Most Popular Photo Locations in Venice

Before you go:

Travel insurance: SafetyWing

Fun Activities in Venice:
– Venice Gondola Ride
– Doge Palace Reserved Entry
– Panoramic Boat Tour (Murano, Burano and Torcello)

Are you on the looking out for the most instagrammable places in Venice and some top tips, then keep reading.

1. Gondola Traghetto di Riva del Vin (Sestiere di San Polo)
For the exact location on Google Maps – click here.

Best time to go for photos – sunset

What to wear – it is quite a busy backdrop so I would go for something that stands out – think reds and oranges. Looking back at what I was wearing I am not feeling it. The outfit blends me in too much with the surroundings, but this was after a long day of walking around shooting content and I didn’t have the strength or will power to make one final outfit change.

2. View to Rialto Bridge (in front of Palazzo dei Camerlenghi)
For the exact location on Google Maps – click here.

Best time to go for photos – sunrise/first thing in the morning if you want to beat the crowds (the exact times of this will change depending on what time of the year you go). Sunset is also beautiful in this area – inevitably it will be busy, but if you walk around the area and get creative with the angles I am sure you will get some beautiful photos.
Spring & Summer – earlier sunrise and later sunset
Autumn & Winter – later sunrise and earlier sunset

What to wear – In my opinion, there are three options here. Blend in, stand out or go matchy matchy.

Option No. 1: Blend in – wear neutrals or pastels (think white, beige, pink).

Option No. 2: Stand out – this is what I went for which a bright red dress. Other options I think look good at this location would be a brighter pink outfit.

Option No.3: Matchy Matchy – where something stripy to match with the two red and white posts to the right of the photo. (I think something red and white or black and white would look really cute).

3. Rialto Bridge (on the bridge itself)
For the exact location on Google Maps – click here.

Best time to go for photos – You can head to this location once you have finished shooting your photos in the busier parts on and around Rialto Bridge. The day we visited, we were here around 10:00AM – 11:00AM and there was no one when we got to this spot. There was two groups of people who came took some quick photos and headed off. There is plenty of room. So with a little patience you will get your chance to take some beautiful snaps.

What to wear – In my opinion, there are three options here. Blend in, stand out or go matchy matchy.

Option No. 1: Blend in – wear neutrals or pastels (think white, beige, pink).

Option No. 2: Stand out – this is what I went for which a bright red dress. Other options I think look good at this location would be a brighter pink outfit.

Option No.3: Matchy Matchy – where something stripy to match with the two red and white posts to the right of the photo. (I think something red and white or black and white would look really cute).

4. Rialto Bridge (next to the bridge next to T Fondaco dei Tedeschi by DFS)
For the exact location on Google Maps – click here.

Best time to go for photos – sunrise for no crowds and sunset for golden hour (but mind you it will be very busy in the afternoons). You could go anytime throughout the day and with some patience you can get the chance to take your photo. The later in the day you go the more people that will be on the bridge in the background.

What to wear – I think pastels would go best here as it compliments the colour of the bridge. If you prefer to stand out, then go for contrasting colours.

5. Bridge near Gelatoteca Suso
For the exact location on Google Maps – click here.

Best time to go for photos – any time of day (if there are too many people around stand closer to the railing and opt for some half body shots)

What to wear – neutrals or contrasting colours will both work well here.

Why not take a photo with your ice cream? Gelatoteca Suso’s gelato is one of the best ice cream shops in Venice. Not only is it delicious but it is photo worthy too!

6. Piazza San Marco (St. Mark’s Square) in front of Basilica di San Marco
For the exact location on Google Maps – click here.

Best time to go for photos – sunrise/early morning to avoid the crowds

What to wear – neutrals, pinks and blues to complement the backdrop

7. Piazza San Marco (St. Mark’s Square) in front of Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Venezia – with a view to Campanile di San Marco (St Mark’s Campanile)
For the exact location on Google Maps – click here.

