What’s Open on Sunday in Venice? (A Local’s Guide to Sundays in Venice)

☀️ What’s Open on Sunday in Venice? (Local Guide to a Perfect Sunday)

Short answer: More than you think.
Long answer: Keep reading — because Sunday in Venice can be either heavenly calm or unexpectedly frustrating, depending on what you plan to do.

Whether you’re hunting for open museums, cafés by the water, or a peaceful stroll through empty alleys, this is your complete local guide to making the most of your Sunday in Venice. We’ll bust a few myths, share what’s really open, what to avoid, and how to spend your Sunday like a true Venetian (yes, spritz included).

📌 Quick Overview: What’s Typically Open on Sunday in Venice

Category	Open?	Local Tip
Museums & Attractions	✅ Yes (most)	Some close earlier — check ahead
Restaurants	✅ Yes	Book in advance for lunch or dinner
Cafés & Bars	✅ Yes	Smaller family ones may close early
Churches & Basilicas	✅ Yes	Limited hours during Mass
Supermarkets	⚠️ Limited	Open mornings, closed by 7 PM
Shops & Boutiques	⚠️ Mixed	Souvenir shops open, artisans often closed
Pharmacies	⚠️ Rotation system	At least one open per district
Public Transport	✅ Yes	Reduced Sunday schedule

🖼️ 1. Museums & Attractions Open on Sunday

Good news — Venice doesn’t sleep on culture. Most of the city’s top museums are open on Sunday, though some have shorter hours or require advance tickets. Plan ahead and book online to skip the lines (and the frustration).

🏛️ St. Mark’s Basilica

Open: Yes, but access is restricted during services (Mass every hour from 7 AM–noon).
Local Tip: Attend morning Mass for free entry — just be quiet and respectful (no photos).

⚜️ Doge’s Palace

Open: Daily, including Sunday (usually 9:00 AM – 7:00 PM, last entry 6:00 PM).
Why Go: Venice’s political heart — secret prisons, Tintoretto ceilings, and golden halls.
Pro Tip: Book skip-the-line tickets — queues can stretch into the square.

🎨 Peggy Guggenheim Collection

Open: Every day except Tuesday, 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM.
Why Go: Picasso, Pollock, Dali — all in Peggy’s former home on the Grand Canal. Small, stylish, and air-conditioned (a blessing in summer).

📚 Museo Correr + Biblioteca Marciana + Archaeological Museum

Open: Sunday (combo ticket valid for all three).
Tip: Buy the combined St. Mark’s Museums Pass — great value for history lovers.

🖌️ Gallerie dell’Accademia

Open: Yes, including Sundays.
Why Go: The heart of Venetian painting — Bellini, Giorgione, and the early Tintoretto masterpieces.

💫 Scuola Grande di San Rocco

Open: Daily.
Why Go: Tintoretto’s epic “Crucifixion” — Venice’s own Sistine Chapel moment.

🏰 Ca’ Rezzonico & Ca’ Pesaro

Both are open Sundays, but double-check hours on the MUVE website — they sometimes change seasonally.

⛪ 2. Churches Open on Sunday

Venice has over 100 churches — some famous, some forgotten, all worth peeking into. On Sunday, they’re at their most authentic: locals at Mass, bells echoing, candles flickering.

⛪ St. Mark’s Basilica

Open for Mass in the morning. If you’ve never heard a choir in that space, go — the acoustics make your spine hum.

⛪ Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute

One of Venice’s most beautiful churches, built to thank the Virgin for ending the plague. Open for prayer, quiet reflection, and photos outside with lagoon views.

⛪ San Giorgio Maggiore

Take the vaporetto to the island — climb the bell tower for one of the best panoramic views of Venice.

⛪ Basilica dei Frari

A masterpiece of Gothic architecture, home to Titian’s “Assumption of the Virgin.” It’s open for Mass and visits — a quiet, majestic refuge.

⛪ San Zaccaria

Hidden near San Marco, with a mysterious flooded crypt. Bring waterproof shoes if you want to see it at high tide!

Dress code tip: Shoulders and knees covered. Always carry a light scarf (you’ll blend right in with the locals).

🍝 3. Restaurants & Osterie Open on Sunday

Food is sacred here — and while some family-run trattorie close for rest, most places in central Venice stay open on Sunday for long, lazy lunches.

🍷 Great Sunday Spots (Local Favorites)

Antiche Carampane (San Polo) — Legendary seafood, hidden gem. Book well in advance.
Osteria alle Testiere (Castello) — Tiny, elegant, seafood-driven menu.
Al Timon (Cannaregio) — Casual wine & meat platters served on boats.
Trattoria da Gigio (Cannaregio) — Classic Venetian comfort food.
CoVino (Castello) — Contemporary bistro, refined and romantic.
Osteria Bancogiro (Rialto) — Perfect for a sunset spritz with Grand Canal views.

Local Tip: Book ahead — even locals reserve. Sunday lunch is the Venetian version of church.

