2 Days in Venice, Italy: Plan An Amazing Venice Itinerary

Few other locations can match the beauty and charm of Venice. Leisurely strolling along historical cobblestone paths and crossing storied bridges makes for a relaxing tour. A gondola voyage along the waterways creates a romantic atmosphere. Evenings spent savoring wine in tiny squares provide lovely moments. As an island within the lagoon, this floating city holds a special status that rightfully earns it a spot on European bucket lists.

While it may be relatively small, there are numerous amazing things to do in Venice. That’s why planning your itinerary in advance is important. This guide to spending 2 days in Venice will help you experience as much of this magical city as feasible.

Planning an Italy excursion? Our guide to crafting an exceptional Italy itinerary should not be missed, with proposals for 7, 10, and 14 day trips exploring Italy, how to structure your visit, and top attractions along the way.

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Tips for Visiting Venice

Here are a couple of points to be aware of before your trip.

Wear Comfortable Shoes

Even if you’re only spending 2 days in Venice, you’ll want to bring footwear suited for comfortable walking – trust us! Venice requires traversing many uneven cobblestone roads and steep bridges. It may be tempting to throw on some delicate sandals or flip-flops on a warm day, but by the end of your trip, we can pretty much guarantee you’ll be wishing you wore your sneakers instead.

Bring Layers to Cover Up

Like all of Italy, Venice has its fair share of churches and important religious sites. Most of which have a dress code that requires visitors to cover their shoulders and knees. Even if you visit Venice during the hot summer months, you’ll want to make sure you’re covered or bring extra layers to cover up when entering these locations.

The Sestieri of Venice

Venice Island is divided into six main districts, known as sestieri. Getting familiar with these will help you plan your trip and easily navigate the city.

• San Marco – The city`s core tourist precinct home to many key attractions alongside upscale boutiques.
• San Polo – Across the Grand Canal from San Marco, San Polo houses the Rialto Markets and numerous eateries.
• Dorsoduro – Venice’s hip student quarter with several important museums and a lively nightlife scene surrounding Campo Santa Margherita.
• Castello – The largest district in Venice with residential neighborhoods, beautiful gardens and a medieval shipyard.
• Cannaregio – Historic Jewish Quarter now a lovely place to reside housing local pubs and restaurants.
• Santa Croce – The least touristy area of Venice home to the city’s car and bus terminal Piazzale Roma.

Getting Around Venice

The preferred way to navigate Venice is on foot. With its maze of small stony paths and bridges, Venice is a beautifully walking city. All of the main sights on the island can be reached by walking.

Without any automobiles or roadways, the only method of public transportation in Venice is Vaporetto. Vaporettos refer to Venice`s water buses that traverse the city`s canals. They also connect Venice to surrounding islands.

Vaporettos are a brief and pleasurable approach to get around Venice while as yet taking in the sites along the waterways on your way.

A single water taxi ride will cost you €7.50. But if you plan on using water taxis regularly during your trip, you can save money by investing in a travel pass. A 24-hour unlimited travel pass costs €20 or 2 days is €30. For this itinerary, a travel pass will definitely come in handy on day one.

Be sure to validate your ticket at the ticket machine each time you board a Vaporetto or you may end up with a fine. Hold your ticket close to the electronic scanner until you see or hear a confirmation.

A Complete 2 Day Venice Itinerary

There’s certainly no shortage of things to do in Venice, so filling a couple of days isn’t difficult. This itinerary is for people who really want to uncover the city and see the best of Venice in 2 days.

For the purpose of this itinerary, we’ll assume you’re arriving in Venice the evening before and have two full days to explore the city.

Day 1: Walking Tour and Venice’s Hidden Gems

On day 1, get acquainted with Venice`s lesser known areas and neighborhoods through a walking tour, then spend the afternoon on the lagoon.

Morning: Venice Walking Tour

Especially in Venice where tours explore beyond mainstream sites, walking is ideal to uncover hidden gems and local districts in a new destination.

