Our 2-day Venice itinerary, refined over three visits and built for first-time visitors who want to see the highlights without wasting time in line.
If you are planning your first trip to Venice, this itinerary is built for you. With 2 days in Venice, you have just enough time to visit the highlights of this beautiful city and stroll the canals. Tour Doge’s Palace, visit St. Mark’s Basilica, drift through the canals on a gondola, and explore the quieter corners of Venice.
Venice is magical on a first visit, and that feeling doesn’t fade on return trips. I loved our first time here with the kids: walking across the Rialto Bridge, strolling the canals, and doing all the touristy things, such as a gondola ride and a tour of Doge’s Palace. On our later visits, we spent most of our time simply wandering the canals, exploring quieter neighborhoods, and seeking out sights off the beaten path.
Not every first-timer comes away with that same impression. Venice is crowded, lines can be long, and in summer, the midday heat can wear you down. The goal of this itinerary is to combine the must-see sights with breaks, like a walk along the canals or a detour into a quieter neighborhood, so your two days feel full without feeling overwhelming. Through our visits, we’ve also learned it pays to book tickets and dinner reservations in advance and go in prepared for the crowds, rather than be surprised by them.
Even as return visitors, we put a lot of time into researching the top sights and the best way to organize your time, so that this itinerary reflects what we’d actually do with 2 days in Venice today, not just our first visit.
In this guide, learn how to plan a perfect 2-day visit to Venice. We cover the top sights to see, how to get around, where to stay, and how to plan your time, including a few hidden gems: cocktail bars with a view, great Grand Canal viewpoints, and more.
Tourist Entry Fee in Venice: There is a fee for visitors to enter Venice, usually on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays April through July (although there are few additional days during this time period). This fee will cost €5-10. If you have plans to spend the night in Venice, you will be exempt from the fee. All visitors, even those with an overnight stay in Venice, will have to register their visit on an online website. Learn more here.
2 Days in Venice: The Essentials
BEST FOR | First-time visitors with 2 days in Venice
TOP SIGHTS | St. Mark’s Basilica, Doge’s Palace, Rialto Bridge, Grand Canal, a gondola ride
DAY 1 | St. Mark’s Square, Doge’s Palace, and the canals of Venice
DAY 2 | Grand Canal, Rialto Bridge, San Polo & Dorsoduro
BOOK AHEAD | St. Mark’s Basilica and Doge’s Palace tickets, plus dinner reservations
BEST TIME TO VISIT | April–June and September–October for mild weather and smaller crowds
GETTING AROUND | Entirely on foot, with optional vaporetto rides
July 2026 Update: All links, pricing, and tours verified. Added an FAQ section.
How Many Days Do You Need in Venice?
Ideally, plan on spending two or more days in Venice.
With 2 days in Venice, you have just enough time to visit the highlights of Venice and stroll the canals. It will be a busy but wonderful 2 days in Venice.
With 3 days in Venice, spend two days visiting the highlights in Venice and on the third day, day trip to Murano and Burano and/or Lido. Even more time allows you to slow down and explore the quieter neighborhoods of Venice.
If you only have one day in Venice, it will be a whirlwind, but you can visit a few of the more popular sites in the morning (such as Doge’s Palace and St. Mark’s Basilica) and explore the canals in the afternoon. Learn how to do this in our One Day in Venice itinerary.
Best Things to Do with 2 Days in Venice
With 2 days in Venice, you have time to see the icons and go beyond them: St. Mark’s Square, St. Mark’s Basilica, Doge’s Palace, the Rialto Bridge, a gondola ride on the Grand Canal, plus time for the Peggy Guggenheim Collection, Teatro La Fenice, or Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute. The two-day itinerary below walks you through all of it, spread across both days so you’re not rushing.
If you want to see even more of Venice beyond these two days, our guide Best Things to Do in Venice covers the full list, including a few hidden gems ↓
Riva degli Schiavoni
2 Days in Venice Itinerary
Day 1: St. Mark’s Square, Doge’s Palace, & the Canals of Venice
Venice is one of Europe’s most popular destinations, so we cover how to skip the line or reduce your wait at the sites that require it, with ticket links included throughout. The times in the daily schedule are rough estimates, since your actual pace will depend on how long you linger at each stop.
