The Best 2-Day Venice Itinerary: Perfect Itinerary for First-Timers
Venice is one of the most visited cities in Italy, for good reasons! Venice sits in northern Italy at the top of the "boot" and although it is a small city, it has history, delicious food, beautiful architecture, and fun things to do and see.
Venice had been on our bucket list for a while, and when we were planning a trip to the Dolomites, we knew we wanted to take a few days to explore the city. We spent 2.5 days exploring Venice, and it was a great amount of time to see everything on our itinerary. We spent our days getting lost in the narrow streets and exploring everything Venice had to offer.
Although you could see the must-see sights in one day, I recommend spending two days in Venice to give yourself more time to explore. This guide has everything you need to know to create the best 2-day Venice itinerary!
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Tips for Visiting Venice
Check to see if you need to pay an entry fee. Recently, Venice established an access fee for tourists visiting from April through July. The access fee is required if you enter the city on Friday through Sunday and on a few other days during those months. You can pay in advance or upon arrival in Venice.
Start your days early. Over 5 million people visit Venice each year, and the city streets become crowded, especially midday. I recommend starting your days early to enjoy peaceful strolls through Venice and a quiet breakfast at a cafe. Venice is not a huge city, and the popular areas become a bit crazy midday. We began our walk through Venice around 8:00 or 9:00 am, and it was incredibly peaceful!
Ride a gondola in the morning or late afternoon. The lines to get on the gondola were very long midday, and although there were many gondolas, some people were waiting for almost an hour. I recommend riding a gondola in the morning or late in the afternoon to avoid waiting in line and having fewer people in the canals. You will also avoid the midday heat, which is perfect!
Make restaurant reservations when you can. Because most restaurants are small, they fill up quickly, especially during dinner. If the restaurant allows reservations, I highly recommend making one for all the restaurants you want to eat at.
Walk around the city instead of using vaporettos. Vaporettos are convenient because they are the public transportation water taxis in Venice, but the rides can add up quickly and sometimes take longer than walking. One of the best things to do in Venice is to get lost in the city by walking its streets. I recommend taking the time to walk everywhere to experience everything it has to offer.
If you are celiac, download the AIC app. My husband is celiac, and I have a gluten allergy, so we were a bit nervous traveling to Italy. Luckily, Italy has a great program for celiacs, and restaurants can become AIC-accredited, which means they take precautions to create a safe environment for celiacs to eat. Tourists can download the app for 14 days for under $5, which we used throughout our trip, and it was incredibly helpful!
How to Get to Venice
Since you cannot drive in Venice, you have to take public transportation or drive to the main station, then take a vaporetto or walk from there. Public transportation is the easiest way to get to Venice from the airport, which is what we used.
Flying
Venice Marco Polo Airport is 15 minutes outside of the city, making it the best airport to fly into. This airport will have the most flight options, especially if you are flying internationally.
We flew into this airport and then took public transportation to get downtown. The airport has kiosks for buses, making it easy to buy a ticket to get to Venice.
Public Transportation
Venice has a great public transportation system to reach downtown from the airport or nearby towns. The two most popular ways to reach Venice are by bus or ferry, which can be taken from the airport.
We took the airport bus downtown, and the kiosks are right outside the airport. The two popular routes are Line 5 and Line 35, which bring you to Piazzale Roma.
If your accommodation is along the eastern side of Venice, it may be easier to take a ferry to be closer to your hotel. The ferry leaves from the airport and brings you to the eastern side of the city.
Once you are in the city, you can either walk or take a vaporetto. Vaporettos are public transportation water taxis and bring you pretty much anywhere in Venice. I recommend walking instead because it is the best way to see the city. But vaporettos are a great option if you do not want to walk.
Driving
Although it is not my first recommendation, you can drive yourself to Venice. Since you cannot drive in Venice, you have to park at Piazzale Roma and then walk downtown or take a vaporetto.
Parking is expensive, but if you are only doing a day trip, you could drive yourself to Venice. If you plan to stay multiple nights, I recommend taking public transportation rather than driving.
