By Rick Steves and Gene Openshaw
So much to see, so little time. To help you plan your sightseeing, we've listed our ideal itineraries for Venice, whether you're going for one day, two days, three days, or more.
Venice is small. You can walk across it, from head to tail, in about an hour. Nearly all of your sightseeing is within a 20-minute walk of the Rialto Bridge or St. Mark's Square. Remember that Venice itself is its greatest sight. Make time to wander, explore, shop, and simply be. When you cross a bridge, look both ways — you may be hit with a lovely view. Venice has what's considered one of the highest concentrations of art anywhere in the world. Art lovers need to be particularly well-organized to get the most out of their visit.
Key considerations: Ninety percent of tourists congregate in a very narrow zone in the center. But even the most touristy stretches of the city are almost ghostly peaceful early and late. Maximize your evening magic, and avoid the midday crowds around St. Mark's Basilica and the Doge's Palace. If you arrive in Venice late in the day, try taking our self-guided Grand Canal cruise and St. Mark's Square tour (both are available as free audio tours). These sights are more romantic and much less crowded after dark — and they provide a wonderful welcome to the city.
Depending on when you visit, you may have to juggle the itineraries below, as sights' visiting hours will vary by season and day of the week.
With that in mind, here are our recommended priorities:
Venice in One Brutal Day (Plus the Night Before)
Night Before: Walk or boat to the train station and then, aboard an empty vaporetto #1, take the self-guided "Grand Canal Cruise" to St. Mark's Square (as outlined in our guidebooks, or follow along with the free audio tour).
9:00 Meander from St. Mark's Square to the Rialto Bridge, ideally off the main thoroughfares, and — even better — following our Venice guidebooks' self-guided "St. Mark's to Rialto Loop Walk" as far as the Rialto Bridge.
10:00 Enjoy the action at the Rialto Bridge and Rialto Market.
11:00 Make your way to the Frari Church via the San Polo neighborhood, ideally following the self-guided "Rialto to Frari Church Walk" outlined in our Venice guidebooks.
12:00 Tour the Frari Church (also covered by a free audio tour).
13:00 Wander into the Dorsoduro district toward the Accademia museum, exploring and enjoying lunch along the way. Stroll across the Accademia Bridge (tour the Accademia only if you're an art lover — and really energetic) and back to St. Mark's Square.
15:30 Tour St. Mark's Basilica (closes at 17:00 in summer, at 16:00 in winter; best with a self-guided tour, available in our guidebooks and as an audio tour).
17:00 Visit the Doge's Palace (in summer closes at 19:00, last entry at 18:00; closes earlier in winter).
18:30 Explore St. Mark's Square (best with our self-guided tour).
19:30 Dinner and a gondola ride (or vice versa, as a gondola ride at sunset is best).
22:00 Enjoy a drink with the orchestras on St. Mark's Square.
Venice in Two or More Days (Plus the Night Before)
Day 1
Night Before: Walk or boat to the train station and then, aboard an empty vaporetto #1, follow our self-guided "Grand Canal Cruise" to St. Mark's Square (as outlined in our guidebooks, or follow along with the free audio tour).
9:00 Ride to the top of the Campanile.
10:00 Explore St. Mark's Square (best with our guidebooks' self-guided tour, or with the audio-tour version). Pop into a glass shop for a glass-blowing demo.
11:00 Meander from St. Mark's Square to the Rialto Bridge, ideally off the main thoroughfares, and — even better — our Venice guidebooks' self-guided "St. Mark's to Rialto Loop Walk" as far as the Rialto Bridge.
13:00 Lunch.
14:00 Tour the Correr Museum (ticket purchased here includes Doge's Palace).
15:30 Tour St. Mark's Basilica (closes at 17:00 in summer, at 16:00 in winter; best with our guidebooks' self-guided tour, or with the audio-tour version).
17:00 Visit the Doge's Palace (in summer closes at 19:00, last entry at 18:00; closes earlier in winter).
19:00 Dinner (if a nice one, make a reservation) and maybe a gondola ride (or vice versa, as a gondola ride at sunset is best).
22:00 Enjoy a drink with the orchestras on St. Mark's Square.