Best time to go for photos – sunrise/early morning to avoid the crowds

What to wear – neutrals of contrasting would work well here

8. Piazzetta San Marco in front of Palazzo Ducale (Doge’s Palace)
For the exact location on Google Maps – click here.

Best time to go for photos – sunrise/early morning to avoid the crowds

What to wear – neutrals, pinks and blues to complement the backdrop/golden sunrise (when it’s not cloudy)

9. In front of Palazzo Ducale (Doge’s Palace) facing towards the Grand Canal with Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute in the distance
For the exact location on Google Maps – click here.

Best time to go for photos – sunrise/early morning to avoid the crowds

What to wear – neutrals or monochrome outfits

10. Gondolas at St. Mark’s Square
For the exact location on Google Maps – click here.

Best time to go for photos – sunrise/early morning to avoid the crowds

What to wear – neutrals or monochrome outfits

11. Small corner below the Bridge of Sighs
For the exact location on Google Maps – click here.

Best time to go for photos – sunrise/early morning to avoid the crowds

What to wear – contrasting colours or neutrals

12. Stone bridge in front of the Bridge of Sighs
For the exact location on Google Maps – click here.

Best time to go for photos – sunrise/early morning to avoid the crowds

What to wear – contrasting colours, monochrome or neutrals

13. View to Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute
For the exact location on Google Maps – click here.

Best time to go for photos – sunrise/early morning to avoid the crowds. Although you could go anytime during the day and with some patience get the spot to yourself to snap some quick photos. I came to shoot here after shooting at Piazza San Marco (St. Mark’s Square) in front of Basilica di San Marco

What to wear – neutrals or bright/contrasting colours

14. Campo San Moisé

For the exact location on Google Maps – click here.

Best time to go for photos – anytime of the day this well known “hidden gem” despite it’s popularity can be visited anytime of the day. If there is someone there, it “usually” won’t be for too long as they would be there to take photos and then head off.

What to wear – bright colours so you stand out

Check out this magical Venice gondola Instagram shots moment

15. Canals at Ponte de La Verona
For the exact location on Google Maps – click here.

Best time to go for photos – anytime of the day. As with the other well known “hidden gem” this is another popular location for photos that with some patience you will be able to get a clear snap

What to wear – bright colours

16. Ponte Maria Callas
For the exact location on Google Maps – click here.

Best time to go for photos – any time of day as this spot is located in the back alleyways so foot traffic is less than in other more popular locations

What to wear – neutrals to be as one with the surroundings or go for bright colours using the background colours as inspiration

17. Ponte degli Scalzi
For the exact location on Google Maps – click here.

Best time to go for photos – sunrise – although this photo was taken in the afternoon. It was taken with a 70-200mm zoom lens which allowed me to make the photo a lot more compact (reducing the area around me where there was foot traffic). Also, helped to create the effect to make the building in the background come forward and look grand.

What to wear – neutrals (I like the vibes it creates in this spot with the grand building in the background). Brights and contrasting colours would also go very nicely here too.

18. Ponte Del Parucheta
For the exact location on Google Maps – click here.

Best time to go for photos – sunrise or sunset (if you go during sunset, there is a lot of foot traffic going over this bridge so you will need to be patient.

What to wear – I think if you go in the morning I would opt for neutrals and in the afternoon something brighter that will compliment the golden colours

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How to spend a day in Pisa, Italy

BEFORE YOU GO

Travel insurance: SafetyWing
€20 for the Cathedral and Tower package – buy SKIP THE LINE TICKETS HERE

Other possible bookings/activities:
– From Florence (day trip): Pisa, Siena and San Gimignano
– Pisa All Inclusive Guided Tour

Wondering whether or not to stay longer in Pisa than just few hours. The answer is YES – if you can, I recommend spending some more time in this beautiful city.

Let me show you what a day in Pisa could look like:

Sunrise: Optional for those of you wanting to get some photos with the Leaning Tower of Pisa without hundreds of other people. If you are up for it, it is totally worth the early wake up call.

The timing for this will depend on the time of the year. Late autumn, winter and early spring will have a later sunrise whereas late spring, summer and early autumn will mean an earlier start. The earliest wake up times for sunrise being during the summer.

I visited Pisa in October 2022 (which I would say was about mid-autumn) and sunrise was at 6:58AM. It was amazing to see and take in the Leaning Tower of Pisa without others around. It was so peaceful. The photo below was taken shortly after sunrise at around 7:30AM.