Along the way, visitors will also learn plenty of interesting information about Venice and its attractions from a knowledgeable local guide.

We`ve conducted a wide array of walking excursions – from the free guided tours led by local residents and students, to the paid tours guided by scholars and other community experts. We favor the latter, where we frequently learn much more than we could have envisioned regarding history, but also about current issues. However, they are undoubtedly more costly, so we understand that it may not fit within everyone`s budget.

Whichever you opt for, we truly think you should participate in a walking tour on your initial day in Venice.

There are several curated walking experiences through Venice that would make for wonderful excursions.

Venice Free Walking Tour (2.5 hours) – This complimentary stroll is a superb introduction to the city. Guiding you through the Cannaregio and Castello districts, the excursion discusses the history of Venice, from notable inhabitants to the renowned architecture and considerably more. The friendly locals will also provide you with plenty of helpful hints, for example the dos and don`ts in Venice plus many food suggestions. Though the tour may be without cost, do not forget to reward your guide at the end!

A Genuine Hidden Tour of Venice (Airbnb Experience, 2 hours) – Uncover Venice away from the well-trodden routes with this Hidden Venice tour. Your local Venetian guide will assist you in experiencing the authentic Venice through a stroll through the Cannaregio district, a stop at the bustling Rialto Food Market and a visit to the city’s earliest mascareri (artisans of Carnivale masks) in Santa Croce. This walking tour truly allows you to immerse in local everyday life in Venice.

A Venetian Tale Tour (Airbnb Experience, 2.5 hours) – During this walking tour of Venice you will gain knowledge about the city`s history, architecture, art, and culture while exploring some lesser traveled areas. The tour provides a good mix of an introduction to Venice along with uncovering hidden gems.

Welcome Walking Tour of Venice (3 hours) – This comprehensive walking expedition covers many of the city’s main attractions, from St. Mark’s Square and the Rialto Bridge to the more local Cannaregio district. Though somewhat more expensive than other tours, it does include a visit to St. Mark’s Basilica and a 30 minute Gondola ride, meaning key attractions can be experienced and additional time devoted to other areas or activities later instead. They also offer this tour, substituting exploration of the Doge’s Palace for the walking portion.

Afternoon: The Venetian Lagoon

In the afternoon, board a Vaporetto and head out into the Venetian lagoon to explore some of Venice`s other islands. You can do this independently, or you can register for a guided excursion, which covers the cost of transportation and a knowledgeable guide.

Murano

Murano comprises a series of small islands connected by bridges, simply a 15 minute Vaporetto ride from Venice.

In the thirteenth century, all those who crafted glass in Venice were mandated to relocate to Murano and it swiftly became one of the primary manufacturers of glass across Europe. Even today, exquisite Murano glass is a symbol of quality and luxury worldwide.

On a visit to Murano, you can watch glass masters blowing glass in their workshops, browse the shops for beautiful glass jewellery and household goods, and visit Murano Glass Museum (in Palazzo Giustinian).

Burano

From Murano, continue on the Vaporetto to the island of Burano which lies slightly farther out into the Venetian lagoon.

Burano is one of our favorite locations in the entire Venetian lagoon. The historic fishing village is renowned for its rows of brightly colored homes which line every street and canal. It’s also now a popular place for Italian artists to live.

Taking a relaxed walk around, snapping some photos and stopping for a spritz at one of the town’s canal-side bars. There isn’t much activity in Burano other than admiring the attractive houses, but it’s still definitely worth a brief visit in our opinion.

Vaporetto Ride at Sunset

Try to time your afternoon so that your approximately 45 minute water bus ride back from Burano to Venice is at sundown. You’ll get fantastic perspectives over the Venetian skyline as you return to the historic center.

Dinner: Vecia Cavana

Appreciate dinner at Vecia Cavana, an incredible eatery with gluten free choices inside a previous 16th-century pontoon house. The eatery serves an delightful fish-based menu of nearby Venetian suppers.