Here is a map of the places to visit today, along with recommended restaurants.
How to Use This Map: Click the tab in the top left corner of the map to see a list of the points of interest and to turn layers on/off. Click the icons on the map to get more information about each point of interest.
To take this map with you, click the star next to the title of the map which adds it to your Google account. Next, within your Google Maps app, select ‘Saved’ and then select ‘Maps’. This map title will now appear in your list.
8 am: Breakfast
Start your day off with breakfast, either at your hotel or at one of the coffee shops or pasticcerias (pastry shops) in Venice.
Pasticceria Marchini Time gets wonderful reviews, is located in San Marco, and is just a 5-minute walk from St. Mark’s Square.
Pasticceria Da Bonifacio is another highly rated pastry shop. It is located east of St. Mark’s Square and from here it is a 4-minute walk to St. Mark’s Basilica.
9 am: St. Mark’s Square and St. Mark’s Basilica
St. Mark’s Square (also called Piazza San Marco) is the main public square in Venice. St. Marks’ Basilica and the Campanile sit at the eastern end of the square. The remainder of the square is lined with arcades, which were once the homes and offices of the officers during the days of the republic of Venice. Now, the arcades are home to shops and restaurants.
St. Mark’s Square
One of the most interesting sights on St. Mark’s Square is the Torre dell’Orologio (the Clock Tower). This clock and its tower dates back to the 15th century.
Torre dell’Orologio
St. Mark’s Basilica is even older and it dates back to the 9th century AD. Over the course of eight centuries, mosaics were added to the interior of the cathedral, as well as treasures from the Crusades. The Pala d’Oro is a Byzantine alter piece that is covered in gold and studded with almost 2,000 gems.
During your visit, you can visit the cathedral and you have the option to add on the Pala d’Oro for an additional fee.
St Mark’s Basilica
Pala d’Oro
How to Visit St. Mark’s Basilica
This is one of Venice’s top attractions. Lines to get in are legendary but you can now book a ticket online in advance to skip the line.
On a visit to St. Mark’s Cathedral, you will pay a few euros to enter the basilica. 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. We cover each of these sites and their cost in much more detail in our guide How to Visit St. Mark’s Basilica. This also includes tips to help you have the best experience, lots of photos both inside and outside of the basilica, and information on how to skip the line.
St. Mark’s Basilica: Cost, Tickets & Is It Worth It
How to visit St. Mark’s Basilica, how to skip the line, and is an evening tour worth it?St. Mark’s Basilica opens at 9:30 am (on Sundays, it opens at 2 pm). For the best experience, book your entrance ticket online for a 9:30 am entry. Before you go, get updates on hours of operation here.
Hours: 9:30 am to 5:15 pm Monday to Saturday; Sunday 2 pm to 5:15 pm; last admission at 4:45 pm
Cost: €10 online in advance; Basilica and Pala d’Oro €20; Basilica, Museum, and Loggia dei Cavalli €20; Basilica, Museum, Loggia dei Cavalli and Pala d’Oro €30; Bell Tower €15
Website: Get updated hours and pricing on the official website
Skip-the-Line: This tour has skip-the-line access and includes a visit to the St. Mark’s terrace for great views of the city.
Skip-the-line at St. Mark’s Basilica plus Doge’s Palace: This 3-hour skip-the-line tour includes both St. Mark’s Basilica and the Doge’s Palace. This is a great tour to consider since it includes both of these sights and you get to tour them with a knowledgeable guide.
10:30 am: Doge’s Palace
The Doges’ Palace (Palazzo Ducale) is a palace built in Venetian Gothic styles. For centuries, this building served as the residence for the Doge, the seat of the government, and a palace of justice. Now, it is a museum.
As you tour Doge’s Palace, you will cross the Bridge of Sighs. From this window, prisoners on their way to execution would have one final view of the city.
Bridge of Sighs window
The Doge’s Palace is located next to St. Mark’s Basilica. Again, expect long lines here. You can either join the ticket line (expect a long wait), book your ticket in advance (highly recommended!!), or visit on a guided tour.
Cost: Prices start at €30
Hours: 9 am to 6 pm November through March; 9 am to 7 pm April through October
Website: Get updated hours and pricing on the official website. You can also book your entrance tickets here as well.
