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Responsible Travel
The city of Venice runs an official "Enjoy Respect Venezia" campaign spelling out basic rules of conduct for visitors, enforced by city wardens with real fines: no swimming or diving into the canals (up to €350), no sitting or picnicking on bridges, steps, or walkways (up to €200), no littering (up to €350), no walking around in swimwear or bare-chested away from the beach (up to €250), and no riding or even walking a bicycle through the historic center (up to €100). Feeding pigeons or seagulls is also banned, with fines up to €250.
Venice's historic center is still home to tens of thousands of residents, and its narrow calli double as their daily commute -- stopping in a bottleneck for a photo, blocking a doorway, or lingering on a vaporetto boarding ramp can bring foot traffic to a standstill. Keep to the right in busy walkways where possible, and be mindful of noise late at night or early in the morning, especially in residential side streets away from the main squares.
St. Mark's Basilica and most other churches in Venice enforce a modest dress code -- shoulders and knees covered for everyone -- and will turn away visitors in shorts, sleeveless tops, or swimwear. It's worth carrying a light scarf or shawl even on a hot day if a church visit is on the itinerary.
In recent years Venice has trialed a day-tripper access fee on a number of the year's busiest dates, aimed at easing overtourism -- it applies only to same-day visitors who aren't staying overnight in the city, and doesn't run every day of the year. Check the official Venezia Unica website ahead of a visit to see whether it's in effect and, if so, book the required QR code in advance.
More broadly, choosing to visit outside peak summer weekends, staying in Venice overnight rather than as a day trip, and supporting family-run shops, bacari (wine bars), and restaurants over souvenir stalls all go a long way toward supporting a city that receives far more visitors each year than it has residents.