the time to visit Venice if you want to enjoy Carnevale (specifically the couple of weeks leading up to Lent). It is a really unique experience, so if you want a late Valentine’s trip with a difference, or have an anniversary around this time, consider visiting at this time of the year.
Dating back to the mid 12th century, the festival sees the streets of the city filled with colourful mask wearers, and a flotilla can be seen gliding gracefully along the Grand Canal.
Visit in summer for Festa del Redentore done
If you visit in July and time it right (the third Sunday of July), you might be lucky enough to enjoy the canal-side fireworks that are a part of the Festa del Redentore (the Feast of the Redeemer).
Various events take place during this time, and the city takes on a vibrant ‘carnival-like’ atmosphere. This includes the construction of a temporary pontoon bridge across the Giudecca Canal so that people can walk back and forth, decorated boats moored on the canal, and live music and dancing.
The pinnacle is the fireworks display. You can see this from the water’s edge, but for a truly special romantic experience, you might want to try to book a cruise where you can eat, drink, and party while watching the festivities.
Romantic things to do in Venice
I hope you have a fantastically romantic time in Venice. If you’re looking for more ideas for romantic breaks, see my guide to some of the best European destinations for this.
I have also written a separate post on the top romantic things to do in London.
