After a relaxing stroll through the historic downtown district, make time to explore the rest of what the island of Venice has to offer. Connect with nature, art or a cultural activity. There’s so much to see and do!
EXPLORE MAINSTREET PARTNERS
Around the island (beyond the downtown district):
Shopping
Dining (including waterfront)
THINGS TO DO
Zen experiences
Free morning Yoga on Venice Beach classes are offered daily and sunset sessions are Mondays through Fridays. Times vary throughout the year, so check the website. You can even try full moon yoga!
Get into the rhythm of the drum circle at Venice Beach on Sundays, about 1 1/2 hours before sunset.
Slow down for a bit and take a meditative walk on the outdoor labyrinth at the campus of St. Mark’s Episcopal Church. The design is modeled after the labyrinth at Notre Dame de Chartres in France (c. 1220).
Connect with culture
As part of Florida’s Cultural Coast®, explore why Venice helps put southwest Florida on the map for arts and culture. Within a half mile radius, nine of Venice’s top cultural destinations, located in the “Cultural Corridor,” provide an array of live music, theatrical shows, classes, art, historical exhibits and more. The Cultural Campus, just a couple blocks from downtown and within the corridor, is home to seven of these venues with easy, ample parking. They include the CLARC Archives, Monty Andrews Arboretum, Old Betsy Museum, Venice Art Center, Venice Community Center, Venice Museum and Venice Public Library.
The Venice Performing Arts Center is a 1,090 seat multi-level auditorium home to The Venice Symphony, The Venice Concert Band, and The Venice Chorale, as well as hosting world-renowned entertainment. Seasonal, free carillon recitals are offered outdoors on the Center’s terrace. You can listen to the performance, played by a live performer, from your car or bring a lawn chair. The 48-bell carillon is one of only three mobile carillons in the western hemisphere!
Murals and outdoor sculptures
Find the perfect backdrop for your selfie on the island at one of the numerous places with public art on display. Your Venice visit is only complete when you have a photo with a shark tooth! Stop by the Venice Area Chamber of Commerce to take a snapshot of the giant megalodon shark tooth sculpture at the front of its building.
The Monty Andrews Arboretum, located on 4.5 acres in West Blalock Park, has several sculptures of native Florida animals. Lots of shady trees, picnic tables and a playground make it an enjoyable place to unwind.
You can find murals depicting Venice’s history facing the Intracoastal Waterway, if you bike or walk the Venetian Waterway Park Trail. The buildings are in the 200 block of Miami Ave East.
As you drive past the wall at 780 S Tamiami Trail (US-41 Business), next to Emmanuel Lutheran Church, you will see the colorful 240-foot-long mural honoring Venice’s circus history. The mural was completed in 2025 by artist Sami Makela.
Connect with nature
Look for shark teeth at several public beaches on the island and enjoy the Gulf view from the Venice Fishing Pier. No fishing license is required on the pier and you can buy your supplies right there at Papa’s Bait Shop. For more fishing information, click here.
Take a leisurely bike ride or walk the Venetian Waterway Park Trail located along the Intracoastal Waterway. Pick up the trailhead at the headquarters of Venice Area Beautification Inc. at 257 N Tamiami Trail. Bicycles can be rented from Florida Bike & Beach and Bicycles International.
The spacious median along West Venice Avenue, from blocks 500-700, is home to Heritage Park with its beautiful banyans and oaks. The shady, paved trail is ADA accessible and leads from the downtown district to Venice Beach. Take a rest in one of the swinging benches along the way. For more parks, go to the Parks & Recreation page and scroll down to Island of Venice Parks section.
Learn something new
Youth, teens and adults can take sailing lessons with the Venice Youth Boating Association. Year round boating safety courses are offered by the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Venice Flotilla 86 both online and in-person.
Fly in the air, with the greatest of ease, on a trapeze at Tito Gaona’s Trapeze Academy. Gaona was part of the The Flying Gaonas, who performed for the “Greatest Show on Earth” with Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus and the Big Apple Circus.
For those looking for something creative, art classes are offered at the Venice Mercato’s Create Art Studio. The Venice Mercato is also a fun stop for its vintage market open seasonally from October through May on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays (Saturdays only in June and July).
Look above
At the Venice Municipal Airport, you can watch the privately owned aircraft, charter operations, flight training and other general aviation operations totaling 90,000 takeoffs and landings annually. You can even grab a bite to eat at the airport’s cafe.
EXPLORE MORE VENICE
Downtown District
Mainland
Photo credit: Visit Sarasota County