The Top 8 Museums and Galleries in Venice

In Venice and looking for a few great museums to visit? Not to worry! Our local Venetian guides have created this list of the top museums and galleries in Venice. While you probably won’t be able to visit them all on your first trip, you’ll at least be able to compare them all in one place. Here are the top museums and galleries in Venice for you to choose from.

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Top 8 Museums in Venice

There are so many ways to describe Venice: interesting, peculiar, stunning, beautiful, cloudy, flooded, and the list goes on. Venice is over 1,200 years old as a settlement and its vast history has built it into what you see today. This fishing and merchant city has experienced centuries of evolution and yet it appears very classical and unchanged. This is the reason why Venice is Venice.

Its long history and evolution have been collected in Venice’s many galleries. Many people say Venice is only good for a day or two, but it really depends on how you look at it. I believe you could spend a week in Venice exploring its many neighborhoods and neighboring islands and still know very little about it.

Venice is full of incredible monuments, interesting areas, and, most importantly, museums. Much of the reason why people tend to move on so quickly is that there are very few open spaces in Venice and that gives travelers the impression that there isn’t much to see. My recommendation is to schedule a museum per day while in town. In this list, we’ve selected the top museums in Venice, so you can find all the best ones easily!

8. Ca’ Pesaro International

It’s hard to know if Ca’ Pesaro as a building is more valuable than the artwork it houses. The external structure and facade are gorgeous and are a must-see when traveling to Venice. Inside, you’ll find many famous works of art including the following:

• Giuditta II by Gustav Klimt (Galley Masterpiece)
• Thinker by Auguste Rodin (Copy)
• I Borghesi di Calais by Auguste Rodin
• Allunga il passo amico mio by Gastone Novelli
• Vir Temporis Acti by Adolfo Wildt

Address: Santa Croce 2076 | Admission Cost: €14

7. Gallerie dell’Accademia

Gallerie dell’Accademia in Venice is considered the most important collection of Renaissance-era artwork in Venice. The Doge’s Palace is the most visited museum but it is less of an art museum than Accademia.

The Accademia is for passionate art lovers that have a large interest in the Renaissance. There are many famous artists housed in this gallery and possibly one of the most famous drawings known to man: Leonardo Da Vinci’s Vitruvian Man (Study of the Proportions of the Human Body). You’ll also find works by the following notable artists:

• Paolo Veronese
• Jacopo Tintoretto
• Paolo Veneziano
• Tiziano Vecellio
• Giovanni Bellini
• Leonardo Da Vinci

Address: Campo della Carita, 1050 | Admission Cost: €12

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6. Pinault Collection: Punta Della Dogana

François Pinault is a French billionaire and an example for any ambitious entrepreneur. He grew up in a rural setting and started a timber trading business from a job cutting down trees for his father. Now, he’s one of the leading art collectors in the world.

The Pinault Collection has not one but two museums in Venice. They also restored a famous theatre named Teatrino, which had been closed since the early 80s. In this article, we recommend visiting the Pinault Collection in Punta della Dogana for one very important reason: the location is really cool!

If you speak Italian, you know punta della dogana translates roughly to “customs checkpoint.” You may see the word dogana in an airport when you exit baggage claim. The structure is built, interestingly enough, on the very tip of the Dorsoduro neighborhood, which helps form the opening of the Grand Canal. It’s an epic location for a museum that offers amazing views.

If you’re not a fan of modern art, I still recommend you visit this space as it may change your opinion. The entire structure is a work of art restored by Tadao Ando. If you’re not sure who that is, you’ll want to know after you visit.

Address: Dorsoduro, 2 | Admission Cost: €15

5. Peggy Guggenheim Collection

The Guggenheims made their money in the early 20th century in the mining industry. They didn’t just become wealthy—they became some of the most wealthy people ever to live.

After a few generations, their family lost interest in business and began to focus on philanthropy with a considerable focus on the arts. There are currently three Guggenheim collections globally with a fourth very stunning museum being constructed in Abu Dhabi.

The Venetian Guggenheim Collection was established in 1951 after Peggy Guggenheim purchased the Venier Palace two years prior. The palace, which is awkwardly short for Venice, houses a masterful collection of 20th-century artwork. Artists include Dalí, Picasso, Pollock, René Margritte, Vasily Kandisky, and more. You won’t find many Venetian things inside but you will find some of the world’s greatest early 20th-century artwork.