Entry Ticket: If tickets are sold out for your travel dates, you can also purchase an entry ticket through GetYourGuide.
1 pm: Lunch
There are lots of restaurants located in and around St. Mark’s Square, but most of these are overpriced and mediocre. Caffé Florian, a coffee shop that gets decent reviews (they don’t open until 9 am so they aren’t a great breakfast option if you want to get in line early to visit St. Mark’s Basilica). We had coffee and a bite to eat here on our most recent visit. The views are nice; the food is so-so (a visit here is more about the atmosphere than the food).
For a quick bite to eat, go to Ai Do Leoni. This small restaurant is located just a few steps from St. Mark’s Basilica, and they serve coffee, small sandwiches, and small plates of pasta. It’s also a great spot to return to later in the day for a cocktail.
1000 Gourmet Venezia. This restaurant gets great reviews for its pizza and pasta, but they occasionally get negative reviews for their servcie. It is located on a side street just a few blocks northeast of St. Mark’s Square.
Osteria Enoteca San Marco. This restaurant is fabulous and we had one of our best dinners in Venice here (but it’s also a good lunchtime spot). It is located near the northwest corner of St. Mark’s Square. It’s more upscale than the first two restaurants on this list and a good pick if you want a leisurely lunch with great food and wine.
Restaurant Terrazza Danieli. Hotel Danieli is a luxurious 5-star hotel located on Riva degli Schiavoni. You can have lunch or dinner on the rooftop terrace with views of the Venetian Lagoon. This is the priciest lunch option on our list.
2 pm: View from the Campanile
Before leaving the area, visit the Campanile for an unforgettable view of Venice.
View from the Campanile
An elevator whisks visitors to the top of the Campanile, so climbing stairs is not necessary.
To avoid waiting in line, book your tickets online on the official website in advance. You will book your ticket for a specific time slot.
Cost: 15€ online in advance
Hours: 9:30 am to 5:15 pm, last admission 4:45 pm
Website: Book your tickets and get updated hours and pricing on the official website.
Note: The Campanile will close in bad weather (strong winds, fog, and very cold temperatures).
3 pm: The Canals of Venice
For the rest of the day, you are free to explore the canals of Venice.
Strolling the canals is one of the best things to do in Venice and there are several ways to do it. You can either wander the canals on your own or take a walking tour.
The Rialto Bridge, the Grand Canal, and Ponte dell’Accademia are all on the list for tomorrow, so today I recommend staying east of the Grand Canal and exploring the San Marco, Castello, and Cannaregio.
I recommend starting on Riva degli Schiavoni, which is a wide promenade that runs along the Venetian Lagoon. As you cross Ponte della Paglia look down the canal for the iconic view of the Bridge of Sighs. As you continue east on the promenade, you will pass Hotel Danieli and to your right will be gorgeous views across the canal.
Bridge of Sighs
Venetian Lagoon
Riva degli Schiavoni
Once you get past Hotel Danieli, you can head north and stroll the canals in Castello.
I love walking along Rio di S. Provoio and taking in the view from Ponte dei Carmini (it’s marked on our map above). But this whole area is a delight to stroll through.
Rio di S. Provoio
Another notable place to visit is Libreria Acqua Alta, or “Book Store of High Water.” Stacks of books are kept in bathtubs and a gondola to protect them from flooding. It’s a sight to see!
As you stroll through Venice, go shopping, have a glass of wine or aperitif at a café, snack on cicchetti, or hire a gondola.
Walking Tours of Venice
If you prefer to walk the canals with a guide, here a few great options to consider.
This walking tour gets excellent reviews and it covers the major highlights of the city. Or take a ghost and murder mystery evening walking tour.
Note: If you choose to take a walking tour, note the starting time and location. You may have to adjust this itinerary to work with the walking tour.
Venice Canal
7 pm: Dinner
For dinner, here are a few options. The restaurants I listed for lunch are also a nice place to have dinner.
Ristorante Ca’ Dolfin. This Italian restaurant gets nothing but rave reviews. They are located in Sestiere di Canareggio near the Grand Canal.
