This fast-paced plan balances Venice’s headline sights with quieter canals, good food and a lagoon-island day. Each day stays within a compact area where possible; travel times are approximate and assume walking unless noted.
Budget
About €180–€260 per person for listed admissions, local transport and meals; excludes accommodation and flights. A vaporetto pass may be better value if you take several boat rides.
Best time to visit
April–May or September–October for pleasant walking weather and fewer peak-summer crowds.
San Marco and the Grand Canal
Start with Venice’s grandest landmarks, then linger around the San Marco waterfront and finish with a classic canal-side aperitivo.
Morning
Visit St Mark’s Basilica
Arrive early to see the mosaics before the busiest crowds. It is a short walk—about 5 minutes—from the next stop.
About €6Morning
Tour Doge’s Palace
Explore the ducal apartments and cross the Bridge of Sighs. Allow about 3 minutes to walk here from the basilica.
About €30Afternoon
See the view from St Mark’s Campanile
Take in the rooftops and lagoon from the bell tower, then pause for lunch around the square. The entrance is about 3 minutes on foot from Doge’s Palace.
About €12Afternoon
Browse the
Discover Venetian art and history in the Napoleonic Wing overlooking Piazza San Marco. It is about a 4-minute walk from the campanile.
About €30Evening
Stroll the
Walk the waterfront at golden hour and enjoy views across the lagoon. It is roughly 5 minutes on foot from .
FreeEvening
Have cicchetti and a spritz
Settle in for Venetian small plates and a drink near San Marco. Allow about 8 minutes to walk from the waterfront.
About €15–€30
Rialto, San Polo and Dorsoduro
Follow the Grand Canal from the lively Rialto market into San Polo, then cross toward Dorsoduro for art and a relaxed canal-side evening.
Morning
Explore the
Browse the produce and fish stalls while the market is lively; check opening days, as the fish market is generally closed on Sundays and Mondays. From here, the is about a 5-minute walk.
FreeMorning
Cross the
Enjoy the Grand Canal views and browse the small shops along the bridge. It is about 5 minutes on foot from the market.
FreeAfternoon
Visit the Frari Church
See Titian’s Assumption and the church’s remarkable Gothic interior. The walk from takes about 15 minutes through San Polo.
About €5Afternoon
See the
Admire Tintoretto’s dramatic ceiling and wall paintings. It is about 3 minutes on foot from the Frari.
About €10Evening
Explore the
Finish the art-filled day with modern masterpieces in a palazzo on the Grand Canal. Allow about 20 minutes to walk from San Rocco through Dorsoduro.
About €16Evening
Take an evening passeggiata along Zattere
Walk beside the Giudecca Canal and stop for dinner or gelato nearby. It is about 10 minutes on foot from the collection.
Free
Cannaregio and the lagoon islands
Discover Cannaregio’s historic Jewish quarter before taking vaporetto rides to and back for a colourful, full-day lagoon adventure.
Morning
Walk through the Jewish Ghetto
Explore the historic square and its distinctive architecture, then continue to the nearby canal-side fondamenta. The walk to the next stop takes about 5 minutes.
FreeMorning
Visit the
Learn about the history of Venice’s Jewish community; check current opening hours and tour availability before you go. It is about 2 minutes on foot from the square.
About €12Afternoon
Ride the vaporetto to
From Fondamente Nove, take the lagoon boat to ; allow around 45 minutes for the ride, depending on the service. Budget for a vaporetto ticket or pass, and check the timetable before setting out.
About €9.50Afternoon
Wander ’s colourful lanes
Enjoy the island’s bright houses, lace-making heritage and a seafood lunch. The ferry stop is right in the village, so exploring is mostly on foot.
FreeEvening
Return to Cannaregio for dinner
Take the vaporetto back to Fondamente Nove, about 45 minutes, then walk roughly 15 minutes to this relaxed canal-side restaurant.
About €25–€45Evening
Enjoy a final canalside stroll
Walk along and soak up the neighbourhood’s evening atmosphere. It is about 5 minutes on foot from .
Free
Good to know
Getting around
Venice is best explored on foot, but allow extra time for bridges, crowds and getting briefly turned around. Check ACTV vaporetto routes and fares before the lagoon trip.
Reservations
Book timed entry for St Mark’s Basilica and Doge’s Palace in advance, and verify opening hours for museums and churches, which can vary by day or season.
Market timing
Visit in the morning for the best atmosphere; market activity and opening days vary, particularly for the fish market.
Venice access fee
On designated dates, day visitors may need to register and pay Venice’s access fee. Check the official city website for dates, exemptions and current rules.