
Aerial view of Venice, Santa Maria della Salute and Piazza San Marco during early morning summer day. World-famous Venice landmarks. View from St Mark Campanile.
Unless, you strick it lucky and book a hotel in Venice with canal view, like me you will want to scope out the best viewpoints in Venice. Also, if you are a photographer then likely getting the best footage from cool vantage points in Venice, will be high on your list. You are in luck as that is exactly what this post is going to be diving into. Cool Venice spots with amazing views.
When it comes to Venice – an absurd, surreal and stunningly timeless beauty to witness, you can easily get lost in the exquisite streets of the city. You can easily stroll around the small streets of Venice to just simply enjoy the majestic views of the city. But you will be enjoying without getting a clear sense of the size and orientation of the city and witnessing majestic views of the lagoon city Venice
If you’re a sucker for some memorable views, and for that, you usually go up high. Venice is full of beautiful vistas from the ground up, but there is something magical about enjoying majestic views of Venice from high up. Even better you happen to catch the views at sunset.
Venice is one of my favourite cities in Italy and there are plenty of things to do in Venice in winter or if you are visiting in summer and I have had the pleasure of visiting during both seasons. For tips on how to get around Venice make sure you check out my other post.
The Best Viewpoints In Venice
Below are some of our favorite places to visit the best views in Venice. From famous bridges in Venice, to rooftops of Venice, some of them might be already on your bucket list because of their popularity.
There are various ways to learn about Venice’s hidden gems, you can hire a private photographer in Venice to take you around the cool Instagrammable spots, there are also walking tours in Venice that allow you to also get some insider information on places to check out and their history.
While these are great for the ground level, the list of Venice viewpoints below showcases the best spots for an aerial view of Venice.
If you are looking for a restaurant with best views in Venice be sure sure to check out our list of amazing restaurants in Italy, some of which include restaurants in Venice with views of the Grand Canal.
1. Bell Tower of San Giorgio Maggiore
In case you’re in search of some of the finest panoramic views of Venice in Italy including the Doge’s Palace, San Marco, and the Grand Canal then look no further than the bell tower of San Giorgio Maggiore. The view of the San Giorgio Maggiore is probably amongst the most photographed sites in the city.
This is among the best places to visit in Venice, if not the most visited places in Venice, whether you are in it for photography or just love the Grand Canal view from above.
Tourists can enjoy some of the best views of Venice from the Campanile of the San Giorgio Maggiore Church. From the square in front of the Church, visitors can enjoy marvelous views for free of the Palazzo Ducale (the Doge’s Palace), Santa Maria Della Salute, Campanile di San Marco but a short ride to the top of the bell tower shows the whole of Venice at its best.
Although San Giorgio Maggiore is free, instead of standing in long lines to purchase tickets for other views and Venice museum passes, it is sensible to save time with advance purchase online tickets.

View from San Giorgio Maggiore in Venice
2. Scala Contarini del Bovolo
A very well hidden and one of a kind stairway, known as Scala Contarini del Bovolo leads to an arcade that provides a majestic 270 view of Venice. Throughout its long existence spanning five centuries of Venetian history, Palazzo Contarini del Bovolo underwent many transformations – major one went during the fifteenth century which updated the complex architectures to meet the modern Renaissance taste with the construction of the loggia and of the graceful spiral staircase known as “Bovolo”.
The Scala Contarini del Bovolo is hidden in the small streets near Campo Manin, making it not stand out much in open so you have to find your way out to it. There is an entrance ticket, costing around €7 per person. Even though the spiral tower is not very high (26 m), it still gives you a nice view of the San Marco basilica, campanile and other higher buildings in the city. The aches are sure to add a special element to your pictures.

Views from Scala Contarini del Bovolo – Among the best places to see in Venice Italy.
3. Terrace of The T Fondaco Dei Tedeschi
One of the largest buildings on the Grand Canal, T Fondaco Dei Tedeschi sits next to the Rialto Bridge and directly across from the famed Rialto fish market. If you’re planning to visit T Fondaco Dei Tedeschi, this visit won’t be complete without a visit to the rooftop terrace which features an overwhelming view of Venice. This rooftop view makes this site a picture-perfect finish to its astounding transformation into Venice’s new culture and commercial epicenter.
Over the years, the building has served as the custom base for Napolean and a post office during Mussolini’s rule. The visit to the terrace is free of cost, but as it can only hold up to 70-80 people at a time, the advance reservation is a must to avoid any hurdles. You can make the reservation online or on their iPads when you reach there.
4. Ponte dell’Accademia
One of the famous bridges in Venice. Accademia bridge at sunset is one of the best places to be for Photographers in Venice. Not as famous as the Rialto Bridge or the Bridge of Sighs, Ponte dell’Accademia has marvelous architecture and provides a majestic view of the canal, as well the city.
It is one of the four bridges spanning the Grand Canal towards st. Mark Square. The bridge is an important pedestrian thoroughfare across Venice’s Grand Canal and is located in the final loop of the S-shaped Canale Grande.
Ponte dell’Accademia is, of course, free of cost to walk as it is an important catwalk bridge. This bridge provides two of the best views in Venice, lying along the Grand Canal in each direction. On view lies the dome of Santa Maria Della Salute, and on the other is the quieter bend which eventually takes the canal towards the Rialto Bridge.

A shot of Ponte dell’Accademia – Famous Bridge in Venice
5. St Mark’s Campanile
Your visit to Venice can’t be complete without being romanticized by the breathtaking views of St Mark’s Campanile, the tallest vantage point of Venice. Located in St Mark’s Square, St Mark’s Bell Tower is situated, standing tall at 98 meters. It provides one of the most amazing views of Venice.
St Mark’s Campanile is a famous tourist spot to witness Venice in its full glory, so you might need to queue up in the line in early morning before it gets flooded with the tourists and the ticket costs around €12 per person. In case you hate standing in long lines and is ready to pay some extra subs charge, St Mark’s Campanile also offers online purchasing of tickets. You can see more pictures from Campanile here.

Views of Venice from St Mark’s Campanile
6. San Marco Cathedral
Often simply called San Marco Basilica, San Marco Cathedral is the most important church in the lagoon city of Venice and the landmark of the world-famous city in Italy. Made in Byzantine style, the church contains many elements from other architectural styles, especially from Gothic period.
Due to the long rush lines to purchase the tickets, it almost takes hours to get your hand on tickets. The ticket price is €12 per person but we suggest you purchase tickets online if you don’t mind paying some extra euros as sub charges.

Terraces around San March Church with views across Venice and Squares.
Planning Your Trip To Italy
If you are visiting Italy for the first time and need tips on planning a trip to Italy then check out my post on things you need to know when planning your trip to Italy. For the basics see below.
- Check out Expedia or Ebookers for flight deals as well as hotel and flight combos.
- If arriving via Verona Airport see my tips on how to get to Venice from Verona.
- Check out my guide to the best areas to stay in Venice.
- Book accommodation via Booking.com which has some of the best details for every budget. From hostel to lux.
- Book the best tours around Venice in advance via Viator who list everything from private tours to day trips to Burano.
- Don’t travel without travel insurance.
- Get to Venice and have a great time!
So, have you been to Venice, have you been to any of the above viewpoints in Venice? Which one was your favourite?
Also See
- The Best Photography Spots In Venice
- What To Wear In Venice In Winter
- Tips On How To Do Venice On A Budget
- How To Book Venice Taxis Without Breaking The Budget
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I was planning for a family trip to Italy and would love to check out the views from campanile. Thanks a lot as this guide as I love photography and would love to take some pictures from the Palace as well as from the Gondolas.