Evening: Get Lost on an Evening Stroll

If you’ve still got any energy left after dinner, take this evening to enjoy a slow stroll around either Cannaregio or Castello (depending on where you’re staying). This walking tour would be a fun way to finish of the night, exploring the history of the Cannaregio District.

You may have explored parts of these districts on your morning walking tour, but simply allowing yourself to wander aimlessly down the little maze of backstreets for a while is essential when in Venice.

Continue walking until you can walk no more, or until you`ve thoroughly enjoyed one of the local wine bars, then head back to your lodging for a well-earned night of rest.

Day 2: Piazza San Marco and Iconic Venice

Spend day 2 of your trip experiencing many of the top attractions in Venice, from the landmarks in St Mark`s Square to taking a ride on a gondola along the Venetian canals.

Morning: Piazza San Marco

Begin your second morning in Venice early so you can beat the crowds to the major tourist attractions of Piazza San Marco (St Mark’s Square). We’d recommend arriving in the square by 9:00am to experience the attractions as they first open to visitors.

Saint Mark’s Basilica

Begin the day with a visit to one of Venice’s most famous sites; St Mark’s Basilica.

St Mark’s Basilica is the cathedral church of Venice and the most famous and beautiful church in the entire city. The extraordinary 9th-century building is one of the best-known examples of Italo-Byzantine architecture and often referred to as the priceless treasure in Venice’s collection of remarkable places.

Inside the basilica, you’ll find gilded domes with depictions of religious scenes, as well as mosaic floors and marble inlays with detailed animal and floral designs.

St Mark’s is completely free to visit. However, being one of the city’s most iconic landmarks, the line to enter can get very long. By arriving when it first opens at 9:30am you’ll be able to avoid the worst of the waits.

Or, if you’re visiting Venice during a notably busy phase, you can pre-schedule an expedited entry time slot online for €3.

To fully make the most of the basilica, you can also purchase extra tickets on the day to access St. Mark’s Museum (€5), the Pala d’Oro (Golden Alter, €2) and the Treasury (€3). We’d definitely recommend including these on – particularly the museum which permits you to visit the terrace (Loggia dei Cavalli) with magnificent views back over Piazza San Marco.

The cathedral doesn’t open until 2:00pm on Sundays due to morning mass. Swap the morning and afternoon activities around if your second day falls on a Sunday.

Doge’s Palace

From Saint Mark`s Basilica, head next door on the piazza to another of Venice`s most notable places; the Doge`s Palace (Palazzo Ducale).

The stunning Gothic-Renaissance architecture was formerly the residence of the Doges – the rulers of Venice – for more than 1,000 years. It once housed the city’s government offices and a substantial prison.

Step inside the majestic palace and see its amazing features such as the huge central courtyard, the elaborately decorated Golden Staircase (Scala d’Oro), and historical Venetian artwork such as Tintoretto’s ‘Il Paradiso’, one of the largest canvas paintings in the world.

The most advantageous way to experience the Doge`s Palace is through the “The Secret Itineraries tour”. This directed trip allows exploration of usually inaccessible parts of the building. Attendees can investigate the governmental administrative offices and meeting rooms, secret torture chambers and the jail cell from which notorious womanizer Casanova made his daring escape.

The tour costs €28, which is only €3 more than a general access ticket to the Doge’s Palace so it’s certainly worth paying that little bit extra.

Bridge of Sighs

The Bridge of Sighs connects the Doge’s Palace to the adjoining prison over a small canal. It is said that the bridge gains its name from the time when prisoners would cross over and breathe heavily as they caught their last glimpse of Venice through the small windows before being locked up permanently.

You can cross over the bridge while visiting the Doge’s Palace, however, the most famous perspective is from the outside looking back down the canal towards the bridge. Be sure not to miss this photographic opportunity before leaving Piazza San Marco.

