No other city on Earth is as romantic as the City of Canals. There’s much more to it than riding a gondola with your loved one, though. With that in mind, I’ll give you the 18 most romantic things to do in Venice for couples.
You and your significant will have the chance to see the city from above, catch an opera at Venice‘s neoclassical theater, and wander through its picturesque neighborhoods, among so much else.
Table of Contents
Romantic things to do in Venice for couples
1. Tour the city in a gondola
Gondolas have been the quintessential symbol of Venice for centuries. They were once much more common, but approximately 400 gondolas take loving couples for an unforgettable ride through the Grand Canal and the quieter waterways around it.
For about $85, you and your loved one will get to enjoy a 40-minute tour of Venice, as you marvel at the lavish palazzos between cuddles and snuggles.
For an extra fee, you can also ask your gondolier to sing old Venetian songs in the sweetest serenade you’ll ever hear.
A gondola can accommodate up to five or six passengers. Sharing a ride can make it more affordable. Still, for the full experience — including a passionate kiss under the Bridge of Sighs, you shouldn’t think twice before hiring a private tour.
2. View the city from atop St. Mark’s Bell Tower
Lookouts are naturally romantic, or are they? That said, a 500-year-old vantage point in the heart of Venice’s most stunning square is what dreams are made of.
At almost 330 feet, the fourth-tallest bell tower in Italy provides a commanding vista of St. Mark’s Square, the Grand Canal, and Punta della Dogana on the other side.
Still better, you won’t be sweating and panting when you reach the top, as an elevator will be waiting to take you up.
That makes the tower a fantastic spot to pop the question or just to repeat those three little words once again.
3. Learn how to make a Carnival mask
Now strutting through the streets of Venice with a fancy Carnival costume on is as romantic as it gets. Yet crafting something together — especially a unique item like a Carnival mask — allows for an even deeper connection to arise between a couple.
In Venice, you two can get a lesson with a master artisan to learn how to either make a papier-mâché mask or decorate one (or both).
And if you don’t feel confident enough to match your creation with an elaborate costume, you’ll bring it home as a one-of-a-kind keepsake from your Venetian getaway.
4. Take a cooking class together
Venetian cuisine is uncomplicated and fresh-tasting, much like that of the rest of Italy. Whether you and your loved one enjoy cooking together, or if you’re simply down to dive into the flavors of local cuisine, then you should by all means book a cooking lesson in Venice.
The best ones will welcome you with a drink and a handful of cicchetti, i.e. traditional Venetian appetizers. You two will learn how to prepare all courses of a meal so you can easily remember Venice when you’re back home.
5. Taste delectable wines from Veneto
Veneto, which has Venice as its capital, is one of the most prestigious winemaking regions in Italy. World-renowned designations of origin like Prosecco, Amarone della Valpolicella, Soave, and Bardolino hail from the Venetian surroundings.
So you and your significant other shouldn’t miss the chance to taste those and other marvelous wines from both Veneto and all over Italy.
You can either go on a wine-soaked walk around a selection of cozy Venetian bars or head out to the countryside for a Prosecco-infused afternoon in the rolling hills of Veneto.
6. Go on a Casanova tour of the town
Giacomo Casanova had a busy love life, so to speak. Widely referenced in literature, cinema, and TV, the 18th-century Venetian nobleman is one of the city’s most legendary characters.
Retracing his steps isn’t exactly the sweetest of Venice couple activities, yet it is a great option for playful couples who love a good tease.
Besides the notorious womanizer’s raunchier stories, a Casanova tour will tell you fun anecdotes about Venice’s ancient carnival tradition as well.
7. Visit the suggestive Acqua Alta bookstore
Crammed with stacks of books, Libreria Acqua Alta is one of my favorite places in the city. Visiting it is definitely in the top dun date activities in Venice.
Since the bookstore faces a canal, not a sidewalk, and often gets flooded, the owners have come up with an unusual idea to preserve the books: using a few bathtubs, rowboats, and even a gondola as shelves.
Acqua Alta also features a reading corner made up of book stacks, which is an amazing spot for a sweet couple picture.
8. Explore the charming Dorsoduro
While the path that connects the train station to St. Mark’s Square through the Rialto Bridge is truly mesmerizing, it’s a very crowded part of Venice as well.
So if you and your loved ones have enough time in Venice to go beyond the main sights, you should venture into the quieter boroughs that surround the historic core, like Dorsoduro.
The area, though filled with quaint boutiques, cafes, and art galleries, gives off far more authentic vibes as it’s not jam-packed with visitors.
After crossing the Accademia Bridge from San Marco, you can turn right and meander through the narrow streets till you reach the lively Campo Santa Margherita.
