Venice needs no introduction. The world-famous floating city in Italy has been featured in so many Hollywood films, TV shows, books, video games and modern media, that everyone knows what it looks like. Theme parks and malls around the world build artificial canals just to replicate the look and feel of Venice.

Decades ago, I explored a pixelated version of Venice, climbing window grills and cafe awnings, and diving into the canals as Lara Croft in the original Tomb Raider II PlayStation video game. I’ve always wondered what it would be like to travel around here. Like many European destinations, Venice always seemed like a hazy far-off dream for someone coming from my corner of the world.

It was surreal to be able to walk around Venice for real during our Europe trip.

There’s no denying that Venice is one of the most beautiful destinations in the world. But it’s also one of the most expensive for tourists. Thankfully, there are a few activities that are completely free (or cost only a couple of euros) you can still enjoy. Here are some free (or cheap) things to do in Venice.

Admire the gondolas from afar

Gondolas are the first image that immediately comes to everyone’s mind when you mention Venice. Riding this iconic gilded boat around the waterways is often billed as THE number one “must-do” in Venice. Most tourists are willing to splurge on this once-in-a-lifetime experience despite the hefty price tag. There’s nothing wrong with that – if you don’t mind spending big bucks.

As of 2024, a 20-minute gondola ride costs 90 euros during the day and 110 euros at night (roughly 5,000 to 7,000 pesos). Since we rode a ferry to cross to Venice and rode a Vaporetto (water taxi) from our hotel in Lido Island to get to Venice and back, we contented ourselves with taking photos of the boats from afar. Despite the cliche, we were told that most gondoliers don’t serenade their passengers.

I think we were able to see the same sights exploring Venice on foot (for free), which felt rewarding because we had more cash to spare for food and drinks. Priorities, right? 

If you do really want to ride one but still save some cash (ex. you’re a solo traveler), you can split the costs of a gondola ride with other passengers. The maximum capacity is six including the gondolier. You can also opt to book shared rides online.

An even cheaper option is to ride a Traghetto just for the experience. These are similar to gondolas but are used solely for transportation instead of sightseeing to cross the Grand Canal at points with no nearby bridge. Riding one will set you back only 2 euros for a quick canal crossing. Prepare to stand rather than sit.

Marvel at the mosaics outside St. Mark’s Basilica

Basilica di San Marco or St. Mark’s Basilica is renowned for its stunning Byzantine architecture. This elegant structure symbolizes Venetian history, culture, and religious devotion.

Entering the Basilica used to be free, but they’ve started charging a minimal fee to enter (3-6 euros), and they don’t allow photography inside. It’ll cost you another 16.50 euros to climb up the bell tower, but the long lines for both will be a deterrent rather than the cost.

Luckily, there’s no cost to admire the basilica from the outside, if you can find a clear vantage point without the crowds. The facade is adorned with intricate mosaics, and its status as the final resting place of Saint Mark’s relics makes it a top draw among tourists.

If you look closely, you can find out the story of of how St. Mark’s body was taken from Alexandria of Egypt to Venice. Basically, his body was hidden in a basket with pork, which is depicted in the mosaics. 

Stroll around Piazza San Marco

Piazza San Marco or St. Mark’s Square is the principal public square of Venice. Walking around this central space in front of St. Mark’s Basilica is free, as long as you don’t accidentally sit at any cafes or buy anything from the souvenir stalls around the square.

We were told that the cafes here charge more than those in the inner alleys because of the location, the extra cover charge applies once you sit down even if you decide not to order. You can walk around to watch pigeons try to steal people’s food or enjoy a free concert by listening to live musicians playing in other cafes without sitting. You can also window-shop around the souvenir stores.

Get lost in the maze of alleys

What I enjoyed the most above Venice was wandering around the maze of narrow fully pedestrianized streets around the historic buildings. The alleys and stone bridges that weave around the waterways invite you to get lost.

It was fun looking around the different boutiques and shops even without buying anything, exploring the alleys and finding quiet nooks and churches to sit and relax. 