Where to Stay in Venice
Venice has six neighborhoods: Cannaregio, Castello, San Marco, San Polo, Santa Croce, and Dorsoduro. Honestly, Venice is not a huge city, and you could stay in any of these neighborhoods.
San Marco is home to the iconic Piazza San Marco, so we originally were going to stay here, but ended up staying in San Polo because it was a more central location. It was a much quieter area, and we could easily walk to the iconic attractions throughout Venice.
Map of 2-Day Venice Itinerary
2-Day Venice Itinerary: Best Things to Do in Venice
Although you could spend one day exploring the popular attractions in Venice, I recommend spending two days to give yourself time to explore lesser-known areas and have a more relaxed few days in the city. This 2-day Venice itinerary includes the best things to do and some hidden gems that should be on every bucket list.
Day 1: Classic Venice Sights
Your first day in Venice explores the iconic Piazza San Marco and its beautiful buildings. This area is the most popular place to visit, so I recommend arriving right after breakfast to enjoy it with fewer crowds.
Breakfast
A trip to Venice is not complete without a delicious breakfast to start your day off right! I recommend eating breakfast early, allowing you to arrive at Piazza San Marco before most crowds.
Most of the time, you cannot go wrong with any place you eat in Venice. However, we have heard of a few restaurants that have some scammy practices. I recommend researching and finding a place to eat ahead of time, so you can read reviews to ensure it is somewhere good.
If you want to enjoy a pastry in the morning (because let’s be honest, who doesn’t), Pasticceria Bonifacio and Pasticceria Marchini Time are not too far from Piazza San Marco.
The iconic place to eat near Piazza San Marco is Caffè Florian, the oldest cafe in Italy. Because it is popular, it becomes crowded early in the morning. We visited the cafe, but decided not to eat there because of how busy it was. It also does not open until 9 AM, so it is not the best place to eat breakfast if you want to start your day early.
Piazza San Marco
Now it is time to head to the famous square in Venice! Piazza San Marco (also known as St. Mark’s Square) is in the heart of the city, and it is the only piazza since most of Venice is made up of canals and narrow streets. It was fun to stand in the middle of it and take in the beauty and architecture of its buildings.
Piazza San Marco is home to some of the most famous buildings in Venice, including Saint Mark's Basilica, Doge's Palace, Bridge of Sighs, St Mark's Campanile, and Torre dell'Orologio. All of these places are included in this day of the Venice itinerary, so do not worry, you will visit them all!
On the first morning we were in Venice, we walked around with no destination in mind and ended up in Piazza San Marco. It was stunning in the morning light! We came back later in the day when I had my camera, and it was much more crowded, which is why I recommend visiting in the morning.
Saint Mark's Basilica
Saint Mark's Basilica is one of the most beautiful buildings in Piazza San Marco, and it will probably be the first building you notice when entering the piazza. It dates back to the 9th century AD and became the cathedral of the city in the early 1800s.
I was blown away by the architecture! Even with some construction on it, it was the most beautiful building in Venice.
You can either enjoy Saint Mark's Basilica from the outside or pay a small fee to explore inside. Since you are visiting in the morning, you can be one of the first people in line if you want to walk inside Saint Mark's Basilica. It opens at 9:30 am (except on Sundays), and you can buy your ticket online to save time at the door.
Doge's Palace
Doge's Palace is directly next to Saint Mark’s Basilica, and it was my second-favorite building in Piazza San Marco. Its Venetian Gothic style architecture is stunning!
Saint Mark’s Basilica used to have an apartment for the Doge, a government seat, and a jail, but it is now a museum that visitors can explore to learn about its history.
If you want to explore the inside of Doge’s Palace, you have to pay a fee (which was around 25€ when we visited). The fee also allows you to walk inside the Bridge of Sighs, which was the final walk of prisoners before their execution.
Since this is another one of the most famous places to visit in Venice, the lines to get inside are very long. I recommend purchasing your tickets online in advance to avoid long ticket lines. Doge’s Palace is right next to Saint Mark’s Basilica, so you can easily visit it after you finish exploring that.