Impronta. This modern café serves Italian and seafood dishes and is a popular spot with both locals and tourists. All ingredients are locally sourced.
Osteria Fanal del Codega. This Italian restaurant has indoor and outdoor seating along a canal. It also gets 5-star reviews.
Day 2: Grand Canal, Rialto Bridge, San Polo & Dorsoduro
In the morning, take your pick between a museum, a tour of the opera house, or a basilica, and after lunch, explore the Grand Canal, take photos from the Rialto Bridge, and go on gondola ride.
8 am: Breakfast
Have breakfast at your hotel or at one of the cafes or pasticcerias in Venice.
Morning: Peggy Guggenheim Collection, Teatro al Fenice, or Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute
The Peggy Guggenheim Collection and Teatro la Fenice are two of Venice’s most popular attractions. Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute is a church on the Grand Canal and you can climb the steps to the cupola for one of the best views of Venice.
It is possible to visit two of these today, but if you want a more leisurely schedule, I recommend picking one. Combining the Basilica and Peggy Guggenheim Collection works best since they are located near each other.
Peggy Guggenheim Collection
This modern art museum is located in the Palazzo Venier dei Leoni, an 18th century palace. It contains modern art by Picasso, Dalí, Miró, and Kandinsky that was collected by American heiress Peggy Guggenheim.
Hours: 10 am to 6 pm daily; closed Tuesday
Cost: 17€
Website: Get updated hours and pricing on the official website. Purchase your ticket online in advance to avoid waiting in line.
Teatro la Fenice
This opera house is one of the most famous and historic opera houses in the world. The theater was destroyed by a fire three times, the most recent being in 1996. It reopened in December 2003, truly earning its name “the Phoenix,” as it continually rises from the ashes.
The theater is open for tours on a daily basis. Your admission fee includes the audio guide tour.
Cost: 12€
Hours: 9:30 am to 6 pm daily
Website: Get updated hours and pricing here.
Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute
The Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute is located on the Grand Canal. From Ponte dell’Accademia, this baroque cathedral is one of the main focal points.
View from the cupola of Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute
Cost: free to visit the Basilica; 8€ to visit the cupola
Hours: During the summer months, the Basilica is open from 9 am to 12 pm and 3 pm to 5:30 pm. Get updated hours here before your visit.
After your visit to the museum/theater/Basilica, walk to Ponte dell’Accademia.
11:30 pm: Ponte dell’Accademia
From Ponte dell’Accademia, you have one of the best views of the Grand Canal. This old, wooden bridge is not one of prettier bridges in town but the view from here is stunning.
Look east along the Grand Canal. You will be able to see the Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute, a 400-year-old church that is a famous Venetian landmark. This bridge also a great spot to watch as gondolas, water buses, and taxis drift up and down the Grand Canal.
View from the Ponte dell’Accademia
12:00 pm: Lunch
Here are three restaurants near Ponte dell’Accademia that are great picks for lunch.
Trattoria ai Cugnai dal 1911. This restaurant is open from 12 pm to 3 pm for lunch (closed on Tuesday) and later in the day for dinner. It’s more of a local restaurant than a touristy restaurant and it is a good choice if you want great Italian food.
Agli Alboretti. This restaurant serves pasta, seafood, and fish dishes with the option to dine in the courtyard.
Corner Pub. This small pub is a better pick if you don’t want to linger long over lunch. They serve coffee, paninis and small plates and they are located near the Peggy Guggenheim Collection.
1:30 pm: Vaporetto Ride on the Grand Canal
The vaporetto is a water bus that runs up and down the Grand Canal (and also out to Lido, Murano and Burano). This is the cheapest way to cruise up the Grand Canal.
From the water bus station next to Ponte dell’Accademia, ride the No. 1 or No. 2 vaporetto to the Rialto Bridge. If you are really enjoying the ride, go as far as you like and then ride the vaporetto back to the Rialto Bridge. The vaporetto will take you to Piazzale Roma, where you can get off and then board another water bus that heads back to the Rialto Bridge.
It costs 9.50€ for a one-way ticket (good for 75 minutes) or 25€ for a 24-hour ticket. For this itinerary, a one-way ticket is sufficient.
