9 must see parks in Venice

Venice is one of the most famous cities in the world. Everyone can picture its winding canals and its many beautiful bridges, about 417 to be exact. Venice is also home to about 350 gondolas which are still used to get around the 177 waterways that make up the city today. Aside from being a lovely city, Venice has also been home to some pretty incredible people over the years including the world's first woman ever to graduate from university, who was born here back in 1646. It's a very popular travel destination with some great entertainment options and is even where the very first casino on the globe was opened back in 1638.

Although most of the city is made up of canals, there are still some nice gardens and parks in Venice, Italy. Each of them is worth visiting for everyone in the city, whether you're a local or somebody who's only here on vacation. Venice parks are found near canals and in city squares, making them versatile places offering plenty to do. Looking for a safe place for backpack storage, or to store your sports and picnicking equipment near the park? Download the app to easily take advantage of the convenient bounce storage lockers around Venice.

Parco delle Rimembranze

The Parco delle Rimembranze, also known as the Gardens of Remembrance, is a popular destination for couples, individuals and families to spend a sunny day in Venice. The gardens were created in honor of the soldiers who gave their lives during the Second World War and even today it's still used as a venue for a variety of events to commemorate them.

You can get to the park by walking from St Mark's Square, although it might take a while. That being said, the walk follows a canal and is quite pleasant and highly recommended. Once you arrive at the park you'll find yourself among forests of pine, oak, maples, linden trees, cedars, elms and more.

The Gardens of Remembrance have plenty of leisure and entertainment facilities as well, including a skating rink, soccer fields and a playground. There are also bathrooms and several benches where you can stop to rest.

Giardini della Biennale

The Giardini della Biennale is sometimes called the Biennale Gardens or the Napoleonic Gardens because they were created by the military commander Napoleon Bonaparte. This green space has been open to the public since 1807 and is situated in the Castello district. Aside from being a great place to enjoy fresh air and nature, it's also used as a setting for the International Art Exhibition.

Fun fact; the area that makes up the park used to be a swampland that was drained and later on housed a series of churches, but they were destroyed to make room for the public green space. Eventually, in the 19th century, the park was split up into two sections, one of which can be enjoyed by the public and the other which is used for exhibition space. The pavilions that are used for the exhibitions have each been built by talented architects and represent a different nation.

You'll find the entrance of the park right by the statue of Giuseppe Garibaldi, commander of military campaigns and much more. The park offers a nice view over the Adriatic Sea and if you want to get out onto the water, join in on one of the boat tours. Inside the park, there's a playground, a cafe and a restaurant.

Giardini Papadopoli

The beautiful Giardini Papadopoli, also known as the Papadopoli Gardens, is said to be one of the best locales for families to spend a day outside. It attracts many people throughout the year, partly because of its unbeatable location which overlooks the Rio Novo Canal. Although it's fairly small at just under 9,000 meters square, it's an unbeatable spot for getting away from the bustle and busyness of the rest of Venice.

This park is easy to get to. It's situated close to the Santa Lucia train station, making it the perfect place to go when you're looking for something spontaneous to do. The park received its name from the Papadopoli family since they donated the land and the park was commissioned by the wife of Count Spiridione Papadopoli, Teresa Mosconi. Back when it was built, the park was home to rare species of trees but unfortunately, the gardens were pretty badly damaged after being bombed during the First World War.

When the park was reconstructed it changed its appearance quite a bit and today you'll find a nice space with lots of shade from cypress, holm oak and cedar trees, and you'll also see sofor, hackberry and lime trees. You'll find a playground loved by children and the Winter Garden belonging to the Papadopoli Hotel which has been around since 1970.

Giardinetti Reali

There's nothing else quite like the Giardinetti Reali, or the Royal Gardens, in Venice. Napoleon ordered the park back in 1807 because he wanted to view greenery while working in his office and it's still standing today near the Piazza San Marco basin.

The gardens don't look exactly like they did back when they were built, and when the Austrians returned after Napoleon fell they added two new groves of trees and more avenues to make it suit the style of the English gardens. Throughout its lifetime the park had been a bit neglected, but the Venice Garden Foundation and Municipality did a wonderful job of bringing it back to life in 2019.

Inside the gardens, you'll find lush greenery and nice, smooth paths running throughout the grounds. Some of them are completely surrounded by plants and there are lots of benches where you can sit and cool off from the sun or just admire the oasis of nature around you. Make your way to this lovely park in no time from St Mark's Square if you take a short walk by the water.

