My GlobieCities / Venice, Italy
City guideVenice in 48 hours 🛶
Day 1 is St Mark's Square, the Basilica, the Doge's Palace and a vaporetto ride down the Grand Canal. Day 2 is getting lost in Cannaregio and Dorsoduro, plus a boat to colorful Burano. If you're only visiting for the day, check whether Venice's day-tripper access fee applies.
Day 1: St Mark's and the Grand Canal
- St Mark's Basilica. Gold mosaics everywhere. Cover shoulders and knees; bags may not be allowed inside.
- Doge's Palace. Where Venice was ruled, plus the Bridge of Sighs. Book ahead.
- Vaporetto line 1 down the Grand Canal. The cheapest Grand Canal tour there is.
- Rialto Bridge and market. The oldest bridge over the Grand Canal. The fish market is busiest in the morning.
Day 2: hidden Venice and Burano
- Cannaregio and Dorsoduro. Quieter neighborhoods with locals, canals and bars. Put the map away for an hour.
- Burano. The island of rainbow houses, about 45 minutes by vaporetto.
- Cicchetti crawl. Small snacks and a spritz in the bàcari (wine bars) at aperitivo time.
Eat this
- Cicchetti: Venetian bar snacks, like crostini with salt cod.
- Sarde in saor: sweet-and-sour sardines with onions.
- Spritz: Venice's favorite aperitivo, born in the Veneto.
Skip this
- Coffee on St Mark's Square unless you're happy to pay for the orchestra too.
- Sitting on bridges to eat, or swimming in the canals. Both can get you fined.
Getting there
Get off the train at Venezia Santa Lucia, right on the Grand Canal, not at Venezia Mestre on the mainland. From Venice Marco Polo Airport, buses run to Piazzale Roma and boats run to the islands.
Coming from somewhere else in Europe? Compare trains, buses and flights to Venice on Tryp.com (yes, that's where our team works; see About).
Quick answers
Is 48 hours enough for Venice?
It's enough for St Mark's, the Grand Canal, Rialto and a trip to Burano. Staying overnight also lets you see the city when the day crowds leave.
Do I have to pay to enter Venice?
On some peak days, day-trippers have to pay an access fee. Overnight guests are exempt. Check the city's official site for your dates.
Which train station is for Venice?
Venezia Santa Lucia is in the historic city. Venezia Mestre is on the mainland.
Can you guess the city?
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