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It’s onerous to do a metropolis like Venice justice in simply sooner or later, however when you have restricted time, this itinerary will present you tips on how to take advantage of it. Venice is without doubt one of the most enchanting cities in Italy (and all of Europe!) with its opulent palazzos, countless canals and bridges, and slender pedestrian-only streets.
It’s onerous to consider that this elegant metropolis rising up from 118 small islands in the course of the Venetian Lagoon even exists, and it’s probably the most standard vacationer locations on this planet — for good purpose.
Though Venice has suffered from overtourism and main hordes of vacationers lately, please don’t let that cease you — it’s nonetheless doable to get off the crushed path and uncover a hidden aspect of Venice in the event you solely stroll 10 minutes away from the crowds.
With simply sooner or later in Venice, you may see the primary vacationer points of interest and discover the extra relaxed and native aspect of the Floating Metropolis. Actually, that’s precisely what I did on my first and second visits to Venice, each of which have been day journeys from Florence!
So sure — a day journey to Venice is unquestionably doable. I’m excited to point out you tips on how to spend the right day in Venice, Italy!
This publish was printed in August 2024 and was co-written by Adventurous Kate and Dale Peterson.
When to Go to Venice
Remember that when you go to Venice can significantly influence the expertise you have got there. Venice will get very popular and crowded throughout the summer season, particularly within the months of June, July, and August. If you happen to’re touring at the moment, you may also must pay a small day customer payment (extra on that under).
I believe the perfect time to go to Italy is spring or fall, when the climate is milder and the crowds are decrease. Winter can be a pleasant time to go to Venice, though it may possibly get fairly chilly.
Whereas winter is often a really quiet time to go to Venice and really feel like an area, it does get extraordinarily crowded throughout the Carnival competition, which generally happens in February. Remember that fall and winter convey a danger of acqua alta, when water ranges rise and town floods. Locals are prepared for this with their tall rain boots.
If it have been as much as me, I might go to Venice between late fall and early spring. I believe Venice seems good when the climate is a bit gloomy, and the shortage of crowds is an added bonus.
How one can Get to Venice
There are 4 essential methods to reach in Venice: by aircraft, practice, by bus, and by automobile. If you happen to’re coming by practice, you’ll wish to be sure you go to Venezia Santa Lucia, which is definitely in Venice, and not Venezia Mestre, which is on the mainland.
Venice is dwelling to Marco Polo Airport. From right here you may take the Quantity 5 bus to Piazzale Roma, or e-book a non-public water taxi into town (an expensive however dramatic option to make your entrance).
Many trains arriving in Venice from different Italian cities cease in Mestre first, so make sure you keep on the practice an extra quarter-hour (or swap trains, if mandatory), till you get to the final cease, Santa Lucia.
If you happen to’re arriving by bus to Venice, you’ll probably end up in both Piazzale Roma or Tronchetto, the one two areas in Venice accessible to autos. Piazzale Roma is extra central (it’s adjoining to the Santa Lucia station) whereas Tronchetto is just a little additional out of the best way.
If you happen to’re driving to Venice, your choices for parking are additionally Piazzale Roma and Tronchetto. Piazzale Roma is the most costly at round 30 EUR ($33 USD) for a every day parking price, whereas in Tronchetto you may park for about 20 EUR ($22 USD) for the day.
Another choice is parking close to the Mestre station on the mainland, the place it’s lots cheaper, after which taking the practice to Santa Lucia in Venice.
I like to recommend arriving in Venice as early as humanly doable so you will get a head begin on visiting your first cease, which is without doubt one of the hottest vacationer areas within the metropolis.
Getting Round in Venice
No matter the place you arrive in Venice, you’ll wish to take the vaporetto, or water bus. That is Venice’s distinctive type of public transportation, and it’s the best option to get across the metropolis. A 24-hour go will price you 20 EUR ($22 USD) and a single journey is 7.50 EUR ($8 USD.) If you happen to take the vaporetto three or extra occasions, the 24-hour go pays for itself.
