23+ Stunning Instagrammable Places and Photo Spots in Venice, Italy

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Now that I live in the Veneto and have visited the lagoon city numerous times, I know all of the most Instagrammable places in Venice, Italy.

Seriously. At last count, I’ve taken more than 5,000 pictures of this captivating city, and I’m always taking more. If you look through some of my other posts on Venice, almost every picture is my original image.

Every beautiful moment stands along and deserves to be captured, so while my phone isn’t thrilled with its lack of storage space, I treasure all of these pictures. 

Whether you’re planning to spend 2 days in Venice or 2 hours, you deserve to walk away with some stunning captures for your memories too from a few of the best photo spots in Venice. 

The Most Instagrammable Places in Venice, Italy

The picturesque Piazza San Marco

The Piazza San Marco is one of the most famous squares in the world. It’s home to Basilica di San Marco (St. Mark’s Basilica) and surrounded by many of the most important buildings in the photogenic city, including the Palazzo Ducale (the Doge’s Palace), the Biblioteca Marciana (Marciana Library), and the Museo Correr (Correr Museum). 

Any of these famous landmarks make for an excellent spot for photos in Venice. In fact, you should make it your mission to capture them all while you’re here–during the day and at night! Since it’s jam-packed during the day, you’ll see fewer people here at night and feel like you have the whole landmark to yourself.

Although pictures from this Piazza in Venice are iconic at any time of year, it comes alive during the Carnevale celebrations every year in February.

The event attracts thousands of visitors, who come to enjoy the atmosphere and the music. During the festival, the streets are covered with lights, and Piazza San Marco is filled with performers dressed in historical costumes. There are also other activities all around the beautiful city to celebrate the season.

The view from the Campanile di San Marco

Every grand cathedral needs a stunning bell tower, and the Campanile di San Marco is no exception. The tower’s construction began in the early 10th century and lasted around 500 years, with many building phases. Despite such effort, the building collapsed in 1902 and was painstakingly rebuilt by 1912.

Visitors access the observation platform for just €10 per person, offering impressive city views! Head inside to buy a ticket before taking the elevator to the top–one of the advantages of being rebuilt in the 20th century.

You’ll see 360-degree views of Venice’s sights from up here, including the Grand Canal and the Rialto Bridge. 

Gondolas on the Riva degli Schiavoni

Since you’re already in Piazza San Marco, walk your way over to the water’s edge. Gondolas are docked here, bobbing serenely at the entrance to the Grand Canal, with boats floating by in the distance. You’ll see why this is one of the most popular Venice Instagram spots. 

If you want to stand on the gondola pier to snap a perfect shot, you can; but please be respectful of boaters who are actually using the dock. Standing in front of the boats is also a great capture without holding up a landing during a busy day. 

The beautiful bridges in front and behind the Bridge of Sighs 

The Bridge of Sighs (Ponte dei Sospiri) connects the jail cells to the Doge’s Palace across the Canal. Built around 1600, the story goes that convicts sentenced to imprisonment would walk across the historic bridge from their sentencing to the prisons and sigh while seeing their beloved Venice one last time through the bridge windows.

There are two bridges, one on either side of the Bridge of Sighs, where you can take beautiful pictures of the iconic structure. 

Standing on the Ponte della Paglia will give you a picture like the first one here, with the Bridge of Sighs framed by the romantic city in the background. 

While Ponte de Canonica will give you this iconic second shot of the Bridge of Sighs, with the Ponte della Paglia and the Lagoon opening up in the background.

You can also turn around on the Ponte della Paglia for beautiful pictures of the Venetian Lagoon with the Church of San Giorgio Maggiore and Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute across the water.

From the Ponte di Rialto

You can’t leave Venice without taking pictures at the Rialto Bridge, one of the most iconic bridges in the city. In fact, it’s an essential landmark on my bucket list of Venice activities.  

The Rialto Bridge, one of the world’s most iconic bridges, spans the Grand Canal and connects the city’s two sides. The beautiful stone bridge that stands here today was built in 1591. 

There are two sides to the famous bridge, so as you cross the Grand Canal from one side of town to the other, enjoy the stunning views from both sides.

Also, there are tons of tourists taking pictures here all day, every day. But, if you want to avoid people getting in the picture, then try going during the early morning when the city is still sleeping. And even if you do come in the morning, you should also consider coming back at sunset for more.

Behind the Palazzo dei Camerlenghi on a small corner near the Rialto Bridge

If you want to capture the Ponte di Rialto itself, the best photo spots in Venice for this are along the Grand Canal with the iconic Rialto Bridge in front of you.

