12 Beautiful Views of Venice (A Photographer’s Guide)

Venice is one of the most photogenic cities in Italy. Simply wander its canals and squares and you’ll come away with quite the compilation of photographs. But if you’re looking for elevated viewpoints and photography ideas, this guide has you covered.

We’ve visited Venice three times: once as a young family traveling on a tight budget, once as a couple, and once again with Tyler and Kara before a long hiking trip through the Dolomites. Over those three visits, we’ve really enjoyed seeking out the best photography spots in the city.

Some are obvious, like the Campanile and Ponte dell’Accademia. Others we stumbled upon almost by accident, like the cupola of the Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute, which we only learned about from a small sign inside the church. Photography is at the heart of how we travel, and this guide reflects that.

In this guide, we cover where to get the best views of Venice, with practical information on how to get the same photos, what each spot costs, and how much time to set aside.

Best Views of Venice: Our Top Picks

ST. MARK’S CAMPANILE | For 360° panoramic views from the highest point in Venice
RIVA DEGLI SCHIAVONI | For gondolas framed against San Giorgio Maggiore, plus the iconic Bridge of Sighs view
CHURCH OF SAN GIORGIO MAGGIORE | For 360° views back toward St. Mark’s Square
THE VAPORETTO | For a budget-friendly, moving view down the entire Grand Canal
A GONDOLA RIDE | For a low, water-level perspective you can’t get any other way
RIALTO BRIDGE | For the single most iconic view of the Grand Canal
PONTE DELL’ACCADEMIA | For the classic Grand Canal view toward the Basilica della Salute
BASILICA DI SANTA MARIA DELLA SALUTE | For an high viewpoint most visitors don’t know exists
SCALA CONTARINI DEL BOVOLO | For a unique spiral-staircase view over the San Marco rooftops

July 2026 Update: Removed the T Fondaco dei Tedeschi rooftop terrace, which remains permanently closed. Added the Grand Canal terrace at The Gritti Palace as a new viewpoint. Confirmed pricing and hours — verify current admission costs before you go, since these change year to year.

Best Views of Venice

In no particular order, here is our list of the best views of Venice. At the end of this guide, you can see them all on a map.

1. St. Mark’s Campanile

WHAT MAKES IT SPECIAL | The view from the top of St. Mark’s Campanile gives you something no other viewpoint in Venice offers: a 360° look across the entire city from its highest point, with the lagoon and the Grand Canal spread out below.

GOOD TO KNOW | An elevator whisks you to the top, so no stair climb is required, making it one of the easiest views on this list to reach. The campanile closes during high winds or cold weather, so build in a backup day if this is a priority. Only 30 tickets are released per time slot, so book online as soon as you know your travel dates.

St. Mark’s Campanile is the bell tower that looms over St. Mark’s Square, and it’s the highest point in the city. We’ve visited several times over different trips to Venice, and the view never gets old.

Our favorite view from the top is out over the lagoon and the Grand Canal, where you can watch the water taxis and vaporettos crisscrossing the water below.

View from St. Mark’s Campanile

View from the Campanile

2. The Terrace of St. Mark’s Basilica

WHAT MAKES IT SPECIAL | The terrace gives you something no other viewpoint offers: an up-close view of the intricate mosaics on the basilica’s façade, along with a view out over St. Mark’s Square itself.

GOOD TO KNOW | Not every basilica tour includes terrace access, so if you want to see it, book one that specifically does.

We visited the terrace on our third trip to Venice, and we’re so glad we did. The view out over the square is very nice, but the real draw for us was getting close enough to actually see the detail in the tilework and frescoes on the front of the basilica. These details that are impossible to make out from the square below.

St Marks Basilica Terrace

Mosaics on the façade of the basilica

St. Mark’s Campanile from the terrace

St. Mark’s Square from the terrace

How to Visit the Terrace of St. Mark’s Basilica

The terrace is accessed on a visit inside of St. Mark’s Basilica. Once inside the basilica, climb the stairs to Museum-Loggia dei Cavalli, and then you will climb a few more steps to get to the terrace.

Learn More: For more details on how to visit St. Mark’s Basilica and to see more photos, read our guide to How to Visit St. Mark’s Basilica ↓

St. Mark’s Basilica

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3. Riva degli Schiavoni

WHAT MAKES IT SPECIAL | Riva degli Schiavoni gives you two distinct views in one stop: gondolas floating against the backdrop of San Giorgio Maggiore across the lagoon, and, just a few steps away on Ponte della Paglia, the classic framed view of the Bridge of Sighs.

