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Venice is considered by many, including me, to be one of the most beautiful cities in the world: it definitely deserves a post describing what to see in Venice in two or three days! I visited Venice for the first time in 2017, when I had run the marathon: I had walked the last 12 kilometers because cramps had defeated me, but nonetheless I had a surge of pride and was able to run again at St. Mark’s Square, finishing the 42.195 kilometers under four hours (it remains an unforgettable memory, like the other four marathons I ran!).
Thanks to my work as a tour guide, I have returned to Venice several times. I still consider Venice to be one of the most spectacular cities in the world, and now it is time to start telling why! After the list of what to see you can find a two-day itinerary in Venice, with a possible third day of sightseeing! At the bottom of the article you will find lots of useful information about Venice!
What to see in Venice: Piazza San Marco
The list of what to see in Venice can only begin with St. Mark’s Square. This square has a trapezoidal shape: it is a full 170 meters long, the shorter side measures 57 meters, and the side of the Basilica measures 83 meters. St. Mark’s Square is completed by the two adjacent small squares: Piazzetta San Marco, in front of the Doge’s Palace, and Piazzetta dei Leoncini, to the left of the Basilica.
St. Mark’s Square is completed by St. Mark’s bell tower, 98 meters high and called โEl Paron de casa,โ several historic cafes (including the Florian, dating back to 1720), the Correr Museum and the Clock Tower. My advice is to visit St. Mark’s Square at night. Without tourists, with the faรงade of St. Mark’s Basilica illuminated, it leaves one speechless with its beauty!
What to see in Venice: Basilica San Marco
St. Mark’s Basilica is a universal jewel. Its present form is the result of construction begun in the 11th century. The exterior features a lower floor, terrace and five domes. The interior reminds me a lot of the mosques in Istanbul. Tickets to visit the interior of St. Mark’s, where you can admire beautifully crafted mosaics (VIDEO). The extent of the mosaics leaves one speechless: the area covered by mosaics in St. Mark’s Basilica exceeds 9,000 square meters.
Also inside St. Mark’s Basilica, in the presbytery, you can admire the Golden Pall. This magnificent work of art, which tells the story of St. Mark, is composed of no less than 1927 precious stones: pearls, emeralds, topazes, rubies…impressive!
On the second level of the Basilica you can visit the church museum, where the four bronze horses stand out: they were carved in the 5th century and were stolen by the Venetians in Constantinople in 1204, during the Fourth Crusade.
The visit inside the Basilica is completed with a visit to the terrace: the view of St. Mark’s Square is exceptional! Tickets for St. Mark’s Basilica can be bought directly on the official website: the cost varies from 6 to 20 euros, and the whole visit takes at least an hour.
What to see in Venice: Campanile di San Marco
The Campanile di San Marco is the symbol of Venice. It is so easy to climb the 98 meters of the Paron of the house. Just pay the ten euro entrance fee (no need to book) and take the elevator! The view from the top of the Campanile is simply impressive. Admiring St. Mark’s Square from above, the lagoon, the Basilica…ten euros absolutely well spent! The visit to St. Mark’s Bell Tower takes about half an hour, and it is well worth it!
What to see in Venice: Correr Museum
The Correr Museum is located on the opposite side of St. Mark’s Basilica, also in St. Mark’s Square. A visit to this museum is absolutely recommended! In fact, while visiting the Correr Museum you can appreciate works by Bellini, Canova, Schiavone. And not only that! There are splendid imperial rooms, a 19th-century library, Roman statues and even a couple of very detailed 16th-century geographical maps. The Correr Museum surprised me-I spent about an hour and a half on the visit, and it is well worth it!
Tickets for the Correr Museum can be purchased online, on the website of the Museums of St. Mark’s Square. It costs 25 euros and also gives access to the Doge’s Palace and other museums in the square, if purchased at least 30 days in advance. Nearby, however, the cost rises to 30 euros.