Most people stand on one of the docks to capture the bridge up close. Although this is a great picture and one that I couldn’t resist either, it’s another bustling spot. You’ll be surrounded by other tourists trying to take the same beautiful shot, workers using the docks for their boats, and people eating at the restaurants that line the Canal. 

Instead, head over to the Palazzo dei Camerlenghi. A small corner right behind the building offers an unparalleled view of the iconic bridge. There’s basically no way for another tourist to walk into your shot.

From on top of the Ponte degli Scalzi

You don’t have to travel far into Venice to capture incredible shots! The Scalzi Bridge sits right in front of the Stazione di Santa Lucia, Venice’s train station–and it’s pretty photogenic if I say so myself!

My favorite ways to capture this bridge are from the gondola stand right next to it or the view while you’re standing on top. Since this bridge is typically the first location someone goes when arriving in Venice, it’s a special picture since it’ll be your first view of this magnificent metropolitan city. 

On the Ponte dell’Accademia

The Ponte dell’Accademia is the other most photographed bridge in Venice, connecting two city districts–the Dorsoduro and the San Marco districts.

Once you’re on the Accademia Bridge, turn to see the most perfect view of Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute sitting at the end of the Grand Canal. Gondolas glide by beside polished wooden boats, while the historic facades of the buildings appear to float over Venice’s watery landscape.

My favorite time to photograph this view is at sunset when the whole world seems to glow with golden light, and sunrise would also be gorgeous from this viewpoint. 

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Basically, every bridge in Venice

As incredible as the views are from these significant bridges, every bridge in Venice can basically be transformed into your own perfect photo backdrop.

Most of the smaller canals are not very well-visited by tourists, so you probably won’t run into any crowds.

Whether you’re on a bridge with a bit more traffic and notice a beautiful palazzo facade in the background.

Or you find yourself standing on a small secluded bridge, deep in one of Venice’s six neighborhoods. Take a moment to appreciate the view and capture a picture for your memories. 

And almost every street

With the same idea, as you walk down these quirky twisting streets in Venice, you’ll definitely stumble onto something incredible you want to capture. 

Maybe you’ll pop out into a secluded campo. Or you’ll find yourself surrounded by beautiful old buildings with attractive facades. 

Keep an eye out for these magical moments that can quickly become an original and memorable photo spot in Venice for you. 

At the Gondola Traghetto stop on the Riva del Vin

As you walk along the Riva del Vin next to the Grand Canal in the San Polo neighborhood, pause a moment at the traghetto stop and take in the view. Most days, you’ll find gorgeous gondolas docked here, bobbing peacefully in the water all in a row. 

It’s one of those beautiful little Venice photo spots I can’t resist capturing whenever I walk by. There’s something so beautiful and peaceful about their momentary permanence in this busy area. 

A gondola ride on the canals

The best way to capture the beauty of Venice is by seeing the city the way it was meant to be seen–from the water. 

One of the most Instagrammable places in Venice is the view from a gondola as you glide over the narrow canals.

The gondolier will take you around and stop at various points so you can snap beautiful photos and enjoy the beautiful architecture and views of the lagoon. 

If you want the best experience, you should book a private Grand Canal by Gondola with Commentary tour.

This way, you’ll have the whole gondola ride with your group and the guide, so you can take whatever pictures you want while learning more about this historic city. 

The DFS Rooftop Terrace at T Fondaco dei Tedeschi

The Fondaco dei Tedeschi is an upscale shopping mall found just a few streets from the Rialto Bridge in the heart of Venice. The inside has been meticulously planned to retain the structure’s historical character while providing levels of retail area.

Dating back to the 14th century, German traders in the Venetian Republic were forced to live here. More recently, it was the city’s principal post office. 

As one of the most extraordinary free things to do in Venice, you can now enjoy panoramic views of the city from its rooftop. It’s free to reserve a ticket to visit the T Fondaco Rooftop Terrace; however, you must do so in advance. It’s a popular viewpoint in the city, and tickets usually aren’t available same-day.

Inside Teatro la Fenice

If you’re looking to visit the most Instagrammable spots in Venice, don’t forget to check out the inside of this gorgeous theater. 

The Teatro La Fenice first opened its doors in the 18th century, only five years before the collapse of the Republic of Venice. The current theater is a replica of the original, which was destroyed by arson in 1996. 

Operas by some of the most renowned composers, including Rossini, Bellini, Donizetti, and Verdi, have premiered here throughout its history. It’s now regarded as one of the most significant landmarks in the history of opera. 

While the outside of the theater is a beautiful picture, the inside is truly outstanding. I had the opportunity to see a ballet from one of the boxes, and I felt like I was stepping back in time.

