Explore Downtown

Downtown Venice: Explore for a day, a weekend or a lifetime!

Beautiful, historic downtown Venice dates back to the 1920s and captures the charm of old Florida, with its moss-covered oaks and swaying palms lining the avenues. Venice’s unique location combines a vibrant downtown experience with parks, green spaces and Venice Beach, which is less than a mile away. Scan the pristine shoreline for shells and find out why Venice is known as the Shark Tooth Capital of the World.

Downtown Venice is more than just West Venice Avenue. Be sure to explore East Venice Avenue, Tampa Avenue, Miami Avenue, Nokomis Avenue and Nassau Street for an assortment of boutiques, restaurants, bars, sweet treats, and services. These local, family-owned, small businesses are the soul of the city and contribute greatly to its economic vitality. Don’t forget to check out the Venice Farmers Market on Saturday mornings for local and organic fresh produce, baked goods, seafood and more.

The heart of downtown is Centennial Park, where visitors can enjoy free concerts at the gazebo, get community information at the Venice MainStreet kiosk, and kids can play at the Intergenerational Fountain splash pad. It is also the location of free parking along with free street parking in the district. For lovers of history and architecture, downtown offers plenty to discover. From the historic Venice Train Depot to 1920s buildings throughout the district, take a docent-led or self-guided walking tour and learn about Venice’s fascinating history.

Venice holds many distinctions including being a Silver Bicycle Friendly Community, a Monarch City USA and has been awarded the Coolest Downtown Award and the Outstanding Achievement Award for Landscaped Areas by America in Bloom in 2020. Trails at Venetian Waterway Park and The Legacy Trail offer miles of walking and biking that connect directly downtown. A recent downtown infrastructure and beautification project, completed by the City of Venice, has elevated Venice as a destination on the Gulf Coast. We hope you enjoy your visit!

History and drama await you on Tampa Avenue

Walk Tampa Avenue to explore Venice’s historic 1920s buildings, then enjoy unique shopping and dining experiences.

East Venice Avenue, where nature and industry blend in harmony

Explore Venice Ave’s east side for access to the Venice Train Depot, Legacy Trail, Urban Forest and more.

West Venice Avenue: Your gateway to downtown and Venice Beach

West Venice Avenue welcomes all with tropical charm, a large central park, and relaxing shopping and dining experiences.

Experience the magic of Miami Avenue

Discover this charming avenue, just a block from W Venice Ave, lined with boutiques, cafés, vibrant flowers and benches.

Nokomis Avenue, Nassau Street, and Harbor Drive: Cross streets connecting the heart of downtown

Nokomis, Nassau and Harbor bring their own special charm to the city with numerous green spaces, beautiful murals and artwork, historical buildings, and a variety of cozy shops and cafes.