To start out off your day in Venice, you’ll head straight to Piazza San Marco.
If you happen to arrive at Santa Lucia or Piazzale Roma, hop on the Line 1 or Line 2 vaporetto and get off at Rialto, which is a couple of 15-minute journey. From there, it’s a five-minute stroll to Piazza San Marco, your first cease of the day.
If you happen to arrive at Tronchetto, take the Line 2 vaporetto to Rialto, which is a couple of 25-minute journey, after which stroll over to Piazza San Marco.
This vaporetto journey is a wonderful introduction to Venice since you’ll be crusing down the Grand Canal, the biggest and longest canal in Venice. This backward-S-shaped canal has lengthy been crucial thoroughfare in Venice, and the Grand Canal is lined with dazzling palazzos courting again to the glory days of the Venetian Republic.
How To Spend 1 Day in Venice: Itinerary
Rialto Bridge
Earlier than you stroll to Piazza San Marco, stroll throughout the Rialto Bridge (Ponte di Rialto). That is probably the most well-known of the 4 bridges that cross the Grand Canal. It’s additionally the oldest bridge, having initially been constructed within the 12 months 1173. Because of its placing structure, it’s probably the most standard vacationer points of interest in Venice.
The Rialto Bridge has stairs on both aspect resulting in a central portico. There are two rows of outlets on the bridge, primarily promoting souvenirs and jewellery. You will get an important view of the Grand Canal from both aspect of the Rialto Bridge.
There’s additionally a well-known market close to Rialto Bridge that occurs each morning of the week apart from Sunday and Monday. On the Rialto Market, you’ll discover distributors promoting contemporary produce, seafood, fruits, and greens. This historic market has been taking place because the eleventh century!
Piazza San Marco
Piazza San Marco, also called St. Mark’s Sq. in English, is probably the most well-known sq. in Venice. I strongly suggest you begin your day right here, admiring the beautiful structure of the sq., as a result of this may grow to be probably the most crowded spots within the metropolis earlier than lengthy.
From Rialto Bridge, it’s only a five-minute stroll to the sq..
This sq. is the place you’ll discover Basilica San Marco (St. Mark’s Basilica) and St. Mark’s Campanile, its placing bell tower. You’ll additionally see the pink-hued Doge’s Palace, which was constructed within the 14th century and served because the residence of many doges, the sovereign leaders within the period of the Republic of Venice.
Caffè Florian, which opened in 1720 and is the oldest cafe in Venice, may also be present in St. Mark’s Sq.. However until you wish to pay shut to twenty EUR ($22 USD) for a espresso, which is an ABOMINATION in a nation the place espresso is often only a euro, you’re higher off simply taking a peek contained in the cafe’s opulent inside.
Basilica San Marco
Visiting the Basilica San Marco, or St. Mark’s Basilica, is price it to see probably the most stunning church buildings in Italy. Components of the church date again to the eleventh century, and the basilica is alleged to comprise the relics of St. Mark, the patron saint of Venice.
The most affordable option to go to St. Mark’s Basilica is to purchase a ticket on the entrance. Tickets are 3 EUR ($3.25 USD) and could be bought with money or card. The basilica opens at 9:30 AM every single day (besides Sunday when it opens at 2 PM) so in the event you arrive early within the morning, you shouldn’t have to attend in a line too lengthy.
If you happen to’d desire to e-book your tickets prematurely, you should buy skip-the-line tickets on-line for six EUR ($6.50 USD) and select your most well-liked time slot.
Another choice is reserving a guided tour of St. Mark’s Basilica, which incorporates skip-the-line entry to the church.
As soon as inside, there are two further “upsells” you may pay for: the Pala d’Oro, or excessive altar, which is an extra 5 EUR ($5.50, USD) and the Museo di San Marco and Loggia dei Cavalli, which is an extra 7 EUR ($7.50 USD.)