GOOD TO KNOW | For the best Bridge of Sighs photo, wait for a gondola to pass through the canal beneath the bridge, then convert the shot to black and white. It gives the photo a timeless quality.

Riva degli Schiavoni can be a crowded, busy place to visit, but with two strong viewpoints within a few steps of each other, it’s well worth pushing through the crowds.

From the promenade, look out across the lagoon to San Giorgio Maggiore and photograph the gondolas bobbing in the water with the church as a backdrop.

From nearby Ponte della Paglia, look down the canal for the iconic view of the Bridge of Sighs. This is one of our favorite photo spots in Venice. Wait for a gondola to glide through the canal below the bridge before you take the shot.

This bridge is labeled on our map below but if you aren’t quite sure where it is, here are the GPS coordinates: 45°26’01.1″N 12°20’27.5″E

Bridge of Sighs

4. From the Doge’s Palace

WHAT MAKES IT SPECIAL | Touring the Doge’s Palace gives you two unique views of Venice: the interior of the Bridge of Sighs, and a rare vantage point looking out over Riva degli Schiavoni.

GOOD TO KNOW | Both views are included in a standard Doge’s Palace ticket. No separate booking needed.

The Doge’s Palace (Palazzo Ducale) is a palace built in Venetian Gothic style. For centuries, it served as the residence of the Doge, the seat of government, and a palace of justice. Now it’s a museum, and touring it is worth doing regardless of these views. It’s one of the essential things to do in Venice.

The Bridge of Sighs

The Bridge of Sighs (Ponte dei Sospiri) is a bridge that crosses the Rio del Palazzo. From the windows of this bridge, prisoners on their way to execution would have this final view of the city.

View from the Bridge of Sighs

The View of Riva degli Schiavoni

As you tour the Doge’s Palace, you will have a great view looking out over the lagoon and along Riva degli Schiavoni. It’s not the most stunning view of Venice, but you get a sense of just how busy this place is, with people strolling the promenade and the large number of boats and gondolas coming and going from the docks.

Riva degli Schiavoni from Doge’s Palace

5. The Church of San Giorgio Maggiore

WHAT MAKES IT SPECIAL | From the bell tower, you look back at the heart of Venice: the Doge’s Palace, St. Mark’s Campanile, St. Mark’s Basilica, and Riva degli Schiavoni, all in one frame. It’s a view of the city’s most famous icons that almost nobody else bothers to see.

GOOD TO KNOW | This is best saved for a trip of two or more days in Venice, since getting out here and back takes real time.

We really liked this one. Getting here is half the experience: crossing the lagoon by vaporetto or water taxi gives you all kinds of great views of the canals and the lagoon along the way.

The view from the top is unique for exactly that reason. You’re looking back at the heart of the city instead of standing in the middle of it. Not many people venture out this way, so it’s also one of the quietest, least crowded views on this list.

The view from the bell tower of the Church of San Giorgio Maggiore

Another view from San Giorgio Maggiore

To get to the top of the bell tower, no steps are required. An elevator zips you to the top in just a matter of seconds. And once at the top, you get 360° views of the area.

Not many people venture out this way, so this is a great activity to do if you want to escape the crowds and get an amazing view of Venice.

6. From the Vaporetto

WHAT MAKES IT SPECIAL | Ride the vaporetto the length of the Grand Canal and you get a constantly changing parade of palazzos, bridges, and gondolas, all from water level, and without paying gondola prices.

GOOD TO KNOW | Grab a seat at the back of the boat for the best unobstructed view as the city unfolds around you.

We did this at the end of our first trip to Venice, and we loved it. We’d taken the vaporetto mostly to get from point A to point B, not really realizing how scenic the ride itself would be. Some of my favorite photos from that trip came from that short ride up the Grand Canal. If you don’t want to pay for a gondola ride, this is a great alternative.

View of the Grand Canal from the vaporetto

The Rialto Bridge

7. The Views of Venice from a Gondola

WHAT MAKES IT SPECIAL | Gliding through the canals on a gondola is another essential Venice experience, and it gives you a genuinely different view of the city. Sitting low on the water, you drift past buildings and along narrow canals you simply can’t see while walking the bridges above.

GOOD TO KNOW | The city sets an official rate, which increases after 7 pm; confirm the current rate and agree on price and duration with your gondolier before you climb in.

