There is nothing quite like Venice. We spent 2 days in Venice mid-way in our Italy itinerary and were charmed by the city. This City of Canals is truly unique. And despite the over-tourism that Venice is experiencing, it is a great spot to put on your Italy trip. This is even more true if you are visiting Italy outside the super busy months of July and August. We spent 2 full days in this touristy, yet charming city on our family trip. And Venice is not just for couples, my daughter loved the canals and the bridges.
If this is your first visit to Venice, this 2 day Venice itinerary is good for you. It hits the tops sights: St. Marks square, St. Marks’s Basilica and Doge Palace, and has time to get lost in this beautiful place. The second day in Venice is to explore the nearby islands of Murano and Burano.
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Best time to visit Venice
Spring and Fall months are the best time of the year to visit Venice. During this time, the weather is great for sightseeing and crowds tend to be lower than the busy summer months. The weather is quite favourable from April to June, right after Easter. There is plenty of sunshine to enjoy each day and it is usually dry. Venice makes for a good option amongst European cities to visit in April or May.
The summer months of July and August are hot, but it gets really crowded in the city. We visited Italy in June and the crowds at top attractions in Venice was manageable. Winter is not a good time to visit Venice, it is cold and dreary.
Tourist Tax in Venice
A new trial initiative will require tourists to pay a 5-euro entry fee to enjoy the city. It is not yet clear as to the start date for this tourist tax. Venice will apply the tourist tax on overnight stays by tourists. The tax is payable by all those (non-residents) who stay overnight in a hotel, hotel or non-hotel facility in Venice for the first 5 consecutive days of stay.
How to reach Venice
We reached Venice after spending 2 days in Florence. We chose to take a train ride from Florence to reach Venezia St. Lucia train station in Venice. It is easy enough to check the schedule and train fares at the Trenitalia or the competing Italo on Omio platform.
From the train station, we took a private water taxi to reach our hotel located on the Grand Canal.
If you are starting your trip through Italy in Venice, the main airport is the Venice Marco Polo Airport. To get from the airport to your hotel in Venice, you can take the bus, a taxi, a vaporetto, or a water taxi.
Where to stay in Venice
Hotel prices in spring and summer months are high. But if you can stay at a hotel on the Grand Canal, there is nothing like that view. It is easy to explore the city on foot. We stayed at The Westin Europa & Regina which occupies a fabulous location on the Grand Canal. Check for hotel options in Venice city centre –
Venice 2 day itinerary
This 2-day Venice itinerary covers the top attractions in and around Venice and is suited for first-time visitors.
Day 1 of Venice Itinerary
You should aim to hit the top attractions of the first day of your 2-day Venice itinerary. But besides the top sights, you must spare some time to meander aimlessly in this beautiful city. Venice is built for aimless walking and getting lost.
Morning of Day 1
Piazza San Marco is the touristy heart of Venice and home to Doge’s Palace, St. Mark’s Square, and the Rialto Bridge. Napoleon called it “the world’s most beautiful drawing room”. In spring and summer months, you see people thronging this vast square throughout the day. It comes to life at dusk when there are various bands playing live music.
Start your morning with a cute café at San Marco. But do note that cafes here are twice as expensive as the rest of the city. You may want to have your cuppa in one of the inside streets and then walk to San Marco square. We stopped at Caffè Florian mid-morning after a visit to St. Mark’s Cathedral. This cafe-bar dates back to 1720 and is one of the oldest bars in Italy.
Top attractions post breakfast
One of the top attractions in this square is St. Mark’s Basilica which dates back to the 9th century AD. On a visit to St. Mark’s Cathedral, you will pay a few euros to enter the basilica. It is best to book the skip-the-line entry tickets and an audioguide. For an additional fee, you can add on the Pala d’Oro, the Loggia dei Cavalli, and look out over St. Mark’s Square from the terrace. You can buy a combined ticket to visit St Mark’s Basilica (with terrace access) and the Doge’s Palace on a guided tour.
