18 Incredible Venice Instagram Spots You Can’t Miss

Although every corner of Venice is super picturesque, if you’re trying to track down the most famous Venice Instagram spots, a little planning goes a long way. Without knowing the exact locations, it’s surprisingly easy to miss them.

Venice is like a real maze, and while getting lost in the narrow streets is definitely one of the best things to do in Venice, it doesn’t make it easy to find the best photography spots.

You can absolutely wander around without a plan and still take great photos. That said, if you want the best photo spots in Venice, having a list makes things much easier. That’s where I come in!

In this article, I’ve put together the best Instagram spots in Venice, including exact locations, tips on how to get there, and the best times to visit for photos.

Disclosure: This post contains a few affiliate links, which means I may receive a small commission, at no cost to you, if you make a purchase through my link.

Best Photography Tours in Venice

If you want great photos but you’re traveling solo or with someone who is not into photography, booking a photo tour can make a huge difference. It takes the pressure off and helps you get shots you would probably miss on your own.

• 3-Hour Private Photo-Walk with a Photographer – This is a great option if you are newer to photography and want to improve while exploring Venice. You will visit well-known landmarks along with a few quieter spots, and you will pick up useful tips along the way.
• Venice Personal Photographer Services – If you would rather focus on enjoying the city and let someone else handle the camera, this is a solid choice. You can choose the locations you want and book anything from a quick 30-minute session to a longer 3-hour shoot.
• Private Gondola Ride with Photo Shoot – Getting good photos from a gondola is harder than it looks. If you want those classic shots without stressing about angles or timing, a private gondola ride with a photographer is worth considering. You can relax and still walk away with great photos.

Map of the Most Instagrammable Places in Venice

I’ve created a custom map with all the best Venice Instagram spots and their exact locations. You can pull it up during the day and quickly see what’s nearby so you don’t miss anything.

One tip before you start walking around: switch the map to satellite view. It makes navigating Venice’s streets and canals much easier, especially when you’re trying to find specific photo spots!

How to use this map: This map is fully interactive, so you can move around, zoom in/zoom out, and click on the icons. If you want to see a larger map, click on the bracket in the upper right corner. To see more details and the different layers, click on the tab in the upper left corner. If you want to save it for later, click on the star icon next to the name of the map. Then simply open Google Maps either on your desktop or phone, go to ‘Saved’/’Maps’, and open the map whenever you need it.

Most Famous Venice Instagram Spots

1. St. Mark’s Square

When talking about the most famous Venice Instagram spots, St. Mark’s Square definitely needs to be at the top of the list.

Located in the heart of Venice, St. Mark’s Square (otherwise known as Piazza San Marco) is the biggest square in Venice, and it is home to some of the most famous buildings in the city, such as St. Mark’s Basilica and the Doge’s Palace.

There are countless photo opportunities in St. Mark’s Square, so you will definitely not get bored! You can take a picture in front of the St. Mark’s Basilica or the Doge’s Palace, or you can use the corner where the two buildings meet.

One of the most popular angles is to shoot at the corner of Doge’s Palace from where you can see the iconic tower across the canal.

In case you didn’t know, there are two similar towers in Venice – Campanile di San Marco standing in St. Mark’s Square, and Campanile di San Giorgio on the other side of the canal.

Although the square is really picturesque, it’s also one of the hardest places to take photos due to its popularity. The square is usually swarming with tourists even in the morning, so your only chance of getting some decent photos is going there super early, preferably around 7 am (or when the sun rises).

Location on Google Maps: St. Mark’s Square

2. Gondolas at St. Mark’s Square

If you’re already at St. Mark’s Square, don’t forget to walk all the way down to the water. This is definitely one of the most popular Instagram spots in Venice, as you can take a truly iconic picture with two symbols of the city at the same time – the gondolas and the tower on the other side.

You can already see the tower on the other side from the middle of St. Mark’s Square, so all you need to do is walk in the direction of the tower, and you will soon find yourself at the shore.

It’s best to go in the morning to avoid crowds, but since you only need a small space between you and your photographer, with a bit of luck and patience, you can also take pictures here during the day.

