10 Cheap + 5 Free Things To Do In Venice

10 Cheap Things to See/Do

1. St. Marks Basilica – There are a lot of churches to visit in Venice, many are free (donations encouraged), so why not visit the most famous? It’s usually very busy and you will not have much time to see it all. You will pay a small fee to see the museums, which are highly recommended. You will have more time to visit these parts. Make sure not to miss the Pala d’Oro. 
2. Pala d’Oro – Don’t miss seeing this golden, bejeweled casket of St. Mark, located in the middle of the Basilica. Price for viewing is just 2 euros.
3. Vaporetto Tour – This ferry boat is one of the best ways to see the city and other places. Rates are only €7.50 each way, but if you want to do more with it, purchase a day pass or a multi-day pass. 1-day passes are €20, 2-day passes are €30, and 3-day passes are €40, or a 7-day pass will run you €60. which saves you quite a bit. Below are some of the great areas you can visit that are included in your Vaporetto pass.

1. Lido – Enjoy the beach while in Venice. This is an 11-km-long barrier island. Of course the beach is not the only thing there. More than 22,000 people live there, so check out these top activities.
2. Burano – Spend a half or whole day on this sweet little island that’s full of gorgeous photo ops. This is also where to eat better than anywhere else, because it’s a fisherman’s island. Check out what to this island has in store for you.
3. Murano – If you’ve heard of Murano glass, then you already know some of what you’re going to see. This island is more quiet and laid back, so you don’t need to spend an entire day here, but it’s still worth the visit. 

5 Free Things to See/Do

1. Rialto Bridge + Market – Though these two aren’t right next to each other, I think they go pretty well together. The Rialto Bridge is the most iconic bridge in Venice, which amazing views of the Canal and the gondolas. Less than 1/4 mile away is the indoor market, where you can browse some of the local fresh foods and maybe pick up food for a picnic or to have in your room, to help you save a bit on going out.
2. Museo della Musica – This deconsecrated church is now a museum of musical instruments and Baroque music.
3. Walking tour - Like many cities, Venice also has free walking tours of the city for tourists. Make sure you tip well if you enjoyed your tour though, because these guides work for tips, plus it’s just polite. It’ll still be much cheaper than a traditional city tour.
4. Orsoni Colour Library - If you are interested in Venetian glass, the Colour Library has the only glass oven still operating in all of Venice, while visits are free, you do have make reservations in advance, so make sure you plan ahead, because they are only open certain days. You’ll also need to catch a boat to get there.
5. Libreria Acqua Alta - This library has used, out-of-print, and antique books, plus furniture made out of books. Because it has suffered constant flooding, it has resorted to using creative shelving, like gondolas and canoes and bathtubs, to hold their selection of second-hand tomes.