🛶 15 Non-Touristy Things to Do in Venice — Hidden Gems & Local Secrets
Venice is one of the most visited cities in the world — and for good reason. With its gondola-filled canals, golden mosaics of St. Mark’s Basilica, and legendary landmarks like the Doge’s Palace, it’s easy to get swept up in the beauty of the “must-sees.”
But what if you’ve already seen them? Or what if you’re the kind of traveler who wants more than a quick selfie on the Rialto Bridge before rushing to the next line?
If you’re asking, “What are some non-touristy things to do in Venice?” — you’re in the right place. And the good news is: there’s a lot more to Venice than gondolas and gelato.
At Tour Leader Venice, we specialize in connecting travelers — especially Americans — with the authentic, human, and historical layers of our city. Here’s our insider guide to Venice’s best hidden corners, slow adventures, and local experiences that most visitors never find.
1️⃣ Wander the Dorsoduro District
Dorsoduro is Venice’s bohemian heart — an artsy, intellectual neighborhood with wide canals, leafy squares, and a calmer pace.
- Stroll the Zattere waterfront with views of Giudecca Island.
- Visit the Peggy Guggenheim Collection, one of Europe’s top modern art museums.
- Stop for a coffee or spritz at Campo Santa Margherita, buzzing with local students.
- Cross the Ponte dell’Accademia for a postcard-perfect view of the Grand Canal.
Artists live here. Locals hang laundry here. And with our Off-the-Beaten-Path Orientation Tour, you can wander these streets with a guide who actually lives nearby.
2️⃣ Visit the Mercato di Rialto — Before 10 AM
The Rialto Bridge may be tourist-heavy, but the Rialto Market is Venice’s beating heart — where locals still shop for fish, fruit, and gossip.
Arrive before 10 AM and you’ll see:
- Fishermen unloading the morning catch.
- Chefs picking produce for lunch service.
- Grandmothers haggling in Venetian dialect.
Skip the overpriced spritz stands and join our Cicchetti & Wine Tour instead — you’ll taste baccalà mantecato, sardines in saor, and spritz the way Venetians actually drink it.
3️⃣ Cross the Lagoon to Murano — and Go Beyond the Front Row Shops
Most visitors to Murano never make it past the souvenir stores near the vaporetto stop. But Murano is a living workshop — the home of authentic Murano glass, an art perfected over 700 years.
We’ll take you inside real furnaces where masters still shape molten glass by hand on our Murano Workshop & Glassblowing Visit. Want to get hands-on? Try our Create Your Own Glass Bead Experience.
Don’t miss:
- The Murano Glass Museum in Palazzo Giustinian.
- The 12th-century mosaics in San Donato Church.
- Lunch by the canal at a family trattoria — we’ll recommend one when you book.
4️⃣ Explore Burano for Color — and Lace
Everyone photographs Burano’s candy-colored houses — few discover its lace-making tradition, once prized by European royalty.
To learn the real story, visit the Burano Lace Museum (Museo del Merletto) and meet one of the last master lace-makers keeping the craft alive. We can also arrange a private visit to a local artisan’s home — a rare, moving experience.
Pair your visit with lunch on the water, tasting risotto di gò (fish risotto) and local white wine.
5️⃣ Attend a Vivaldi Concert in a Baroque Church
Venice gave birth to Antonio Vivaldi, and his music still fills its churches. Forget large concert halls — try these intimate venues:
Hearing *The Four Seasons* echo through candlelight and marble is one of the most unforgettable — and non-touristy — nights you can have in Venice.
6️⃣ Take a Private Boat Tour — Beyond the Grand Canal
Venice was built to be seen from the water — but not from a packed vaporetto. Sail the hidden canals or the open lagoon with one of our private experiences:
- Private 1-Hour Boat Tour of Venice
- Riva Yacht Experiences — for pure vintage glamour
- Lagoon Tours — to reach islands few travelers ever see
Or end your day on a Sunset Bragozzo Cruise — prosecco in hand, pastel sky overhead.
7️⃣ Discover the Jewish Ghetto of Venice
Established in 1516, the Venetian Ghetto was Europe’s first. Today it’s peaceful, full of stories and heritage that shaped Venetian culture.
- Visit the Jewish Museum of Venice.
- Explore historic synagogues with local guides.
- Taste pastries from the kosher bakery near Campo del Ghetto Nuovo.