If you happen to’re considering seeing spiritual artifacts, you would possibly wish to take a look at the Pala d’Oro and the Museo di San Marco. The Loggia dei Cavalli, which is the balcony outdoors the church, provides a cool viewpoint of St. Mark’s Sq., however you may really get a greater view from St. Mark’s Campanile, the bell tower.
If you wish to go to the bell tower, you may e-book skip-the-line tickets prematurely for 12 EUR ($13 USD) to your most well-liked time slot. There’s an elevator that goes to the highest of the bell tower, and it provides a few of the finest views in Venice. Personally, I’m a giant fan of this view of Venice, and in the event you’re into views, it’s undoubtedly price it!
Doge’s Palace
Your subsequent cease in Piazza San Marco must be the Doge’s Palace. At this level, in the event you’ve been to St. Mark’s Basilica and likewise visited the church museum or climbed the bell tower, it ought to nonetheless be mid-morning.
The Doge’s Palace, referred to as Palazzo Ducale in Italian, is without doubt one of the most iconic landmarks in Venice. It’s a must-visit to be taught extra about Venetian historical past and the period of the doges.
I like to recommend shopping for tickets for the Doge’s Palace on-line prematurely to keep away from ready in an extended line. Tickets additionally promote out utterly on busy days. The price of an grownup ticket is 25 EUR ($27 USD) and diminished tickets for teens 25 and below and seniors 65 and older are $15 EUR ($16 USD.)
Your ticket contains entry to the Doge’s Palace in addition to the Museo Correr, the Museo Archeologico Nazionale, and the Monumental Rooms of the Biblioteca Nazionale Marciana. These different museums are additionally positioned in St. Mark’s Sq., and if you wish to spend extra time exploring museums later within the day, you may come again and examine them out.
You possibly can go to the Doge’s Palace by yourself in a few hours, or take a guided tour to be taught extra about Venice’s historical past and canopy the highlights of the palace.
Don’t miss crossing the Bridge of Sighs to go to the palace’s jail cells. This well-known coated bridge acquired its identify due to its small home windows that allowed prisoners one final glimpse of the skin world (and a sigh) earlier than they have been locked away.
Bridge of Sighs
After you end up contained in the Doge’s Palace, don’t neglect to move across the nook of the palace to see the Bridge of Sighs from the skin. You will get a wonderful view of it from the Ponte della Paglia, one other bridge.
The Bridge of Sighs is the right spot to take a photograph, and it’s probably the most photographed areas in Venice. After strolling throughout the bridge from contained in the palace to the jail cells, you’ll acquire a brand new appreciation as you view the bridge from the skin.
Gondola Journey
It’s time for yet one more exercise earlier than taking a lunch break, and belief me, that is one thing you received’t wish to miss: a gondola journey! There’s hardly something extra iconic than crusing down the canals of Venice in an ornately adorned gondola.
Non-public gondola rides don’t come low cost, although. They’ve a hard and fast price of 90 EUR ($98 USD) for a 30-minute journey throughout the day and 110 EUR ($119 USD) for a 30-minute journey at night time. That’s the entire worth for a gondola journey for as much as 5 folks.
There are a number of gondola stations round Venice, however you will discover one close to Piazza San Marco, near the San Marco vaporetto station.
If you wish to pre-book your gondola journey prematurely, that’s additionally an choice. This Venice tour features a guided strolling tour of town’s hottest spots and a shared gondola journey by the canals of Venice.
In search of a less expensive choice? Actually, you simply take a scenic vaporetto journey for a fraction of the price of a gondola journey. Line 1 and Line 2 are two of the perfect routes as a result of they take you down the beautiful Grand Canal. This morning, you took the vaporetto down the Grand Canal to Rialto, which solely coated about half of it.