What to see in Venice: Doge’s Palace
Just a few meters away from St. Mark’s Basilica is the Doge’s Palace, another symbol of Venice, whose history dates back to the 9th century. A visit inside the Doge’s Palace is absolutely a must on a trip to Venice. The halls of the Doge’s Palace left me dumbfounded: their grandeur and the art present in the Doge’s Palace left me speechless. Prominent among the various rooms are the Hall of the Great Council (53×25 meters, 15 meters other, could accommodate up to two thousand people), the Hall of the Scrutiny, the Hall of the Anticollegio and the Hall of the College: here you can admire splendid works by Tintoretto and Veronese, among others.
The visit to the Doge’s Palace is completed by the prisons and the Bridge of Sighs, which was crossed by those sentenced to death. The Doge’s Palace takes time: I spent at least an hour and a half. There is the possibility of buying a single ticket (again on the Museums of St. Mark’s Square website). I highly recommend, however, a guided tour. There are two options: the single guided tour of the Doge’s Palace or the combo with the Basilica of San Marco: I took the latter and it is spectacular, and lasts about three hours in total!
What to see in Venice: Fondaco dei Tedeschi
Near St. Mark’s Square is the Fondaco dei Tedeschi, which is currently a shopping mall. Historically, however, it was the place where goods that came from Germany arrived. Why, then, do I suggest a shopping mall? Because there is the possibility of admiring a splendid view of Venice from above! One must book well in advance on this site: the visit lasts a maximum of fifteen minutes and is free! Visits are currently suspended: the next place I describe is a very valid alternative to appreciate Venice from above.
What to see in Venice: Palazzo Contarini del Bovolo
Also in the Sestiere di San Marco it is possible to appreciate this magnificent Gothic jewel. The Palazzo Contarini del Bovolo was built between the 14th and 15th centuries as the home of the Contarini family. At the end of the 15th century Pietro Contarini, who married a woman belonging to the del Bovolo family, decided to add a magnificent spiral staircase.
It costs nine euros to climb the ladder (no need to book in advance): the views of Venice from the top of the ladder are excellent. From this staircase, in 1859, astronomer Tempel discovered the Merope nebula forming part of the Pleiades.
What to see in Venice: Teatro la Fenice
The Sestiere di San Marco is also home to Venice’s most famous theater, La Fenice. The history of this theater reflects Venetian history. It was opened in 1792, four years before the end of the historic Venetian Republic. This historical fact can be seen in the theater, as there is a royal box: it was initially built to house Napoleon Bonaparte (considered the traitor par excellence by the Venetians, as he ceded Venice to the Austrians) and later the Habsburg kings.
The Phoenix was rebuilt virtually in its entirety on two occasions: fires in 1836 and 1996 created severe damage to the structure. Now it is possible to appreciate this rococo jewel again. The visit costs twelve euros and is conducted with a self-guided tour. I highly recommend it: the interior of the theater is simply magnificent!
What to see in Venice: Acqua Alta Bookshop
Also in the vicinity of St. Mark’s Square is a very special bookstore called Libreria Acqua Alta. Here you can buy old and new books, placed not only on shelves but also on gondolas, bathtubs and so on. The Acqua alta Bookstore is very distinctive, not least because of the presence of cats wandering undisturbed among the books. On the outside of the bookstore, it is possible to climb a staircase (of books, of course) to admire a beautiful view of the canals of Venice.
The Acqua Alta Bookstore, however, has a problem: don’t expect an intimate atmosphere! Especially on weekends, in fact, there is a turnout that I would describe as exaggerated.
What to see in Venice: Basilica dei Frari
The Basilica dei Frari is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful churches in Venice. It absolutely deserves the five euro entrance fee! Here you can admire splendid paintings by Donatello, Bellini and Titian. The 15th-century wooden choir is exquisite. There are also two 19th-century monuments dedicated to Titian and Canova: the second, pyramidal in shape, was perfected by Canova’s own pupils. A visit to the Basilica dei Frari is facilitated by a free brochure that makes it easy to understand the works of art you are looking at: there is also the possibility of using an audio guide.
I really enjoyed the visit to the Basilica dei Frari, dedicated about half an hour of time.