Lunch: Al Giardinetto da Severino

For lunch, head away from the pricey tourist attractions near Piazza San Marco and walk just a short distance to the neighboring Castello area where you`ll find Al Giardinetto da Severino.

The historic restaurant dates back to 1949 and has a sizable vine-covered garden and courtyard for you to enjoy during the warmer months. It offers traditional Venetian dishes and is one of the best restaurants in Venice for individuals with Celiac disease, with a menu without gluten.

Afternoon: Self Guided Walking Tour of Venice Landmarks

Following lunch, it`s time to explore additional renowned landmarks and attractions in Venice through self-guided touring on foot. Starting in the eastern Castello district, you`ll walk back through San Marco and lastly into western Dorsoduro.

Follow the landmarks in the order you find them below when leaving the lunch restaurant. There’s roughly a 5-10 minute walk between each spot.

You may notice that apart from St. Mark’s Basilica, we haven’t included any other churches in the itinerary. There are countless beautifully designed churches throughout Venice, several of which you’ll pass by during this walk. If you’re interested in churches, pop your head in and take a quick look when walking past. Many of the smaller churches in Venice are completely free to visit and rarely have any lines to enter.

• Ca Del Sol – Just down the road from Al Giardinetto da Severino, you’ll discover one of Venice’s most renowned traditional mask artisans. Head inside Ca Del Sol where you can watch the masks being crafted directly before you by local craftspeople, browse through their huge assortment of beautiful Venetian masks, and potentially even purchase one to take back with you.

• Libreria Acqua Alta – Next, one can pop by Venice’s most intriguing bookshop. Acqua Alta became well known after deciding to safeguard itself from flooding by retaining its book assortment in bathtubs, bins, boats and even a full-sized gondola. Don’t miss the classic Instagram photo standing on the pile of old encyclopedias in the courtyard.

• Gelatoteca SuSo – You’re in Italy so naturally there has to be a gelato stop or two! SuSo is one of the best gelaterias in central Venice. It offers many exciting flavors and gluten free cones for a mid-afternoon treat.

• Crossing over Venice`s most celebrated bridge, Ponte de Rialto, provides spectacular views down the Grand Canal. At a few small retailers on Rialto Bridge, you can pick up mementos to bring home.

• Palazzo Contarini del Bovolo – From the Rialto Bridge, walk along the Grand Canal and then to the 15th century Palazzo Contarini del Bovolo and its stunning brick and marble spiral staircase. You can see the staircase externally, or for €7 you can purchase a ticket to climb the staircase and experience the great views back over Venice from the top.

• Teatro La Fenice – Venice’s renowned Teatro La Fenice theater stages regular opera, ballet and concerts year-round. Even without attending a performance, you can take a brief 45 minute tour of the prestigious venue for only €11.

• Ponte dell`Accademia – Walk over one of Venice`s most renowned bridges. Ponte dell`Accademia crosses the Grand Canal and connects the central San Marco district to the western Dorsoduro district.

• Gallerie dell’Accademia – Conclude your self-guided walking tour with a visit to the most important art gallery in Venice. Housed in a former church and convent, Gallerie dell’Accademia was established by Napoléon himself. Inside you’ll find one of the largest collections of Venetian paintings from the 14th to the 18th century. You can pre-book tickets, however, the museum doesn’t become too busy compared to other attractions in Venice so you shouldn’t need to.

• Peggy Guggenheim Collection – If modern art is more your thing, skip Gallerie dell’Accademia and head to the nearby Peggy Guggenheim Museum instead. This museum houses one of the best modern art collections in the world, with works from Pollack, Picasso, Dali and more.

Afternoon Aperitivo

Appreciating an afternoon beverage is an obligatory part of any Italian adventure. So take a much-needed break after your self-guided walk and stop for a spritz or glass of wine at the lively Corner Pub, which sits in between Gallerie dell’Accademia and the Peggy Guggenheim Collection. If you’re feeling hungry, accompany your drink with some Cicchetti – small traditional Venetian snacks which you can pick from the counter inside.