Proper now, you may hop on the vaporetto on the San Marco cease and take it to Rialto once more, this time protecting the opposite half of the Grand Canal that you simply haven’t seen but.
An much more distinctive choice is taking a journey on the traghetto. It is a primary gondola that simply takes passengers throughout the Grand Canal (a journey that takes about two minutes) however it solely prices 2 EUR ($2 USD.)
The Santa Maria del Giglio gondola station is an efficient place to catch the traghetto. There’s no set schedule, however the boats cross the Grand Canal all morning and afternoon.
Lunch round San Polo or Dorsoduro
By the point you’ve completed up your gondola journey, you’re most likely able to cease someplace for lunch. Being a coastal metropolis, Venice is finest identified for its seafood — it’s not as well-known for pasta, and undoubtedly not pizza! (Sincere recommendation? Eat pizza anyplace however Venice.)
Yow will discover a number of nice trattorias within the neighborhoods of San Polo and Dorsoduro. These areas should not too far off the crushed path, and but they’re much less touristy than San Marco and extra affordably priced.
Osteria Fanal del Codega is a good canal-side restaurant serving contemporary native seafood at cheap costs.
Remember that most eating places in Venice are solely open for lunch from round 12:00-2:30 PM, so your choices for a sit-down meal could be restricted outdoors these hours.
Libreria Acqua Alta
After lunch, head to Libreria Acqua Alta, probably the most distinctive bookstores on this planet. This must-visit bookstore is called for the climate phenomenon Acqua Alta (“Excessive Water”) that causes momentary flooding in Venice throughout the fall and winter months.
Situated within the Castello neighborhood of Venice, Acqua Alta is packed from flooring to ceiling with books. There’s even a gondola within the heart of the bookstore stuffed with books.
Outdoors, you’ll discover a waterlogged tower of books that has grow to be a well-liked photograph op. The bookstore is positioned proper on a canal, and generally the water ranges imply that it begins to flood just a little bit, so watch your step!
Choice 1: One other Museum
It’s now most likely late afternoon in your day in Venice, and you’ve got a few choices for tips on how to spend your time. If you happen to’re up for one more museum, now is a good time to go to one.
If you happen to bought tickets to the Doge’s Palace, you even have entry to a number of museums positioned in St. Mark’s Sq.: the Museo Correr, the Museo Archeologico Nazionale, and the Monumental Rooms of the Biblioteca Nazionale Marciana.
The museums are open every single day from 10:00 AM till 6:00 PM, and so they keep open till 11:00 PM on Fridays and Saturdays.
All of those museums are related, and so they’re price a go to if you wish to make your manner again to St. Mark’s Sq.. These museums are nice for historical past and artwork lovers, particularly if you wish to be taught extra about Venice’s previous.
You might additionally head to the Peggy Guggenheim Museum, an unbelievable artwork museum positioned on the Grand Canal. Situated in an 18th-century palazzo, this museum homes the spectacular assortment of the eccentric American heiress Peggy Guggenheim, who lived in Venice for greater than thirty years. A should for an artwork lover.
Tickets are restricted, so you should buy them on-line prematurely. The fee is 16 EUR ($17 USD) with reductions accessible for college students and seniors. The museum is open every single day besides Tuesday from 10:00 AM till 6:00 PM.
Choice 2: Strolling Tour
If you happen to’re not up for one more museum, you may additionally spend the late afternoon on a strolling tour discovering one other aspect of Venice. Though most vacationers stick to some particular areas, there are such a lot of completely different elements of Venice to discover.
This off-the-beaten path strolling tour contains lots of the sights most Venice guests miss, and is led by an skilled information.
Another choice is that this free strolling tour that visits hidden gems within the lesser-known neighborhood of Cannaregio in Venice. (Make sure you tip your information on the free strolling tour! That’s the one manner they become profitable!)
