3 days in Venice

Day by day

1. Day 1: St Mark's Basilica and Doge's Palace

   St Mark's Basilica, Doge's Palace and St Mark's Square, then La Fenice opera house in the evening.

   1. Morning

      St Mark's Basilica

      Venice's cathedral, rebuilt in the 11th century on a Byzantine plan, is covered inside with more than 8,000 square metres of gold-ground mosaics.

   2. Late morning

      Doge's Palace

      The Secret Itineraries guided tour shows hidden offices, the torture chamber and Casanova's cell in the roof; book it in advance.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Cicchetti

      Bacari around the Rialto, along Fondamenta della Misericordia in Cannaregio and near Campo Santa Margherita in Dorsoduro.

   4. Afternoon

      St Mark's Square

      Venice's only 'piazza' is framed by the basilica, the arcaded Procuratie and the Clock Tower, whose bronze Moors strike the hours.

   5. Evening

      La Fenice opera house

      Even a seat high in the gallery for an opera or concert is worth it for the atmosphere; dress smartly.

2. Day 2: St Mark's Campanile and Gondola ride

   St Mark's Campanile, Gondola ride and Rialto Bridge and Market, then Fondamenta della Misericordia and Ormesini in the evening.

   1. Morning

      St Mark's Campanile

      Go early or just before sunset; avoid being up there on the hour when the bells ring loudly.

   2. Late morning

      Gondola ride

      A gondola ride through the small back canals is expensive but memorable.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Sarde in saor

      Bacari and traditional trattorie across the city.

   4. Afternoon

      Rialto Bridge and Market

      Visit the market early in the morning, then have cicchetti in one of the bacari around Campo Cesare Battisti.

   5. Evening

      Fondamenta della Misericordia and Ormesini

      Canal-side bars and bacari in Cannaregio, the liveliest evening strip in Venice.

3. Day 3: Grand Canal by vaporetto and Burano

   Grand Canal by vaporetto, Burano and Gallerie dell'Accademia, then Campo Santa Margherita in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Grand Canal by vaporetto

      The slow Line 1 water bus runs the length of the S-shaped, 3.8-km Grand Canal between Piazzale Roma and San Marco, stopping at most landings and passing some 170 palaces, including the Ca' d'Oro, the Rialto Bridge and Santa Maria della Salute.

   2. Late morning

      Burano

      Take vaporetto line 12 from Fondamente Nove (about 45 minutes) and arrive in the morning or late afternoon to avoid tour groups.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Baccalà mantecato

      Almost every bacaro; it is the most classic Venetian cicchetto.

   4. Afternoon

      Gallerie dell'Accademia

      The definitive collection of Venetian painting from the 14th to the 18th century, with Giovanni Bellini's Madonnas, Giorgione's mysterious The Tempest, late Titian, Tintoretto's Miracles of St Mark and Veronese's huge Feast in the House of Levi.

   5. Evening

      Campo Santa Margherita

      A large square in Dorsoduro with student bars and outdoor tables, busy late into the evening.

Before you go

• St Mark's Basilica: Queues are long from late morning; book a timed entry online for a small fee.
• Doge's Palace: Buy timed tickets online to avoid ticket queues, especially from spring to autumn.
• La Fenice opera house: Performances sell out; book online well ahead.

If it rains

• Swap in Peggy Guggenheim Collection (Dorsoduro): Step onto the canal terrace beside Marino Marini's horse-and-rider sculpture for one of the best views of the Grand Canal.
• Swap in Basilica dei Frari (San Polo): Combine it with the Scuola Grande di San Rocco, a minute's walk away.
• Swap in Scuola Grande di San Rocco (San Polo): Pick up a mirror at the entrance to the upper hall and take your time; it is rarely crowded.

Where to stay for this itinerary

With 3 nights, San Marco keeps most of this route within easy reach. For a calmer or cheaper base, Dorsoduro ($$$) suits couples, culture, nightlife and quiet stays. Compare every area.

Pace and daylight

The sights in this plan add up to roughly 14–17 hours of visiting over 3 days, before meals and getting between them. Daylight runs from about 8.7 hours in December to 15.7 hours in June, so in winter start early and keep museums for the afternoon.

More or fewer days

• One day in Venice
• 2 days in Venice
• 4 days in Venice
• 5 days in Venice

Questions travellers ask