Venice, the iconic "Floating City," is famous for its romantic gondolas gliding through endless canals, rich historical architecture, and distinctive culture. Venice was truly unlike any other place we've visited. To help plan your visit, we've put together this perfect 2-day Venice itinerary with tips and recommendations from our first hand experience.
How to Get to Venice
Venice is conveniently accessible by train or bus from Florence. Once you arrive at the Venice Santa Lucia train station, you'll find yourself in the heart of the city. From there, you can reach your accommodations via water taxi, water bus, or gondola to get your accommodations.
Getting Around Venice
Just navigating Venice is an adventure in itself! We relied on the city's water bus transportation system, which efficiently navigates Venice's waterways. It's also easy to explore the narrow alleyways by foot.
Where to Stay in Venice
The JW Marriott Venice Resort and Spa is a 5-star resort located on the private island of Isola delle Rose and only a few minutes away from St. Mark's Square. The hotel offers a private and complimentary water shuttle, spa, rooftop pool, cooking classes and more!
Photo Credit: JW Marriott Venice Resort & Spa via Mariott.com
Novecento Boutique Hotel is a Venetian style boutique hotel located between St. Mark's Square and the Accademia Gallery. The hotel amenities include a daily breakfast, a beautiful courtyard, and lounge area with a bar, library, and games.
Photo Credit: Novecento Boutique Hotel via Novecento.biz
Hotel Cipriani is a 5-star luxury hotel set inside a 15th-century palace on Giudecca Island. The hotel amenities include a private boat service, outdoor pool, spa, cooking classes, tennis courts, gardens, and much more!
Photo Credit: Hotel Cipriani, A Belmond Hotel via Booking.com
Things to Do in Venice
Take a Gondola Ride
Explore the canals of Venice from a unique perspective with a romantic gondola ride. There are many options when walking around Venice, so wait to choose one that you like and find a friendly guide. While these rides can be a bit pricey, they're a must when visiting Venice.
Get Lost
One of our favorite ways to soak in Venice's charm was by wandering aimlessly. Exploring the endless alleyways that lead straight to the canal was so much fun. Immerse yourself in the unique landscape, discover local shops, and experience the ambiance of Venice at your own pace.
Explore the Island of Burano
Burano is a small island about five miles from Venice that you can easily get to by water bus. Burano is known as the island of lace and for all of its colorful buildings. Stroll through its charming streets, discover local shops, and admire the colorful buildings.
Explore Piazza San Marco
Piazza San Marco, also known as St. Mark's Square, is the largest square in Venice and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. With landmarks like St. Mark's Basilica, this area can get pretty busy so we recommend visiting early in the morning to avoid large crowds.
Where to Eat in Venice
Osteria Vini da Gigio is a family-run Venetian trattoria offering meat and seafood dishes.
Photo Credit: Vini da Gigio via Vinidagigio.it
Dal Moro's - $
Dal Moro's is a quick stop for fresh pasta in a cup. We enjoyed finding a spot along the canal to watch the gondolas go by while enjoying the squid ink pasta and ragu.
Trattoria Al Gatto Nero is a highly rated seafood restaurant in Burano
Osteria Alle Testiere - $$$
Osteria Alle Testiere is a popular Venetian seafood restaurant perfect for a nice dinner in Venice.
2-Day Venice Itinerary
Day 1:
Start your day with a visit to Piazza San Marco (St. Mark's Square).
Head to Dal Moro's for a quick lunch of fresh pasta in a cup.
Find a cozy spot along the canal to enjoy your pasta while watching the gondolas glide by.
Take a gondola ride through the canals of Venice.
Dine at Osteria Vini da Gigio for dinner.
After dinner, walk along the canals to see Venice at night.
Day 2:
Wander along Venice's narrow alleyways. Check out local shops and explore at your own pace.
Take a water bus to Burano.
Enjoy lunch at Trattoria Al Gatto Nero.
Explore the charming streets and shops of Burano.
Head to Osteria Alle Testiere for a Venetian seafood dinner.
Takeaways
Venice, with its endless canals, historic landmarks, and rich culture, is a charming city to explore. Navigating the canals by boat and strolling through alleyways on foot make Venice a unique destination. Venice is undeniably a romantic getaway, making it an ideal destination for couples. However, it also offers plenty of attractions and activities for everyone. Having spent two days in Venice during our Italy trip, we believe it's the perfect amount of time to immerse yourself in this charming city.