What to see in Venice: Scuola Grande di San Rocco
Near the Basilica dei Frari is the wonderful Scuola di San Rocco. Schools, created in the 13th century, were nothing more than a confraternity of lay people who gathered in the name of Christ: they had a purpose of worship and mutual aid. For example, the School of St. Roch was founded in 1478: St. Roch was venerated, especially at times when the plague was circulating in the city.
In the Scuola Grande di San Rocco it is possible to admire splendid works by Tintoretto. There are four halls: terrena, capitular, treasure and hotel. In addition to these magnificent halls there are two staircases: that of the treasury and the grand staircase.
A visit to the Scuola Grande di San Rocco costs ten euros and is definitely part of the list of what to see in Venice. I personally devoted about 45 minutes to the visit.
What to see in Venice: the bridges
Bridges definitely deserve a place on the list of what to see in Venice. There are four main bridges, namely those that cross the Grand Canal: Rialto, Accademia, Scalzi and Costituzione. The Rialto Bridge is the oldest and the most famous one: its history dates back to the 16th century. The Accademia Bridge offers magnificent views of the lagoon and the church of Santa Maria della Salute. However, there are about 400 bridges in Venice: my favorites are the Lovo Bridge (the only one that offers a view of St. Mark’s Bell Tower, VIDEO), Conzafelzi (which allows a view of two canals, VIDEO), Arsenal and Chiodo (the only one without parapets in the city!).
Also worth mentioning is the Bridge of Fists, named after the fistfights that used to take place on the bridge. Near the bridge is a fruit vendor who sells his produce on a boat: it is the typical postcard that demonstrates the uniqueness of Venice.
What to see in Venice: the campi
Walking around Venice it is possible to appreciate the fact that in the entire city there is only one square, San Marco. The remaining ones are called Campi. The name comes from the fact that Venice’s squares were covered with grass, hence the name Campo. Some of these, such as Campo Sant’Angelo, were cemeteries: there was no shortage of grass there either!
There are a number of campi in Venice that are definitely worth a visit. My favorites are Campo San Polo, Campo Sant’Angelo, Campo Santo Stefano and Campo San Trovaso. The last Campo absolutely deserves further mention. Here, in fact, there is the Squero San Trovaso: this is a real shipyard, where gondolas are built and repaired (VIDEO).
Among the characteristic campi I also mention Campo del Ghetto Novo, in the Cannaregio sestiere. This campo is actually a real island, as it can only be accessed by bridges that connect the campo with the rest of the city. This is the center of Venice’s Jewish quarter: there are synagogues, kosher stores and a Jewish museum.
Trip to Murano and Burano
A visit to Venice cannot be complete without passing through Murano and Burano. These two islands are not located in the city center. They are generally reached by a four-hour excursion, such as this one that allows you to visit the two islands by paying 30 euros. Murano is famous for its glass production: the typical activity to do in Murano is to visit a glassworks. The history of Murano’s glassworks dates back to the late 13th century: in 1291, in fact, the glassworks were moved from the historic center to Murano.
Burano, on the other hand, is famous for its colorful houses and lace museum. Burano is a great place to take beautiful photographs-I recommend visiting on a sunny day, when the colors of the houses take on a nice tone thanks to the sun’s rays.
Venice by night
In 2024 entrance fees were implemented to try to avoid the phenomenon of overtourism in Venice. In 2025 they will be repeated: those visiting Venice in the day will have to pay, on certain set dates (not always), a fee of 10 euros. St. Mark’s Square and the adjacent streets, especially up to the Rialto Bridge, are often crowded. At night the atmosphere changes totally. I highly recommend walking around Venice at night, also because it tends to be a very safe city! My advice is to walk along Strada Nova, which connects Santa Lucia Station to the Rialto Bridge, passing by the beautiful Ponte delle Guglie. This street, which is crowded during the day (there is also the most beautiful supermarket in the world here, as demonstrated by this VIDEO: you have to buy something to visit it!) at night it changes its skin: it feels like having Venice just for yourself!
