The best of Venice in 2 days
Our experience in Venice was just as amazing as I had hoped. We didn’t stay at the nicest hotel, but luckily we weren’t in it very much. The big plus of where we stayed though, was that it was just steps away from a gelato stall. We ate gelato at least twice a day while we were there!
Venice is very small, and you really can see all of the main attractions in just two days…probably even in one, if you really hustle.
Here is an easy going two day itinerary which covers the main attractions, including Murano & Burano! I have heard people say that they were told visiting Murano & Burano isn’t worth it, and that is absolute poo. Burano was one of my favorite stops in our two week Italy trip. It’s also very easy to get to; buy a ferry pass, hop on a 10 minute ferry, and you’re there!
Day 1:
Piazza San Marco– Venice’s most important square with a rich history and
exquisite buildings
Campanile di San Marco– 9th century bell tower of basilica di San Marco
Basilica di San Marco- Venice’s most important church with rich history, grand
architecture and precious art
Palazzo Ducale- The Doge’s Palace was once home to the rulers of Venice
Riva degli Schiavoni- A 9th century waterway promenade lined with market stalls
Ponte dei Sospiri- The Bridge of Sighs arches over between Doge’s Palace and
the Old Prison
Arsenale di Venezia- An ancient shipyard complex 1104-1797 covering 110 acres
This would be the perfect day to catch a gondola ride too! We opted not to, just because of how pricey the rides were. But for a lot of people, this is why they go to Venice, so go for it if it’s on your bucket list.
Day 2:
Squero di San Trovaso- A 17th century boatyard that repairs gondolas
Galleria dell’Accademia- Pre-18th century art including de Vinci, Carpaccio, Bellini, Guardi and Titian
Collezione Peggy Guggenheim- A modern art museum in an 18th century palace displaying masterpieces
Burano- Hop on a ferry & head to Burano & Murano! Known for its brightly colored fishermen’s houses and its casual eateries serving seafood from the lagoon. Eat an amazing Italian seafood lunch on the water.
Murano– Renowned for its long tradition of glass-making. You can watch glassmakers of Murano make amazing pieces, and shop for locally crafted souvenirs.
Ponte di Rialto- The beautiful covered Rialto Bridge is the oldest to cross the grand Canal
After Paris, we didn’t care to visit more museums, so we skipped the first few stops on this Day 2 itinerary, but you can definitely squeeze them in at the start of your day!
Venice was our first stop in Italy, and I think it’s a perfect city to either start or end an Italy trip in. I chose to work my way down the country…so we flew to Venice, drove to Cinque Terre, drove to Florence (where we dropped the car off day 1), then took a train to Rome.
Stay tuned for more Italy itineraries! But for now…here are a few more Venice pics.
Weather: We were there mid June and the weather was gorgeous. Sunny and warm during our 2 full days in Venice, but rain on our the night we arrived.
Did I miss one of your faves? What else would you suggest for a trip to Venice?
Let me know in the comment sections below!
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Kelly