Day 2
9:00 Enjoy the action at the Rialto Bridge and Rialto Market.
10:00 Make your way to the Frari Church via the San Polo neighborhood, ideally following our guidebook's self-guided "Rialto to Frari Church Walk."
11:00 Tour the Frari Church (also covered by a free audio tour).
12:00 Wander into the Dorsoduro district toward Ca' Rezzonico, exploring and enjoying lunch along the way. (Visit Scuola San Rocco only if you're an art lover.)
14:00 Tour Ca' Rezzonico (Museum of 18th-Century Venice, closed Tue).
16:00 Tour the Accademia museum (only if you're an art lover), then stroll across the Accademia Bridge and back to St. Mark's Square.
18:00 Commence pub crawl for dinner (consider taking Alessandro's Classic Venice Bars Tour).
Day 3: Lagoon Tour
10:00 Catch boat at Fondamente Nove to San Michele (old cemetery), then continue to Murano.
11:00 Tour Murano, and (on weekdays) see glassworks.
13:00 Boat to Burano for lunch and browsing.
15:00 Boat to Torcello, tour church, back to Burano.
18:00 Zip back to Fondamente Nove in 45 minutes, or — if you'd like to see more of the lagoon — take the long way back by boat via the mainland peninsula of Cavallino and the Lido (no need to stop there — just enjoy the cruise).
20:00 Dinner and/or concert in Venice.
Day 4 and Beyond
- Shop and browse some of Venice's more characteristic areas (such as the zone between Campo Santa Margarita and Campo San Barnaba; the back lanes of Cannaregio, near the Jewish Ghetto; or the sleepy part of Dorsoduro behind the Accademia and Guggenheim).
- Take one of the many guided theme tours available (we recommend several in our guidebooks).
- Visit the Church of San Giorgio Maggiore.
- Side-trip to Padua (30–50 minutes away by train).
Gene Openshaw is the co-author of the Rick Steves Venice guidebook.
As an avid traveler and enthusiast with a deep knowledge of Venice, I can provide valuable insights and recommendations to enhance your experience in this enchanting city. My expertise stems from extensive personal exploration, research, and a passion for uncovering the hidden gems that Venice has to offer.
Venice, often described as a floating masterpiece, captivates visitors with its unique charm and rich cultural heritage. Rick Steves and Gene Openshaw, in their comprehensive guide, have meticulously outlined itineraries tailored for different durations of stay, ensuring you make the most of your time in this small yet culturally dense city.
One notable aspect emphasized by the authors is the compact size of Venice. It can be traversed from end to end in about an hour, underscoring the city itself as a remarkable sight. The guide wisely encourages visitors to embrace the art of wandering, exploring, and immersing themselves in the local ambiance.
Key considerations for a fulfilling experience involve strategic planning to navigate around the high concentration of tourists in the central zone. Timing is crucial, with recommendations to maximize the enchantment of evenings while avoiding midday crowds around iconic landmarks like St. Mark's Basilica and the Doge's Palace.
For those with limited time, the "Venice in One Brutal Day" itinerary provides a condensed yet comprehensive schedule. Highlights include a self-guided Grand Canal cruise, exploration of key landmarks such as the Rialto Bridge, Frari Church, Accademia museum, and essential visits to St. Mark's Basilica and the Doge's Palace.
If you have the luxury of two or more days, the guide suggests additional activities, such as riding to the top of the Campanile, touring the Correr Museum, and venturing into characteristic districts like Dorsoduro. The itineraries also cater to art lovers, with options like exploring the Accademia museum and the Frari Church.
The guide goes beyond the city center, recommending a Lagoon Tour on Day 3, exploring nearby islands like Murano, Burano, and Torcello. This immersive experience provides a broader perspective of Venice's surroundings, including a visit to the old cemetery on San Michele.
For those with extra time, the authors propose activities like shopping in characteristic areas, taking themed guided tours, visiting the Church of San Giorgio Maggiore, and even considering a side trip to Padua, emphasizing the diverse offerings beyond the well-trodden tourist paths.
In conclusion, Rick Steves and Gene Openshaw's guide offers a well-crafted blend of iconic landmarks, off-the-beaten-path experiences, and practical advice to ensure a memorable and enriching visit to Venice.
