VENICE 2-DAY ITINERARY: WHAT TO DO AND SEE

Venice 2-day itinerary is exactly what you need if you’re planning on visiting this lovely city anytime soon.

Venice is one of Italy’s most popular tourist destinations, and rightfully so. I’m not sure if you know, but Venice attracts more tourists than Rome or Positano, so be prepared that it’s going to get pretty crowded. The crowds won’t ruin your enjoyment though. Nothing can ruin Venice.

Most people absolutely love their time in Venice, and we are one of them. After spending more than 5 weekends in Venice over the course of a few years, we’re bringing you a detailed itinerary which includes everything you need to see and do in Venice in 2 days!

This post contains affiliate links. If you use these links to buy something I may earn a commission at no additional cost to you. Thank you.

BASIC INFORMATION ABOUT VENICE

WHERE TO STAY IN VENICE

Depending on your budget, there are 2 great options. If you have a bigger budget or you’re on a special trip, there are several lovely hotels right in the city of Venice. Keep in mind that if you want something nicer and a bit more modern it’ll be at least 200-250 euros per night.

If you’re on a tighter budget, or just don’t want to spend crazy amount of money on accommodation, there are many lovely hotels in Mestre, a small town just outside of Venice. Hotels are almost 50 percent cheaper and it takes you 10 minutes to get to Venice.

We’ve stayed in two different hotels in Mestre

Hotel Delfino, which we loved, had very comfortable rooms and spacious bathrooms. It’s only a 5-minute walk from the train station which was an added bonus!

Hotel MEININGER was completely new when we stayed there, open only a few months, but for the same price it wasn’t nearly as comfortable as Delfino. It’s a bit closer to the train station (2-minute walk) and we caught free parking in front of the hotel so in the end we were content with our choice.

TRANSPORTATION

There are a few ways to get around Venice:

Vaporetto

If you ever wondered if Venice has public transportation, it does but it’s on water! Vaporetto is the most used way of transportation in Venice, and with several lines it can get you anywhere in the city. It’s quite pricey though so decide carefully if you need it or not!

Train

If you’re staying in Mestre, your best transportation option is the train. From Mestre train station you can get into the city of Venice (St. Lucia train station) for 1.5 euro and in quick 10 minutes. You can also use the bus but train is a much more enjoyable option!

Walking

Once in Venice, all you will do is walk. There are no cars in Venice, if you come by car, you can park it at the car park right outside of the city. Prepare very good shoes since Venice has many steps and bridges to climb!

PARKING IN VENICE

If you’re staying in Mestre or anywhere outside of Venice, try to find parking in that town, or included in your hotel fee.

That’s going to be so MUCH cheaper than any parking in close proximity of Venice. Most car parks in Venice are right next to Ponte della Costituzione, and the daily parking pass starts at around 35 euros!

In Mestre, you can find daily passes for around 20 euros, or even find free parking spots in the streets if you’re there during the weekend!

ITINERARY: 2 DAYS IN VENICE

VENICE: DAY 1

Explore St. Mark’s Square and the landmarks nearby

The most popular area of Venice is St. Mark’s Square and its surroundings. St. Mark’s Square is the biggest and most spectacular square in Venice, so it makes sense to start right there! Situated in the heart of Venice, St. Mark’s Square is surrounded by several incredible buildings and landmarks.

 In order to try and avoid the huge crowds, come to St. Mark’s as early as possible. A good idea is to also pre-book all your tickets online so you can show up at your allocated time slot and immediately access the landmarks.

Here are some of the landmarks you should see around St. Mark’s square:

St Marks Basilica

St. Mark’s Basilica is Venice’s most famous landmark. The iconic church is often referred to as the Church of Gold due to its intricate architectural style. Along with incredible details, the large domes, arches, and pillars single out this incredible church as one of the most unique in the world.

To truly appreciate the beauty of this church, you need to see the gorgeous interior. Book a visit with an audio guide to experience it fully. This skip-the-line ticket includes an hour inside the church as well as a downloadable audio guide for only 16 euros.

 For a cheaper option, you can check out the availability on their official website and get skip-the-line tickets for 9 euros, but those don’t include the audio guide.

