On our water bus on the way to Murano from Venice, I did some quick research on glass-blowing…read moredemonstrations. There is no shortage of options but you want to make sure you pick a good one. The Glass Cathedral Santa Chiara stood out to me because it's at the very top of TripAdvisor's list of the top attractions in Murano. I tried to make a reservation online but they don't allow day-of reservations so we tried our luck in person. Luckily, it worked out. It's a short walk from the water bus station. Though I will say it's a bit tough to find because the cathedral is a bit hidden. Once you walk in, you see how beautiful the cathedral is and you already feel like you're in the right place. We arrived at a good time and got tickets for the next show. You can just pay for the demonstration itself or add beverages as add-ons e.g. beer, wine, Aperol spritz, mixed drinks, etc. We added Aperol Spritz which is served in a nice glass (I would expect nothing less in Murano). From there, there is some bench seating and a few tables where you can view the demonstration. The artist performing his craft was an artist in the true sense of the word. He wasn't there to entertain the crowd. He didn't seem friendly. But he loves his craft. And I love that. It was super impressive to see him do his thing and create multiple works of art along the help with his assistant. Murano is known for having the best glass-blowing in the world so you'll see a lot of advanced techniques and you'll get a grasp of the skill needed to create what you can buy at stores or online. It makes you appreciate even more the value of handmade goods. Seeing a glass-blowing demonstration is a must when you're in Murano and this place may very well be the best!

We stopped in and enjoyed the glass blowing demonstration. Very affordable entry fee and our kids…read more(4 and 6 years old) entry was free. The staff were friendly and our kids enjoyed themselves!

Palazzo Ducale or the Doge's Palace was one of my favorite parts of my trip to Venice. Ducale or…read moreDoge means Duke. The Duke was the highest governing position in Venice, and this is once where they lived. While strolling St. Mark's Square I already admired the beauty of the building. The building has gothic architecture with influences from the Byzantine times, Islamic and European Medieval styles. My camera does not do its' beauty justice. The tickets to Doge's Palace are time entry tickets, but they didn't seem to be too strict compared to other museums. Tickets are 37€/person. There is a baggage check in area for large items like a backpack, at no cost. It's nice because my boyfriend and I left our stuff there, even things that weren't required to be checked so we walked around more lightly. I only kept my phone for photos. One of the first things I remember seeing is the snitch mailbox. In the olden days the citizens were encouraged to rat on one another and they can leave anonymous tips for the government here. Unfortunately as a result many were wrongfully imprisoned... and there is a full on prison in the later ends of the tour. It was really scary to walk through. On a more positive note, there had the most stunning golden staircase and one of the most incredible largest paintings in the world, the Il Parasido by Jacopo Tintoretto. A must visit when visiting Venice!

Situated between the Basilica di San Marco and the Riva degli Schiavoni waterfront, the Palazzo…read moreDucale, or Doge's (Duke's) Palace, is arguably the jewel in the crown. It was the seat of the government of Venice for centuries and hosted various government institutions, including the Great Council and the Council of Ten, which controlled the affairs of the republic. Its façade featured intricate marble reliefs, elegant arches, and decorative elements that showcased the beauty of the place where my partner, our friend, family members, and I had gotten self-guided tickets without a reservation last Saturday and moved quickly. One entered the palazzo through a door next to the Lagoon into an enormous courtyard and the Arco Foscari. Here we saw the mix of styles that made up the palace, as successive doges tried to make the palace ever more magnificent. Inside, one can explore a series of opulent rooms, grand halls, and ornate chambers adorned with exquisite artworks, stunning frescoes, and elaborate ceilings. Notable rooms include the Doge's apartments, the Hall of the Great Council, and the Chamber of the Council of Ten. Plan a minimum of two hours to get a good bit of history, which is a living echo of a world that helped shape Europe. We can recommend.

I'm obsessed with every thing about Peggy Guggenheim & the area of Dorsoduro that surrounds the…read moreCollection. Just a delightful home on the Grand Canal, small & intimate with such diversity that the moment we left I was already craving a revisit. Beautiful garden memorial to Peggy & her beloved dogs. "Peggy's ashes are buried her beloved pooches are also with her. This is the only case in the world where the creator of a museum is buried inside" The courtyard is peaceful and allows for a few areas to reflect before or after visiting the collection inside. Of course, the delight is the canal entrance to the terrace showcasing the bronze Marino Marini "Angel of the City" statue of a rider on a horse with outstretched hands and an erect phallus that is said to once upon a time be detachable to prevent the nuns who were passing by from seeing it. Eventually stolen enough times that it was soldered in place. What a place !! What an island !