The next popular attraction here is the Doge’s Palace. For centuries, this building served as the residence for the Doge and the seat of the government. This palace is built in Venetian Gothic style. You can head straight inside the Doge’s Palace if you have booked your entry ticket in advance.
If you have time and enthusiasm, you can opt for going up the bell tower of St. Mark’s Basilica, also known as the Campanile. The views of the city and the lagoon from the top are staggering. You can climb the steps, or better yet, take the elevator to reach the top. Campanile was originally built as a lighthouse to assist navigation in the lagoon.
Afternoon of Day 1
It is now time to enjoy lunch in Venice. You can find great spots in and around San Marco for eating and people-watching. And don’t forget the gelato after lunch. Post lunch is a time to wander around the city and see some of the neighbourhoods, bridges and markets.
You can walk between the Doge’s Palace and the Campanile towards the Venetian Lagoon. From the lagoon’s waterfront, if you turn left you’ll find a bridge that will take you to the most famous view of the Bridge of Sighs. This white limestone bridge has walls and a roof. It is famous because this was the last spot for prisoners to see the beauty of Venice before they were taken away for imprisonment.
There are 4 bridges that cross the Grand Canal in Venice. The Rialto Bridge is the most famous of them. The present stone bridge was built to replace the earlier wooden one. This covered footbridge is lined with shops. You will get crowds on Rialto Bridge, whatever time you visit it. We passed the Rialto Bridge to explore Rialto Market, which had a beautiful display of fresh fruits of vegetables.
The first day in Venice should be ended with trying out local cuisine at a local restaurant.
Day 2 of Venice Itinerary
After a wonderful first day exploring Venice’s top sites and neighbourhoods, you can spend the second day exploring the islands of Burano and Murano. It is easiest to book a day tour for both these islands or figure ferry schedule and go by yourself.
First-half of Day 2: Burano and Murano
One of the islands in Venetian Lagoon, Burano is famous for its colourful houses. It also has a tradition of lace making. The colourful houses make for a striking backdrop for any photo. It is a small island and you will need only an hour to explore it.
We next went to Murano, world famous for its glassware. The highlight here was the visit to a glass factory, where we saw how the glass is processed and shaped. To see a master craftsman turn a glob into a work of art is truly marvelous. You can also visit the Murano Glass Museum with over 4,000 objects. You can buy Burano lace and Murano glass objects, these make the best souvenirs from Italy.
Instead of a half-day trip, you can even plan to spend longer time at the Venice Lagoon islands – Murano, Burano and Torcello.
Evening of Day 2
Once you are back to Venice, there is time to do a gondola ride on the Grand Canal. Or a cheaper option to roam the Grand Canal is to take a vaporetto ride, a public waterbus that runs in Venice.
With this, you have come to the end of a fabulous 2 day Venice itinerary.
If you have more than 2 days in Venice, the Peggy Guggenheim Collection and Teatro la Fenice are two of Venice’s most popular attractions. The Peggy Guggenheim Collection museum is located in the former home of the collector on the Grand Canal in Venice. There is modern art in the palace plus sculptures in the garden to be viewed. Book your skip-the-line tickets to the museum.
Teatro la Fenice is one of the favourite places for opera music and its lovers and performers. The Theater is also an exhibition space: you can visit its beautiful interiors, the atrium, the foyer and the Apollonian Rooms. The entrance ticket gets you to visit the theatre building and not to attend concerts and operas.
If you have more time in Venice, both Padua and Verona make excellent day trips.
Planning a trip to Italy? Check out these posts:
For a 2-week Itinerary: The classic two-week Italy Itinerary.
Italy has show-stopper cities: 4 days in Rome, One day in Florence.
Don’t forget Tuscany. Day trip from Florence soaking the beautiful Tuscan landscape.
Italian regions to explore in the north: Lake Como and Cinque Terre: a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Italian regions to explore in the south: Amalfi coast itinerary for 4 days and Capri 1 day itinerary
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