Evening: Gondola Ride on the Grand Canal

For your final evening exploring Venice, complete one last must-do experience with a scenic boat excursion along the city`s renowned waterways.

While undoubtedly a romantic experience to remember, gondola rides come at a pricey cost. Before 7:00pm you’ll pay €80 for a 40 minute private ride on the gondola, while after 7:00pm it’ll be €100 for 30 minutes. Try arriving a little earlier than 7:00pm so you can take in the peaceful evening ambiance without the increased fees.

You don’t need to book in advance as there are plenty of gondolas all over Venice. You’ll have a better chance of finding one without a large line if you stray from Piazza San Marco and the Grand Canal. Take a wander down some of the smaller canals instead and keep an eye out for a gondola dock – they’re everywhere!

It’s also important to know that rides aboard gondolas aren’t entirely as presented in Hollywood films. Regrettably, the handlers of the gondolas don’t sing to passengers. They may point out some points of interest along the way but little more.

If you truly desire the full romantic experience, you can pre-book a gondola ride with a serenade ahead of time.

What To Do With Extra Time in Venice

If you’ve got more than 2 days in Venice, there are a few extra activities and day trips you can take to fill up the remainder of your trip.

• Lido di Venezia – Take a short Vaporetto ride over to the island of Lido where you can unwind on its beautiful beaches for the day.

• Treviso – A small town just 30 minutes by train from Venice, Treviso is a hidden gem that frequently falls under the radar because of its famous neighbor. You can wander along the canals, visit the morning fish market and eat the famous Italian dessert Tiramisu at the restaurant where it was first invented.

• Prosecco Wine Region – Travelers can take a train from Venice for around an hour to arrive amidst the stunning rolling hills that bountifully yield the highest quality Italian Prosecco grapes. Once within the region, exploring the various wineries is best done with a local driver knowledgeable about Prosecco.

• Verona – Continue your romantic trip to Venice with a day spent in the nearby city of Verona, the fictional setting for Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. Verona possesses plenty of attractions of its own, including a 1st-century Roman amphitheatre, historic castles and many charming plazas.

Drinking in Venice

If there are two things Italians can’t get enough of, it’s coffee and wine. So for a mid-morning pick-me-up or end of the day sip, here’s where you’ll find the best cafés and bars in Venice.

Cafes in Venice

A popular café located in Campo San Luca is Marchini Time. Both locals and visitors frequently pack this central location to enjoy exceptional coffee, beautiful pastries and delicious cakes. The café is usually standing room only or guests can take their coffee to go

• Caffè Florian– A luxurious and historic café situated right on Piazza San Marco with amazing views across the square and musicians entertaining patrons. Just be prepared to pay elevated prices for one of the most popular and glamorous spots to stop for a coffee in all of Venice.

Bars in Venice

• Skyline Rooftop Bar– Situated on the eighth-floor terrace of Hilton Molino Stucky Hotel on the island of Giudecca (there’s a shuttle boat to reach it), Skyline is one of the premier rooftop bars in Venice. It’s got amazing panoramic scenery, innovative cocktails and no reservation necessary.

• Gritti Terrace & Bar Longhi– Consume a bellini on the sizable canal-side terrace bar of The Gritti Palace Hotel, with unbeatable views along the Grand Canal. Or head inside to Bar Longhi and drink in all of its Venetian grandeur.

• Al Prosecco – A cool neighborhood wine bar in Santa Croce where you can drink local prosecco produced in the surrounding Veneto wine region.

The Best Time to Visit Venice

Given its status as one of Europe’s—if not the world`s—most visited destinations, it should come as no surprise that Venice often experiences large crowds. Throngs of people can be expected pretty much regardless of when you visit.

