If you only have two days in Venice and you want to see as much as possible, well, this article is for you. You’re going to learn exactly how to maximize every minute of your trip, avoid the crowds, and enjoy the best of Venice without feeling rushed or wasting time in lines. From smart planning and local secrets to breathtaking sites and food stops, this is your perfect two-day in Venice game plan.

Whether it’s your first time or your fifth, we are sharing our ultimate itinerary insider tips and local favorites so you will visit Veneice like a local. So, let’s begin.

Prior departure

Before getting to Venice, we strongly recommend you plan your visit. As soon as you decide you are going to visit Venice, you should book your hotel. The sooner you book, the better; as this will give you a better selection of locations and prices. 

Always book a fully refundable rate; that way, in case your plan changes or you find a better option, you can cancel your reservation without penalties. If you only have two days in Venice, you should book your hotel in the historic city center, so that you won’t waste any time commuting. Our favorite areas for hotels are the Rialto area, which is within walking distance from everything, and also great for restaurants and bars. Another great area is San Marco, also very good for restaurants; however, it is a bit more expensive. Lastly, the Cannaregio area is a wonderful option if you are looking for more budget-friendly hotels.   

After booking your hotel, you should book your skip-the-line tickets for the major attractions. Believe us, this step is very important; otherwise, you will end up waiting in line for a very long time to visit places like the Doge Palace and Saint Mark’s Basilica.

Also, if you are planning to take a gondola ride, you should book it in advance, again to avoid waiting in line.  Here is a protip for you: don’t book your gondola ride in the middle of the day; book it either early in the morning or toward sunset. This way you will avoid the hottest hours, and you’ll have a much better light for photos..

If you are planning to reach Venice by train, you should also book your train ticket in advance. One very important thing to know when booking your train to Venice is that there are 2 train stations in Venice. One is Venezia Mestre, which is located on the mainland, and it is not the station you want to get off. The other station is Venezia Santa Lucia, which is located right on the Grand Canal in the historic city center. So when you book your train ticket, make sure you select Venezia Santa Lucia station, not Mestre. 

If you are planning on driving to Venice, you will have to book the parking in advance because spots are limited and they get sold out quickly. The parkade is the only part of the Historic city center that can be reached by car. From the parkade, you can walk to the Grand Canal by crossing the Ponte della Costituzione. If you want to know more about how to get to Venice, we made an entire video that covers that.

The last thing you should book before departure is your vaporetto pass. In case you don’t know, the vaporetto is the Venetian equivalent of a public bus. You can buy a 2-day pass and take the vaporetto as many times as you like all around the city. We will leave a link in the description to book your pass.   

Arriving in Venice

Because you only have two days to spend in Venice, we suggest you arrive early, ideally around 9 am. In doing so, you will have the whole day to explore the city. At the train station, you can drop your luggage at the storage that way you can start exploring the city right away.

You can pick up your bag in the evening before checking into your hotel.  Now, here is our second pro tip about Venice. Pack light, if you are traveling around Italy for some time and you have a big bag with you, pack a small backpack for your stay in Venice, and leave the big bag at the bag storage at the station. This way you don’t have to carry your bag around the city, up and down stairs, and over bridges. Your back and your knees will thank you!

Day One

Just in front of the Santa Lucia train station, you can catch the Vaporetto and ride down the Grand Canal to San Marco Square. The ride along the Grand Canal is wonderful, and you will be able to admire some of the most beautiful buildings in the city, which can only be seen from the water. Also, you will sail under the Rialto Bridge and admire the most magnificent bridge in the city. The ride on the Grand Canal will take approximately half an hour from the station to Saint Mark’s. 

Once you arrive at the Square, you should go straight to the Basilica. Now, since you have your skip-the-line tickets, you will be able to bypass the very long line that usually forms at the free entrance. Now, here is our protip number three: make sure to wear clothes that cover your shoulders and knees to visit the Basilica. If you are not dressed appropriately, you might get denied entry. The Basilica inside is incredible with its stunning gold mosaic. When you book your ticket for the Basilica, make sure to select the one that includes the terrace.

From St. Mark’s terrace, you will be able to admire a wonderful view of the Piazza and the Doge Palace. You will also be able to see the 4 bronze horses that were brought to Venice from the stadium of Constantinople in the 13th century. The ones on the balcony are a replica; the original ones are inside the Basilica. 