Join our walking tour of Cannaregio to uncover this district’s complex, moving history.
8️⃣ Get Lost — On Purpose
Venice rewards those who wander without a map. Cross bridges with no destination. Peek into courtyards. Sit on church steps. You’ll find:
- Artisan mask shops hidden behind ivy.
- Cats guarding doorways.
- Locals chatting in dialect beside laundry lines.
Want a guided version of this magic? Our Off-the-Beaten-Path Tour is designed exactly for that — equal parts history, serendipity, and discovery.
9️⃣ Visit the Squero di San Trovaso — a Real Gondola Workshop
Tucked in Dorsoduro, the Squero di San Trovaso is one of Venice’s few remaining gondola boatyards.
From across the canal, you can watch craftsmen repairing gondolas entirely by hand — using ancient techniques unchanged for centuries. We can arrange private behind-the-scenes visits, or combine it with our Venetian Rowing Experience for a deeper look into the city’s maritime soul.
🔟 Take a Day Trip to the Prosecco Hills or Padua
Need a break from the lagoon? Within 90 minutes, you can be surrounded by vineyards, art, or villas.
- Prosecco Hills — UNESCO vineyards, tastings, and private cellar visits.
- Amarone & Verona — romance and red wine in equal measure.
- Walled Towns & Palladio Tour — Renaissance villas along the Brenta Canal.
All include private transfers and local guides — you just relax and sip.
1️⃣1️⃣ Join a Local Festival or Regatta
Venice still lives by its traditions. Time your visit right and you might witness:
- La Festa della Salute (November): thousands crossing the Grand Canal on a temporary bridge, candles in hand.
- Regata Storica (September): gondoliers racing in 16th-century costume.
- Festa di San Martino (November): kids banging pots for sweets through the alleys.
Our guides can help you plan around local festivals — the most heartfelt experiences you can have here.
1️⃣2️⃣ Taste the Lagoon: A Slow Venetian Lunch
Skip the “menu turistico.” Eat what Venetians eat — seasonal, local, and fresh from the lagoon. Join our Venice Food Tour to taste:
- Seppie al nero — cuttlefish in ink.
- Risotto di gò — goby fish risotto from Burano.
- Mołéche — seasonal soft-shell crabs.
Pair it with Veneto white wine or a sgroppino (lemon sorbet + vodka + prosecco). It’s the Venice we locals live for.
1️⃣3️⃣ Visit the Islands No One Talks About
- San Francesco del Deserto: a monastery island of silence and cypress trees.
- Lazzaretto Nuovo: Venice’s former quarantine island, now an open-air museum.
- Sant’Erasmo: the “vegetable garden of Venice,” dotted with vineyards and farms.
All reachable on our Venice Lagoon Tour or Island-Hopping Excursion — peaceful, personal, and unforgettable.
1️⃣4️⃣ Explore Venice’s Contemporary Art Spaces
Yes, Venice is Renaissance heaven — but it’s also a stage for cutting-edge art. Discover:
- Punta della Dogana: contemporary art in a restored customs house.
- Fondazione Prada: bold architecture meets avant-garde exhibitions.
- The Peggy Guggenheim Collection — always a favorite for modern-art lovers.
Or come during the Venice Biennale for a citywide celebration of art and architecture — from the Giardini to the Arsenale.
1️⃣5️⃣ Stay in a Quiet Sestiere and Live Like a Local
Want the real Venice? Sleep where Venetians sleep.
Skip hotels near San Marco and stay in Cannaregio, Giudecca, or Dorsoduro. We can help you book local apartments or boutique stays and fill your mornings with coffee by the canal instead of crowds.
💬 Final Thoughts: Go Beyond the Tourist Trail — and Fall in Love with the Real Venice
So, what are the best non-touristy things to do in Venice? The truth is: they’re everywhere — hidden behind quiet doors, down unmarked alleys, or out on islands where time still moves with the tide.
From glassblowers in Murano to lace-makers in Burano, from gondola builders to vineyard farmers, Venice is full of people keeping beauty alive the hard way — by hand.
And that’s exactly what we at Tour Leader Venice love to show you.
✨ Explore the Real Venice with Tour Leader Venice
Book your private Venice experience today — from secret canal tours to artisan visits and authentic food walks. Let us show you the Venice we call home.