Morning: Piazza dei Miracoli (Square of Miracles)

Start your morning by grabbing a quick bite before exploring the Piazza dei Miracoli.

This is the plaza on which you will find the Leaning Tower of Pisa along with the Pisa Cathedral and Baptistry. You can go for a stroll around the Plaza and enjoy the beauty of it along with the buildings located on it.

If you want to see some beautiful panoramic views over Pisa, I recommend buying tickets to walk up the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Buy your tickets here.

How much are tickets for the Leaning Tower of Pisa? There are a couple of options when buying tickets (prices listed below as at 25 January 2023) – I have listed the most popular and the best deals:

€27 for the Complete and Tower package: Tower, Cathedral, Baptistery, Camposanto, Opera Museum, Sinopie Museum

€10 for the Complete package: Cathedral, Baptistery, Camposanto, Opera Museum, Sinopie Museum

€20 for the Cathedral and Tower package – buy SKIP THE LINE TICKETS HERE

Lunch: Where to eat in Pisa

As I was only in Pisa overnight, I was only able to try out one restaurant, which I cannot recommend enough and I have linked it down below in the “Dinner” section of the day.

Below I share the names of some other restaurants I found that had really great reviews (so I am hoping the other’s are just as amazing as the one I tried) and are definitely on my bucket list to try:

  1. La Pergoletta – Inventive Tuscan dishes & regional wines – Address: Via delle Belle Torri, 40, 56100 Pisa PI, Italy
  2. Ristorante alle Bandierine – Homemade pasta & Tuscan wines in a family-run stop – Address: Via Mercanti, 4, 56127 Pisa PI, Italy
  3. Trattoria Sant’Omobono – Old-style trattoria – Address: Piazza S. Omobono, 6, 56126 Pisa PI, Italy
  4. Pane e Vino – Little wine bar in a quiet piazza with charcuterie sharing platters – Address: Piazza Chiara Gambacorti, 7, 56125 Pisa PI, Italy
  5. Trattoria Da Stelio – Traditional Tuscan trattoria since 1965 – Address: P.za Dante Alighieri, 11, 56126 Pisa PI, Italy

Afternoon: Snack time

Pick up some sweets from the The Old Bakery (Il Vecchio forno) – Address: PC82+X8 Pisa, Province of Pisa, Italy.

Go for a stroll around Pisa and enjoy its beautiful alleyways and check out Palazzo della Carovana before heading back to your hotel or Airbnb and rest up before dinner time.

Dinner: Time for some delicious food at the restaurant I ate at when I visited

I would recommend booking in advance – either earlier in the day or the day before as I noticed that tables filled up quite quickly. Luckily, we had made a reservation “just in case”.

The name of the restaurant is “Osteria di Culegna Pisa” and it is run by the most passionate chef. She had so much energy and was constantly in and out of the kitchen making sure everyone was enjoying their food.

Address: Via Mercanti, 25, 56127 Pisa PI, Italy

“Osteria di Culegna Pisa” had the most delicious food! Felt like we were eating homemade food. We loved it so much we didn’t leave a crumb on our plates. The food was amazing and I could see why. We met the owner and chef and my goodness she was amazing! Such a fun loving person and so much passion for what she does.

SAVE BLOG POST FOR FUTURE TRAVELS TO PISA, ITALY. 📍 MUST VISIT LOCATIONS:
1. 📍 Leaning Tower of Pisa – Piazza del Duomo, 56126 Pisa PI, Italy
2. 📍Palazzo della Carovana – P.za dei Cavalieri, 7, 56126 Pisa PI, Italy
3. 📍Il Vecchio Forno (The Old Bakery) – Vicolo del Tidi, 28, 56126 Pisa PI, Italy
4. 📍Osteria di Culegna Pisa – Via Mercanti, 25, 56127 Pisa PI, Italy • 🤍✨

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Bed and Breakfast | Where to Stay in Venice, Italy

Review of Guest House “Hinc Domus” in Venice, Italy

If you are looking for Venice hotel recommendations, then keep reading.

