Venice conjures up visions of romantic rides down the canals, strolls over the bridges and delicious Italian food. Venice also brings to mind crowds, dirty water and overpriced everything. People tend to either love Venice or hate it, but no matter your opinion, Venice is a one of a kind destination and worth spending time in. With one day in Venice, you can get in, enjoy the highlights and continue on your way.
If you have more time, you can easily spend a few days in the city.
Below you can find suggestions of 11 things to do and how to spend one day in Venice as well as a suggested itinerary for the day.
Quick Look at 12 Things to do in Venice in One Day
This list shows a snapshot of 12 things to consider doing in one day in Venice. Scroll down for more information on each site and general information to help you plan your trip.
- St Mark’s Square
- St. Mark’s Basilica
- Grand Canal
- Get Lost in the Roads of Venice
- Ponte dell’Accademia
- Rialto Bridge
- Gondola Ride
- Bridge of Sighs
- Doge’s Palace
- Campanile di San Marco
- Take a Trip to Murano, Burano, and Lido
- Giardini Reali
Overview of Venice
Venice is a small city that is actually built on a series of small islands all connected by bridges. Water flows between the buildings and the streets gives Venice the famous canal system. Located in a marshy lagoon between the Padua and Piave Rivers, Venice is a beautiful and iconic city. The overall population is 2.6 million and Venice gets many more visitors each year.
Recently overcrowding has caused Venice to make some changes for visitors. You can see more about what you need to know when visiting Venice in the section below.
This article is updated regularly, but hours and pricing can change unexpectedly. I always suggest you check the official website online for up to date pricing and hours – you can find many links throughout this post where you can check.
NEW IN 2023 – Tourist Entry Fee: Beginning in 2023 there is now a fee to enter Venice. This is to help to monitor, and manage tourists and to help maintain this relatively fragile city. The fee changes based on the season. If you are planning to stay overnight, you will be exempt from this fee. The fee is between 3-10 Euros.
There is also a cap on the total number of visitors allowed into the city (about 50,000/ day).
Note: the start date for this program has been postponed and the system is not operational as Jan 2023 – you can learn more here.
TOURIST ENTRY FEE: Beginning January 12, 2023, there will be a fee for visitors to enter Venice. This fee will range from €3 to €10, depending on the season and the number of visitors in Venice. Residents and those staying overnight in the city of Venice will be exempt from the fee. For more information, read this article.
12 Things to do in Venice
Below you can see suggestions of 11 things to do in Venice to help you plan your one day in Venice itinerary. These are the top things to do, especially if you only have one day. Scroll down to see a suggestion on how to put these things into a day itinerary.
St Mark’s Square
St Mark’s Square, or Piazza San Marco, is a large open square surrounded by restaurants and of course St. Mark’s Basilica. Simple take in the scope of this square and climb the steps to Campanile di San Marco. The view from here is incredible and you can see out across the rooftops of Venice.
Even when we visited on a crowded day, we enjoyed the open square and stopped for a snack in one of the nearby restaurants. Most of the time you will also find musicians playing instruments right in the square.
You can also visit St. Mark’s Basilica or Doge’s Place.
St. Mark’s Basilica
Located right in the square, St Mark’s Basilica can be admired from the outside, or you can pay to take a tour inside. You can purchase a skip the line pass to St. Mark’s Basilica in advance to make sure you have a spot.
The Basilica is beautiful inside and worth paying for the tour.
Grand Canal
The largest canal is a busy place with many different types of boats floating past and the largest bridges. If you take the ferry through Venice, the ferry will pass down this canal and you will get some of the best and most expansive views of Venice.
It is worth spending some time exploring and enjoying the Grand Canal.
Get Lost in the Roads of Venice
This is easy. Walking through the roads of Venice is wonderful and it is very easy to get turned around and lost in the narrow streets. If you have the time, give yourself time to wander and enjoy the labyrinth of streets where you will find smaller cafes, shops, and beautiful architecture.
Ponte dell’Accademia
This is one of the best views of Venice. From here, you look out at Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute and the countless gondolas and boats coasting through the water.
