Venice, perhaps one of Italy’s most romantic cities, absolutely exceeded any expectations I had before venturing over there. It is arguably one of the most traveled places in Europe and after visiting you will completely understand why people visit on the daily. Not only do you get city views, but you will also encounter intricate architecture on famous buildings, more bridges than you can imagine, and canals galore.
With the beauty and experience, though, does come a steep cost. Certain parts of Venice can be very expensive especially when picking your hotel/room accommodations. It is important to familiarize yourself with the different districts (there are six!) to ensure you are staying in close proximity to everything you want to see. If you don’t necessarily want to splurge on a hotel, you can look into AirBnbs in the different districts.
We stayed in this Airbnb, located in a quieter neighborhood in the Santa Croce district, which we loved! It was perfect for two nights and was within walking distance of both the San Marco and San Polo districts. Most of what I cover in this blog post will be what we saw in those three districts but let me assure you Venice is one of the most walkable places I’ve ever visited. You will absolutely find yourself maxing out your miles on your Fitbit, but if you aren’t much of a walker Venice offers you the option of exploring via traghetto (ferry).
If I had to guess, Venice is in the top 5 most expensive cities in Italy, but it can be explored on a budget and you can also check off everything on your bucket list in two days! I hope this post helps you when you have the chance to visit! Let’s get exploring!
How To Spend your First 24 Hours:
The easiest way to get to Venice is by train as you have to cross the Grand Canal to even get into Venice. I never realized how truly surrounded by water Venice was until arriving and noticing there were no cars, ambulances, or anything of that sort! While it’s not an island on its own, rather its 118 small islands separated by canals, your only option to getting around is via walking or boat, as I mentioned.
My sister, Allie, and I spent a majority of our trip getting completely lost in the streets (offline GPS will become your best friend), trying out local Italian food, and watching the sun go down over the murky water. You can jam pack your itinerary or just allow yourself the comfort of exploring and discovering something new around every corner.
Allie and I arrived to Venice in the afternoon so we immediately tracked down our AirBnb, freshened up and took off exploring. One of the most well-known and iconic landmarks in Venice is the Rialto Bridge, so that was our first stop. In the 1500s the bridge was built to connect one side of the Grand Canal to the other. It was the only way locals could cross the canal on foot until the Accademia Bridge was erected in 1854. The bridge serves as a connection between the San Marco and San Polo districts. Today it is home to rows of shops on both sides. When visiting Venice, it is a must to cross this bridge and take in the history. It is also a great place to people watch as boats float underneath.
Another “must” while visiting Italy – gelato! We grabbed some mango gelato from the famous SUSO Gelatoteca before strolling through the St. Mark’s Square, otherwise known as Piazza San Marco. Located in the heart of Venice, it is one of the most well-known squares, which means it is busy almost constantly. We went after dinner-time so we didn’t run into quite as many crowds. Seeing the different buildings up close was magnificent. The architecture and design of buildings truly never cease to amaze me. It’s hard to think of many buildings in the United States having as much detail to them as Venice’s did. If you wander through the square, you will find an opening where your view of the San Giorgio Maggiore, a 16th-century Benedictine church, is clearly visible. It is located on a separate island so we didn’t venture over there but it was stunning in the moonlight.
Before leaving the square, if you walk just a little further you will run into one of the main landmarks – the Doge’s Palace. This palace was built to act as the residence of the person elected to lead the Venetian Republic. The architecture is gothic style and I’ve heard the interior is absolutely stunning. You can pay an entrance fee to see the different rooms and artwork inside. However, the outside is a sight to see in itself. Not only is this building beautiful but it carries a rich history. From the Doge’s Palace criminals were sentenced to prison and then sent to the Bridge of Sighs. The Bridge of Sighs is rumored to have that name because tourists sigh at the beauty, but the truth is actually much darker. The Bridge of Sighs gets its name because when prisoners cross the bridge it was to catch one last glance of Venice before being put away in their cell. I can’t even imagine. Unless you want to go inside the historical monuments, I encourage visiting them after sundown. There are way less people there and you will have an opportunity to snag some great photos before calling it a night!
In the morning, if you aren’t staying at a hotel with complimentary breakfast, I recommend grabbing breakfast at La Lista Bistro. It is close to the main train station, which was a close walk for us. Sincerely, no matter where you are staying, I believe the waffle is well worth traveling for. After filling up on sweet and savory foods, you’ll be off to check out some of Venice’s less well-known sites.
There are so many buildings you can visit in Venice that give a stunning view of the city. However, many of them are not free of charge like the T Fondaco Rooftop. I may be biased but I even think it has the best panoramic view of Venice. The terrace is somewhat of a hidden gem as it can be a bit hard to find. It’s located on the roof of the Tedeschi department store near the Rialto Bridge.
We did not know but you must book tickets in advance as time slots are reserved and only 70 people can be on the roof at a time. Once you get your 15 minute window, you can stroll through stores or grab a drink while waiting your turn. And let me tell you, the wait is worth it! The staff give you just enough time to snag some great photos before the next group is allowed up. Travel trip: Use the bathrooms near the entrance afterward so you don’t have to pay €1,50 for the public toilets around the city.