About the Guest House:

Located in Venice, Hinc Domus is a recently renovated modern and chic Guest House/AirBnb. There are 3 rooms to choose from. 2 double bedrooms with Queen size beds and 1 Single room (with a single bed). The property is located in the Santa Croce area of Venice. Walking into the property you are greeted by the kindest and friendliest host Giovanni. He is very knowledgeable about Venice and offered up such great tips on where to go, what to see and do and was so accommodating throughout our stay. He went above and beyond to make our stay comfortable and perfect.

Hinc Domus view from Bedroom 1 and Single Bedroom

In the shared kitchen area you have access to a fridge, sink, crockery (plates, cups, bowls, utensils, glasses (including wine glasses for those of you thinking of a cosy night in with pizza and wine, which is exactly what I did on my first night)). In the mornings, Giovanni had always prepared in the shared kitchen area – coffee, tea, juice, biscuits and other nibbles. This was the perfect way to start the morning as my friend and I had very early wake up calls for the photo shoots we had scheduled. It was the small touches that made the stay extra special.

Hotels in Venice Santa Croce district – As a quick reference guide for your stay at Hinc Domus, I share some approximate walking distance times to some of Venice’s must see landmarks/areas as well as some handy points of interest for food:

About the Room:

I stayed in Double Room 2. It is a beautiful clean modern room that has:

One thing I really loved is that Hinc Domus are doing what they can to help promote sustainability and being eco friendly. Giovanni, made us aware that the tap water in Venice is 100% drinkable, which was so good to know as we were able to refill our bottles throughout our stay. So if you have a reusable bottle, make sure to bring it with you on your trip.

There is also a brochure in the room which reminds you of this and shared information on the Venice Tap Water Project. Their goal is to raise awareness and promote the use of tap water around the city, which is so important when you think that Venice attracts more than 30,000,000 tourists each year (YES, you read that right! 30 MILLION). AND if you go to their website they share an up to date Map of Drinking Fountains around Venice. You can find out more head to their website and/or their Instagram page.

Overall, I had such a relaxing stay at Hinc Domus and I really was not ready to leave even after the third day. This is the perfect place to experience a home away from home feel. It is ideal for friends, couples, families and small groups as there are 3 rooms available allowing for a total of up to 5 guests that can stay at Hinc Domus together. 

***For larger groups*** Giovanni has two other apartments that are adjacent to each other in another location. They are able to hold groups of 3-4 and 4-5 people respectively. The apartments are located approximately 3 minutes from Rialto Bridge and 5 minutes from Piazza San Marco. For more details, please contact Hinc Domus via email on info@hincdomus.com or their Instagram page to find out more.

Giovanni is an exceptional host and he will ensure that you have the best local Venetian experience and avoid any tourist traps. He made sure that we were comfortable throughout our stay, offered up great ideas about areas we should visit and was so timely in responding to any questions we had, which were often last minute. Giovanni was a life saver.

Pandemic Times:

I know travelling in current times can be stressful. Throughout my stay at Hinc Domus I observed great care taken to make sure we had a safe and stress-free stay:

Venice Hotel Reviews *This stay was generously gifted. However, the views, words and opinions in this blog post are my own.

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Hotel Santa Chiara Superior | Where to Stay in Venice, Italy

Review of Hotel Santa Chiara Superior in Venice, Italy

If you are looking for Venice hotel recommendations, then keep reading.

About the Hotel:

Located near Santa Lucia Train Station in Venice, Hotel Santa Chiara is a 4-star Superior hotel. A FUN fact about this boutique hotel is that before becoming one, it was a Monastery for 500 years, since about the 13th century. 

If you are looking for hotels near Venice Marco Polo Airport, look no further. Its location on the Grand Canal is perfectly situated, especially for late night arrivals and early departures. It is only a stone throw away from the bus station from which the local bus (Number 5) ends and starts it journey between Venice and Marco Polo airport. As an example of just how close it is, I had an early flight back home from Marco Polo airport and it was only about a 25min bus journey (this was at 6:45AM in the morning). I suggest allowing more for peak season and peak traffic hours, as it can take longer during those times. If you are arriving to Venice by car, Hotel Santa Chiara does has private parking and offers a valet service.