If you don’t have a chance to see a production at this theater in Venice at night, you can book a self-guided audio tour to learn about the theater, walk around inside, and take some stunning shots.

The tip of Venice at Punta della Dogana

At the end of the Grand Canal, if you keep walking beyond the Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute, you’ll come to Punta della Dogana. The tip of this island juts out between the Grand and Giudecca Canals. 

It’s one of the most remote places to walk to in Venice, but the views are spectacular once you get there.

Because of how the light shines on the sea over the short strip of land, it’s one of the best photo spots in Venice, Italy, and one of my favorite sites to watch the sunset.

The spiral staircase at Palazzo Contarini del Bovolo

Palazzo Contarini del Bovolo is a small palace found down a narrow street in Venice. It’s famous for its spiraling “snail” staircase–bovolo means snail in the Venetian dialect–which connects six loggia levels and has 80 steps. The ornamentation consists of alternating bricks and white stone from Croatia’s Istria region.

You can buy a ticket to enter the Palazzo and, of course, ascend the Scala Contarini Del Bovolo to the Belvedere at the top to take in the view. The entrance fee is less than €10 for adults. 

When you see it in person, you’ll definitely understand why it deserves to go on the list of the top Venice Instagram spots! Although you won’t be along a canal, you’ll have an interesting perspective of Venice from above.

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Inside the Libreria Acqua Alta

From the street, this place looks like any other touristy shop spilling postcards onto the sidewalk. Inside, though, is a different story. Libreria Acqua Alta is unapologetically chaotic as if it were an extension of the city itself.

It’s an eclectic bookstore with many sections, including books about travel, history, art, and more. There’s also a bathtub and a gondola full of books inside. 

Since it’s directly on a canal, you can see the view by climbing up a stairway of books or sitting on the Canal in a gondola they have docked next to their water-facing entrance. If you’re lucky, you could glimpse one of their adorable cats prowling the shelves!

The bookshop is open daily, but if you want to avoid the crowds, I suggest heading there first thing in the morning. Otherwise, you can go anytime during the day and still get great pictures.

Since they’re both iconic Venice photo spots, people usually line up to get a selfie with the book staircase or next to the gondola parked on the Canal. If there is a line, you just have to stay calm and wait for a few minutes to take your own picture!

The beautiful Chiesa di San Giorgio Maggiore

Did you know famous Impressionist painter Claude Monet was artistically inspired by the view from this church, too? Chiesa di San Giorgio Maggiore, also the name of the island on which it is located, is dedicated to Saint George and was the home of the San Giorgio Monastery from 982 to 1812. 

The Fondazione Giorgio Cini cultural center and library archive, the Labirinto Borges labyrinth, the open-air theater Teatro Verde, and the Vatican Chapels are also located here on San Giorgio Maggiore island. You’ll find it quieter than many other parts of Venice, and it’s easy to get there by water taxi. 

While San Giorgio Maggiore itself is a beautiful church, the view of the top of the bell tower is magnificent. The Campanile di San Giorgio has one of the most incredible views of Venice, with the entire city spread out in front of you.

 You can see the whole lagoon from up here and even get a glimpse of the other islands. If you check the sunset hours ahead of time, plan to visit when the city is bathed in golden hour sunlight. Then wait for the sun to set and watch the sky turn pink and orange.

The Gondola Dogana Vallaresso stop by Harry’s Bar

Almost directly in front of the famous Harry’s Bar is a small gondola station called Gondola Dogana Vallarese. If you stand at the end of the pier, you can take a picture of the Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute with the Canal behind it.

This is one of my all-time favorite Venice Instagram spots. I remember taking this image on my first day visiting the coastal city after moving to Italy. I couldn’t believe a completely unprompted picture could be this perfect.

At the end of Calle del Megio

This is the newest edition to my list of best Instagram spots in Venice–as in, I discovered it on my most recent trip to the city!

I noticed while visiting the Museo di Storia Naturale Giancarlo Ligabue (Natural History Museum) in Venice that the Casinò di Venezia was just across the canal. A fascinating fact about Venice is that in 1638, il Casinò di Venezia was first opened for the Carnevale season. And as of today, it’s one of the oldest still in operation worldwide!

I really wanted to get a picture of the historic building from straight on, and we noticed a ledge right in front on the opposite side of the Canal. It turned out to be this perfect hidden photo spot!

You need to walk to the end of the street named Calle del Megio in the Cannaregio district, right next to the Palazzo Mocenigo: Study Centre of the History of Textiles, Costumes and Perfume.

Insider Tip: Both the Museo di Storia Naturale Giancarlo Ligabue and Palazzo Mocenigo: Study Centre of the History of Textiles, Costumes, and Perfume are included in most Venetian city passes! You can take a look at my comparison guide for Venice passes if you’re trying to figure out which one is right for you.

