A good sunrise is irresistible no matter where you are but add Venice into the mix and it’s pure magic! In this post we will share our top 3 spots we’ve enjoyed watching the sunrise while visiting this unique island city!
For more information on Venice, check out our other posts, “Top 8 Things to do in Venice, Italy – Explore and Experience”, “4-Day Itinerary for Venice, Italy – How to Make the most of Your Time”, and “Tips and Recommendations, Your Travel Guide to Venice, Italy”. If you’re looking for accommodations, car rentals (to explore the Veneto), activities, or tours, click on the ads below or contact us for assistance.
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Table of Contents:
- Piazza San Marco & the Lagoon at Sunrise.
- Ponte dell’Accademia at Sunrise.
- Punta della Dogana Point, & Waterfront Walk at Sunrise.
- References
- The Wrap up
1. Piazza San Marco & the Lagoon at Sunrise:
Doge’s Palace
St. Mark’s Basilica
Sunrise over the Lagoon
Sunrise with Gondolas
Beautiful Venice Sky
Piazza San Marco is a definite must-see when visiting Venice, which is why it is also generally the busiest spot in the city. So, by starting your day off here, just before sunrise, you will be able to wander through the piazza with a handful of people, taking photos, videos, and experiencing the grandeur and beauty of this square and its surroundings, including the historical, and stunning architecture. We like to start our day off early and at the most popular places so we can beat the crowds and actually enjoy the experience. For more on why getting up early makes a difference when travelling, check out our post “3 Significant Reason to get up Early when Travelling”.
Our #1 Sunrise spot in Venice is the area along the lagoon at Piazza San Marco, which is one of the most beautiful places, this time of day. Once you’ve taken a stroll through the square, head over towards the lagoon, (as shown on map below). The colours of the everchanging morning sky go from golden to rosy to blue. Not only do you get the pretty colours, but you get the lagoon lined with traditional gondolas, poles, small docks, and old-time lanterns, in the background you see the water and the Campanile of the Abbazia di San Giorgio Maggiore. So, what makes this location special is the layers of iconic sights with the beautiful colours of the soft morning sky. We were bursting with excitement as we witnessed this gorgeous site. In order to get the full experience, try and arrive about 15 to 20 mins before the posted sunrise time, (check out sunrise times for Venice here). If you only have one morning in Venice and have to choose where to watch the sunrise, this is the spot.
2. Ponte dell’Accademia at Sunrise:
Sunrise from the Bridge
Sunrise peaking around the corner
Basilica della Salute under the morning sky
Stunning architecture along the Grand Canal at Sunrise
Experience Sunrise from the Ponte dell’Accademia
Our #2 Sunrise spot in Venice is the morning views of the Grand Canal from the Ponte dell’Accademia. This bridge crosses the Grand Canal and joins the Dorsoduro District with the San Marco District. The Grand Canal is lined with palaces, historical architecture and rich colours, the soft changing hues of the sunrise light up the beautiful building along the canal and make a stunning backdrop for the Basilica della Salute near the point. Arrive about 15mins before sunrise, (check out sunrise times here), and pick a spot on the bridge, facing east, and enjoy the “show”. As the sun rises walk around that area to get different views for your shots, I like the photo above with the gondolas and railing. That one was taken on the Dorsoduro side of the bridge with the sunrise peaking around the corner. If you have the time and the sky is still pretty, you could walk east from the bridge towards the Basilica della Salute and to the point, which is our #3 Sunrise spot, it’s about a 10mins walk.
3. Punta della Dogana Point, & Waterfront Walk at Sunrise:
Basilica della Salute
Lamp post at the point
View of St. Mark’s Square
Walk along the Lagoon
Domes of the St. Mark’s Basilica
Views of Giudecca from the water front walk
Our #3 Sunrise spot is the point at Punta della Dogana, not far from the Ponte dell’Accademia. We started at the Zattere vaporetto stop (that’s what we put into our GPS to get us there). From this spot we walked along the waterfront heading east towards the point. If you arrive about 15 mins before sunrise you will be delighted by the changing colours of the sky as you walk along the lagoon (check out sunrise times here). From this walk you can see across the lagoon to Giudecca. Once you reach the point, you’ll have views of San Giorgio Maggiore Church to your right and St. Mark’s Square to the left. We took a lot of photos as the sky continued to reveal something new and beautiful. One of our favourite photos from this spot is actually a zoomed in shot of the domes of St. Mark’s Basilica with the light shining off of them, (pictured above). If you don’t have 3 mornings in Venice, you could combine #2 & #3. Start at the Ponte dell’Accademia then head towards the point, afterwards take the waterfront path the other direction towards the Zattere Vaporetto Stop. All great spots to soak in a little Venice magic.
4. References:
Focus on the Journey
The information for our top 3 top spots to experience a beautiful sunrise came from our own experiences we had while exploring this magical city, as well, we read travel books like “DK Eyewitness Top 10 Venice, DK Eyewitness Venice and the Veneto and Rick Steves’ Italy and spent time researching travel blogs and tourism websites.
5. The Wrap up:
Sunrise at St. Mark’s Square
We hope you enjoy these suggested sunrise spots as much as we did! Don’t forget to try new things, talk to the locals, indulge in traditional foods, people watch, enjoy nature, speak a little of the local language, but most of all, focus on the journey!
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Thank you,
From, Wild Meadow Studio
Where we help you, Focus on the Journey,
By: Beth de Verteuil