Venice is absolutely a must, it’s so charming with all the little bridges and canals. Of course there’s a lot of tourists, but if you plan well your stay and buy timed-ticket you’re gonna make the must of your time. Explore, discover the rich history, but also keep some time to get lost in the streets and admire this unique destination.
When to go: For this itinerary, I would recommend planning your trip in May, June or September. July and August aren’t entirely to be avoided, however, it can be very humid and hot, in addition to being a very busy tourist season. October is still a nice month because it’s not too hot, less crowded but the risk of flood increases. My personal favorite time to travel in Italy is in September because it’s still pretty hot but more comfortable for the long days spent walking.
How many days : I recommend spending three days in Venice, especially if it’s your first visit. You could also spend only two days and skip Burano, but in my opinion, that would be missing out on a real gem.
How to get there:
By plane: Aeroporto di Venezia Marco Polo is not far outside of the main touristic area.
By train: Trenitalia connects Venice with many cities, so you can easily come by train. I always reserve in advance via the internet just to be sure I get exactly the departure time I want.
By Car: You’ll need to find parking outside of the island because it’s car free except the very edge of the island. On the island you can park at some places like Tronchetto Parking or Piazzale Roma. You can also park at Mestre train station and than take a short train to Venice island.
Once you get there, go to the Tourism Office to buy some items:
– Rolling Pass Venice: This pass is 6 euros and is for people aged 6 to 29. It allows you to buy a 72h vaporetto pass at a lower tariff, 27 euros rather than 45 euros. It also gives you access to lower costs for museums. Don’t bother reserving it online; you’ll still need to collect it at the counter.
– 72h vaporetto pass
– ACTV bus ticket: This is the direct line from the airport to Venezia Piazzale Roma. Take a one-way ticket unless you’re going back to the airport at the end of your time in Venice. If you have the Rolling Pass Venice, you can buy this ticket at a lower cost.
There’s some applications I highly recommend:
– Radical Storage: If you use trains and Airbnb, chance is you’re going to need some place to leave your luggage. This application allows you to leave it in one local business. It’s used worldwide, trustworthy, and comes with guarantees.
– maps.me: This app allows you to download maps in advance; you can use it for itineraries for your next visit and, my favorite use, to find clean water!
Day One
Once you arrive in Venice, if you reserved an Airbnb and it’s not yet available, you can leave your baggages at one of the many storage offices. I used Radical Storage to reserve a storage in advance. I planned a very light and calm first day to compensate for the hours of transport, but if you come from a close location you can always add some things.
Ponte degli Scalzi: Take a pause at the top of the bridge to admire the view filled with boats and gondolas. Take the time to take some pictures. This bridge is located between Santa Croce and Cannaregio.
Scuola Grande de San Rocco: This museum is beautiful and a must-see. It’s covered with carved wood artwork, gold ornaments, and paintings all over the walls and ceilings. The main room is absolutely breathtaking. No need for reservation.
Take a walk in the Canneregio district: Take the rest of your day to admire the canals, the little bridges and Venice architecture. Walk all along Strada Nuova, stroll through the streets of the Jewish district and visit Santa Maria Assunta of Jesuits. Than, walk all along Fondamenta Ormesini or Fondamenta della Miscericordia and enjoy your evening.
Day Two
When it’s possible, I like to start the day with the more serious activity or the one that need the most concentration if possible and then have a more relaxing vibe for the afternoon. So for this second day in Venice, I’d start with the museum visit in the morning and have the afternoon exploring the surrounding islands. You could also do the opposite if you want to be sure there’s minimal people in your pictures in Burano.
Ponte dell’Accademia: This bridge offer a great view and picture point for the Canal Grande.
Gallerie dell’Accademia de Venise: You’ll find incredible Venetian Renaissance art by Caliari, Bellini, Bassano, Tintoretto and others. A must for Renaissance art and history lovers. If if not your type, you can skip this one and enjoy a slow day in Venise islands. It’s 15 euros per person (2 euros if you’re a student).
Santa Maria Della Salute Church: This church is beautiful inside and out, with marble details and its dome visible from many locations in Venice. If you don’t really like churches, at least go see the very detail exterior and admire the amazing view of the Canal Grande and the Lagoon. You can go up the dome for a great viewpoint, but there are a lot of stairs, and it’s not for claustrophobic people. For this experience, you’ll need to go in person to reserve your spot. If you don’t want to go up because of the stairs, you can still get an amazing view tomorrow up the campanile so don’t worry.