From the Sacca de la Misericordia Marina

Although most modern Venetians don’t own boats, the ones that do need to park them somewhere! The Sacca de la Misericordia Marina is in the Cannaregio District, at the end of the Fondamente de la Misericordia. 

This street is the center of local life in this neighborhood, with several outstanding restaurants right next to the Canal.

The marina is beautiful to see around sunset, with all the motorboats docked for the evening. In the distance, you can see the Cimitero di San Michele (San Michele Cemetery) island close off-shore and, on a clear day, the snow-capped peaks of the Dolomites far out in the distance.

In Campo San Barnaba

Ready to–almost–recreate an iconic movie moment? In the movie Summertime (1955,) classic cinema actress Katharine Hepburn fell into a canal right in front of Campo San Barnaba and was rescued by Venetians. 

Fun Fact: Hepburn had to fall into the Canal numerous times during filming to capture all of the necessary angles. She suffered from a persistent eye infection for the rest of her life due to her time in the Canal. All for a (movie) picture!

Although you can’t swim in the canals in Venice, that shouldn’t stop you from recreating a classic Katharine Hepburn look in the same campo. The square, the church, and even the shop featured in the movie (now unoccupied) are almost totally unchanged from the 1950s.

Anywhere on Burano Island

Burano is a small, colorful island in the Venetian Lagoon famous for its needle-point lace-making style. While you can buy a piece of handmade lace from many of the island’s shops, Burano makes this list of the most Instagrammable places in Venice for its colorful houses. 

As the story goes, fishermen who lived on the island would paint their houses bright colors to distinguish their homes from their neighbors so they could be spotted from far away on the water. Regardless of whether or not that’s true, the colored houses are part of what makes Burano so magical to visit and fantastic to capture in a picture.

One colorful house in particular on the island stands out from the rest. Casa di Bepi was once home to film aficionado Giuseppe Toselli, who used to arrange movie nights and sell candies in the town square. Although he has passed away, the house he painstakingly painted over the years has been restored to showcase all the geometric shapes in their glory. 

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Tips for Taking Amazing Pictures in Venice

Choose your outfit in advance and wear comfortable shoes

I rarely do outfit changes on my days out in Venice. Instead, I think about where I plan to go and what colors I want to emphasize.

Blues, greens, and vivid reds are always great choices for Venice. Still, you can always look up locations on Google Maps or use my pictures in this post as inspiration for your day’s outfit.

Although I understand the desire to pack lightly for a day around town, you won’t be able to walk by the end of the day if you spend it in high heels. Since you’ll be walking quite a bit, I recommend wearing comfortable shoes. Stick with wedges or cute flats, and bring a bag with any outfit changes you might want to make.

Come in the offseason

Venice never really has a low season, but there are times when you’ll see fewer tourists. If you’re coming to Venice during the winter, you might be able to avoid the crowds altogether.

Although it’s cold in the winter, some of the pictures I’ve taken were on the coldest days, when it felt like I had the whole city to myself.

Another season when it’s worthwhile to visit Venice? In the spring, when the weather starts getting nice and warm and flowers are beginning to bloom. But, remember, the warmer it gets, the more tourists you’ll find! 

Wake up early and get outside

If you want a great shot of Venice, wake up early. If you go out before sunrise, you will be able to see the city as few others can. There will likely be other photographers, but chances are you’ll still have the place all to yourself. Even though the pictures you’ll take at any time of day will be beautiful, the city is at its best when there aren’t crowds of tourists everywhere.

My Recommended Camera Gear

I’ve been using a Nikon D3400 for years! It’s a great “beginner” DSLR camera if you’re just learning different settings. And, it has enough features and options to carry you with different lenses once you’re more advanced. Although the D3400 isn’t available anymore. The Nikon D3500 is very similar and still a great camera!

For lenses, bring whatever you like best and makes sense for you, as well as a wide-angle if you have one. I don’t usually bring a tripod, but that’s usually because I’m traveling with someone who can take pictures of me. If I start traveling to Venice alone more often, I will absolutely bring my small flexible tripod.

Or, if you’re not a DSLR person, most cellphones have a wide-angle option now, which really makes a difference in capturing the whole scene before you.

Most of the pictures I take of Venice are on my iPhone with a wide-angle lens. You can take great photos with your phone!

Venice is truly a photographer’s playground with tons of amazing photo opportunities. With iconic landmarks and colorful buildings, you’re sure to capture gorgeous photos throughout the city.

Which do you think are the best photo spots in Venice, Italy?

Lyndsay

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