If you do not want to visit the inside of Doge’s Palace, have no fear! You can easily enjoy the building’s beauty from the piazza, and you can walk to the Bridge of Sighs on its other side.
St Mark's Campanile
If you want a unique view of the area around Piazza San Marco, you are in luck! St Mark’s Campanile is directly across from Saint Mark's Basilica, standing at about 325 feet (99 meters) tall.
When we visited Venice, the entrance fee was 12€ to take the elevator to the top. Once at the top, you can take in the beautiful view of Venice!
I recommend purchasing your ticket online in advance for your preferred timeslot. Booking tickets online is the way to go to avoid waiting in long lines, trust me!
Lunch
It is likely close to lunch by the time you are finished exploring Saint Mark’s Basilica, Doge’s Palace, and St Mark's Campanile, so I recommend taking a break to enjoy a delicious lunch. Most of the restaurants in Piazza San Marco are quite expensive, but there are plenty of less expensive places to eat a quick walk away.
Al Chianti and La Piazza are just outside the piazza, offering delicious food and outdoor seating. Ai Do Leoni is another nearby restaurant that is perfect for a quick bite. I recommend finding some options before you start exploring for the day, so you can spend less time finding somewhere to eat and more time exploring!
Bridge of Sighs
The Bridge of Sighs is located on the other side of Doge’s Palace and was built in the early 1600s to connect Doge's Palace to the new prison. It used to be the final walk of prisoners before their execution. Now it is a place visitors can walk across if they visit Doge’s Palace or view it from the outside.
If you want to visit the Bridge of Sighs from the outside, you can walk around Doge’s Palace and head to Ponte della Paglia. From the top of the bridge, you can see the Bridge of Sighs!
Get Lost in Venice
For the rest of the day, I highly recommend getting lost in Venice. This was the best piece of advice we received before our trip, because truly, the best way to explore the city is to simply walk around.
From the Bridge of Sighs, you can continue walking east in Venice and explore the different streets along the way in Castello. We walked all the way to Giardini della Biennale, and it was fun to explore a less-visited part of Venice.
I recommend exploring inland a little towards Libreria Acqua Alta, which is one of the most unique bookstores I have ever seen. If you want to visit a small and lesser-known art museum, Museo di Palazzo Grimani is perfect and is also in this area. And you will fall in love with the cute streets along the way!
Dinner
Once you are ready to wind down after a long day of exploring, it is time to get dinner! Honestly, Venice has many amazing places to eat, so you will be able to find something perfect for what you are looking for.
If you want to eat in Castello, you will have no problem finding delicious food. Dal Moro's and Trattoria Agli Artisti have great food and a friendly atmosphere. If you did not get the chance to eat at La Piazza for lunch, you can make a reservation for dinner and enjoy their delicious food in the outdoor seating area.
Dessert
Do not forget about dessert!! Nothing is better than ending your day with a delicious pastry or gelato while exploring the city at night.
We were limited in places to get dessert because my husband has celiac, and we both have a dairy allergy, but we had a great experience at Gelato Fantasy! They took our allergies seriously, and they had plenty of dairy-free options.
Day 2: Venice’s Grand Canal
Day two in Venice is going to be spent exploring the Grand Canal and any other parts of the city you did not get to visit on your first day. Depending on where you are staying, you can flip this day around to start with whichever part of the Grand Canal is closest to your accommodation.
Breakfast
Start your day off with another pastry or sit-down breakfast meal at a restaurant near your accommodation. Even if you eat at your accommodation, I recommend grabbing a pastry to fuel your day!
Ponte di Rialto
Ponte di Rialto is the oldest bridge spanning the Grand Canal and is the most famous bridge in Venice. The bridge itself is beautiful, but I loved the views from the top overlooking the Grand Canal.
Since this is one of the most popular things in Venice, I recommend visiting in the morning. Trust me, we passed by midday, and it was crazy! This is also a popular area for pickpocketers, so exploring it when there are fewer people is better.