Burano: Walk to the vaporetto station Fondamenta Nove and take line 12 in the direction of Burano. This vaporetto passes every 30 minutes and takes 45 minutes to reach Burano. Reserve around 2 hours in Burano. It’s one of Venice’s islands and is known as one of the most colorful cities in the world, with its colorful houses bordering the canals, going from yellow to fuchsia and sky blue. It’s really charming, perfect for a nice walk and beautiful pictures. You’ve probably already seen pictures all over Instagram, and yes, it’s as cute as it seems!
Stroll the streets and the little shops where you will see, among other things, the type of handmade lace that Burano is known for, the punto in aria.
To leave, go to vaporetto station Burano ”B” and take line 12.
Murano: Murano is an other island situated not far from Burano. You can go to Murano with the same vaporetto. It’s recognized for its traditional glasswork, the lume glassworking technique. If you want and have time, visit a workshop for a impressive demonstration. Spend 1 to 2 hours in Murano.
If you want a tour: You can visit Murano and Burano with a tour if you prefer. It’s always a great way to have a relaxing day while learning a little bit of history. Here are some great options that all include transport, glass, and lace demonstrations: Those are the tours I recommend:
Murano & Burano Guided Tour by Private Boat with Glassmaking
From Venice: Murano and Burano Half-Day Island Tour by Boat
Day Three
Start your day early if you want some beautiful pictures, because San Marco district is very popular and crowded.
Ponte di Rialto and Merkato di Rialto: This is the oldest bridge across the Canal Grande. It connects the San Polo district and the San Marco district, where we are going next. This pedestrian stone bridge has shops on both sides, primarily selling jewelry and souvenirs, which makes it quite unique. If you want, on the San Polo side, you can go see the Merkato di Rialto, where you’ll find fresh products including fish, fruits, and vegetables. Go early in the morning to have a more peaceful and authentic experience.
Piazza San Marco: This piazza is always full of life, because it’s boarded by Palazzo Ducale, Basilica San Marco and the Campanile di San Marco.
Campanile di San Marco: You can go up the campanile via elevator to admire the incredible view of Venice. You can buy your ticket in advance online which I recommend. The tour is around 45 minutes and open at 9h30.
Ponte dei Sospiri: This Baroque-style bridge is made of white limestone. Its name comes from the fact that prisoners crossed it when they went from the courthouse in the palace to the prison without being heard by citizens and without any chance of escaping. It was their last sight before their imprisonment. See it from outside from an other bridge, either Ponte della Paglia or Ponte della Canonica. Then see it from inside during your visit to Palazzo Ducale.
If you are a romantic, the tradition is to kiss under the bridge to have eternal love, so you can take a gondola tour if you’re with your significant other and hope its true!
Doge’s Palace: This Renaissance palace is an absolute must. The gothic architecture is impressive inside and out. The main room with the painting and gold ornaments on the ceiling is breathtaking. Buy your ticket in advance and go soon in the morning to avoid crowds. You can also go through the Ponte dei Sospiri to reach the jails, which I recommend. You’ll need around two hours to visit.
Basilica San Marco: You cannot go to Venice and miss the Basilica San Marco; it’s the oldest basilica in Venice and one of its landmarks. The exterior is absolutely stunning with the domes, carvings, gold ornaments, and mosaics. The Byzantine and Gothic style interior is also a must, filled with marble columns and gold mosaics. The color palette, more on the darker side, gives it a very unique ambiance. You can also buy a combined ticket for the Basilica, Pala d’Oro and the Museo di San Marco.
If you really love history, you can listen to an audioguide for Doge’s Palace and Basilica San Marco or book a tour to have as much information as possible on these historic landmarks. These are great options:
Venice: St. Mark’s Basilica & Doge’s Palace Tour with Ticket
SKIP THE LINE: Doge’s Palace & St. Mark’s Basilica Tour
More option around Piazza San Marco:
– Pala D’Oro
– Museo Correr
– Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Venezia
I hope you now have more inspiration for your next trip!
If you have some time, help me improve my articles with comments! Thank you in advance!
Flo's Travel Plans 
Leave a comment