Rialto Bridge
There are many many bridge in Venice, but the most famous is likely Rialto Bridge. This gorgeous bridge spans the Grand Canal. Originally built as a pontoon bridge and today has several covered areas with shops. The bridge is named after the Rialto Market and is a must on your one day in Venice itinerary.
Gondola Ride
One of the best, and most iconic things to do in Venice is to take a gondola ride. You can take a ride by simply walking along the canal until you see a boat. There are signs throughout the city with the price for a ride. You can simply take a short ride and enjoy the water for an hour, or take a longer ride and bring along a picnic.
If you are visiting during a busy time of year, you can reserve your gondola ride in advance. You can see several options directly below.
You can also take a gondola taxi which costs less and can take you across a canal instead of taking a bridge.
Bridge of Sighs
Constructed in 1602 to connect Doge’s Palace with the prison. The name comes from the the prisoners passing from Doges to the prison and complaining of their sentencing – the sighs of the men proclaiming their innocence.
Doge’s Palace
This building was built in a Venetian Gothic style and has been a residence and seat of government and today is a museum. This is a great stop while in Venice and dives deep into the history of Venice. If you are visiting during the busy months, you should book your ticket in advance as tickets do sell out. You can book your tickets directly, or through Get Your Guide.
See some of the Tour Options.
Campanile di San Marco
Mentioned above, Campanile di San Marco is a tall tower in St. Mark’s Basilica. Stretch your legs by walking the stairs to the top of the Campanile for incredible view out across Venice. This is a quick stop if you only have one day in Venice.
Giardini Reali
The garden of the palace, this is a beautiful and different stop in Venice. We stumbled across this lovely garden and paused to sit in the shade and enjoy some time out of the summer sun. The garden is free and doesn’t get as crowded as other parts of the city and make for a nice break.
Take a Trip to Murano, Burano, and Lido
There are several trips you can take from Venice. If you have just one day in Venice, you may not have time for one of these tours, but with 2 days in Venice, you can get out of the city for the day. You can also explore these islands on a half day tour if you want to add it to your one day itinerary.
In Murano, learn about blowing glass, or wander the colorful streets of Burano, or take a bike tour of Lido. Below you can see some possible tours (definitely book in advance) or you can see more option on Get Your Guide.
Things to do in Venice Map
One Day in Venice Itinerary
There are several ways to piece together the different activities above into a one day Venice itinerary. Below you can see an ambitious agenda and you can simply substitute things to see or skip some of the activities. You can also see suggestions on how to spend 2 days in Venice.
Start Early: We definitely recommend an early start for exploring Venice. If you are visiting in the summer this is even more important so you can avoid the crowds and the heat. Enjoy breakfast at your hotel or on your way into the city. If you aren’t staying in the city, give yourself time to drive or take the bus and start with a ferry down the Grand Canal.
Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute: Take the ferry to this stop. You can start with a visit to the Basilica or simple enjoy the views from here – take a short ferry or gondola taxi across the canal
Giardini Reali: Wander through this lovely garden and then make your way to Piazza Marco.
Piazza Marco: Walk through the streets of Piazza Marco, climb the Campanile. Stop for lunch in on the nearby restaurants, and enjoy the music through the streets.
After Lunch take a tour of Doge’s Place or St. Mark’s Basilica. You can do one these sites or do a combined tour. You can find several options online for a combined St Marks and Doge’s Palace. It’s also possible to switch this tour around and do it in the morning. Try Ai Do Leoni.
Cross Rialto Bridge: After your tour wander to the Grand Canal and walk across Rialto Bridge.
Take a late afternoon Gondola Ride: Give yourself and hour and treat yourself to a gondola ride.
Wander the Streets and Find the Perfect Dinner Spot: I can’t even tell you where you ate since we simply wandered through the streets until we found a cute little spot overlooking a canal. The further away you get from the Grand Canal, the less expensive the restaurants become.
With 2 Days in Venice
With more than one day in Venice, you should add on of the the tours to the other islands. You can also slow down and enjoy the views of the canal and spend more time walking through town. There are several other museums worth exploring including the Gallerie dell’Accademia or check out the Basilica S.Maria Gloriosa dei Frari.
Things to Know about Venice
Is One Day Enough to See Venice?