Or, for something lighter, join a Cicchetti & Wine Tour — the best way to eat like a true Venetian without sitting down too long.

🛍️ 4. Shopping & Souvenirs on Sunday

Venice isn’t a 24/7 shopping city — it still loves its slow Sundays. But plenty stays open around tourist hubs like San Marco and Rialto.

🏬 Open on Sundays:

Souvenir shops and Murano glass boutiques
Mask shops (especially near Rialto)
Tabacchi stores for snacks and essentials
Supermarkets (limited hours)

🚪 Often Closed:

Small artisan shops (especially in Dorsoduro and Castello)
Bookshops (some open afternoons)
Specialty food shops (bakeries, cheese stores)

Local tip: If you’re hunting for authentic crafts — handmade jewelry, letterpress prints, or marbled paper — go Saturday or early Sunday. Many artisans take both Sunday and Monday off. To visit real workshops, book our Venice Hands-on Workshops — from glass to masks to fabrics.

🛒 5. Supermarkets & Pharmacies on Sunday

🛒 Supermarkets

They’re open, but not all day. Most close around lunch or early evening.

Store	Hours
Coop	8:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Conad	Until 7:30 PM (some)
Despar	Varies by location
Punto Simply	Limited Sunday hours

Tip: Don’t wait until 6:55 PM to buy snacks or wine — shelves empty fast.

💊 Pharmacies

Italy runs a rotation system: one pharmacy per district always stays open (day and night). Others may open Sunday morning only.

Search “farmacia di turno Venezia” or ask your hotel concierge. If you’re on Murano or Burano, check before you go — hours can be shorter on the islands.

🛶 6. Tours, Boats & Experiences on Sunday

Sunday is one of the best days to explore Venice — fewer commuters, fewer crowds, and more time to float, walk, and wander.

🚤 Boat Tours

Private gondola rides: Always available. Try our Private Gondola Experience for a local, non-touristy route.
Vaporetto: Runs on a reduced schedule — perfect for slow scenic rides along the Grand Canal.
Island tours: Our Riva Island-Hopping Tour runs every Sunday and includes Murano, Burano, and Torcello — without the crowds.

🚶 Walking Tours

Sunday mornings are ideal for exploring neighborhoods like Castello or Dorsoduro, when locals are at Mass and tourists still at breakfast.

Venice Off-the-Beaten-Path Tour — perfect for quiet alleys and hidden bridges.
Cicchetti & Wine Tour — Sunday lunch, Venetian-style.
Doge’s Palace & Basilica Tour — skip the queues and see both icons with a local guide.

🧭 7. A Perfect Sunday in Venice (Local Itinerary)

☕ Morning

Start with a cappuccino at Torrefazione Cannaregio or Bar Tiziano.
Visit St. Mark’s Basilica before 10:30 AM — fewer crowds.
Stroll through the Rialto Market before it closes (around 1 PM).

🍝 Lunch

Relax at Trattoria da Fiore or Osteria La Zucca.
Or do a bacaro crawl: spritz + cicchetti at Al Merca, Cantina Do Mori, and Osteria Al Squero.

🎨 Afternoon

Visit Scuola Grande di San Rocco or Peggy Guggenheim.
Take a slow walk through Dorsoduro’s quiet canals — Venice’s bohemian heart.

🌅 Evening

Sunset drink along Fondamenta Zattere or Fondamenta della Misericordia.
Dinner by the water — Riviera (romantic) or Algiubagiò (modern).
Optional: Vivaldi concert at San Vidal — the perfect Sunday finale.

🤔 FAQ — “But Igor, What If…”

“What if it rains?”
Don’t worry — most museums, churches, and cafés are indoors. A rainy Sunday in Venice is pure magic: reflections, empty alleys, and the sound of footsteps on wet stones.

“What if everything’s closed?”
It’s not. Venice is never truly closed — it just moves at its own pace. You might not find a boutique open in Castello, but you’ll find a bell tower with no queue instead.

“Can I visit Murano or Burano?”
Yes! Vaporetto runs daily. Some glass factories close Sundays, but the islands are beautiful any day. Burano’s colors shine brightest on quiet Sundays.

“Can I shop for souvenirs?”
Yes — stick to central areas like San Marco and Rialto. For handmade pieces, shop earlier or join our artisan experiences during the week.

🌤️ Final Thoughts: Why Sunday Might Be Venice’s Best Day

Sunday in Venice isn’t about rushing or ticking boxes. It’s about slowing down, sitting by the water, and listening to the bells echo through centuries.

You’ll find:

Fewer crowds in the morning
Long, wine-filled lunches
Golden-hour walks with locals
And that rare Venice silence after dark

Whether you’re attending Mass in San Marco, exploring hidden Tintorettos, or just watching boats glide past with a spritz in hand — Sunday in Venice has its own rhythm. It’s not closed. It’s calm.

☀️ Explore Venice on Sunday with a Local Guide

🚤 Book Your Sunday Transfer to Venice

Because in Venice, even Sunday moves to the rhythm of the water.