How To Spend your Last 24 Hours:
If you only have 48 hours in Venice than it is imperative you take a day trip to Burano, the most colorful island in Europe. Almost every person I spoke to before journeying over to Venice mentioned Burano. Those who had not gone regretted it terribly and those who did go said they would visit again in a heartbeat. Burano is a one hour boat ride away from Venice (roughly $15 round trip) and it sure is a sight to see. Picture someone throwing their easel of paint at houses… that’s Burano for you.
The small island, one of the most picturesque spots in Venice, is home to many fishermen. Tradition says the houses were vibrantly painted purple, pink, and other bright colors to help the fishermen navigate back home when fog covered the lagoon. We were told it was painted strategically so no boats crashed into the island. Visiting Burano felt like living inside a coloring book and immediately brought me happiness. The locals were very friendly and gave us good shopping tips while there. If you are going to buy water bottles, souvenirs or lace, which they are known for, go off the beaten path. Everything is less expensive when you’re not on the main sidewalks and you can find lace for little to no cost. Overall, Burano is a great place to take lots of photos and appreciate how different an area just outside of Venice can be. You can expect to spend at least 4 hours traveling and exploring Burano.
Travel tip: Don’t cool down by putting your feet in the canals. You’ll be tempted to, but don’t! Apparently it’s very dirty and a local was kind enough to tell us it could carry diseases as we were.. um… dangling our feet in the water. You’ve been warned.
When arriving back in Venice, riding a gondola should be on the top of your priority list. If you don’t want to spend an arm and a leg, I highly suggest riding around the canals before 7pm. The city of Venice relies on tourism dollars and one of the easiest ways to make that money is to charge a ton for the one experience on everyone’s list. For a 30 minute ride, most gondolas will cost €80 ($87 USD) before 7pm. Afterward the rate raises to €100. If you want your gondolier to sing, it’ll usually cost another €20 – €30. See how this adds up quickly? If you are really traveling Venice on a budget, I have the answer for you!
My sister and I rode in a gondola, as you can see above, and got the Venice-inspired photos to prove it. However, we only spent €4. Yes, you read that correctly! You can ride in a gondola for less than what you typically spend on your Starbucks order. Remember how I mentioned the traghetto earlier in this post? There are different piers located across the city that ferry people across the canal. The gondoliers couldn’t be nicer and while the ride is short, definitely not 30 minutes, they are rather patient and offer you plenty of time to snap a couple of photos before exiting the boat. If you time it correctly, you will get the gondola completely to yourself therefore making it the Venice gondola experience without the price (and perhaps a little less decorated). If your goal on the trip is to save money, I could not recommend it enough! However if you are willing to splurge, do it! It is a once in a lifetime experience and one that should be taken while in Venice.
After riding the gondola across the canal, we had a blast tracking down the legendary Acqua Alta Bookstore. If you are a cat lover and book-lover then visiting this bookstore will be a dream! Not only is it the coolest with books literally taking over the entire store, but they have cats just roaming free throughout. Many tourists do not know of this place and it was relatively empty when we visited. There are rows and rows of novels, secondhand books, and postcards scattered throughout the store. They even have a huge gondola and bathtub inside the store overflowing with books. If you take a walk outside, there are even more (yes, you guessed it!) books creating a staircase. All in all, this store was the perfect place to grab an Italian souvenir and get lost for a bit.
Before grabbing a bite to eat and drink, Allie and I explored different art museums while diving in and out of local shops. Some of the galleries were even free to roam through. I have never been much of a museum person and usually skip them when traveling but the artwork just completely drew us in. We spent close to an hour taking in the beautiful Italian pieces.
During our trip, we tried a lot of different Italian restaurants. Our favorites were the shops that had walk up windows to them. You simply place your order, grab your food, and snack while walking around the bridges. Our favorite happy hour was a spot near our AirBnb. In Italy, it makes the most sense to partake in happy hours instead of full-blown dinners, especially if you are trying to save money. Almost anywhere you go, you will encounter an “apertivo” option during certain hours. An apertivo is essentially a pre-meal drink specifically meant to prepare the appetite. I would usually get some form of margarita and Allie indulged in her daily Aperol Spritz. The best part of ordering an apertivo, however, is oftentimes they are served with little side dishes (olives, nuts, chips, trail mix) that will hold you over while walking around. It’s a win-win and actually very filling. Most nights, we didn’t even need a big dinner but rather a snack after our happy hour dishes.
I cannot say enough that there are truly so many amazing things to see and do while visiting Venice, and most won’t break your budget. We found that we had the most laughs while simply wandering the streets, chatting with locals, and taking in the stunning, romantic views of Venice. I promise you, you will have the time to visit some historical sites, see a panoramic view of the city, and fit in Burano if you plan accordingly.
We absolutely adored Venice and hope to return someday soon. Have you been to Venice before? What did I miss? Feel free to drop a comment below or shoot me a DM over on Instagram if you have any questions before going! Stay safe and have a great time!