9. Wander aimlessly and get lost
Walking toward a destination is fun, but have you ever allowed yourself to stroll around without worrying too much about where you’ll end up?
That’s how the best surprises cross our path, particularly in the dazzling, maze-like city that is Venice. And when you’re with your favorite person in the world, it feels even more exciting.
Apart from Dorsoduro, districts like Cannaregio (where the Jewish Quarter is located) and the peaceful Giudecca to the south of downtown are two of the nicest areas to get lost in Venice.
10. Ride a bike around the Lido
The narrow island that separates the Venetian Lagoon from the Adriatic has historically been a popular summer resort with locals and visitors alike.
Despite not being monumental like the historic core, the Lido is crisscrossed with tree-lined boulevards which make for an inspiring bike ride on a sunny day in the city.
Sant’Erasmo, which is a bit further to the north, is also a good spot for that in case you two prefer a more rural environment.
11. Bask in the sun at Alberoni Beach
The Adriatic-facing side of the Lido is made up of a row of beaches, and the majority of them get quite crowded in the summer months.
If the two of you like to enjoy a busy beach, then stick to the ones near the ferry terminal. When you’re looking for seclusion, however, Alberoni Beach is the place to go.
Head to the southern tip of the island and you’ll come across this piece of rugged and unspoiled nature tucked between soft dunes.
A great deal of the beach lacks all kinds of infrastructure, but at one point there’s a waterfront concession where you can rent a jet ski, munch on a snack, or grab a few drinks.
12. Discover the colorful town of Burano
Lucky travelers who are staying in Venice for more than two days should set out to explore the other islands within the Lagoon.
One of the most evocative is Burano, a sort of miniature Venice where colorful waterfront houses are the calling card. Burano’s lace craft is one of the finest on the planet, so there goes another reason to visit the town.
13. Shop for beautiful glass art at Murano
Murano’s glass-blowing tradition dates back 800 years and is famous all over the world. The island, while more similar to a small-scale Venice than Burano, is inviting and lovely in equal measure.
In addition to splurging on home decor, you should also visit the Original Murano Glass Factory & Showroom to watch the process firsthand.
Private tours that include Murano, Burano, and sleepy Torcello are widely available, though you can buy tickets to a hop-on/hop-off ferry too and freely move between the islands.
14. Grab an Aperol Spritz overlooking St. Mark’s Square
Venice’s central plaza — the only one officially called a piazza, as all the other squares are just campi — is the no. 1 place to see and be seen in the city.
Home to elegant bars and cafes, this is where you should take your better half to sip on a refreshing Aperol Spritz, the cocktail that best represents Venice and Veneto as a whole.
15. Have dinner on a rooftop
A rooftop dinner in Venice is a classic and stylish way of sparking up the love between a couple. Some restaurants, like Terrazza Danieli, are shut during the colder months, but bars like Settimo Cielo remain open year-round.
In case you’re after a more intimate ambiance instead, hit Cantina Do Spade, a six-century-old trattoria where Casanova would eat (or so legend has it).
16. Watch an opera or a concert at La Fenice
Opened in 1792, Venice’s neoclassical opera house is one of the most prestigious theaters on Earth. Attending a ballet, orchestra, or opera at La Fenice is one of the most romantic things to do in Venice at night for couples.
While the gorgeous interiors are spellbinding enough, live performances at the theater are nothing short of sublime.
And if you want to dive into La Fenice’s rich and troubled history — it was twice destroyed by fire — book a guided tour with your loved one.
17. Dress up to gamble in the casino
Casinos are typically more popular with singles. The one in Venice, however, — probably the oldest on the planet — is a perfect place for a fancy night out.
Although the dress code is no longer strictly enforced, dressing up is always welcome. Picture you and your loved one pretending to be in Casino Royale as you gamble.
You might as well hit the jackpot — yet even if you don’t you’ll surely have a blast together!
18. Stay in a historic hotel
A stay at a Baroque palazzo in Venice is something many couples can only dream of, but if you can afford the experience you and your S.O. will forever recall it fondly.
Several former noble townhouses across the city were repurposed as luxury hotels. Aman Venice, a sumptuous hotel overlooking the Grand Canal, is one of the finest examples.
So is Ruzzini Palace, which, despite being a tad simpler, boasts ornate interiors and is a stone’s throw from St. Mark’s Square.
Wrap-up
Each year, thousands of couples land in Venice to discover its unique ambiance, which features narrow streets, Baroque palazzos, and iconic gondolas dawdling along the canals.
If you too want to enjoy all that with your significant other, you’ll hopefully get to draw inspiration from this post to plan an unforgettable trip together.
Let me know in the comments which of these Venice couple activities you can’t wait to experience!
