Venice

Italy

Venice is one of Europe’s best preserved big cities. It’s also one of its most crowded. It’s actually made up of a hundred islands strung together by bridges, and you’ll spend time getting lost (it’s impossible not to, but that’s part of the charm). Along with seeing the amazing museums and buildings, you’ll want to spend time wandering the narrow lanes, enjoying a drink of St. Mark’s square in the evening, and even splurging on a gondola ride.

Length: 3 days

Transportation: Vaporetto

Best Guide Book: Rick Steves Venice

Day 1

Day 2

Day 3

In-Depth Itinerary

Day 1

You’ll most likely arrive to Venice by train at the central train station. However, there are also two airports, VCE and TSF. You’ve got a few options of how to get from the airport to the historic center of Venice. From VCE You can grab the Alilaguna Water Bus which connects the airport dock to various spots throughout Venice. Follow the signs for “water transport” or “Transporti via acqua” to reach the dock from the airport. This is definitely one of the easiest options. Three lines reach St. Mark’s Square: the orange line, the blue line, and the red line. You can also grab one of two shuttle busses. ATVO is faster. ACTV makes more stops and is slower. Both take you directly to Venice’s main bus terminal, Piazzale Roma. Then you can take a vaporetto (water bus) or walk to your final destination in Venice. Or you can grab a regular taxi, but it can’t go beyond Piazzale Roma. If you’re landing at TSF you either need to grab the train (easiest), shuttle bus (Barzi express bus or ATVO bus), or cab.

You want to sleep in the old center to be able to stumble back late or rise early and enjoy silent charm before the tourists pile in. For mid-range prices look at Locanda Casa Querini, Locanda la Corte, Pensione Guerrato, Hotel al Ponte Mocenigo, Casa di Sara, Ca’San Trovaso. For splurgier options consider Splendid Venice, Corte di Gabriela, Novecento Boutique Hotel, Al Ponte Antico, Ca Maria Adele, JW Mariott. If you’re looking for cheap, the Anda Hostel Venice and Combo Venezia are probably your best bets.

On arrival, obtain a map. Really, it’s that easy to get lost here. Plan to do a walking tour sometime during your visit (we recommend starting with this if you arrive early). There’s a good option in Rick Steves (you can download the audio tour (including Grand Canal Cruise audio tour) or follow the one in the book), but there’s also excellent tours by Avventure Bellissime Venice Tours, Venice with a Guide, Walk Inside Venice, or Tours by Locals. For example, Avventure Bellissime Venice Tours offers a really nice 4 hour walking tour that allows you to see the Doge’s Palace with skip the line tickets, St. Mark’s Basilica, Santa Maria Formosa, Calle Paradiso & Ponte Paradiso, and the Castello District. So we will assume you’re planning on a tour and lead you through it accordingly (change things around if you want or if you arrive later).

On arrival to Venice, drop your stuff at the hotel. Make your way to the main train station (or store your luggage until later if you prefer). Start with a Grand Canal cruise (45 minutes if you don’t hop off – or get a pass where you can hop off an on). If you start a 5 minute walk from the Ferrovia train station at Piazzale Roma you can get a seat on vaporetto line #1 to St. Mark’s Square. You only want boat #1 and you want to head for the ope-air section in the stern and sit in the middle. The Grand Canal is the main “street” in Venice and lined with the most awe-inspiring palaces. You’ll pass Ferrovia, Riva de Biasio, San Marcuola, San Stae, Ca’ Pesaro, Ca’ d’Oro, Rialto Mercato, Rialto Bridge and Rialto, San Silvestro and a long strand of merchants’ palaces, Sant’ Angelo, San Toma, Ca’ Rezzonico, the Accademia, La Salute Church, and San Marco where you’ll get off.

Now you should be at the most common meeting point for a tour. If not, wander to where your tour will meet. If you need to kill time, visit the very good Correr Museum, a really gorgeous museum where you can learn about the art and history of Venice over the ages, or get a coffee or snack at Caffe Florian right on St. Mark’s square. St. Mark’s Square/Piazza San Marco is the main square surrounded by historic buildings and top sites: St. Mark’s Basilica, the Doge’s Palace, the Campanile bell tower, the Clock Tower, and the Correr Museum. At night this square is filled with music and dancing. At night, it’s worth coming back for a drink at one for the cafes with music like Gran Caffe Chioggia.

Plan, either on your own, or part of the tour to see St Mark’s Basilica, built in the 11th century, the Campanile (bell tower that you can ride an elevator to the top for one of the best views of Venice), Doge’s Palace, the pink seat of Venetian government, and Bridge of Sighs which connects the Doge’s Palace to the prison. You should try and get time-stamped tickets for these sites in advance if you are not going on an organized tour. The Clock Tower was built in 1496 and is the main entry to the shopping drag that connects St. Mark’s Square to Rialto Bridge. A combo ticket will let you into the Clock Tower on a tour and up to a terrace with good views over the square (also includes entry to the National Archaeological Museum, Monumental Rooms of the Biblioteca Marciana, and Correr Museum – where the tour starts from).