Climb up a staircase of books in a floating library

We love visiting bookstores and libraries when we travel, so we made it a point to hunt down Libreria Acqua Alta or Library of the High Water. This fabulous secondhand bookshop is known for stacking books in gondolas that float in case the waters rise.

There’s no fee to visit the bookshop and owners graciously installed several artistic book staircases, book art installations, and even a parked gondola for tourists to snap souvenir shots for free. 

The shop owners care for multiple cats, who roam freely and are as much of an attraction along with the books, judging by the cat-themed postcards and calendars on display. So while it won’t cost you anything to visit the store and take cool souvenir photos, they accept donations for cat food for the resident felines, so be sure to tip generously and do your souvenir shopping here.

Postcards and tiny book matchboxes cost as little as 1-2 euros each. How can you say no when the proprietors look like that?!

Admire Venetian masks up close

Venice is well-known for its ornately painted masks. More than just being a colorful souvenir, these masks show the amazing craftsmanship and reflect the long history of the people. In the olden days, doctors used masks to treat victims of the plague.

Over the years, masks have become a big part of festival celebrations. Look out for shops where mask-makers paint their pieces or admire them up close in the various display windows.

Watch master glassblowers in action

Aside from masks, Venice is also known for its stunning glassblowing industry. You can learn more about glassblowing in the nearby island of Murano, where glassblowing studios were relocated to avoid fires in central Venice.

Some glass factories offer free demonstrations so you can watch Venetian glass masters in action. Other studios charge a minimal fee of around 3 euros. If money is not an issue, you can opt to buy a full set of authentic Murano glass or sign up for actual Venice glassblowing classes.

Walk across the city’s oldest and most famous bridges

Rialto Bridge is the oldest of the four bridges spanning the Grand Canal in Venice. Rebuilt several times since its first construction as a pontoon bridge in 1173, the bridge is now a major tourist attraction, and heavily used by locals and tourists.

The bridge has a few covered stalls and a shopping area that extends to the bustling Mercato di Rialto market. It’s also a great vantage point for photos of the canal. 

Another notable bridge in Venice is the Bridge of Sighs, an enclosed limestone bridge that spans the narrow canal between the Doge’s Palace and the prisons. The Baroque-style bridge built in the 1600s, was named for the “sighs” of the prisoners who passed over it as it was their last opportunity to get fresh air before heading between courtrooms and prisons. 

Spot famous movie filming locations

Venice is a staple in Hollywood blockbusters, so if you’re a film buff, you’ll want to visit the exact locations seen in movies. St. Mark’s Square and the Grand Canal feature heavily in at least 3 James Bond flicks, including Casino Royale (2006).

More recent films include the murder mystery The Haunting in Venice (2023) and the superhero flick Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019).

If you’re a Spielberg fan, be sure to visit the Church of San Barnaba, which was depicted as the exterior of the library in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989). This is where Harrison Ford’s Indy found the tomb of one of the brothers with the tablet sharing the location of the Holy Grail.

Have a picnic by the canals

It can be expensive to dine out in cafes all the time, especially those in front of key landmarks. But it’s easy enough to find affordable affordable eats you can take out for picnics. Slices of pizza, sandwiches, eggplant balls with cheese, and mozzarella sticks from takeout counters that cost less than 5 euros are good options.

Cans of beer cost roughly 1-2 euros at convenience stores. You can buy food to-go and find a quiet spot to sit down on a small bridge and enjoy the view while having a picnic while gondolas sail by. The view is just like you’re sitting at a cafe!  

Since we were able to save money from not riding the gondola and walking around, we decided to spend a bit more for paninis and an Aperol Spritz and a Bellini at a small bar in an inner street.  The Bellini is a cocktail made with Prosecco and peach purée or nectar. This drink originated in Venice, so it’s worth the splurge.

We may not have ridden the gondolas, but I enjoyed our day exploring Venice on foot. We wrapped up our stay in Venice with a walk along the beach and comforting meal later that night back at our hotel in Lido Island.

Next stop, Austria!