2:00 pm: The Rialto Bridge
Four bridges span the Grand Canal and this one is the oldest. It was originally built in 1173 and has been rebuilt several times. The present bridge was completed in 1591.
The Rialto Bridge is a covered footbridge that is lined with shops. Visiting this bridge is one of the best things to do in Venice.
Rialto Bridge
We love the views from this bridge and they are great in both directions. It’s worth it to visit both sides of the bridge for these views. This is a great spot for a time lapse video on your phone since there is so much activity along the Grand Canal.
View from the Rialto Bridge looking southwest
View from the Rialto Bridge looking northeast
3:00 pm: Canals of Venice & Gondola Ride
For the remainder of the day, stroll the canals of Venice. You also have enough time to visit the second attraction from this morning, so you can visit both the Peggy Guggenheim Collection and Teatro la Fenice if that interests you.
On our first gondola ride
View from a gondola
This is a good time to take a gondola ride in Venice. On our last visit, we hired a gondola on the Grand Canal next to the Rialto Bridge. This is typically a busy spot to hire a gondola, and we were visiting on a very busy day, but we had less than a 5-minute wait.
If lines are long, it can be easier to hire a gondola that is on a smaller canal (not the Grand Canal or Venetian Lagoon).
How Much Does a Gondola ride cost? The city of Venice sets the rate at €90 per 40 minutes (€110 after 7 pm) but that doesn’t mean that’s the rate you will get. You will have to negotiate with your gondolier before you ride. Make sure you agree on the price and the length of time you will ride before you get in the gondola. And if you would like him to sing, that will cost extra. Here is a great article if you want to learn more.
You can also book your gondola ride in advance, such as this private gondola ride with a professional photographer.
This afternoon and evening, I recommend exploring the San Polo and Dorsoduro sestieri of Venice, which are located west of the Grand Canal.
Dorsoduro
Evening: Dinner and Drinks
In the evening, have dinner and drinks. For dinner recommendations, take a look at day one of this Venice itinerary.
For drinks, either before or after dinner, Bar Longhi, which is located at the Gritti Palace, looks like a beautiful spot to go for a drink. It is located right on the Grand Canal with a view of Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute. It’s an upscale bar so it won’t be cheap but the view looks amazing!
View from Ponte dell’Accademia at night
What About Murano and Burano?
You’ll notice this itinerary doesn’t include Murano and Burano, even though many other Venice guides send you there. That’s a deliberate choice, not an oversight, so here’s our reasoning.
We have visited Murano and Burano, and while they’re pretty, we weren’t especially impressed; certainly not impressed enough to recommend giving up time in Venice itself to see them. With 2 days, your time is better spent on the sights and neighborhoods covered in this itinerary. Across three visits to Venice, we’ve found that simply wandering the canals and exploring quiet corners of the city has been a more rewarding way to spend our time than a trip out to the islands.
That said, we do think Murano and Burano (or Lido Island, if you’re drawn to a beach day) are worth adding if you have 3 or more days in Venice. With extra time, you’re not trading away anything from the core Venice experience to fit them in.
If you do want to visit Murano and Burano and are willing to shorten your time in Venice to do it, both islands are reachable by vaporetto from Fondamente Nove, and it’s realistic to see one or both in a half or full day.
How to Get to Venice
If you are traveling by train through Italy, there is a train station in Venice (Stazione di Venezia Santa Lucia). From this train station, you can walk, take the vaporetto, or hire a water taxi to take you to your hotel.
PARKING IN VENICE: If you will have a car, park your car at Tronchetto Parking. This large parking garage is located in Venice in Santa Croce. We parked here on one of our visits to Venice. The parking garage can hold 4500 vehicles. Learn more here.
If you are starting your trip through Italy in Venice, the main airport is the Venice Marco Polo Airport.
Getting from the Airport to Venice
Venice Marco Polo Airport sits on the mainland, so getting into the historic center means crossing the lagoon, either by water or by land plus a short vaporetto ride. Here are your options:
Alilaguna water bus is the classic way to arrive in Venice. These water buses run several routes from the airport into the city, with stops near the Rialto Bridge, San Marco, and other central points, so depending on your hotel, you may be able to walk straight from the dock. The ride takes about an hour, and one-way tickets run around €18. It’s slower than a taxi, but arriving in Venice by water, watching the city appear across the lagoon, is a memorable start to the trip.