Location on Google Maps: Gondolas at St. Mark’s Square

Read more: The Perfect 2 Day Venice Itinerary

3. Small corner below the Bridge of Sighs

The beautiful enclosed limestone bridge called Ponte dei Sospiri is one of the most famous landmarks in Venice. The name translates to Bridge of Sighs in English, and it has a very interesting backstory.

The bridge connects the old prison in the Doge’s Palace with the new prison that was built across the river. Those who crossed the bridge were facing very long prison time, so according to the stories, prisoners crossing the bridge all sighed as they looked out and saw their last sight of freedom. Hence the name – Bridge of Sighs.

Most people stop on the footbridge in front of the Bridge of Sighs, right next to the Grand Canal. Although the view is amazing from the bridge, if you want to take a photo with you in it, go below the bridge to this small corner, which you can see in the photos below.

While this little corner is undoubtedly one of the most famous Venice Instagram spots (seriously, I can’t even tell how many times I’ve seen it on Instagram), people don’t seem to notice it on their own.

Therefore, chances are that this corner will be empty, so you can easily shoot here during the day as well. Even if it’s taken, you only need to wait a little bit and then take your own photo as no one can really photobomb it.

Location on Google Maps: Small corner below the Bridge of Sighs

4. Stone bridge in front of the Bridge of Sighs

The stone bridge on the other side of the Bridge of Sighs is also one of the most instagrammable places in Venice. Although you’re still photographing the Bridge of Sighs, this spot looks entirely different than the previous one, so it’s worth checking out both!

You need to walk back all the way to the St. Mark’s Basilica, then turn right and start walking along the small street until you find yourself on the stone bridge pictured below.

Your photographer will need to walk to the other bridge to be able to take a photo like the ones you can see below. The first photo was taken with a normal zoom lens at 50mm, and the other one was taken with a telephoto lens at 170mm.

It’s best to go in the morning, as during the day, people are coming and going on the bridge, which makes it super hard to take a picture without any other people in it.

Location on Google Maps: Stone bridge in front of the Bridge of Sighs

5. Santa Maria della Salute Viewpoint (Gondola Dogana Vallaresso)

Located in Dorsoduro along the Grand Canal, the Basilica of Santa Maria della Salute is one of the most famous religious buildings in Venice.

If you want to take an up-close look at the basilica, you can either walk (it takes around 20 minutes to get there from St. Mark’s Square) or you can take a Vaporetto or a water taxi to the other side.

But if you only want to take a photo with the basilica, you don’t even need to cross the Grand Canal! The viewpoint you can see below is located along the Grand Canal, close to St. Mark’s Square.

There is a gondola station called Gondola Dogana Vallaresso, and if you sit on the edge of the pier, you can easily take a photo with the basilica in the background.

It’s super easy to get there, just start walking away from St. Mark’s Square in the direction of Museo Correr, and after you pass by the museum, turn left on the second street. You will find the gondola station at the end of the street!

Location on Google Maps: Gondola Dogana Vallaresso

6. The Insta-famous pier

This tiny little pier has no proper name, but since it’s all over Instagram, I decided to call it the Insta-famous pier. It’s really just a random pier – I’ll be honest with you, if it weren’t for Instagram, I probably would have missed it altogether!

But I’m so glad that I didn’t, as it is a super picturesque spot! And even though it’s one of the most famous Venice Instagram spots, it’s a surprisingly calm and quiet place.

To get there, start walking away from St. Mark’s Square in the direction of Museo Correr (same direction as for the previous spot). Once you pass by the museum, keep walking straight until you reach Campo San Moisé.

Cross the bridge on the canal, then turn right on the first street. Turn right again at the end of the street, and the pier will be there!

This small pier is kind of tucked away, and it’s not easy to find, so you don’t need to fight with other tourists for your photo. Therefore, you can go practically anytime. Gondolas are also passing by quite frequently, so you just need to wait a little bit to get the perfect Instagram picture.

