This blog post is about Venice travel itinerary.
Venice feels like stepping into a completely different world.
With its beautiful canals, charming bridges, colorful buildings, boats and gondolas everywhere – Venice offers a romantic atmosphere, and is truly one of the most unique cities in Europe.
If you have only 24 hours in Venice, you can still experience many of the city’s highlights while soaking up its magical atmosphere.
This Venice travel itinerary is perfect for first time visitors who want to see the most iconic sights, enjoy incredible Italian food, and experience this unique city in just one day!
Let’s get started! ✈
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Venice Travel Itinerary
Table of Contents
Is it possible to do Venice in one day?
Although 2 full days in Venice is mainly recommended, it is possible to visit Venice in one day and see the city’s highlights.
You won’t have time to fully experience the city, but one day is definitely a great period of time to see Venice’s top attractions and places.
1-Day Venice Travel Itinerary:
1. Explore Piazza San Marco
The best place to start your day in Venice is at the iconic Piazza San Marco (aka St. Mark’s Square).
It’s best to visit here early in the mornings, before the huge crowds arrive.
But even if you don’t get the chance to arrive here that early, don’t worry, you’ll enjoy the area even with crowds.
This beautiful square is surrounded by stunning historic buildings and cafes, beautiful waterfront views, and the whole area perfectly captures the beauty and vibe of Venice.
2. Visit Saint Mark's Basilica
When standing in St. Mark’s Square, you won’t be able to miss the beautiful basilica in front of you, which is the famous St. Mark’s Basilica.
It’s one of the most famous landmarks in Venice, and in Italy in general.
The golden mosaics, beautiful architecture, and incredible interiors make this church an absolute must-visit!
If you have time, climb to the terrace for beautiful views overlooking the St. Mark’s Square.
The terrace is usually included with the museum access tickets rather than the standard basilica entry ticket.
These tickets from Get Your Guide does include the museum access.
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3. Cross The Famous Ponte di Rialto Bridge
From St. Mark’s Square, make your way (and enjoy the way because it’s BEAUTIFUL) to the famous Rialto Bridge.
It is one of the most iconic bridges in the city, and is actually one of Venice’s symbols.
The views over the Grand Canal are gorgeous, especially with all the gondolas and boats passing underneath.
The are around is also filled with shops, cafes, and plenty of beautiful Instagrammable photo spots!
4. Go on a Gondola Ride
A trip to Venice wouldn’t feel complete without experiencing a traditional gondola ride through the beautiful canals of Venice!
While it can be expensive, and probably the most touristy thing you can do here, I think it’s still one of the most iconic things to do in Venice.
Floating through the narrow canals, while passing historic buildings and hidden corners of the city feels incredibly magical.
Plus, exploring Venice from the water gives you a much more interesting and unique perspective of the city. I highly recommend!
Just make sure to book your gondola ride tickets in advance, ESPECIALLY if you are visiting during peak seasons!
5. Join a Venice Food Tour For Lunch
For lunch I have some exciting plans for you – join a Venice Street Food Tour!
There’s no better way to explore a new place than eating your way through it 😉
Since you only have one day in Venice (and even if you had more days I’d still recommend this), this food tour combines tasting delicious local dishes, as well as learning about Venice’s culture and history from a local guide.
I highly recommend this specific food tour we booked on Get Your Guide, we loved it!
It was so much fun eating all these delicious dishes, and our local guide was so informative and we had an overall great experience.
6. Watch the sunset at the Grand Canal
After your tummy is full, it’s time to watch a breathtaking sunset!
Head toward the Grand Canal for beautiful golden hours views and a breathtaking sunset.
Venice becomes even more magical in the evening, and watching the sunset here is an unforgettable experience.
If you want to enjoy some drinks maybe as well, I recommend going to the Skyline Rooftop Bar, which is an amazing sunset spot and is perfect for some cocktails before dinner and watching the breathtaking sunset.
7. Take A Vaporetto Ride Along The Grand Canal At Night
Taking a Vaporetto Ride along the Grand Canal at night is honestly one of the most underrated things to do in Venice!
We took this ride during the day, not during the night unfortunately, and I am very sad we didn’t!!
Anyways, riding the Vaporetto along the Grand Canal at nights lets you see the illuminated palaces reflecting on the water, you see all of the beautiful city lights, and get a much different perspective of Venice than how you’ve seen it during the day.
It feels like you’re in a movie, and this is a very romantic thing to do in Venice to add your amazing day in the city.
That’s it for today! I hope you got an idea of what to do in Venice in 1 day! 🙂
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This blog post was about Venice travel itinerary.