As a mini guide for your stay at Hotel Santa Chiara, I share some approximate walking distance times to some of Venice’s must see landmarks/areas:

About the Room:

Hotel Santa Chiara was recently renovated to have a Venetian classic style with a modern twist. We stayed in a Deluxe City View room and this was reflected in the way the interior was designed. The room screamed Venetian, while the bathroom offered the modern amenities you are always looking for.

The Deluxe City View room is well-equipped all round and includes:

The Jet Shower Experience I loved during my stay

The Deluxe City View room includes breakfast and we got to enjoy our breakfast in bed. I wish I could wake up this every morning.

About the Private Vintage Boat Experience:

We were lucky enough to also get to experience an amazing boat ride on the Hotel’s 1956 wooden Celli. Gliding along the Grand Canal in this gorgeous retro boat was an amazing experience. And yes, I felt like a total movie star. Seeing Venice on foot is one thing, but seeing it on the canals is another. This was confirmed by our gondolier a few days later – he said and I quote “the true way to see Venice is from the canals…they are the original streets of Venice”.

So, when you do book in your stay with Hotel Santa Chiara, I cannot recommend booking in with this service enough. It is truly an experience in itself.

You are able to book in the boat service to take you from Hotel Santa Chiara to any of it’s other Partner hotels being Hotel Locanda Vivaldi Superior and Hotel Palazzo Stern Superior and vice versa. This is such a great service as you get to experience the incredible canals of Venice and take in all the breathtaking sights along your way (and do not forget it is a Venetian perfect picture opportunity). For example, you can start your morning by taking the lovely boat ride from Hotel Santa Chiara to Hotel Locanda Vivaldi and walk to the beautiful San Marco Piazza which is located just moments away from Hotel Locanda Vivaldi.

*** Please Note*** The boat service is reserved for all reservations made directly with Hotel Santa Chiara on their website or through selected partners.

***The service is on a strict reservation ONLY basis and is SUBJECT to limitations. Please contact Hotel Santa Chiara for full details.***

About their other Hotels:

Hotel Locanda Vivaldi Superior

An incredible and FUN fact about this hotel is that it is the former residence of Composer Antonio Vivaldi. So for you music and history lovers out there, this is a perfect option for your stay in Venice.

It is located in Riva degli Schiavoni, in the heart of Venice, the centre of artistic and cultural life. Hotel Locanda Vivaldi overlooks Saint Mark’s Basin and has expansive views from which you can see San Marco Piazza to the Dogana, to the island of Giudecca, to San Giorgio and the Lido of Venice. It really is a sight to see.

Hotel Palazzo Stern Superior

Hotel Palazzo Stern is a Palazzo with Moorish architecture overlooking the Grand Canal. It is located in the Dorsoduro area, which is less touristy and has more of a local Venetian vibe.

Everything about the rooms in Hotel Palazzo Stern scream Venice. They are well furnished and great care is taken in the smallest of details to ensure that the rooms are maintained to be as original to their historical past as possible.

If you are looking for breathtaking Grand Canal views this is your place as many of their rooms boast Grand Canal views. The ones that do not, still have fairytale like views that overlook the Rio Malpaga, the garden or the city rooftops of Venice.

Garden View from Palazzo Stern Room
Grand Canal View from Palazzo Stern Room

Before or after your afternoon stroll, why not stop for an aperitif on the ground floor terrace that overlooks the Grand Canal. A perfect spot to relax before setting off or wind down and take in the magic that is Venice.

A must in this hotel is taking a walk around the public spots. Why you ask? This hotel is full of history that begins in the XIV Century. Over the years efforts have been made to restore and look after the different artworks and other historical artefacts which are now located throughout the hotel. Walking around this hotel is like take a journey through time.

Looking for something extra special and relaxing. Then why not take a dip in the Hotel’s rooftop Jacuzzi bathtub. Yes, you read that right. Just look at the views from rooftop:

Terrace/Rooftop View from Palazzo Stern

This bespoke service is available ONLY by reservation. To find out more, please contact Hotel Palazzo Stern for pricing and full details.

Pandemic Times:

I know travelling in current times can be stressful. Hotel Santa Chiara hope to alleviate some of these concerns and have the following policies in place to make your stay extra comfortable and stress-free:

Venice Hotel Reviews *This stay was generously gifted. However, the views, words and opinions in this blog post are my own.

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