Location on Google Maps: Insta-famous pier

7. Small corner near Rialto Bridge

Being one of the most famous landmarks in Venice, Ponte di Rialto definitely needs to be on the list of the most Instagrammable places in Venice. The Rialto Bridge is the oldest bridge across the Grand Canal, and now it’s home to many shops and vendors on both sides.

Even if you have only one day in Venice, you can’t miss strolling across the bridge at least one time! Although the bridge is usually very crowded during the day, you can easily take pictures in the small corner behind the bridge.

In order to find the small corner near Rialto Bridge, you need to stand on the San Polo side (not the San Marco side).

You will find a huge white building right by the bridge (it’s some kind of corporate office) – you need to pass by the bridge and then go all the way around the corporate office to find this small corner along the Grand Canal.

If you don’t want any people on the bridge in the background, go early in the morning. Otherwise, you can go at any time of the day.

It’s a small spot with water in the background, so no one can really photobomb your pictures, but it’s possible that you will need to wait in line if you want to take your photo in the middle of the day.

Location on Google Maps: Small corner near Rialto Bridge

8. Bridge near Gelatoteca Suso

Ice cream is one of the best desserts you can ever have in Italy, and no trip to Venice is ever complete without trying at least a few flavors! You can find many ice cream shops around Venice, but if you want to find the most Instagrammable one, you need to go to Gelatoteca Suso.

Gelatoteca Suso is really close to the Rialto Bridge, it takes only 2 minutes to get there. Basically, you just need to walk down from the bridge on the San Marco side, go straight on the street, turn left, and take the first street on the right.

There is a small bridge called Ponte Sant’ Antonio nearby, where you can take some amazing pictures with the ice cream and the canals.

Location on Google Maps: Bridge near Gelatoteca Suso

9. Scala Contarini del Bovolo

If you want to find the best views in Venice, you need to check out Scala Contarini del Bovolo! This small palace is famous for its spiral staircase, built from red cotto bricks and white Istria stone, and it leads you up through several levels to a great viewpoint over the rooftops.

Unfortunately, I didn’t manage to go inside on my last visit since we hadn’t booked ahead and they had some special rules in place, which was a bit of a miss on our part. Now it’s a lot easier to visit, but I would still recommend pre-booking your ticket in advance, so you do not miss out.

Location on Google Maps: Scala Contarini del Bovolo

10. Burano Island

Located in the northern Venetian Lagoon, Burano is an easy add if you are hunting for the most Instagrammable places in Venice.

Burano works perfectly as a short day trip. The island is small, so you do not need a full day here. A few hours is more than enough to walk around, take photos, and enjoy the atmosphere.

It is often called one of the most colorful places in the world, and once you arrive, it makes total sense. The bright houses line the canals all across the island, not just along one main street. Burano is also known for its long tradition of lace making, which you will see referenced in shops and museums around town.

The easiest way to get there is by Vaporetto. Take line 12 from F.te Nova A, and the ride takes about 45 minutes.

You can also book a guided tour by private boat that includes both Burano and Murano, which is a good option if you want to see multiple islands without worrying about transport.

Location on Google Maps: Burano Island

Hidden and Lesser-Known Venice Photo Spots

Now that you’re familiar with all the famous Venice Instagram spots, let’s move to the lesser-known, hidden photo spots in Venice! As I’ve mentioned before, every corner of Venice is super photogenic, so you can find many amazing photo spots just by walking around and taking photos wherever you like.

I will share 8 of my favorite lesser-known Instagram spots in Venice below. I love these, as each of them captures the true essence of Venice, and they are from spots you don’t often see on Instagram.

Of course, you can find many other amazing spots, so don’t limit yourself to my recommendations only! Keep your eyes open, and I’m sure that you’re going to find a bunch of other great photo spots as well.

11. Gondola Traghetto di Riva del Vin

The Grand Canal is one of the prettiest parts of Venice, and this gondola station along the Grand Canal was one of my favorite lesser-known Venice Instagram spots.

It’s called Gondola Traghetto di Riva del Vin, and while it’s actually only a 2-minute walk from the Rialto Bridge, I haven’t seen many photos of it on Instagram.

