Venice in one day? Is it even possible? Take it from me, the answer is a surprising yes. The city wasn’t even on our itinerary. But when we found ourselves a day and half ahead of schedule on our trip, we realized we might be able to sneak in a visit to this dream destination. After discussing it for maybe 15 minutes, we threw all our existing plans for the day out the window and headed off to Italy. It just might be the best decision we ever made.
That said, if 24 hours is all you have to spare, you’ll need a little strategy for beating the crowds (head to Piazza San Marco in the early morning or late afternoon) and avoiding the lines (buy skip-the-line tickets for all the top attractions in advance). This one-day itinerary tackles one neighborhood at a time so that you won’t waste too much time getting around. And our recommendations factor in ratings and reviews from other Tripadvisor users, so you know everything below is first-rate. To top it off, we make sure you are in the right place at the right time for the very best photo ops.
MORNING: Endless photo-ops around Saint Mark’s Square
The earlier you can get to Piazza San Marco, the better. Venice’s most famous square is at its best in the early morning light. The colors are richer, the shadows are softer, and there’s a warm glow behind the spires topping the Basilica di San Marco. There’s a reason wedding photographers take couples here during “golden hour” immediately after sunrise. Snap as many pics as you can before the tour groups begin to arrive.
While you wait for your admission time to see the dazzling interior of the basilica—buying timed-tickets in advance is pretty much a must to avoid waiting in line—ignore the overpriced cafes on either side of the square and head a few blocks north to Bar San Marco 1076, a favorite with early risers. The pistachio croissants and all the other pastries in the glass case are worth getting up for.
After touring the basilica—don’t miss stepping out onto the second-floor balcony overlooking the square, another unbelievable spot for pics—resist the urge to head to the top of its massive bell tower called the Campanile di San Marco. Don’t worry, we’ll be back a little later in the day when you’ll get the best views.
And don’t put your camera away just yet. There’s another photo-op as you walk around the corner of the nearby Doge’s Palace, where the sunlight is streaming through the ornate arches on the ground level. Here you’ll get a great view of the white limestone Bridge Of Sighs, bathed in the softest light of the day. Turn around and you’ll see the glistening dome of the Basilica Santa Maria della Salute across the Grand Canal.
You could spend hours exploring the interior of the Doge’s Palace, gawking at both the art and the architecture, but plan to duck out a little before noon. There’s a lot more of Venice to cover in the afternoon.
PIAZZA SAN MARCO AREA TOUR OPTIONS
- Tripadvisor reviewers rave about the three-hour Legendary Venice Tour, which offers skip-the-line access to both the Basilica di San Marco and the Doge’s Palace. It includes one of our favorite perks: access to the basilica’s balcony overlooking everything in Piazza San Marco.
- With a maximum of 20 people, the Doge’s Palace VIP Tour gets you to parts of the massive building—such as the prison cell where Casanova was held—that are usually off limits. A knowledgeable guide leads you up staircases, down passageways, and across the famous Bridge of Sighs.
- Negotiating the price of a gondola ride can be intimidating for first-timers, which is why the pre-booked Grand Canal by Gondola Tour is so appealing. There’s live commentary from your gondolier, who meets you near the Piazza San Marco.
AFTERNOON: Gelato, then great art, then more gelato
Head west, passing over several different canals on your way to a sun-soaked square called the Campo Santo Stefano. Your destination here is Gelateria Paolin, one of the best places to order a scoop of gelato. (Ask any local, and they’ll agree.) You can’t go wrong with the nocciola (hazelnut) gelato, but it’s hard to argue with the burst of flavor from the limone (lemon) sorbetto. This should tide you over till lunch and give you a little sugar boost for the next stop.
A short walk south is the Ponte dell’Accademia, a wooden bridge over the Grand Canal. You’ll definitely want to take a few selfies as an endless string of boats glides beneath you. On the southern side is the Gallerie dell’Accademia, featuring Venetian paintings from the 14th to the 18th centuries. But since you’ve just seen similar works hanging at the Doge’s Palace, we suggest you opt for more modern works by Picasso, Dali, and other masters at the nearby Peggy Guggenheim Collection. The setting itself is a stunner—a 17th-century customs house with views of the Grand Canal.
You’re long overdue for lunch, so head to a place we stumbled upon by accident, Ristorante Agli Alboretti. Our fellow diners were mostly Italian families, many of them dressed up for a special meal. The food, which was mostly local seafood, was perfectly prepared and plated, even when it was something simple like spaghetti with clams. We would go back in a heartbeat.
Head back to the Grand Canal and board a vaporetto (water bus) to take in the views of the palazzos on either side. Get off at the ornate Rialto Bridge, which has been around for more than 400 years. Plenty of little boutiques line the bridge, so anyone in your group who wants to do a little souvenir shopping is in luck. If you didn’t get enough gelato before lunch, you have another chance at the nearby Suso Gelatoteca. Nothing is artificial here, so flavors like hazelnut or pistachio come shining through.
EVENING: The city’s best place to be at sunset
Stroll south through the narrow streets of Venice, eventually making your way back to where you started at the Piazza San Marco. We promised to show you the best views from the Campanile di San Marco, and now’s the time. Take the elevator up to the top in the hour before sunset, where you’ll see the city melt into the pinks and oranges of the sky.
For dinner, make a reservation ahead of time at Gio’s, rated a “Best of the Best” by Tripadvisor reviewers. One of the best terrace restaurants along the Grand Canal, it’s at its most romantic when the lights of the city begin to twinkle. The menu focuses on seafood, including homemade dumplings stuffed with cod and squid and risotto with roasted eel and three different types of peppers.
End your evening at the Teatro La Fenice—it’s a must-do for music lovers, but any traveler will find the setting enchanting. The marble facade doesn’t prepare you for the opulence of the theater itself, where every surface seems dipped in gold leaf. After a day of rushing around to take in everything the city has to offer, you can finally relax and end the evening on a high note.