Campo Santa Margherita

Although you won't find many plants and flowers here, the Campo Santa Margherita is still a nice open space where you can enjoy the fresh air in Venice. It's the biggest square located in the Dorsoduro district and is well worth a visit. You'll often see crowds of locals gathering here to enjoy a meal or to have a few drinks in one of the bars and restaurants in the neighborhood.

Most of the hustle and bustle in the park comes from the university students who study nearby and they bring a welcome liveliness to the area. Travelers and locals often come by to check out the fresh produce market that happens in the mornings.

We recommend coming here before dinner to admire the buildings surrounding the square. Then, savor a meal at one of the popular and affordable restaurants in the area. There are great spots to get tasty ice cream for dessert, too. It's easy to reach from the Santa Lucia train station, or you can drive to the Piazzale Roma.

Lido Beach

When people think of Venice they don't often think of beaches but, as an island, it does have some sandy areas by the coast ready to be discovered. Many of them can be found a little way outside of the city's main cluster of islands all the way to places like Murano, Giudecca, Burano, and, of course, the barrier island Lido.

To make your way to Lido Island take the public water taxi, locally called a Vaporetto, which leaves from St Mark's Square. Getting off at Lido, you'll find yourself at the beach in just a short 10 minute walk.

Lido has lots of beach clubs and sandy areas on the edge of the water that are popular among tourists but are appreciated by the locals as well. Lido Beach offers pristine, clear waters and well maintained coasts so you can relax and suntan all day. Restaurants can be found nearby so you won't have to worry about bringing food.

Campo San Vio

Venice is a city that's often dominated by huge crowds and it can sometimes get packed between the canals and buildings. That's why you'll appreciate any open space you find that'll provide a bit more room to move, and that's exactly what you'll get at Campo San Vio.

This large square can be found right by the Grand Canal in the Dorsoduro district which is actually one of the quieter places in town. There are not as many tourist attractions around here, although there's still lots of beauty to admire in the surrounding buildings.

Inside the square, there are a few small trees that offer a nice pop of color and some shade covering the benches. There's also a pozzo, which is a sort of water-well, and a nearby church called the Chiesa di San Giorgio.

Parco Savorgnan

The Parco Savorgnan, also called the Savorgnan Gardens, is a sort of hidden gem in Venice since it's a bit hard to find. If you find yourself near the Santa Lucia train station then you'll be close. The easiest way to find the park is to locate the intersection between Fondamenta Venier and Calle del Vergola. From here you should be able to find a small road between some buildings which opens up into a nice park.

It's a great place to bring kids to play since it has a playground with swings but it's also a nice area to walk around and enjoy the silence. There are some cool areas to sit in the shade of plane trees and horse chestnut trees. While you're here try to identify other notable species like hackberry, lime, maple, ailanthus, holm oaks and yew trees.

The park's history began in 1826 when it was established as a private botanical garden of the Palazzo Savorgnan, hence its name. The expanse was eventually bought by the Galvagna family who redesigned the green space and expanded it. Today, it's owned by the Municipality of Venice and is also where the Technical Institute for Tourism can be found.

Piazza San Marco

We've mentioned St Mark's Square, or Piazza San Marco, several times already but it deserves its own section. This is the biggest open air square in the city and also one of its most striking, with architecturally impressive buildings along its perimeter. It's one of the most recognizable places in Venice, so you've probably seen pictures of it before.

Some of the top landmarks in the square include St Mark's Basilica, or the Basilica di San Marco, which is an imposing and historically significant structure that's absolutely stunning to see in person. You'll also want to check out the St Mark's Bell Tower and the Procuratie Veccie which is the building to the left of the basilica.

You'll definitely see lots of tourists around the square and it's a place that everyone who's visited the city remembers. On the edge of the square is Caffe Florian, the second oldest cafe in all of Europe. You may find it expensive but well worth checking out as well.

Enjoy these parks during your trip to Venice

Summer is the time when everyone wants to be outside, and with the pleasant temperatures that Venice experiences, you'll want to spend as much time outdoors as possible too. Luckily there's plenty that you can do, like viewing the city while on a gondola ride or sitting down to relax in the parks, gardens and squares we've highlighted above. Another bonus of these green spaces is that most of them have an interesting story to tell since many of them have been around for decades.

The parks in Venice are lovely but there aren't really all that many where you can go for a long walk. If you want to find more places to enjoy nature, discover the best hikes in Venice. Aside from Lido Beach we introduced above, you'll find a few other beautiful areas to relax by the coast, Learn all about them in this guide on beaches near Venice.