Culture is increasingly acknowledged as an essential yet underrecognized dimension of sustainable development, despite its absence as a distinct pillar in mainstream sustainability frameworks or as an explicit priority goal within the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. This chapter interrogates the relationship between culture and sustainable development, aiming to deepen an understanding of culture’s multifaceted role in shaping our futures sustainably. Central to this analysis is the work of UNESCO, as the foremost international body for cultural policy, which advocates for heritage safeguarding, and navigates the complex interplay between preserving cultural legacy and addressing contemporary societal needs. Through the case study of Venice (Italy)—a city grappling with the dual pressures of mass tourism and heritage settings vulnerability—the chapter critically examines the tensions inherent in reconciling cultural sustainability and the sustainable cities development.