It’s hard to find a great spot for lunch in San Marco square, but Osteria Enoteca San Marco is a decent choice. Or if you want views and to spend money, Restaurant Terrazza Danieli offers both from its rooftop terrace.

Afterwards, you can pop across the water to the Island and Church of San Giorgio Maggiore, a 16th century church that gives you amazing views back towards Venice. Get here by taking the vaporetto line #2 from San Zaccaria, dock B towards Piazzale Roma.

From St. Mark’s you can wander through the Castello District or visit Calle Paradiso (with some very old buildings and wooden shops).

If you’re in the mood for gelato Suso Gelatoteca or La Mela Verde are nearby and great options.

For dinner we recommend Antiche Carampane or select from our Venice Restaurant Scene.

After dinner, a fun thing can be to catch a concert in one of Venice’s old churches. San Vidal Church or Interpreti Veneziani Orchestra are great options.

Day 2

Start today by walking to the Rialto Bridge and Mercato di Rialto around which are many cafes and restaurants. Regarding food in Venice, there are many awful places to eat (remember that it’s overrun with tourists?). That leads to expensive and bad food, especially in the center. Make sure you understand your bill before you pay. Make a reservation if you can or show up when the door opens. You can find a panini anywhere, and that can be a quick grab for lunch if you’re ready to get going again, Bar all’Arco is one place. There are some nice places just past the Rialto Bridge, between Campo San Giacomo and the Grand Canal. The meals aren’t cheap, but if you want dining with a view, it’s a decent pick. Al Ponte Storto Osteria con Cucina is a nice, less crowded option.

You’ll see the “main sites” tomorrow, but today is the day to get lost in your wanders. Visit to Frari Church, the Franciscan “Church of the Brothers”. It contains works of Giovanni, Titian, Donatello, and Bellini and is worth the visit. Next, make your way to Scuola San Rocco Chapel, also known as “Tintoretto’s Sistine Chapel” filled with 50 large colorful painted ceilings. Finally, make your way to Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute, an impressive church with a huge dome that dominates the skyline from the Grand Canal.

In the late afternoon, plan to visit at least one of Venice’s amazing museums. Your options are the Accademia, the Peggy Guggenheim Museum, and the Ca’ Rezzonico Grand Palace. The Accademia is Venice’s best art museum filled with paintings by all of the best Venetian Renaissance painters. You can get a timed entry ticket to help you skip the line. The Peggy Guggenheim Museum is housed in the heiress’ palazzo and has some of the best art fo the first half of the 20th cetury (think Picasso, Braque, Dali, Ernst, Chagall). Or try the Ca’ Rezzonico Grand Palace which contains furniture and decorative artwork from the 1700s. It’s the best way to experience Venice’s decadence of the 1700s.

If you’re looking to shop, check out L’angolo del Passato, Pied à Terre, Antonia Miletto Gioielli, and Antica Drogheria Mascari.

Tonight, consider a gondola ride. These rides are expensive but a single boat can hold up to 5 people. Prices go up after 7pm. If you want music, it will cost more. Prices are set by the gondoliers’ association so don’t bother bartering. You can find these set up all over town. Overpriced? Yes. Extremely romantic? Also yes.

For dinner we recommend Al Covo or select from our Venice Restaurant Scene. Make a reservation wherever you choose to eat.

After dinner, you can head back to St. Mark’s Square to catch some live music at one of the many cafes on the square.

Day 3

Today is your chance to explore the surrounding islands. The easiest is to make your way to the Fondamente Nove vaporetto stop (15 minutes walking from St. Mark’s or Rialto). Take the #4.1 or #4.2 for Murano (runs about every 10 minutes).

Your first stop should be San Michele island (Cimitero stop) to see the impressive cemetery. This is where the most famous Venetians were buried and hosts a pretty chapel.

Next, get back on the vaporetto and get off at the Murano-Colonna stop. Wander through Murano. Murano is, of course, famous for its glassmaking. The island has a Glass Museum and multiple glass factories in the Faro district. Venini shop has the best glass design. The museum goes over the history of the art and has some masterful displays. Get back on at the Murano-Faro stop and get on the #12 vaporetto towards Burano. Burano is famous for lacemaking and has a Lace museum. It’s a fun place to wander for the many lace shops. There’s also a white wine produced right here that you can taste. From Burano continue on the #9 vaporetto to Torcello where you can see Santa Maria Assunta Church from 639 (though reconstructed in 1008). Torcello is where the original settlers of Venice started and is the least-developed of all of Venice’s islands. Have lunch here at Locanda Cipriani. From Burano you can take vaporetto #12 all the way back to Fondamente. If you want, on the way back, you can instead take the #14 from Burano to San Zaccaria and then the #20 to San Lazzaro degli Armeni with its impressive Venetian Monastery.

You’ll probably be hungry along your way. In Moreno, we recommend Acquastanca or La Perla Ai Bisatei. In Burano, we recommend Al Gatto Nero. In Torcello, we recommend Locanda Cipriani. If you want a calmer morning, you can also plan to have dinner on one of these islands, as the last vaporettos are very late (after 11pm).

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