Get Misplaced and Wander
One among my favourite issues to do in Venice is to get misplaced wandering the slender streets and myriad canals of town. Spend a while in your day in Venice, even when it’s simply half an hour or so, exploring town with out consulting Google Maps first.
Even on a busy day in Venice, you may escape the crowds with a couple of random activates the maze-like streets of town. Since Venice is so troublesome to navigate, you’ll usually see indicators that say “Per San Marco” or “Per Rialto” with an arrow pointing down an alleyway, pointing you within the path of standard vacationer locations.
Moderately than following these indicators, head down an alley in the other way as an alternative and see the place you find yourself — it’s a enjoyable option to uncover hidden gems you’ll have by no means stumbled upon in any other case.
The Dorsoduro district, dwelling to Venice’s college, is a good space to wander round and discover. So is the neighborhood of Cannaregio. Which brings us to our subsequent merchandise…
Cannaregio Night
Moderately than reserving a dinner reservation, I believe you’ll take pleasure in heading to the Cannaregio neighborhood and strolling at sundown, grabbing eats alongside the best way. Cannaregio is a good space in northern Venice that has fewer vacationers and a extra native really feel.
It’s additionally the place you’ll discover a number of reasonably priced eating places, cafes, and bars, somewhat than the overpriced ones within the extra touristy areas within the metropolis.
A well-liked pre-dinner night exercise for Venetians is having fun with cicchetti (chih-KET-tee) and wine with buddies at a bacaro, or wine bar. Cicchetti are small plates just like Spanish tapas.
My favourite spot in Cannaregio is Vino Vero, which serves a group of cool wines and a few of the finest cicchetti within the metropolis. 4-6 items is sufficient for a meal, and I all the time ensure that to seize a bit topped with mortadella and pistachio! Simply take your plate outdoors and eat on the sting of the canal.
Most cicchetti are priced at below 5 EUR ($5.50 USD), so this can be a low cost option to expertise the native delicacies of Venice and take in the ambiance as you stroll from bacaro to bacaro alongside the canals of Cannaregio.
Departing Venice
When it’s time to depart Venice, enable your self extra time than you suppose you’ll want. If you happen to end off your night in Cannaregio, it’s a 10-minute stroll to Santa Lucia station, a 15-minute stroll to the Piazzale Roma bus terminal, and a couple of 30-minute journey through strolling and vaporetto to the Tronchetto bus terminal.
Nonetheless, don’t depart it to the final minute! It’s best to arrive at the least quarter-hour early to your practice or bus if that’s the way you’ll be leaving Venice. Additionally, give your self time in case you stroll within the fallacious path for a couple of minutes.
And make sure you regulate the departure screens and an ear out for bulletins on the practice station. I as soon as missed a practice at Mestre station as a result of a platform was modified on the final minute, and it was solely introduced with no notifications on the screens.
Venice Day Customer Charge
Starting in 2024, town of Venice is charging a small payment for day guests. Often called the Venice Entry Charge, it’s designed to assist alleviate the consequences of overtourism on Venice.
The payment is just relevant on particular dates (weekends in April, Could, June, and July) and it solely applies to day journey guests, not in a single day guests staying in Venice. The payment is €5 ($5.50 USD) and you may pay it on-line.
You’ll obtain a QR code which you’ll be required to point out at entry factors like Santa Lucia station or Piazzale Roma with a view to entry the historic heart of Venice. If you happen to don’t pay the payment, you danger going through as much as a €300 ($330 USD) positive, so it’s sensible to e-book it on-line forward of time.
Have a good time in Venice!
I hope that your sooner or later in Venice serves as a teaser for what this magical metropolis has to supply — and evokes you to return for a for much longer go to. As a result of whereas Venice is good for a day, that’s nothing in comparison with what a number of days can supply.
I hope this itinerary helps you take pleasure in your time in Venice to the fullest!
Extra on Venice:
Planning a Journey to Italy:
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Have you ever been to Venice? Share your ideas!