St. Mark’s Campanile

Once you’ve finished your visit to the Basilica, make your way up to the top of St. Mark’s Campanile. The Bell Tower, situated on St. Mark’s Square, is the tallest vantage point in Venice and offers incredible views of the whole city. You can get a skip-the-line ticket with an audio guide for 15 euros, or a combination of tickets for St. Mark’s Basilica and Campanile for 23 euros.

Dodge’s Palace

Dodge’s Palace is one of the most beautiful buildings in Venice and it’s definitely worth a visit. The Doge’s Palace served as the residence of the Doge of Venice and it was the political center of Venice for centuries. Today, it’s a museum complex with many interesting features to see, such as council rooms, art, and a courtyard.

Explore the Dodge’s palace with a skip-the-line ticket for 30 euros!

Bridge of Sighs

One of the special features of Dodge’s Palace is the Bridge of Sighs. This architectural beauty has a morbid story behind it. The myth says many prisoners sighed at the last views of beautiful Venice while crossing this bridge and entering Venice’s prison. Hence the name!

While the bridge looks stunning from the outside, you’ll have an even better experience crossing it when visiting the Dodge’s Palace.

Stroll down the waterfront – Riva degli Schiavoni

One of the most beautiful views of the Venetian Lagoon you’ll get at the gorgeous promenade Riva degli Schiavoni. Right next to the St. Mark’s Square and the Dodge’s Palace you can walk around, marvel at the beautiful island of San Giorgio Maggiore, and buy some souvenirs from different vendors.

Cross Ponte dell’Accademia

One of the most popular bridges aside from the Rialto is Ponte dell’Accademia, or the Academia Bridge. You can walk down the Riva degli Schiavoni all the way to this bridge, and get incredible views of the Grand Canal and Basilica Santa Maria della Salute. Previously completely wooden bridge was replaced with the new version made of steel and wood in 1932. This beautiful bridge is definitely a must-see on your visit to Venice!

Take a Gondola ride

One of the experiences you shouldn’t miss is taking a ride in a gondola. You can find them anywhere in Venice, but try to avoid getting one near St. Mark’s square and the Rialto Bridge, since those are the most crowded and usually have a queue. Get a gondola in one of the smaller streets on a less crowded canal and enjoy your romantic ride!

The prices start at 80 euros during the day and go up to 100 euros during sunset and evening. The rides usually last for about 30-40 minutes. If you don’t have the budget for a private gondola, you can book a shared gondola with other people.

VENICE: DAY 2

Marvel at the Rialto Bridge

Start your morning as early as possible and find your way to Rialto Bridge. Rialto is, along with the Basilica, Venice’s most touristy location. It’s a spot you can’t miss, so the best option is to come as early as you can, preferably around 8 a.m.

The gorgeous bridge was made in 1591 and it’s the prettiest bridge crossing over the Grand Canal. The bridge is unique because it has two rows of shops on each side of the bridge, and the shops sell everything from souvenirs to jewelry and the famous Murano glass. Rialto offers incredible views of the Grand Canal, both during the day and at night!

Explore the Rialto Market

Only a couple of steps from the famous bridge, you’ll find yourself at the Rialto Market. The open-air market is a vibrant place loved by both locals and tourists. At the market you can buy fresh fruit and vegetables, seafood and spices, but also various souvenirs and locally made products such as olive oil and sweets.

Get a snack at Farini

We’ve always explored Venice thoroughly. Because of that, we mostly ate on the go. One place that we loved to get food at is Farini. The lovely bakery/pizzeria offers amazing Italian food such as pizza, lasagna, tiramisu, and pasta for very reasonable prices. You can get food and drinks for less then 10 euros, and it really is delicious!!

Wander the streets of Venice

There is nothing more fun than getting lost in the winding streets of Venice. Get away from the Grand Canal and Rialto and explore parts of Venice which only locals know. As soon as you get away from the tourist locations, you’ll see a whole different side of Venice. Start walking towards the Fondamenta Nova ferry station where a ferry will take you to Burano.

Visit Burano

The nicest half-day trip you can take from Venice is the island of Burano. The gorgeous, colorful island resembles mini-Venice, and getting lost there kind of feels like you’re in a dream.

You can get to Burano by Vaporetto. The ferries leave quite frequently from Fondamenta Nova ferry station. Take line 12 to Burano – the ride takes 40 minutes and it costs 15 euros round trip.

Once you’re on the island walk through the narrow streets, visit the leaning tower of church of San Martino, and take loads of photos. Burano truly is a photo paradise.