If you want the iconic photo of Ponte di Rialto, you can take a photo on either side of the bridge. We found the best photo spot to be near Ristorante Al Buso, and because we arrived early, we did not have to wait in line.
Gondola Ride
If exploring the canals by gondola is on your bucket list, I recommend getting a ride in the morning. The lines midday are CRAZY, and the canals will be more peaceful in the morning. Riding a gondola in the Grand Canal is incredible, and trust me, you will want to have a morning ride to avoid congestion.
When we visited, a 30-minute gondola ride was 90€ most of the day and a bit more around sunrise or sunset. It is on the pricier side, but it is an iconic thing to do in Venice.
If you do not want to ride a gondola, you can walk along the Grand Canal, exploring its shops, enjoying the beautiful views, and getting lost in its streets.
Ponte dell’Accademia
Once you are towards the southwest side of Venice, I recommend visiting another beautiful bridge, Ponte dell’Accademia. Venice has four bridges that span the Grand Canal, and Ponte dell'Accademia is one of my favorites.
Ponte dell’Accademia links San Marco to Dorsodouro, and the view from the top of the bridge overlooking the Grand Canal is stunning! If you like museums, you can also visit the Gallerie dell'Accademia after walking over Ponte dell'Accademia.
Lunch
It is time to eat lunch and fuel for the rest of your afternoon, and Dorsodouro has many delicious restaurants to choose from. Trattoria ai Cugnai dal 1911, Osteria Al Squero, and Corner Pub are some of the most popular places to eat in the area!
Basilica Santa Maria della Salute
After you finish eating, it is time to finish walking along the Grand Canal and visit another one of the most beautiful buildings in Venice. Basilica Santa Maria della Salute is at the very end of Dorsodouro, and it is breathtaking inside and out. I recommend taking the time to visit inside because it is beautiful with its architecture and art.
I also recommend walking around it to the very end of Venice to get a view looking towards Piazza San Marco. We sat here for a bit, enjoying the view while people-watching. Compared to the rest of the city, it felt remote, which was a nice change of pace.
Get Lost in Venice
It is that time of day again when you walk aimlessly through the streets of Venice and explore every corner of it! We loved exploring the streets and canals of Dorsodouro as we slowly made our way towards San Polo.
If you need a destination, I recommend aiming for Chiesa di San Pantalon. It is a hidden gem in Venice, which is crazy because it has the largest canvas in the world, measuring 443 square meters.
When we arrived at Chiesa di San Pantalon, we were shocked that it looked so unassuming. From the outside, it was a simple church, but inside… it was STUNNING! We were so happy that we stopped here to admire this stunning piece of artwork, and I recommend you do the same if you have time.
Basilica S.Maria Gloriosa dei Frari is another nearby place to visit that is stunning! It was unassuming from the outside, but it had incredible architecture and art inside.
Dinner
The last night of your Venice itinerary should include an incredible dinner, and San Polo has a lot of amazing restaurants. Some of the best restaurants in the area are Impronta Restaurant, Hostaria Osottoosopra, La Lanterna Da Gas, and Frary's.
We ate at Frary's because it is AIC certified, and it was AMAZING! Their Mediterranean food was delicious, and everyone was so kind. We ate our dinner outside next to the canal, which was the perfect way to end our stay in Venice.
If you want to visit Venice, this guide is the perfect place to help you plan your trip. It has everything you need to know about creating the ultimate 2-day Venice itinerary that covers the must-see attractions.
Hey, I’m Nichole!
I am the creator behind Nichole the Nomad, the home of my explorations around the world, mountain hikes, and beautiful pictures taken along the way. I have a deep passion for capturing the world in a beautiful light and sharing my experiences.
I created this blog to share my travels, show how beautiful the world is, provide tips and tricks for traveling, and encourage you to explore. Whether you want to travel across the world or explore what’s in your backyard, I hope this blog inspires you to get outside and find your adventure!
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