8 Best Parks in Venice Italy

Looking for the best parks in Venice Italy? You’re in the right place. We at Venice Insider Guide will take you on a green journey, where you can breathe fresh air and nature and art.

This new post by Venice Insider will guide you step by step through the best parks and gardens you can visit (even to escape the crowds) in the Serenissima.

Discover 8 best parks in Venice Italy.

Parks in Venice Italy

Venice is not just canals, gondolas and campielli: the green is less visible than in continental cities, but it’s there and it’s often surprising for quietness, historical beauty, combination of nature and art.

From Napoleone park to Royal Gardens and Biennale gardens, Labirinto Borges, Papadopoli to Savognan, you will find everything you need to know: where they are, what to see, hours and more.

Best Parks in Venice Italy

In the following sections we have selected the 8 best parks in Venice Italy for history, location, beauty, botanical variety, services. Some are very famous, others more “secret garden”.

1. Biennale gardens: Napoleon gardens

Biennale gardens, also known as Napoleon gardens, are located in the Castello district. They were established by Napoleon’s decree in 1807, reclaiming swampy areas to create public green spaces.

What to know about this one of the best parks in Venice Italy:

• Surface: about 65.000 m² of the green area of the Castello gardens, with hundreds of tree species, even monumental ones.
• Structure: divided between a public part (always open) and a part related to the Biennale (exhibitions that open only during the events).
• Attractions: statues, monuments, the Serra del Giardin (a 19th century iron and glass greenhouse) that hosts events, exhibitions, cultural activities.
• Hours: the public park in the Napoleon gardens is open every day; summer vs winter there’s a variation (e.g. summer: 7.00–20.30; winter: “standard time/winter” with reduced hours).

2. The Royal Gardens

Small but charming: the Royal Gardens (or ex Royal Gardens) are just behind Piazza San Marco, between the Marciana Library, the New Procuratie and the Grand Canal.

The Royal Gardens are one of the best parks in Venice Italy for:

• History: part of the royal/napoleonic properties, they have had various uses over time. They were created in the late 19th century by Eugenio Beauharnais.
• Atmosphere: intimate landscape, pergolas, benches, alloros, oleanders, beech trees. Perfect to relax after visiting Piazza San Marco.

3. Parco delle Rimembranze (Gardens of Remembrance)

The Parco delle Rimembranze is one of the best parks in Venice Italy. Why?

• Location: on the island of Sant’Elena, in the Castello district. Also known as Pineta di Sant’Elena.
• Meaning: the park is dedicated to the soldiers who died in World War II. Tradition has it that many of the trees present were planted in memory of the victims.
• For its offer: lawns, pines, alleys, playgrounds for children, skating rinks, view of the lagoon and St. Mark’s Basin, not central but frequented by locals for relaxation and light sports.

4. Chiostro San Francesco della Vigna - Castello, Venice

The Chiostro San Francesco della Vigna is also one of the best parks in Venice Italy.

It is located in the Castello district, next to the church of San Francesco della Vigna.

It’s a cloister, so smaller, more intimate, beautiful for those looking for a quiet spot between ancient walls, green shade, contemplative atmosphere.

Plus, the access can be regulated (openings related to religious communities or cultural events), not always open to the public.

5. The Papadopoli Gardens

You can’t miss the Papadopoli among the best parks in Venice Italy.

Location: Santa Croce district, near Piazzale Roma and Santa Lucia train station. Great green spot just after arriving in Venice from land.

History? Designed by Francesco Bagnara in 1834 on the land of the Santa Croce monastery. Then expanded in 1863 by Marco Quignon. Part of the garden was reduced when the Novo canal was built (1933).

For flora and features there are shady trees, evergreens, narrow but cozy areas, flowerbeds, benches. An urban oasis perfect to relax just after arriving or before heading to the central destinations.

6. Giardini Groggia (The Park of Villa Groggia)

The Giardini Groggia are among the best parks in Venice Italy.

Here’s what you need to know:

• Location: Cannaregio district. It was the garden of the Villa Donà (if I’m not mistaken).
• Features: small, quiet, less frequented by tourists. Good for short walks and breaks.

7. La Serra dei Giardini – The Greenhouse

La Serra dei Giardini is one of the best parks in Venice Italy.

It’s located inside the Biennale / Public Gardens (Napoleonic Gardens). It’s a 19th century glass/iron structure.