One day gives you time to see the major sites in Venice. If you have more time, you could easily 2 days in Venice or even 3 days in Venice. The main part of the city is relatively small, and its easy to get around to the best sites in just a few hours. Below you can see a list of activities and a possible one day Venice itinerary.
How to Get to Venice
Venice is located in the northeast corner of Italy right at the top of the Adriatic Sea. There are many ways to get to Venice.
By Air: The airport in Venice is relatively large and you can flights from most major European cities. The airport is located just outside the city and you can get into Venice by car of boat.
By Train: The is a train station located right in Venice that connects to most major European cities. Look for trains that end at Venezia Santa Lucia. You can purchase train tickets online in advance by visiting Trainline.
By Car: Venice is easily located right off several major highways. You can drive most of the way into Venice or take a bus from just outside the city.
By Boat: Venice is connected to many cities in places like Croatia by ferry. This can be a great way to arrive in Venice. You can see more about visiting Venice by boat at Ferry Hopper.
How to Get Around Venice
Venice is a very pedestrian friendly city and the best way to get around within the main part of Venice is by boat or on foot. The narrow roads with cobblestone made walking and rolling a suitcase a little challenging so if you are carrying luggage you will want to get as close to your destination as you can by boat.
There are many small streets and bridges that pass over the canals and you can easily wander through the streets without ever needing to get into a boat.
The most enjoyable way to get around the city is by gondola, you can rent these boats in many places around the city. Prices for gondolas are regulated – you can see the prices in the image below (this photo was taken in the summer of 2022).
One of the best (and most cost effective) ways to get into the city is to take the ferry. This gives you a chance to efficiently get to a number of places in the city. From here you can walk or rent a gondola to enjoy the views and sites.
There are several ferries that operate frequently. You can drive across the main bridge to Venice and park your car, take the bus or train at Santa Croce. From here you will see a line of boats and some places to purchase tickets. This is the best way to get into the city.
When in the Best Time of Year to Visit Venice
Venice is a great year round destination. Summers tend to be hot and crowded and avoided if possible. We visited in early July and temperatures were around 100 degrees F. Ideally try to visit in the late spring or early fall. Visiting Venice in winter can be beautiful if a bit cold.
Venice City Pass
If you are looking for an option to see it all and save a little money, you may want to consider a city pass. You can find many combined tours that offer discounts or book a city pass here.
Where to Stay in Venice
Venice has many options for places to stay in the city and just outside the city. Most of the places in the city cost more, but save you time getting in and out of Venice. You will also save on the tourist fee if you spend the night in the city. Below are a few options of great places to stay right in Venice.
We decided to go the budget option during our visit to Venice and stayed outside the city in Antica Villa Graziella. Since we were visiting on a road trip and were heading to Slovenia, we wanted to get an early start after our one day in Venice.
B&B Bloom Settimo Cielo: This lovely little B and B is well located and includes breakfast
Ruzzini Palace Hotel: This is an historic building just 10 minutes from Rialto Bridge
Venezia Naturalmente: This is a great budget option/hostel
Destinations Near Venice
If you are going to be spending one day in Venice, chances are you are stopping by on your way through the area. It is possible to visit Venice as a long day tour from a nearby city or you may be flying into Venice before heading off to other regions. Below are a few other nearby destinations worth exploring:
Dolomites: Venice is a great starting point for exploring the Dolomites. This epic mountain region in northern Italy is a great destination for hiking, biking, skiing and other outdoor activities. See our One Week Dolomites Itinerary.
Slovenia or Croatia: We left Venice and drive over the border into Slovenia. We highly recommend visiting Slovenia including the Lake Bled and Soca Valley region. See our Slovenia itinerary. You can also drive through Slovenia to Croatia.
Rome: Rome has so much to offer, and a city we’ve visited many times. See more about planning a trip to Rome.
Florence and Tuscany: Not far from Venice, Florence and Tuscany are perfect for site seeing and exploring
Amalfi Coast: Just south of Rome, the Amalfi coast with steep cliffs that plunge down into the sea is a great destination. See how to spend a few days in the Amalfi Coast or hike the Path of the Gods.
Have you visiting Venice or have questions? Drop a comment below!