Water taxi is the fastest and most convenient option, at around 30 minutes door-to-door, but it comes at a price: private water taxis typically run €120-180 or more, while a shared water taxi (splitting a boat with a few other travelers) is a cheaper middle ground at around €40 per person. If you’re arriving with a lot of luggage or landing late at night, this is worth the splurge. We’ve done this and it is an awesome introduction to Venice (and a memorable way to exit the city), cruising the canals for your first views of the city.
Bus is the budget option. ACTV and ATVO buses run from the airport to Piazzale Roma in about 20-25 minutes for around €10-12. The catch is that Piazzale Roma is the edge of Venice’s historic center, not the center itself, so you’ll still need a vaporetto, water taxi, or a walk to reach your hotel.
We’d recommend the Alilaguna for most first-time visitors: it’s a reasonable price, and arriving by water sets the tone for the trip. If your flight lands late or your hotel is a long walk from any dock, a shared water taxi is worth the extra cost.
You can also book your transport using the options below:
Airport Transfers
How to Get Around Venice
Venice is a very walkable city. It’s small and compact and most of the highlights are clustered together in the heart of Venice. When we are here, we primarily walk to everything.
If you want to minimize how much walking you do, you can use the vaporetto and water taxis to get around. If you are staying in Santa Croce or Giudecca, riding the vaporetto to the Rialto Bridge, the Ponte dell’Accademia, and to San Marco can save you a lot of walking and a lot of time.
Gondolas in Venice
Best Time to Visit Venice
In general, spring and fall are the best times 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. But here is a breakdown by season of what you can expect in Venice:
WINTER: It’s cold in Venice during the winter months. Daytime high’s average around 7°C (in the mid-40’s) and it can get down to freezing at night. However, this is the driest time of the year. Crowds are also at their lowest, so if you want to visit Venice without the crowds, this is the time to go…just pack your winter coat. Carnavale is one of Venice’s biggest festivals and takes place at the end of February, ending on Mardi Gras.
SPRING: As the weather warms up in the spring, rain chances also go up. Spring is one of the wettest seasons to visit Venice, but not quite as rainy as the fall months. In early spring, the high temperature is 13°C (55°F) and it continues to get warmer week by week, reaching an average high of 27°C (80°F) by June.
SUMMER: Expect big crowds and hot weather during the summer months. Daily high temperatures average 29°C (84°F) but they can easily get up to 35°C (95°F). Rainfall is low. Summer is also the most popular time to visit Venice, so crowds will be at their highest. If you plan to visit in the summer months, make your hotel reservations far in advance and purchase skip-the-line tickets if possible.
FALL: In early fall, crowds can still be high, not really quieting down until the end of October. Daytime high’s range from 21°C (70°F) in early fall and cooling off to 13°C (55°F) by late fall. Autumn is the wettest time to visit Venice (late September through early November), so bring an umbrella if you plan to be here at this time.
VERDICT: I think the best time to visit Venice is from late-April through May. The weather is nice, spring break is over, and crowds are manageable. If you don’t mind chilly weather, March into April would also be a nice time to visit Venice, just try to avoid the Easter holiday.
We have visited Venice three times: twice in mid-July and once in mid-September. Crowd levels were about the same for both visits and may have actually been a little bit higher on our September visit.
VENICE FLOODS: Between the months of October and January, water levels in the Venetian Lagoon can rise, flooding St. Mark’s Square. This is called acqua alta, or “high water” and typically lasts a few days each year.
Venice in September
Where to Stay
With 2 days in Venice, the best place to stay is in the heart of Venice, to limit how much walking you do. San Marco, Dorsoduro, and San Polo are all great areas to choose from.
To help you choose the best location, and the best hotel, read our guide Where to Stay in Venice, which organizes the best hotels in Venice by location and budget.
Where to Stay in Venice 2026: Best Hotels and Neighborhoods
Best places to stay in Venice, based on location and budget.Tours of Venice
Joining a tour can help save you time waiting in line, allow you to learn more about Venice from a knowledgeable guide, and introduce you to sights that you may not be able to do on your own. Here are some of the best tours in Venice.