Mega over-crowded! We bought tickets online because it may "sell out". I don't think they would…read moreever sell out-seems packing hundreds of people into very small rooms and hallways was just fine. Large student groups of uninterested kids and bougie aficionados with no self-awareness abound. Not sure if the art or people watching was more insufferable. We spent about 20 min inside before we bailed. Also, 90% of the art looks like what second graders produce and parents would hang on a fridge. Want to see art? Walk thru any of the art galleries with photography and oil paintings for sale-far better plan. Not sure how this gets nearly 5 stars. During the very busy season this place must be even more insane. How about limit the crowds, especially for those with the foresight to pre-purchase tickets to avoid what we experienced.

500 to 600 year-old works of art including Michelangelo and Bosch. But the highlight is undoubtedly…read morethe vitruvian man by da Vinci. It is worth the price of the entry alone. It sits behind a closed curtain for 20 minutes then they uncover it for another 20 minutes. They say it will be on display for one year. And then it is stored in a dark room where no one can see it for eight years. They do this routine to avoid damaging the sensitive material.

Worth a trip to the Gallerie dell' Accademia when visiting Venezia…read more I recommend lunch or dinner at Al Vechio Maragon (nearby) after the visiting the museum.

As a tourist, I didn't buy anything! But I took a stop at their shop in Murano! It was great to see…read morethe gallery with some of their beautiful handmade chandeliers and lights. They were absolutely gorgeous and works of art in their own right. They have booklets of their history and showcase some of their most well-recognized lights. So it was cool to look at it, and I kept it as a little souvenir! Definitely recommend stopping by if you're in the area!

This Basilica is small but beautiful. Make sure to follow the dress code, knees and shoulders…read morecovered. There are additional features that you need to get separate tickets for (or get a bundle) so make sure to do your research beforehand and and book appropriately. It will be a short visit given the venue isn't large but it's worth it when you're in Venice!

False advertising. Paid for guided tour of Doge palace, but No guided tour and hard to find person…read moreto get tickets from. Then app they instead offered did not work. Took tour on own with no commentary on what we were looking at. Over-priced! Useless. Buy tickets from doge palace and get tour guide from them, not get tour guide.

This was one of my favorites on my recent trip. Not so much for the art inside (fairly typical…read moreItalian paintings, sculptures, etc.), but mainly for the building itself. The Ca d'Oro is one of Venice's most breathtaking architectural offerings and this museum lets you go inside and have a glimpse of what it was like to be there long ago. The inside rooms are now art gallery spaces, but you get access to both the 1st and 2nd floor terraces with their fabulous views of the Grand Canal. And you get to explore the ground floor portico with its magnificent mosaic work, garden, and view of the canal.

Murano was going through a bit of a refurbishment during the time of our visit so we had to make…read moreour way through some construction in order to find this place. The joy of stumbling upon this place is that we were the only ones here and the docent was all ours for the good part of an hour. She walked us through the museum and showed us the different pieces from the collection that had either been made by Seguso himself, or his apprentices. We got a great education on Murano glass and the history of Archimede Seguso and came away with a new appreciation and a few souvenirs to boot. Yes, it is special to visit Murano altogether but if you're looking for something off the beaten path and away from the touristy area, maybe give this place a shot. Maybe too you'll get lucky and have this place all to yourself and have an opportunity to get an education like we were lucky enough to get.

Very small yet informative museum and a true gem. We were able to purchase tickets in advance and…read morethey weren't too pricy . If you're into seeing and exploring I would recommend a visit but I can be skipped and not really a must see. The building it quite exquisite. The hands on experiments were really interesting and the history behind it all was fascinating.

Cute little museum that showcases their local hero with his life and work. It's more of an…read moreinteractive museum of replicas of some of his most famous creations. Located in a historic section of Venice. It's in need of some updates but over all it's cute.

The National Archaeological Museum is located next to the Correr Museum and the Marciana Library…read more It has several original Greek, bronze, ceramic, jewels and coins. Even though it seems conjunctional with Correr Museum, technically operated by different entities. I think you can only get access to this museum buying the combo tickets.

Surprisingly good museum for a city like Venice! The museum has dinosaurs, a good coverage of human…read moredevelopment and lots of well presented animal displays. Certainly not the equivalent of New York or London, but a good place to take the kids for a break.