The same thing happens in the area of the Rialto Bridge and St. Mark’s Basilica. Near the square there is a gondola parking lot. In this place I really had the feeling of walking in a city that has gone to sleep, and that opens its beauty to the very few people who walk at night. Of course, a couple of beers at Santo Bevitore, which is located near Strada Nova, makes the walk even more enjoyable!
Map of what to see in Venice
Before moving on to the various useful tips, I leave you with a map with all the places mentioned in this post. In addition to the monuments there is no shortage of bacari, places to have a drink, places to sleep…in short, a little bit of everything!
IN ADDITION TO WHAT TO SEE IN VENICE, YOU MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN …
Lake Orta, a Piedmontese wonder!
ITINERARY OF TWO OR THREE DAYS IN VENICE
Venice would deserve a very thorough visit. This list excludes some wonderful places in Venice: in two or three days it is difficult to find the time to visit the Abbey of San Giorgio Maggiore (whose bell tower offers a spectacular view of Venice), the Arsenale, the Peggy Guggenheim museum…just to mention a few places that I did not put on the list, out of pure personal choice.
In two days in Venice, I would devote the first day to St. Mark’s Basilica, the Campanile, the Doge’s Palace, the Acqua Alta Bookshop and, if you are not yet destroyed, the Correr Museum. I would devote the second day to visiting Murano and Burano: that leaves time in the afternoon to visit the Basilica dei Frari and the Scuola Grande di San Rocco. The third day in Venice, in my opinion, is necessary: in this way there is a chance to walk leisurely (even at night) admiring the bridges, the campi, the squero of San Trovaso, eating something in the typical bacari and having a glass of wine with the locals (in this case I highly recommend the San Pantalon area). This is also the day to appreciate the beauty of the Fenice Theater and the Scala Contarini del Bovolo.
INFORMATION ON WHAT TO SEE IN VENICE
- Venice suffers from overtourism. I recommend visiting Venice in the middle of the week and, if possible, in the months from mid-October to mid-March. This way you can visit Venice without the summer and weekend crowding.
- Venice is connected to the mainland by the nearly four-kilometer-long Ponte della Libertร . Those I had walked during the 2017 Venice Marathon, which I told you about at the beginning. Cars stop at Piazzale Roma: from there you can only walk or use the vaporetti, which is Venice’s water transportation.
- Vaporetti are expensive, but they make it easy for you to get from one place to another in Venice. This is the official website of the vaporettos: the price of vaporetto tickets ranges from 10 euros for 75′ to 65 euros for seven days.
- Venice airport is very well connected to the city. In fact, line 5 takes 25 minutes to connect the airport with Piazzale Roma: the cost of the service is 10 euros, and there is no need to book in advance. The Santa Lucia train station is a short walk from Piazzale Roma.
- Where to sleep in Venice? I highly recommend the Marin hotel, which is a five-minute walk from Santa Lucia station. As a second choice, I recommend the Generator in Giudecca: it is one of the very few hostels in Venice.
- Where to drink beer in Venice? The holy drinker near Strada Nova is my answer! There are about 20 spines, and it is a paradise for lovers of IPA beers!
- Where to eat in Venice? The bacari, with their typical cicchetti (small sandwiches, usually of fish and cod) are the typical Venetian answer to this question! A local experience is to eat a few cicchetti with a good glass of wine. In the San Pantalon area there are Bacarotto and Sbarlefo di San Pantalon, near the Marin hotel (and thus five minutes from the station) there are Bacaro Quebrado, da Lele and Cip&Ciop (this one more typical for drinking), in the San Marco area there is Osteria al Portego, in San Polo there is Trattoria al Campanile. All these places I have personally tried and highly recommend them!
- The Churches of Venice have a particular way of functioning. Nineteen of them are part of the Chorus system, which, however, does not include the aforementioned San Marco and Frari. The list of churches that are part of the Chorus is available here. The single ticket, which allows you to visit all the churches, costs 14 euros: the individual church costs 3.50 euros. On the same site it is possible to purchase, in this section, also admission to various museums and the splendid Fenice Theater.