For one of the best experiences in Venice, visit St. Mark’s Basilica after hours. You get to tour the Basilica with an expert guide and visit it without the crowds. We are taking this tour on our upcoming visit to Venice.
This combination tour includes both St. Mark’s Basilica and a tour of Doge’s Palace. The tour lasts 2.5 to 3 hours and is one of the best things to do if this is your first visit to Venice.
Take a private evening tour of Cannaregio. With a guide, you will explore Cannaregio, dine on local food, and enjoy wine, beer, and cocktails.
On this 2.5 hour food tour, explore the Rialto Market with a guide and sample local foods.
Walking Tours: Take a private tour with a local guide, see a darker side of Venice on this Murders and Mysteries tour, or take an off the beaten track private city tour.
For something unique, create your own glass artwork with famous craftsman or create your own Venetian mask in this workshop.
Finally, go on a candlelight dinner cruise on the Venetian Lagoon.
Tours of Venice
FAQ: 2 Days in Venice
Is 2 days enough for Venice?
Two days is enough to see Venice’s major highlights without rushing, including St. Mark’s Basilica, Doge’s Palace, the Rialto Bridge, a gondola ride, and time to wander the canals and explore quieter neighborhoods. It’s a comfortable amount of time for a first visit. If you want to add a day trip to Murano and Burano, or slow down even further, a third day helps, but 2 days gives you a genuinely complete visit.
Do you need to book tickets in advance for St. Mark’s Basilica and Doge’s Palace?
Yes, we highly recommend it. Both sites are among the busiest attractions in Venice, and lines without a pre-booked ticket can eat up hours of a short trip. Booking a timed entry in advance lets you walk past the line and keep your itinerary on schedule.
Can you visit Murano and Burano with 2 days in Venice?
It’s possible, but it means giving up time you’d otherwise spend in Venice itself. If Murano and Burano are a priority, we’d recommend a third day rather than trying to fit them into this 2-day itinerary, since both islands take the better part of a day to visit properly.
Is Venice walkable, or do you need to use the vaporetto?
Venice is very walkable, and most of this itinerary can be done entirely on foot. The vaporetto is worth using for the experience of cruising the Grand Canal, and it can save time if your hotel is farther from the main sights, but it isn’t required to see the highlights.
Where should you stay for 2 days in Venice?
San Marco, Dorsoduro, and San Polo are all good choices, since they keep you within walking distance of the main sights. Our Where to Stay in Venice guide breaks down the best hotels by location and budget.
Where Are You Going Next?
Italy Itineraries
If you are still planning your Italy Itinerary, we have several great itineraries to share with you.
Our article 10 Days in Italy: 5 Sample Itineraries has an overview of five different ways to plan a 10-day trip to Italy.
If you have 10 days in Italy and want to visit the top locations such as Rome, Florence, Venice and the Cinque Terre, you’ll love this 10 day Italy Itinerary.
If you like the idea of combining a few Italian cities and spectacular outdoor scenery, take a look at our Northern Italy Itinerary, which includes Venice, the Dolomites, Verona, Milan, and Lake Como.
Finally, if you have more time (lucky you!), check out our 14 Day Italy itinerary, which includes Rome, Florence, Venice, the Cinque Terre, and the Amalfi Coast.
Destinations near Venice
From Venice, you can day trip into the Dolomites. The Dolomites are one of our favorite areas of Italy (and Europe) and it is best to spend several days here. You don’t have to be a hiker to enjoy this area. The scenic drives are wonderful, the lakes look like they belong on a postcard, and cable cars can whisk you up into the mountains for spectacular views. And if you do like hiking, spend as long as possible.
Verona is a lovely town located just a short train ride from Venice. It’s just as beautiful but doesn’t have the same level of crowds. Verona can be easily visited in one day as you tour Italy.
Not far from Verona is Lake Garda, the largest lake in Italy. Visit Sirmione, Riva del Garda, and the vineyards and smaller towns that line the lake.
If you have any questions about this 2 days in Venice Itinerary, let us know in the comment section below.
We have TONS more information about Italy in our Italy Travel Guide, including Rome, Florence, Venice, Tuscany, the Dolomites, the Amalfi Coast, the Cinque Terre, Sicily, and Puglia.
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