See Venice’s main square as well as the surrounding rooftops, by climbing the bell tower (or campanile) that soars above St. Mark’s Square and offers 360° vistas across La Serenissima and the Venetian Lagoon (Laguna Veneta). Once used by Galileo as an observatory to study the stars, today this 324-foot (99-meter) landmark tops the list of where to find the best views in Venice. The line to enter the bell tower can be long, so book a St. Mark’s Basilica tour that includes bell tower tickets.

St. Mark’s Basilica (Basilica di San Marco) is fronted by an ornate facade covered in glittering mosaics and divided into an upper and lower section by a terrace running along the entire length. Many visitors don’t know that the terrace is accessible to the public and offers a unique view of St. Mark’s Square (Piazza San Marco) from above. Join a tour of the Basilica that includes terrace access to snap a souvenir photo; many tours also include the Doge’s Palace (Palazzo Ducale).

For a bell tower vantage point with a fraction of the crowds, hop on a vaporetto (water bus) for the short but scenic ride across the lagoon to the tiny island of San Giorgio Maggiore. Insiders head to the bell tower that pierces the sky above the island’s namesake abbey for equally spellbinding views without a long line and wall-to-wall visitors. Like St. Mark’s, the bell tower at San Giorgio Maggiore has an elevator to reach the top, where you can take in views that stretch across the water.

Leave the crowds behind and follow a narrow lane to Palazzo Contarini del Bovolo, just a short walk away but far from the beaten path. This palace is known for its spiral staircase—the Bovolo Staircase (Scala Contarini del Bovolo)—set in a cylindrical tower climbing the facade, with unique Venice viewpoints through the open arches along its entire height. You can’t see the lagoon from here, but you can spot St. Mark’s Bell Tower, the cupolas topping the Basilica, and other Venetian landmarks.

Venice is composed of more than 100 islands, all linked by pedestrian bridges. The smallest are just a few paces long and cross the sleepy secondary canals, but the largest span the entire width of the Grand Canal and include landmarks such as the Rialto Bridge (Ponte di Rialto) and the Accademia Bridge (Ponte dell’Accademia). City tours of Venice generally cross at least one of these Venice sightseeing locations so you can pause at the center to take in the palaces on each bank.

Take a ride in a traditional gondola to admire the city by water, including quiet corners that are only accessible by boat, and for a chance to pass a number of attractions like the Rialto Fish Market and St. Marks's Basilica. You can opt for a classic gondola ride through the tiny side canals and along the Grand Canal, or pair a gondola ride with guided visits of the city’s blockbuster sights to cover Venice by land and sea in just a few hours.

Sitting just across the Grand Canal from the central San Marcosestiere (district), the Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute—or “La Salute,” as it’s known locally—offers a unique vantage point removed from the crowds. Pause on the steps of the church that rise directly from the waters of the canal to take in the cityscape from ground level, or book a timed slot to climb the 150 steps up to the base of the dome for one of the most insider-only panoramic views of Venice.

Stretching from the Doge’s Palace to the Ca’ di Dio bridge, Riva degli Schiavoni offers views of stately Venetian palaces and townhomes to one side and the islands of Giudecca and San Giorgio Maggiore across the waters of the lagoon to the other. Most tourists don’t venture far beyond Ponte della Paglia at the very beginning of the route, so you can walk just a short stretch farther east to lose the crowds and enjoy the panorama in peace.