Address: Dorsoduro, 701-704 | Admission Cost: €16

4. Museo Storico Navale di Venezia

It would be difficult to argue that anyone knows boats as well as the Venetians. There are many canal cities across the world such as Amsterdam, St. Petersburg in Russia, and Pittsburg in the USA, but Venice is the only city that does not even offer the option of roads for vehicles. This makes it truly unique and fully reliant on water-borne vessels.

If you’re a boat person, the Historical Museum of the Venetian Navy should be on your list. The museum is housed in an 11th-century palace in Campo San Basio and has 42 exhibitions on five levels. What’s inside? Boats, lots of boats!

You’ll see 16th-century warships, gondolas like never before, and many other ships of historical importance. It’s really cool and admittedly a break from Italy’s high-art concentration.

Address: Riva S. Biasio, 2148 | Admission Cost: €10

3. Murano Glass Museum

I don’t know if I’ve ever had a conversation about Venice without someone bringing up Murano and glass blowing. That’s because glass blowing has been and continues to be a defining part of Venice’s identity. Glass blowers were forced to move to Murano over concerns that their furnaces burned too hot in the main city of Venice. It sounds like a “demotion” of sorts, but these people were treated like royalty.

They were among the only people in Venice allowed to carry a sword and became very wealthy. Unfortunately, they were forbidden from leaving Venice as the commercial city wanted to protect their trade secrets. Today, glass blowing is everywhere. While its origins are not in Venice, it reached never before seen levels in the city. You can witness the evolution of glass at the Murano Glass Museum.

History of the Museum

This grand Gothic palace was passed along and sold to many owners throughout history before being sold to Murano in 1840. It was first a town hall before becoming a museum in 1861. Murano only became part of Venice in 1923 and with it came this museum. Today, you can visit during a trip to Murano and see beautiful architecture, frescoes, and most importantly, lots of blown glass.

According to the museum website, the glass factory is laid out in chronological order. It starts with Roman glass created between the first and third century A.D., which leads into the Murano section. It is the largest collection of Murano glass in the world with works dating from the 15th to the 20th century including many world-famous masterpieces. This museum is a real treat.

Address: Fondamenta Marco Giustinian, 8 | Admission Cost: €10

Not ready to book a tour? Check out our article on the best Venice tours to take and why.

2. Arsenale della Biennale di Venezia

Arsenale della Biennale di Venezia is a modern art museum featuring the top artists in the world. They have an annual festival that lasts six months in Venice and draws millions of art lovers to the city each year. It is arguably the most important art display on Earth.

Each year there’s a display of new art and, most importantly, new themes. Past themes have included music, dance, theatre, and architecture, among others. You can visit the official website of the Biennale for more info. The display takes place inside the Arsenale della Biennale di Venezia as well as outdoors in the Giardini della Biennale.

It’s a tremendous production in which tens of thousands of people dedicate countless hours of their time to prepare. If you’re in Venice during the Biennale, you absolutely must go and witness it.

Address: Campo de la Tana 2169/f

Popular Venice Tours

Not ready to book a tour? Check out our article on the best Venice tours to take and why.

1. Doge’s Palace

The Doge’s Palace was first built in Venice in the ninth century for the Duke of Venice, but little to nothing remains of that structure today. The majority of what you see today is still very old, built up between the 13th and 15th centuries as Venice rose up in wealth.

Venice became wealthy largely due to its trade routes with India and China. Venetians brought back goods like spices and silk, which became luxury goods throughout Europe and were mainly distributed through Venice.

Here are the must-see attractions in Doge’s Palace. For more in-depth descriptions, read our article on the top things to see in Doge’s Palace or take one of our Doge’s Palace private or small group tours when visiting Venice.

• Giants Staircase
• Great Council Chamber
• Bridge of Sighs
• Chamber of Torment
• Doge’s Apartment
• Prisons
• Armory
• Museo Dell’Opera
• Golden Staircase

Address: Piazza S. Marco, 1 | Admission Cost: €30 for adults (€25 if you book online 30 days prior to your visit), €14 for ages 6-25 with student care, and +65

Not ready to book a tour? Check out our Doge’s Palace Guide for more resources.