A gondola ride may be touristy and a bit cliché, but we still think it’s a must-do in Venice. We’ve done it several times and have always enjoyed the experience. Sitting that low on the water, and drifting through narrow canals, you get views of old worn doors and decaying, mossy bricks that you never you’d never notice from a bridge above.

The busiest place to hire a gondola is on the Grand Canal and on the canals between the Grand Canal and St. Mark’s Square. The canals located a 5 to 10-minute walk north and east from St. Mark’s Square tend to be much less crowded and just as scenic, and with a little extra walking, you can easily hire a gondola without a wait in line.

8. The Rialto Bridge

WHAT MAKES IT SPECIAL | The Rialto Bridge delivers one of the most iconic views of the Grand Canal in the city, and it’s genuinely wonderful from both sides, so make a point of shooting from each one.

GOOD TO KNOW | This is a great spot for a time-lapse video. Watching the dance of water taxis, vaporettos, and gondolas below is endlessly entertaining.

The Rialto Bridge is a must-visit for first-timers, even though it’s another touristy spot. It’s also the perfect spot for family photos. I still look back fondly on the photos we took here with our kids on our first visit to Venice.

Grand Canal from the Rialto Bridge

Another view from the Rialto Bridge

The bridge is free and always open. Shops selling jewelry, leather goods, and souvenirs run down its center. Expect to share the view with a crowd. This is one of the busiest spots in the city. Our favorite time to visit is in the evening, as the sun is setting.

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9. Ponte dell’Accademia

WHAT MAKES IT SPECIAL | This is my favorite view of Venice: the Grand Canal with the Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute as the main focal point.

GOOD TO KNOW | Visit at different times of day if you can. The light changes so much that the view never looks quite the same twice.

On every trip to Venice, I make it a point to visit this bridge several times, at different times of day. It always looks different, depending on the lighting.

The best angle looks east toward the Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute, a 400-year-old church that’s one of the city’s most famous landmarks, with the colorful buildings lining the Grand Canal in the foreground.

The view from Ponte dell’Accademia

The view from Ponte dell’Accademia at night

10. The Cupola of Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute

WHAT MAKES IT SPECIAL | The view from the cupola gives you something almost nobody else sees: the Grand Canal, the lagoon, Riva degli Schiavoni, and San Giorgio Maggiore, all with no lines and no crowds.

GOOD TO KNOW | The staircase is narrow and tightly spiraled. Skip this one if you’re claustrophobic or can’t manage a twisting climb.

This ornate basilica sits on the Grand Canal and forms the backdrop for the view from Ponte dell’Accademia. The view from its cupola is one of the best in Venice, and one that almost nobody knows about.

We didn’t know this was even possible until we noticed a small sign inside the basilica, and of course we had to climb it. To have these views with no lines and no crowds was a genuinely spectacular experience. On our visit, it was just Tim and me, the attendant, and one other couple.

11. Scala Contarini del Bovolo

WHAT MAKES IT SPECIAL | From the observation terrace, you look out over the rooftops of the San Marco sestiere. It’s a different kind of Venice view, though don’t expect to pick out many of the city’s icons from here.

GOOD TO KNOW | We purchased tickets onsite and didn’t have to wait in line, though this can vary in peak season.

The Palazzo Contarini del Bovolo is a small palazzo famous for the spiral staircase that leads to its observation terrace.

This spot comes up on a lot of “best views of Venice” lists, and it’s easy to see why. It’s a simple visit and gives you a genuinely different angle on the city. That said, we liked it, but not as much as everything else on this list.

Scala Contarini del Bovolo

12. Bar Longhi, The Gritti Palace

WHAT MAKES IT SPECIAL | Bar Longhi sits right on the Grand Canal, so you’re dining with a view of the Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute and gondolas drifting by, instead of just photographing it from a bridge.

GOOD TO KNOW | A reservation is required, and it’s on the pricier end for Venice dining. Book ahead, especially for a terrace table at midday.

We had lunch here, dining on pasta and salads on the terrace. Watching gondolas drift by with the basilica as a backdrop made for one of our best meals with a view in Venice. As a bonus, you also get a glimpse of the Gritti Palace itself, one of the city’s top luxury hotels.

We liked this view more than the rooftop at Hotel Danieli, another of Venice’s luxury hotels. The Grand Canal vantage point here is hard to beat.

This photo was taken several years ago and the scaffolding is gone.

