🕵️♀️ 17 Non-Touristy Things to Do in Venice — Hidden Gems Only Locals Know
Sure, Venice is famous for its gondolas, Piazza San Marco, and the Rialto Bridge — but the city’s true magic lies far beyond the crowds. If you’re craving authentic, local, and non-touristy experiences, you’re in the right place.
This insider guide reveals Venice’s hidden corners — places Venetians actually love, secret spots most tourists miss, and experiences that reveal the city’s real soul. Whether it’s your first visit or your fifth, here’s how to explore Venice like a local.
1️⃣ Explore the Jewish Ghetto in Cannaregio
Did you know the word “ghetto” originated here? The Ghetto Vecchio and Ghetto Nuovo are full of history, heritage, and hidden stories. Visit the Jewish Museum, tour the centuries-old synagogues, and taste authentic kosher Venetian pastries.
📝 Local Tip: Try a fresh fritella (fried pastry) during Carnival — you’ll find the best ones in the ghetto’s kosher bakeries.
2️⃣ Wander the Streets of Castello
Just a few bridges from the chaos of San Marco lies Castello — Venice’s largest, most residential district. You’ll see laundry hanging over canals, kids playing football, and locals chatting over spritz.
📝 Local Tip: Stroll down Via Garibaldi early in the morning to browse the neighborhood market and grab lunch at a family-run trattoria.
3️⃣ Visit Squero San Trovaso — Venice’s Last Gondola Workshop
Near Zattere in Dorsoduro stands one of the city’s last working gondola yards: the Squero di San Trovaso. Watch master craftsmen maintain and restore these iconic black boats — a living glimpse into Venice’s nautical past.
📝 Local Tip: Order a spritz at Osteria al Squero just across the canal and watch the artisans at work from your seat.
4️⃣ Discover Venice’s Secret Gardens
Few realize Venice hides more than 500 gardens behind its facades. Among the most enchanting are the Giardini Reali (Royal Gardens) near San Marco, recently restored to 19th-century elegance.
- 🌿 Giardini della Biennale – lush and peaceful
- 🌸 Palazzo Nani Bernardo – open for special events
- 🌳 Giardino di Ca’ Morosini – a serene hidden retreat
5️⃣ Take a Vaporetto to Sant’Erasmo — Venice’s Countryside
Known as “the garden of Venice”, Sant’Erasmo is where locals grow the artichokes and vegetables you’ll see in Venice’s markets. Rent a bike, visit a lagoon vineyard, or enjoy a picnic by the water.
📝 Local Tip: Visit Orto di Venezia for a vineyard tour and wine tasting — or reach it on our Island Hopping Lagoon Tour.
6️⃣ Hunt for Hidden Art at Ca’ Pesaro
Skip the Doge’s Palace crowds and head to Ca’ Pesaro, the Modern Art Museum of Venice. It houses masterpieces by Klimt, Chagall, and Kandinsky — plus stunning Baroque interiors and lagoon views.
7️⃣ Join an Artisan Workshop
Support Venice’s artisans by joining a hands-on workshop. Try your hand at mask-making, marbled paper, glass-bead art, or textile weaving. Each visit helps preserve traditional crafts and offers a truly personal souvenir.
8️⃣ Climb the Scala Contarini del Bovolo
Hidden in a quiet courtyard near Campo Manin, this spiral staircase is a Venetian secret with panoramic views. Few tourists find it — and those who do, rarely forget it.
🎟️ Book tickets for Scala Contarini del Bovolo here
📝 Local Tip: Visit at golden hour for magical light and fewer crowds.
9️⃣ Visit a Local Remiera (Rowing Club)
Meet real Venetians at a remiera — traditional rowing clubs where locals practice voga alla veneta, the standing rowing style used for gondolas. Some clubs even offer trial lessons!
📝 Local Tip: Ask about the Regata Storica or summer rowing festivals — and if you want to try it yourself, join our Venetian Rowing Experience.
🔟 Explore San Michele Island Cemetery
For quiet reflection, take the vaporetto to San Michele, the island cemetery where Ezra Pound and Igor Stravinsky rest beneath cypress trees. It’s hauntingly peaceful and deeply beautiful.
1️⃣1️⃣ Eat Your Way Through Cannaregio
Skip tourist menus and explore authentic Venetian flavors on a Cicchetti & Wine Tour with a local guide. You’ll discover cozy bacari, hidden wine bars, and unforgettable small plates.
📝 Local Tip: Try sarde in saor, creamy baccalà, and a glass of Raboso red.
1️⃣2️⃣ Relax at Lido di Venezia — Off Season
In summer it’s lively, but in spring or fall, Lido becomes a quiet escape full of Belle Époque charm. Rent a bike or take our Lido Island Bike Tour and ride toward Alberoni for dunes, wild beaches, and espresso by the sea.
1️⃣3️⃣ Go Beyond the Glass in Murano
There’s more to Murano than souvenir stores. Visit the Murano Glass Museum, watch authentic masters at work, or book a Murano Glassblowing Workshop for a hands-on experience.
1️⃣4️⃣ See a Movie at Cinema Giorgione
Venice’s oldest art-house theater, Cinema Giorgione in Cannaregio, screens indie and international films in a retro atmosphere that feels frozen in time.
📝 Local Tip: Choose a late show, grab a gelato after, and walk the quiet canals home.
1️⃣5️⃣ Join a Local Festa or Sagra
Venetians love a good festa (neighborhood party) or sagra (food fair) — think grilled fish, live music, and plenty of wine. Summer weekends bring community gatherings all across the lagoon.
📝 Local Tip: Don’t miss the Festa di San Pietro di Castello in June or the spectacular Redentore Festival in July on Giudecca.
1️⃣6️⃣ Visit Palazzo Grimani & Hidden Santa Maria Formosa
Near Campo Santa Maria Formosa, Palazzo Grimani hosts rotating art exhibits — often free or low-cost — inside a Renaissance gem filled with frescoes and Roman sculptures.
📝 Local Tip: Pair this with a walk through the calm, elegant streets of Castello’s heart.
1️⃣7️⃣ Watch Sunrise from Punta della Dogana
Few visitors ever see Venice at dawn — but it’s pure magic. Head to Punta della Dogana, where the Grand Canal meets Giudecca, and watch the sun turn domes and water to gold.
📝 Local Tip: Bring coffee and your camera — this is Venice’s quietest, most poetic hour.
💡 Final Tips for Exploring Off the Beaten Path
- 🌅 Wake early — Venice is yours before 8 a.m.
- 📱 Don’t rely on Google Maps — getting lost is the point.
- 🚤 Use Vaporetto Line 1 for a budget Grand Canal cruise.
- 👟 Pack comfortable shoes (and maybe water ones for high tide).
- 💙 Support local businesses — book directly, buy crafts, tip generously.
🌍 Why Avoiding the Crowds Matters
Venice is beautiful — and fragile. Mass tourism strains its delicate infrastructure and community life. By stepping off the tourist trail, you not only discover the authentic Venice — you help preserve it.
Choose slow experiences, respect the rhythm of daily life, and support local artisans, guides, and family-run businesses.
💭 Final Thoughts
Venice rewards curiosity. The more you wander, the more it opens up — revealing its secrets one quiet bridge at a time. So skip the souvenirs, ditch the checklists, and let the city surprise you.
Next time someone asks what to do in Venice, tell them: “Get lost — but do it the Venetian way.”
🚶♀️ Book Your Off-the-Beaten-Path Venice Tour
Explore Venice beyond the postcards — with locals who call it home. 💙