To prevent the largest crowds, try avoiding peak times like public holidays and the summer between July and August. If you can plan your trip to Venice for mid-week rather than over the weekend it’ll be a little more tranquil too.

• Summer is a lovely time to visit Venice for clear skies and warm weather, however, it’s also overwhelmingly the busiest time to visit. Many locals even opt to leave Venice in late summer to avoid the hordes of tourists that flood the city.

• Venice in fall remains warm but the crowds are starting to decrease a little. It’s an ideal time for wandering around the city, riding along the canals and eating outside. Just bring a couple of layers in case it does drizzle.

• During the very cold season, expect freezing temperatures in Venice. Heavy rainfall frequently results in the canals overflowing and flooding the streets with ankle-deep water. The sole reason to visit Venice in winter is for the renowned Venice Carnivale in February each year. The city can get extremely crowded during Carnivale but the crowds are worth it for one of Europe’s most famous celebrations.

• Spring is another excellent time to visit Venice. Visiting between Carnivale and the peak summer months means you’ll avoid the large crowds whilst still enjoying warm, sunny weather.

Getting to Venice

Venice has extremely good connections and is easy to reach by plane or train from all over the world. Although, it’s important to remember that Venice itself is car-free. You can only get to the entrance of Venice island by most means of transport before needing to switch to boat or foot.

Flying to Venice

Venice Marco Polo Airport (VCE) is the principal international airport serving Venice. It’s situated on the mainland just a few kilometers north of the floating city.

There are multiple options for getting from Venice airport to the historic center depending on your budget:

• Alilaguna runs three Vaporetto (water bus) lines between the airport and the city. Tickets cost €15 one way or €27 return. This is the simplest but longest journey, taking up to 70 minutes.
• A private water taxi can take you from the airport directly to your hotel in 30-40 minutes. This is the easiest way to travel but also the most expensive option as it will cost around €200 per group.
• A regular taxi will take you from the airport to Piazzale Roma at the entrance of the city for €40. You’ll then need to walk or get a Vaporetto to your hotel.
• ATVO buses also run from the airport to Piazzale Roma for €8 per person and take around 20 minutes.

A lesser known – and frequently less expensive – option for flying into Venice is Treviso Airport (TSF) around 40km north of Venice. Treviso Airport is utilized by low-cost European carriers Ryanair and Wizz Air.

Options for travel from Treviso Airport to Venice include:

• The ATVO airport shuttle bus travels from Treviso Airport to Piazzale Roma at the entrance to Venice island for €12. Travel time is between 40 minutes to an hour depending on traffic conditions.
• You can also arrange a private taxi transportation from Treviso Airport directly to Piazzale Roma for approximately €90. From there you will need to take a Vaporetto boat to reach your lodging, making it by far the costliest selection.

Arriving by Train

The sole train terminal situated on Venice`s principal island is Venezia Santa Lucia. Positioned along the Grand Canal, it adjoins a Vaporetto station permitting travelers to continue into the city by water transport.

The other train station in Venice is Venezia Mestre, however, this is situated on the mainland instead of in the historic center. If your train arrives at Venezia Mestre, you can easily transfer to a train to Venezia Santa Lucia. Trains between the two stations run every five minutes and take just 10 minutes. Tickets cost €1.35.

Arriving by Car

With Venice being an area notoriously without cars, many people don’t realize that you can still arrive in Venice by automobile. It may be a little more expensive, but it’s a convenient option if you’re planning to incorporate this 2 day Venice itinerary into a longer Italian road trip.

You can drive across to the island of Venice where there are two primary parking options:

• Tronchetto is an artificial island connected to Venice which was built exclusively for parking. 48 hours will cost you €42 and you’ll have to board a Vaporetto (water bus) over to the city center. Be sure to reserve a space in advance.
• Piazzale Roma is a large square at the entrance to Venice and is the last stop for cars, taxis, and buses. There are several small parking structures in Piazzale Roma, but they’re the farther more expensive option being within walking distance from the historic center.