Best Views of Venice on a Map

Our Favorite Views of Venice

If you have limited time in Venice and can only visit a few spots, we narrowed the list down to our favorite views of Venice:

• Ponte dell’Accademia
• The Cupola of Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute
• St. Mark’s Campanile
• The Bridge of Sighs from Ponte della Paglia
• From a gondola
• The Rialto Bridge

Best Time to Visit Venice for Views

We’ve photographed these viewpoints across three trips to Venice, in different seasons and different crowd levels, and timing changes the experience more here than in almost any other Italian city. Midday sun flattens the color out of the canals, and a crowded Rialto Bridge can make it hard to even get to the railing.

The golden hour before sunset is, hands down, the best light for the Grand Canal viewpoints. Ponte dell’Accademia and the Rialto Bridge both come alive as the light turns warm and the crowds start to thin.

Late fall through winter brings the risk of acqua alta (seasonal flooding), which can close ground-floor viewpoints and walkways with little notice, so if you’re traveling in that window, build flexibility into your plans.

• Spring (April–May): Comfortable temperatures, blooming light, and moderate crowds; one of the best windows for photography.
• Summer (June–August): Long daylight hours mean more time for golden-hour shooting, but expect heat, humidity, and the heaviest crowds of the year at every viewpoint on this list.
• Fall (September–October): Beautiful light and fewer crowds than summer, but watch for the start of acqua alta season toward late October.
• Winter (November–March): The quietest season by far, with atmospheric fog and misty photos, but acqua alta is most likely, and some viewpoints (like open-air terraces) are less pleasant in the cold.

Photography Tips for Venice

• Shoot at golden hour. Venice’s canals reflect light beautifully, and the warm, low-angle sun in the hour before sunset is the single best time to photograph the Grand Canal, the Rialto Bridge, and Ponte dell’Accademia.
• Go early for the icons. St. Mark’s Square, the Rialto Bridge, and the Campanile are all far less crowded in the first hour after opening. If a shot matters to you, get there before the crowds do.
• Bring a wide-angle lens for the canals and a mid-range zoom for compressed shots of the skyline from elevated spots like San Giorgio Maggiore or the Salute cupola.
• Use the vaporetto as a moving tripod. Some of our favorite, most relaxed Grand Canal shots came from simply riding the No. 1 line and shooting from the open deck.
• Check tripod policies before you go. Tripods are generally not permitted inside St. Mark’s Basilica or on some terraces; a monopod or simply steadying against a railing is a safer bet for interior and terrace shots.
• Time the twilight spots deliberately. Ponte dell’Accademia, in particular, goes from crowded to nearly empty right around dusk, a noticeably different experience (and photo) than the same spot at noon.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best view of Venice?

Ponte dell’Accademia is our personal favorite, with its classic view of the Grand Canal and the Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute, but St. Mark’s Campanile gives you the best single orientation view of the whole city.

Is it worth climbing St. Mark’s Campanile?

Yes. At €15, it’s one of the pricier viewpoints on this list, but it’s also the highest point in Venice, with a 360° view that helps you get oriented for the rest of your trip.

What is the best time of day to photograph Venice?

The hour before sunset, when the light turns warm and crowds at spots like the Rialto Bridge and Ponte dell’Accademia begin to thin out.

Do I need to book Venice viewpoints in advance?

For St. Mark’s Campanile, yes. Book a timed slot online, since only 30 tickets are released per time slot. Most of the other viewpoints on this list don’t require advance booking, though the Doge’s Palace and St. Mark’s Basilica benefit from a skip-the-line ticket in high season.

Is the T Fondaco dei Tedeschi terrace still closed?

Yes, as of this update. The rooftop terrace has been closed since the store closed in 2025, and there’s no confirmed reopening date. We’ll update this guide if that changes.

Explore More of Venice & Italy

Ready to plan the rest of your Venice trip, or fit it into a bigger Italy itinerary? These guides will help.

• Want more than views? Our Best Things to Do in Venice rounds out the picture with museums, day trips, food, and a few hidden gems, based on three visits.
• Short on time? Our One Day in Venice Itinerary lays out three different ways to spend a single day, depending on whether you want the highlights, the quiet canals, or a mix of both.
• First time in Venice? Our 2 Days in Venice Itinerary walks you through the best way to spend two days here, refined over three visits.
• Building a longer Italy trip? Our 10 Days in Italy: 5 Itineraries guide breaks down five different routes, depending on your travel style and priorities.
• Want everything in one place? Visit our Italy Travel Guide for all of our Italy content.

If you have any questions about the best views in Venice, or if you want to share your favorite viewpoints, let us know in the comment section below.

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