Use? Events, workshops, exhibitions, small cafes or temporary events. It’s a covered space, useful if the weather is uncertain.

8. Giardini Savorgnan

And here we are at the legendary Giardini Savorgnan, so loved for being one of the best parks in Venice Italy.

They are in Cannaregio, near the Ponte delle Guglie / campo San Geremia.

History? Born as a botanical garden, then mixed plantations; later it was transformed with romantic & ornamental elements.

For flora there are plane trees, horse chestnuts, other shady trees, lawns. It’s one of the largest green areas in the historic center.

Services are different, including: benches, fountains, playground for children, quiet areas; summer and winter opening hours.

Hidden green gems: Lesser-known Parks in Venice Italy

Besides the most famous parks, Venice also has a series of small hidden gardens, often ignored by tourists but loved by locals.

Among these are the Mystic Garden of the Carmelite Convent, a small green space for meditation near the train station, and the Barbarigo Garden, located in a private courtyard often open during cultural events.

One of the top parks in Venice is the literature-inspired Borges Labyrinth, located at the Giorgio Cini Foundation.

These micro-parks offer a glimpse into Venetian life, where history and nature coexist in a delicate balance. Walking among ancient trees, fountains and flowered pergolas is a way to get in touch with the soul of the lagoon city.

Parks in Venice Italy for families and picnics

If you’re traveling with children or looking for a casual picnic spot you’ll find in Giardini Savorgnan and Parco delle Rimembranze two great options. Both have safe playgrounds, large lawns to lay a blanket and shaded areas perfect for an outdoor lunch.

Also Papadopoli Gardens, being in the central area, are a reference point for families: here you can combine relaxation with cultural visits to the nearby museums or a stroll along the Grand Canal.

Again we recommend the Borges Labyrinth on the Island of San Giorgio Maggiore.

Historical significance of green spaces in Venice

The Parks in Venice Italy are not just recreational areas: they also tell the city’s history. Many green spaces were born as monastic gardens in the Middle Ages, contemplative refuges for the religious communities.

In the Napoleonic era, these spaces were transformed into public gardens as a symbol of urban modernity and civic health.

Today the Biennale Gardens reflect this 19th century vision, while areas like the Chiostro di San Francesco della Vigna maintain the original monastic atmosphere. Exploring these spaces means traveling through time, botany, art and collective memory.

Best time to visit Parks in Venice Italy

The time of year also affects the experience of Venetian parks. Spring and early summer are ideal for seeing the blooms and attending events in the Biennale gardens.

Autumn, with its warm colours and milder temperatures, is perfect for romantic strolls among the tree-lined avenues of Parco delle Rimembranze or Giardini Papadopoli. In winter, the parks become surreal places of peace, ideal for those looking for tranquility away from mass tourism.

If you want to move a little further, we suggest the Borges Labyrinth, among the most beautiful in Italy, in Venice.

Eco-Friendly initiatives and urban biodiversity

In recent years, Venice has launched several projects to enhance its green spaces and biodiversity. Many parks in Venice Italy are now part of urban reforestation programs with native species, creating ecological corridors for insects and small lagoon birds.

Also initiatives like the Serra dei Giardini promote environmental awareness through educational events, workshops and biological markets. These efforts show that even a city built on water can be a urban sustainability laboratory.

FAQ on Parks in Venice Italy

What is the most beautiful place in Venice, Italy?

View? green space? romantic atmosphere? If you want something that combines nature + lagoon view + serenity: Parco delle Rimembranze (Pineta di Sant’Elena) is a good candidate. It has views of the St. Mark’s Basin, lots of space, trees, peace.

If instead you mean urban scenery, art + history + curated gardens, Giardini della Biennale (Napoleonic Gardens) are among the most “photogenic”.

• Giardini della Biennale / Giardini Napoleonici: for the Biennale, the pavilions, the Napoleonic history, the vegetation.
• Giardini Reali: recently restored, central location near St. Mark’s Square.
• Giardini Papadopoli: for the location, the romantic history, the contrast between the chaos of the train station / Piazzale Roma and the green rest.

Conclusion

Venice is not just stone, mosaics, coffee with a view: parks are where the city breathes. If you know these gardens well, you can create itineraries that alternate art, architecture and rest under the trees.

Now that you know the best parks in Venice Italy, go visit them all: they are beautiful.

And we’ll keep giving you more tips on the Serenissima. If you liked this content, then follow us on Venice Insider Guide.