After visiting the basilica, you can then move to the Doge’s Palace. This was the political heart of the Republic of Venice. Inside the Palace, you will be able to admire the many rooms with incredible frescoes on the gold gilded ceilings.

From the Palace, you will then cross the Bridge of Sighs to the Piombi Jail. In this prison, Casanova himself spent some time before escaping. 

After visiting the Palace, you can start walking around the beautiful streets of Venice, called Calli, towards the Rialto Bridge. The walk will take about 20-25 minutes, and you will be able to see some stunning little bridges, canals, and stores. 

The Rialto Bridge is one of the 4 bridges that cross the Grand Canal. It is also the most famous one. On each side of the bridge, you’ll see stores that sell jewellery, Murano glass, and Venetian masks.

In the Rialto area, you will also find plenty of places to sit down and have a typical Venetian lunch with Cicchetti. These are the Venetian equivalent of tapas (but please don’t call them tapas), which are served mostly for lunch. You can choose several different cicchetti, with seafood or meat, or vegetables, and enjoy them with a great glass of local wine that Venetians call Ombra. 

After lunch is when you ditch the map. Just wander. Venice is a labyrinth; get lost in Cannaregio or Dorsoduro, grab a gelato, and discover hidden canals and peaceful squares. Trust us, this is the best way to enjoy Venice: walk around, maybe off the beaten path, away from most tourists. You will not be disappointed. You can walk around until it is time for you to do your gondola ride. On your gondola, enjoy your ride, soak in the amazing views of the canals while the gondola slowly glides through the calm water.. 

After your ride, it is time to check into your hotel and rest a little before going out for dinner. After dinner, take one more vaporetto ride on the Grand Canal at night, and you will see how amazing it is at night when the lights illuminate the beautiful palaces and bridges.. 

Day Two

The following day, you can walk to the Fondamenta Nove to catch the Vaporetto to go and explore Burano and Murano. One thing you can do: before going to the fondamenta nove, check out of your hotel and bring your bags to the train station. Leave them at the bag storage. This way, on your way back from Murano, you can catch the vaporetto that takes you right to the train station, where you can collect your bags before catching your train. Doing this will save you some time and let you see more of Venice.

The ride to Burano from Venice takes about 40 minutes, and the vaporetto number is 12 at the time of recording. Once you arrive on the little island of Burano, you see the beautiful, colorful houses all around the small canals. It is a true photographer’s paradise. Walk around the little island, soak in the beauty, and maybe stop for coffee in one of the many coffee shops. 

After visiting Burano, it is time to catch the vaporetto number 12 (at the time of recording)  once more and stop on the other famous island in the Venetian lagoon, Murano. Murano is world-famous for its glass, and you can watch artisans craft it by hand. Many places offer a free tour of the glass factory. Also in Murano, you will be able to shop for great souvenirs to bring home with you. Just walk around the little streets and canals of the island, and enjoy. There’s a small glass museum too if you’re curious. 

After you visit Murano, it is time to catch the vaporetto once more to head back to Venice. From Murano, you can catch the vaporetto number 3 (again at the time of recording) that takes you right to the train station in about 40 minutes, or if you still have time before catching your train, catch the vaporetto number 7 that takes you back to St. Mark’s Square. Now, as we mentioned, the vaporetto numbers and time might change, so please check the link in the description for the most updated information. https://actv.avmspa.it/en/content/orari-servizio-di-navigazione-0

If your train leaves late at night, we suggest you go to the Ponte dell’Accademia at sunset to see one of the most beautiful views of the Grand Canal. 

Last-minute tips:

First, wear very comfortable shoes. You will have to walk a lot in Venice, and trust us when we say a lot. For this reason, well-broken-in shoes are very important. 

Second, avoid scammers. If you see someone offering you a “free” rose or a bracelet, say no, thank you, and move on. Nothing is free, and if you accept the rose or the bracelet, they will then harass you for money. Also, remember that where there are a lot of tourists and big crowds, there is always the possibility of pickpockets. Be aware of your surroundings.

Third, stay hydrated, especially in the summer. Venice in the summer can be very hot and humid, and you will need to drink a lot of water to stay hydrated. Last, keep some change on you, in case you need to use the bathroom. Public bathrooms in Venice are not free, and you will need some change to use them. But you know this already because you have watched our “bathroom in Italy video,” right?

And that brings us to the end of today’s journey through the enchanting city of Venice. We hope you enjoyed exploring with us and that you learned something new along the way!

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Ciao