Just start walking down the Grand Canal from Rialto Bridge on the San Polo side, and you will arrive at this gondola station within a few minutes.

Since it’s not a popular Instagram spot in Venice and people can’t really photobomb your picture, you can go any time of the day.

Location on Google Maps: Gondola Traghetto di Riva del Vin

12. Libreria Acqua Alta

Libreria Acqua Alta is a pretty little bookshop that is often advertised as the most beautiful bookstore in the world (even their welcome sign says so). I don’t know if that’s really true, but the bookstore does look really picturesque inside!

Since Venice was built on more than 100 small islands in a lagoon, flooding is a constant problem in the city, and it’s definitely not good for books.

To protect the books from flooding, the owners placed them into bathtubs and waterproof bins, and they even installed a full-sized gondola in the middle of the shop. How creative is that?

If you’re looking for the most instagrammable places in Venice, don’t forget to check out the courtyard of the shop, where you can find a staircase made of old books. It’s not only picturesque, but you can get an amazing view over the canals from the top of the books as well.

The bookshop is open from 9 am. If you want to avoid the crowds, go there around opening time. Otherwise, you can go at any time of the day.

People usually stand in line to get a photo with the book staircase, so even if it’s a bit crowded, you just have to wait for a little while to take your own picture.

Location on Google Maps: Libreria Acqua Alta

13. Bridge near the Insta-famous pier

I already mentioned the Insta-famous pier as one of the most famous Venice Instagram spots, and while I’ve seen hundreds of photos from the pier itself, I’ve actually never seen a photo from the bridge in the background.

I don’t really understand why, as the surroundings are really picturesque, so if you’re already at the pier, it’s worth taking a photo with the bridge as well!

All you need to do is walk over to the little bridge in the background while your photographer stays on the pier. Easy peasy, right?

You can take a picture with a normal zoom lens, like the first picture below, or if you have a telephoto lens, you can create something similar to the second photo below.

Location on Google Maps: Bridge near the Insta-famous pier

14. Canals at Ponte de La Verona

Ponte de La Verona is one of the many pretty canal bridges in Venice. I loved the old houses in the background and the pretty reflection on the canal, so if you’re in the area, it’s definitely worth checking it out! Your photographer has to stay on the bridge, while you can stand or sit by the canal.

Location on Google Maps: Canals at Ponte de La Verona

15. Ponte Maria Callas

As I mentioned before, there are many beautiful bridges in Venice, but what makes Ponte Maria Callas special is that you can see the leaning bell tower of Campanile di Santo Stefano from the bridge, which grants a beautiful backdrop to every photo.

It’s a 7-minute walk from St. Mark’s Square, but getting there is a bit tricky as you can only access the bridge from one side. Use the link below for the exact location!

Location on Google Maps: Ponte Maria Callas

16. Ponte degli Scalzi

Ponte degli Scalzi is a stone bridge spanning the Grand Canal between Santa Croce and Cannaregio. If you’re planning to arrive in Venice by train, you will definitely come across the bridge as it’s located right next to the train station.

The bridge is often overlooked by visitors because of its location, but it grants an incredible view over the Grand Canal, so it’s definitely worth stopping by.

Usually, the bridge is quite busy during the day, so if you want to have it all to yourself, go early in the morning. The sunsets are also beautiful from the bridge, so if you don’t mind the crowds, you can also visit in the evening.

Location on Google Maps: Ponte degli Scalzi

17. Ponte Del Parucheta

I absolutely fell in love with the old buildings around Ponte Del Parucheta, especially with the brick one! If you’re wandering in the area, make sure to take a quick stop at this bridge and snap some cool Instagram photos.

The bridge is located on the border of Santa Croce and San Polo, roughly 10 minutes from the train station. Use the link below for the exact location!

Location on Google Maps: Ponte Del Parucheta

18. Bridge in front of Campo San Boldo

If you’re already visiting Ponte Del Parucheta, you can find a beautiful stone bridge on the other side, located in front of Campo San Boldo. The orange house with the brick buildings provides a beautiful backdrop to every photo!

Location on Google Maps: Bridge in front of Campi San Boldo